To 7D or Not to 7D That is The Question...

Honestly I haven't had a chance to sit down and watch this video, but I had the good fortune of meeting JJ Kim, at InFocus in Austin, and he's a stand up guy. He did this because he's cool. Read below for my take on the 7D vs. T2i so far. I have only had the camera for a day and I am slightly biased, as I paid good hard earned money for my 7D, and it hasn't failed me but has never failed to impress me.

7D vs. T2i Comparison Video from Orange Wedding Films on Vimeo.
If you own a 7D should you dump it and grab a T2i and a lens.
In good conscience I could not advise that.
If you don't have enough for 7d + lens and cards,and batteries. Yes. You can always keep your lenses just don't buy crop lenses, get full frame lenses.
If you want a B-Roll camera and already own the 7D and can't afford another one. Yes. However you will have to buy all new batteries and cards,and a card reader that reads SDHC cards so calculate the difference between T2i and 7D. Then add new cards and batteries/reader to price of T2i.  If you already have a decent supply of cards/batteries stocked up for 7D and it will cover both cameras on most shoots. Get another 7D that camera is still a massive steal at $1600.
If your on the fence and can afford it or are close to affording it, get the Canon 7D or 5D. Depending on the body of work that you will do.
Advantages of T2i much crisper LCD. Cheaper.
Disadvantage
 Loss of a LOT of ISO's that I use. A LOT. You have to jump from 100 to 200 to 400 to 800 to 1600. You completely skip ISO 1250, which I use a lot in fairly dark rooms.
 If you have a 7D, and have to,then, get another one for B-Roll. If your strapped for cash,and want to shoot DSLR,well then jump in my friends, the water is warm.

Disclaimer: This camera just arrived. If anything bad happens a month from now contact Canon. I receive nothing from them. I'm not a fanboy. I'm a blue collar guy, trying to help if I can. If you have specific questions, let me know, I'll do my best to get back to you as fast as possible. Stay tuned! Footage is on it's way. Loads more reviewing to come before I make any definitive conclusions. This is just a real-time spewing of my impressions thus far. I just hope I can help people make educated decisions regarding camera purchases. I have learned a lot from people like David Perry, stillmotion, Philip Bloom and many others over the last year plus about giving out information and help just to do it. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback thus far. For that I thank you all. Oh yeah. Keep on rocking in the free world. We are lucky to be alive in the greatest Renaissance independent filmmaking has seen in a long, long,time. Never forget that.

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Canon T2i Compared to Canon 7D: First Thoughts

The body of the 7D is way better. More rugged build. When you hold the T2i (if you are used to the 7D it feels like a toy. This is a very stupid thing I guess but I prefer my 7D a lot in this way.
I still have to get used to the button configuration/controls which I found to be a bit harder to figure out where the 7D it just makes sense. A few interesting things I will explore further is that while in Movie Mode you can very easily switch between a variety of White Balance presets as well as a custom one you can set yourself. Another feature I do prefer in the T2i is the ability to switch the framerate you are shooting in without ever leaving Live View. There is a setting in the Menu as well for Automatic focus while in Movie Mode. I would never shoot in Auto and I am not sure if that actually works or I am a fool but found that interesting. I plan on shooting a bit tonight when we go out for dinner to see how it holds up in a real life situation. Here's another odd thing I noticed
The ISO for the T2i in Movie Mode
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400

There seems to be quite a few ISO settings missing that are available in the Canon 7D .
If you own a 7D I wouldn't feel bad about your purchase. I am certainly still very happy with mine. I absolutely love it and it definitely seems to have a much better build, as I would assume. Now for $800 I think it may be a great camera for someone who wants to get there feet wet in the DSLR video world. I plan on shooting more as I said and hope to have various videos up tomorrow. Two other things of note if you already own Canon DSLR's you will need new batteries and you will need new cards. The T2i  takes SDHC not CF cards.

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Canon T2i First Look

T2i Unwrapping! from Cristina Valdivieso + Jon Connor on Vimeo.

More to come...

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Canon T2i Has Arrived

It's in a box sitting on my couch. My better half is on the phone. I can't open it until she gets off of the phone and I am dying right now. I feel giddy like a little school girl. It's snowing like mad outside and i literally just caught the UPS guy thanks to the supreme intelligence of our bulldog Bruiser. The guy went to the wrong door and Bruiser was kind enough to alert the entire neighborhood by barking like a maniac. Stay tuned as we work this camera out and see what exactly we have on our hands here. I am very excited to put this thing to the test. Too bad I can't really go outside because of snow but I am definitely not complaining.

Update: It's out of the box. If you are already sold on the Canon T2i
and you already own the Canon 7D or 5D MK II make sure to buy extra batteries because the T2i doesn't use the same batteries.

From T2i

From T2i

From T2i

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Follow Friday with @TRStudios

Follow Friday Video 2/26/10 from T R on Vimeo.

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OGG Theora vs. H.264 in Battle of Web Compression

Here's another cool article I stumbled upon comparing new codec OGG Theora vs. H.264

"Streaming video websites like YouTube face growing pressure from consumers to provide support for native standards-based Web video playback. The HTML5 video element provides the necessary functionality to build robust Web media players without having to depend on proprietary plugins, but the browser vendors have not been able to build a consensus around a video codec..."
To Read More Go Here

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Reel World: "Terminal O" Music Video Shot on Canon 7D by Impakt Studios

Here's a cool music video shot on the Canon 7D . It was directed by Chris and Blaq from Impakt Studios out of Chicago. Definitely keep your eye on these guys they have some amazing projects in store for 2010.

Omen "Terminal O" Music Video Directed Impakt Studio's Chris & Blaq from IMPAKT STUDIO/Chris & Blaq on Vimeo.

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Canon 5D MKII Firmware Update

This is all 100 percent true! It will include:
Full HD monitoring with active LiveView, peaking & the ability to jam the frequency of all nearby iPhones.
A coffee maker
The ability to shoot in X-Ray mode. In 3D!!!
A built in tripod
A neural connection
If we missed anything you know of comment below...

Thanks to (on Twitter )@HumanGobo @Matt_Jasper @BenJEckstein @VisualEdgeChris @DeFrees!

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Jerry Seinfeld Uses Canon 5D MK II to Shoot "Marriage Ref" Promo

You will notice the Canon 5D MKII in the second or third shot. Thanks to Anthony Quintano for the heads up on this one. Further proof that DSLR's are making a huge impact in mainstream television, music videos, and movies.

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Canon 1D MKIV, Canon 5D MKII, Canon 7D vs. T2i and T1i

                       1D MK IV                 5DMKII                  7D                            T2i                    T1i

Sensor size	27.9 × 18.6mm	Approximately 36.0 × 24.0mm	22.3 × 14.9mm	22.3 × 14.9mm	22.3 × 14.9mm
	APS-H size	35mm full	APS-C size	APS-C size	APS-C size
Shooting angle effect [about]	× 1.3 times lens focal length equivalent	× 1.0 times lens focal length equivalent	× 1.6 times lens focal length equivalent	× 1.6 times lens focal length equivalent	× 1.6 times lens focal length equivalent
Record Size /  Frame rate	1920 × 1080 29.97/25/23.976fps	1920 × 1080 30.00fps ※ 1	1920 × 1080 29.97/25/23.976fps	1920 × 1080 29.97/25/23.976fps	1920 × 1080 20.00fps
	1280 × 720 59.94/50.00fps		1280 × 720 59.94/50.00fps	1280 × 720 59.94/50.00fps	1280 × 720 30.00fps
	640 × 480 59.94/50.00fps	640 × 480 30.00fps	640 × 480 59.94/50.00fps	640 × 480 59.94/50.00fps	640 × 480 30.00fps
Size	1920 × 1080  About 330MB / minute	1920 × 1080  About 330MB / minute	1920 × 1080  About 330MB / minute	1920 × 1080  About 330MB / minute	1920 × 1080  About 330MB / minute
	1280 × 720  About 330MB / minute		1280 × 720  About 330MB / minute	1280 × 720  About 330MB / minute	1280 × 720  About 222MB / minute
	640 × 480  About 165MB / minute	640 × 480  About 165MB / minute	640 × 480  About 165MB / minute	640 × 480  About 165MB / minute	640 × 480  About 165MB / minute
Manual exposure	○	○ (farm Ver1.1.0 more)	○	○	×
Emergency ISO sensitivity	100-12800	100-6400	100-6400	100-6400	100-1600 ※ 2
Extended ISO sensitivity ※ 3	H1: 25600, H2: 51200, H3: 102400	H1: 12800	H1: 12800 ※ 4		--
Shutter speed	30/25/24p  1 / 30 to 1 / 4000 sec	30p  1 / 30 to 1 / 4000 sec	30/25/24p  1 / 30 to 1 / 4000 sec	30/25/24p  1 / 30 to 1 / 4000 sec	30/20p  1 / 30 to 1 / 4000 sec
	60/50p  1 / 60 to 1 / 4000 sec		60/50p  1 / 60 to 1 / 4000 sec	60/50p  1 / 60 to 1 / 4000 sec
※ 5 shooting time	Room temperature (23 ℃)  Approximately 2 hours 40 minutes	Room temperature (23 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes	Room temperature (23 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes	Room temperature (23 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes	Room temperature (23 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
	Temperature (0 ℃)  Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes	Temperature (0 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes	Temperature (0 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes	Temperature (0 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes	Temperature (0 ℃)  Approximately 1 hour
External microphone input	○ (48KHz)	○ (44.1KHz)	○ (48KHz)	○ (48KHz)	×
HDMI output signal ※ 6 1. View Live View 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 480/60p, 576/50p 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 480/60p, 576/50p 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 480/60p, 576/50p 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 480/60p, 576/50p 1080/60i, 1080/50i, 480/60p, 576/50p 2. Playback 3. When recording 480/60p, 576/50p 480/60p, 576/50p

Recording Format	Video compression scheme is "MPEG-4 AVC/H.264", speech compression, "Linear (uncompressed) PCM" is done, "MOV" file format recorded on the card
Gamma value	2.2 based
Bitrate	Variable bit rate.  Full HD / HD quality about 5.5MByte/sec (44Mbps),  About SD quality 2.75MByte/sec (22Mbps)
Range Video	Full range (0 to 255)
Video color sampling	YCbCr (YPbPr) 4:2:0
Recording time (4GB card)	About 12 minutes full HD, HD about 12 minutes ※ 7, SD about 24 minutes

※ 1

In the EOS 5D Mark II full HD video, 25p/24p up for 2010 will be supported in the first half of the farm.

※ 2

Control

※ 3

Video shooting

※ 4

M only non-automatic exposure mode shooting

※ 5

When using a fully charged battery pack

※ 6

By connecting the monitor changes the output signal

※ 7

EOS Kiss X3 is about 18 minutes

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Producer and Editor Search for Perfect Sound Effect

Life as an editor can be sooo much fun. Aha,haha, ahem. Enjoy.

Whoosh! - watch more funny videos

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What Do a Red Bicycle,a Bucket of Paint, and a Bride Have in Common?

First off I'd like to thank Brian Marks, a cinematographer from Red Bicycle Media ,
for sending me a nice email and sharing their work with me. I was so impressed by it I had to talk to owner James Pizzaro and get the behind the scenes scoop on this fresh Trash the Dress they did.

Rachael's Trash the Dress from red Bicycle Media on Vimeo.

Tell me a little bit about Red Bicycle Media. Who are you guys and what do you do?

We are a Cleveland based studio specializing in wedding films. There has been an evolution in the wedding videography industry where we have tried desperately to shed the tacky, cheesy way of capturing a wedding. The advent of digital SLRs has aided in this process of creating a more film-like "experience". We have noticed recently that there also is a danger of falling into the same trap and having our work look similar to others. Shallow depth of field, better low light ability, and camera stabilizers do not necessarily equate to a cinema. We have had to work harder in improving our story telling and making sure we use these tools in a motivated and innovative way.

For people that don't understand "Trash the Dress" what is it?

In simple terms, "Trash the Dress" is a way of prolonging the wedding experience. It has been controversial in that some people think that we are desecrating a symbol of one's wedding. We feel that it is the marriage , not necessarily the wedding, that is the bond between the couple. (Sorry, not to get too philosophical). Some brides realize that they will never be able to wear their wedding gown again and "Trash the Dress" is a way of immortalizing the dress and capturing that on film. It is meant to be fun and a form of artistic expression.

What do you think TTD sessions bring to the wedding filmmaking industry that wasn't there before?

For us it helped push our creativity and brings an element of fun into our filmmaking process. It also gives us another opportunity to work with the couple after their big day. Cinematography is no longer limited to just the day of the wedding, again, a way of prolonging the wedding experience.

What camera equipment did you use for this film and what motivated these camera choices?

Canon 7D , Canon 5D MKII , and an EX1 for Steadicam and over-crank.

What was the biggest challenge you faced on this shoot?

Keeping the paint and the rain out of the equipment was a challenge. Rachael was a great sport and fully cooperated with what we had her do...we must have made her jump through puddles for a half-hour trying to get the perfect shot. We were soaked but luckily did not damage any of the cameras or ancillary equipment. I had actually rigged an umbrella to the steadicam vest to keep me dry during many of the outdoor shots. As an additional note, one of the condemned buildings we shot in was the site of many an unsolved crime. Not a place you want to be after dark.

For more info on this company check these out:
www.redbicyclemedia.com
 Vimeo Best of Site

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Trolls Galore

I apologize in advance. This will be another slightly personal post but it has to be said...

Personal opinions are one thing but what I don't understand is very negative feedback about what is being done overall. Sure, I don't like that song, or sure, your cuts are off, or even hey, work doesn't appeal to me at all... subjectively critiquing one's work is a good thing but let me just say this:

If you have the balls to post your work online for the world to see, I salute you.

If you are giving away information to help the community, I salute you.

Honestly, I haven't had too much flat out negativity come my way but when it does I try to think about what underlying issue is going on that would cause a person to insult me. Remember, there is a difference... I swear, I'm not one of those overly sensitive girls.

So you may be asking yourself... What is a troll?

Urban Dictionary defines it as "One who purposely and deliberately (that purpose usually being self-amusement) starts an argument in a manner which attacks others on a forum without in any way listening to the arguments proposed by his or her peers. He will spark of such an argument via the use of ad hominem attacks (i.e. 'you're nothing but a fanboy' is a popular phrase) with no substance or relevence to back them up as well as straw man arguments, which he uses to simply avoid addressing the essence of the issue."

In case you're still confused I've included a photograph:

Don't let his grin fool you. As soon as he gets a chance to google you, he will find you and tell you you're a waste of space.

Here's a helpful diagram so you too can understand how the troll mind works... It may be small but it has 4 very important parts:

If you have found this post and you yourself are a troll please visit Troll Love... You too can find happiness.

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Humphrey Bogart to Cloverfield: Perfection vs. Realism and The Case Against Both

One big change that has taken place over the years in films is the sense of realism. Back in the day, everyone in a movie was perfect. Now when you watch an older movie, sometimes it's hard to take it seriously because, everyone is too polished. The opposite of this has unfortunately been a trend lately. Think of that godawful movie Cloverfield, with it's ridiculous "hand-held shaky footage looks like crap so, it must be real" approach. Don't even get me started. Anyway, I found this blooper real from Warner Brothers circa 1936. Kind of cool to see that contrary to the final polished product we see the actors are still human, and humans no matter how famous,legendary,or talented all have a common trait. We make mistakes. The good news is it's not the end of the world. The bad news is movies like Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity will still be made. Now to get that terrible thought out of your head watch great actors from 1936 screwing up. Enjoy.

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Reel World: The man, the myth, the legend. David Robin

I first met David Robin at WEVA and got to spend a bit more time with him at Re:Frame San Francisco. Not only is he one of the nicest guys I've met but he has tons of advice that he's willing to give. This man is truly an inspiration to all of us.

20 years of experience and he has a list of accolades that can make anyones jaw drop.

david robin | films has won 27 Creative Excellence Awards from WEVA int. More than any other Event Filmmaker in the world.

Named one of the "Top 25 Hottest & Most Influential Event Videographers in the World" by Event DV Magazine for the fourth year in a row.

Inducted into the WEVA Hall Of Fame in 2005.

Recipient of the Bob LeBar Vision Award.

Published in WEV Magazine, Event DV Magazine and Videography Magazine.

Featured on TNT's "Wedding Day". A Mark Burnett Production.

David Robin has successfully done what not many can. Not only does he have a studio that produces award winning wedding films but he is creating inspirational commercial work. Oh, and did I mention he's been doing this for 20 years and has been able to maintain a fresh approach?

wedding demo | 2009 from David Robin on Vimeo.



mycollegei from David Robin on Vimeo.

David and I caught up for a little Q &A about his career in filming weddings and commercial work:

How did you get started in your filmmaking career? Did you start with weddings, documentaries, etc?

Started shooting weddings in 1984. Was in retail, and sold a portable VHS vcr and camera to a client, who then suggested I shoot his wedding with it. After the wedding, exhausted and reeling, I decided that next time round I was going to charge to shoot one!

What challenges, if any, did you face when you decided to cross over into a new genre?

Corporate work came easily. My main source of business came from my event clients who were already comfortable with me, and had some kind of corporate project. The challenge was to become good at it. That took years!

What is it about your background in your initial field that helps you bring something special to the table with your newer field and vice verse?

Both mediums were so different, and required very different skill sets. Events were run and gun guerilla warfare, and corporate videos were planned, well thought out productions.

However that seems to have changed today, as we now shoot events with dslrs and 35mm lenses. Now we really have to plan out our shots, and put in far more thought to create a wedding film. Much like our corporate work.

So the lines have blurred.

Have you ever experienced any adverse reactions as a result of the negative connotations with "wedding videos?"

I have always strived to elevate the event filmmaking industry. I have spent many years educating clients, and my peers, and at the same time creating work that hopefully garners some respect. In the beginning I was treated with very little respect shooting events, but years later I have been awarded some credibility.

Hopefully i am perceived as a filmmaker now, and not a wedding videographer!

david robin | films can be found at:

www.davidrobinfilms.com 

blog.davidrobinfilms.com 

www.facebook.com/davidrobinfilms 

twitter.com/davidrobin 

www.vimeo.com/user639009 

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Haiti Earthquake Aftermath: Shot Entirely on Canon 5D MK II

Haiti Earthquake Aftermath Montage from Khalid Mohtaseb on Vimeo.

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Mutual Respect

Filmmaking is our passion and our career. As a duo, we enjoy an array of styles. Through our work, regardless of what kind of project, our ultimate goal is to produce a piece that creates an emotional reaction with the viewer while maintaining intrigue through compelling visuals and sounds. We strive for this with all our work whether it is a wedding or a commercial piece. As filmmakers who are constantly trying to improve our craft, Jon and I are perpetually striving to educate ourselves and through the knowledge we gain, educate others. Regardless of our field, in order to succeed we need to have considerable technical and creative abilities. Through further understanding of each others genres, I believe we can continue to aim for an environment of mutual respect. I sincerely believe that within each genre there are those who just have it. They have that natural gift to produce compelling work. Whether it's commercial work, wedding films, or documentaries, they have the ability to tell a story beautifully.

When I first started shooting I viewed it strictly as a hobby. At the time, I was a photographer that was attracted to the concept of a "moving picture." After a few projects I decided to do the unthinkable... Shoot a wedding. To be completely honest, I had never seen a wedding video before. It wasn't until I started to feel the pressure of all the expectations that I began to understand how challenging this new field was. Over time, my perception and approach has continued to change.

I remember when I first started speaking openly about how much I enjoyed filming weddings. People warned me, "Do not tell commercial guys you shoot weddings." I still find this very interesting. Over the last few years things have changed. Now a days, it's not as often that I encounter someone within the film industry with a negative perception of wedding films. There has been a lot of progress and there are those that educate our peers. However, as I mentioned before, I believe that through further education we can continue to strive for mutual respect.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this :)

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