NoFilmSchool » dslr

'Joy Ride,' the First Nikon D800 Test Film

Ryan Koo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:51:58 +0000

Is the just-announced Nikon D800 the new Canon 5D Mark II? It’s full frame, it’s of a similar size and it’s of a similar price, but it offers a clean HDMI output, and it does 60p (at 720p). The question, I guess, is not how the D800 will fair against the 5D Mark II but how it will compare the Mark III — whenever we hear about that. Thanks to reader Paul, here’s the first (to my knowledge) short film shot on the new D800: (more…)

Nikon's 36-Megapixel D800 Matches the D4's Clean HDMI Output at Half the Price

Ryan Koo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:46:07 +0000

The new Nikon D4 isn’t the only new kid on the block — Nikon will also be releasing a second full-frame DSLR, the Nikon D800. As rumored, the D800 has a whopping 36 megapixel CMOS sensor (7360 x 4912 resolution), which may make the D800 not seem optimal for video (smaller photosites). However, the camera features full 1080p HD video at 30/24fps and 720p at 60fps. Similar to the D4, the D800 will also offer a clean HDMI output — except the D800 is half the price of the D4, coming in at $2,999. (more…)

Canon Updates EOS Utility, Finally Works on OS X Lion

Ryan Koo — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:26:21 +0000

Canon’s EOS Utility software, which includes the ability to edit picture styles on your HDSLR, has not worked on OSX Lion since Apple released the new OS in July. However, Canon has just released version 2.10.4 which remedies this problem. Here’s the deal with this new version: (more…)

Low-Cost Video Tools on Kickstarter: $50 Follow Focus and $999 DSLR Helicopter

Ryan Koo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:44:52 +0000

I’ve always thought Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and other crowdfunding platforms are actually “best” suited for gadgets and technology products where you pre-buy something out of self-interest (as opposed to helping someone make something, as you did with me). Despite this, on Kickstarter Film & Video was the largest category in 2011, which is a testament to the generosity and connectivity of the filmmaking community. Here are a couple of filmmaking-friendly products for DSLRs on Kickstarter, both of which are looking to lower the price point for follow focuses and remote-control helicopters: (more…)

Canon's Mysterious 4K DSLR Spotted in the Wild -- Or is This the 5D Mark III?

Ryan Koo — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:49:19 +0000

The mysterious 4K Canon DSLR — or some other widescreen Canon HDSLR — has been spotted in the wild… literally. Stephen Oachs from Aperture Academy was shooting wildlife in Kenya (with a camera, not a gun) and spotted a Japanese cameraman using the unreleased Canon 200-400mm with built-in teleconverter and Canon 600mm lenses. The cameraman was also using ~~the as-yet-unnamed 4K~~ a mysterious DSLR, which has a widescreen LCD and a new “RATE” button. I’ve lightened and blown up Stephen’s image for as much detail as possible: (more…)

More Details on the Nikon D4's Video Features, and the Clean HDMI Feed in Action

Ryan Koo — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:35:06 +0000

Since the official announcement, more details of the Nikon D4′s video features have emerged. Given Nikon is deeming it a “multimedia DSLR,” how will its features compare to its chief competitor, the Canon 1DX (both camera are high-end DSLRs, priced at $6-7k)? First up is a video by DSLR News Shooter’s Dan Chung, who got a hands-on look from Nikon’s James Banfied: (more…)

'Similaar Flaat' Aims to Bring Improved Skin Tones to Canon DSLR Picture Profiles

Ryan Koo — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:05:37 +0000

Picture profiles have taken HDSLRs to another level in terms of getting a gradeable image out of our favorite low-cost hybrid cameras. As far as Canon DSLRs are concerned, Technicolor CineStyle is the official “flat” setting and a top user-created choice is Marvels Cine, out of which I’ve had problems getting useable skin tones (but I have not tried the latest version, designed to fix this). Joining the fray is new entrant Similaar Flaat, by NoFilmSchool frequenter Samuel Hurtado, which is designed to offer a similarly flat setting with improved skin tones. There are a number of profiles, so grab them yourself and see if it’s worthy of the extra “a”… (more…)

Philip Bloom's Camera Shootout Features the Latest Large Sensor DSLRs and Camcorders

Ryan Koo — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:19:29 +0000

I was waiting for part two to post this, so now that it’s live, here is Philip Bloom’s latest camera shootout pitting the Canon C300, Sony NEX5N, Panasonic AF100, Panasonic GH2, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 7D, Sony FS100, Sony F3, and Nikon D7000 against each other in a variety of real-world situations: (more…)

World's First Video Shot on the Brand New Nikon D4

Ryan Koo — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:30:57 +0000

So the just-announced Nikon D4 features an uncompressed HDMI output. This means you can take a wonderfully capable still camera, hook it up to an external recorder, and now you have an uncrippled video camera with a full-frame sensor. Pretty damn appealing! I found this 7-minute video on YouTube and haven’t seen any other information about it, so I’m not sure if external recorders were used, but go ahead and click “1080p” and enjoy the first Nikon D4 video: (more…)

Nikon D4 Officially Official: 'Multimedia' DSLR Features Uncompressed HDMI Output

Ryan Koo — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:08:15 +0000

The new full-frame Nikon D4, as rumored, brings with it a bevy of new video features. It will do 1080p at 30/25/24 frames-per-second, and up to 60 FPS at 720p. It will ship with a microphone input and dedicated headphone jack (both with adjustable levels), and supports the new XQD memory card format. And while the h.264 codec is only 24Mbps, to complain about the bitrate would be to ignore the biggest new feature: a clean, uncompressed HDMI output. Nikon has finally gotten serious about video. (more…)

Nikon D4 Specs Leak, Will Beat Canon's EOS 1DX to Market

Ryan Koo — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:40:32 +0000

Supposedly we’re in for an official unveiling in the next couple of days, but that didn’t stop one site from posting the official Nikon D4 spec sheet. The camera will be a competitor to the Canon 1DX, coming in at a similar $6,000 price point, and and it looks like the D4 will actually beat the 1DX to market by a month. The specs, which back up the earlier rumors: (more…)

Edelkrone's Pocket Rig is the 'World's Most Compact and Light DSLR Rig'

Ryan Koo — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:15:03 +0000

I saw some nifty rigs from edelkrone at last year’s NAB, and while I haven’t done any real-world shooting with their products, their latest rig caught my eye: the aptly-named Pocket Rig claims to be the “World’s Most Compact and Light DSLR Rig.” Here’s the release video: (more…)

Last Video/DSLR/RED News Roundup of 2011

Ryan Koo — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:53:32 +0000

A quick roundup of some of the latest video tools — last one before the new year. (more…)

With New Magic Lantern Firmware, Canon DSLRs Get Real-Time HDR Video*

Ryan Koo — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:28:17 +0000

Is real-time High Dynamic Range imaging, ala RED’s HDRx, coming to Canon DSLRs with the next version of Magic Lantern firmware? Well, yes and no — thus the asterisk. The system they’ve developed splits a 24p stream into two 12FPS exposures, one high and one low, and then interpolates the frames. It’s an interesting hack, demonstrated here: (more…)

Canon 5D Mark II, Still the Best Full Frame HDSLR, Goes on Sale with Free Bundled Accessories

Ryan Koo — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:57:10 +0000

I saw mentioned on a few other blogs that the price of the Canon 5D Mark II — still the ~~only~~ best full frame video camera in the world¹ — had dropped to $2k. “Nice,” I thought, thinking back to how I paid $2500 for mine — but I wasn’t sure if that was cause for an entire blog post. Then I saw that, because of a price war, B&H is throwing in a whole bundle of stuff included in that $2k price: a SanDisk 16GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Card, a Lowepro Adventura 170 Shoulder Bag, and the Red Giant B&H Video Production Software Bundle (reportedly worth $720 collectively). And free US shipping. You’re not going to find a better deal than this — the only question is whether you’d rather wait for the next full frame HDSLR from Canon (which is the 1DX… which will retail for $7k). The 5D Mark III probably won’t be out for quite some time, given Canon needs to give the 1DX room the breathe. One other thing to mention: the Mark II has terrific resale value due in part to its excellence as a still camera.

Link: Canon EOS 5D Mark II w/ Bundle – B&H Photo

Oops, realized the Nikon D3s is full frame… but only does 720p.

Nikon D4 to Feature 'Improved' Video, Uncompressed HDMI Output?

Ryan Koo — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:36:50 +0000

Just a rumor… disclaimers apply… etc. The Nikon D4, which should compete with the Canon 1DX, is supposedly landing in January, with “improved” video (read: 1080p) and an uncompressed HDMI output. It’s also slated to be “only” 16 megapixels, which, along with its maximum ISO of 102,400 should make it a low-light beast. Is this the DSLR that has Nikon catching up or surpassing the video capabilities of offerings from Panasonic or Canon? (more…)

Sony F3 and Canon C300 Footage Side-by-Side (and Some C300 Ungraded Files to Download)

Ryan Koo — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:40:14 +0000

How do the Canon C300 and Sony F3, pictured respectively at left, compare? Mario Feil, director of the just-posted C300 short, has released the following comparison video. There’s also a Canon 1D Mark IV thrown in, which quite frankly looks awful at these high ISO levels: (more…)

Okii Releases MC1 USB Mini Controller for Canon DSLRs

Ryan Koo — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:40:00 +0000

There are a couple of USB follow focus controllers out there — the Okii FC1 and Helmsman come to mind — but not all controllers are follow focuses. Instead, some simply let you start/stop recording, adjust exposure, and change settings. Here’s a preview from HD Cam Team of the Okii MC1 USB controller (though at the time of the video the brand had yet to be revealed): (more…)

Rumors Have the Nikon D800 Featuring Full 1080p Video and 36 Megapixel Stills

Ryan Koo — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:24:09 +0000

Take this rumor the way most rumors should be taken (with a grain, or many grains, of salt), but the Nikon D700′s successor/big brother, the D800, is rumored to debut in Japan this Thursday, November 24th for roughly $3,900. The camera will reportedly have 1080p at 30, 25, and 24p, moves up to 60p at 720p, and is supposed to shoot stills at 36 megapixels (!). If you were thinking about getting a pro HDSLR, you might want to wait a few days to find out if this spec sheet is real: (more…)

Hack Improves Panasonic GH2's Night Vision, Raising ISO from 3,200 to 12,800

Ryan Koo — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:24:16 +0000

The Panasonic GH2 keeps getting better and better thanks to hacker Vitaliy Kiselev. Recently he enabled a extremely high bitrate, and now he’s bumped the ISO during video mode from 3,200 all the way up to 12,800. While the GH2 had high ISO modes available previously, they were only possible with a Panasonic lens in Shutter Priority mode. Now anyone using hacked firmware can crank up the ISO. Here are some video tests of the GH2 at 12,800 ISO: (more…)