nofilmschool » shootout

'Battle of the Bokeh' Beauty Contest Blind-Tests Canon, Nikon, and Sigma 35mm F/1.4 Lenses

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:04:41 +0000

When considering lens options for purchase or rental, certain criteria may stand out to you more than others. This depends on what you shoot most often, or what a project demands. Perhaps as a run-and-gun doc shooter, you simply need the extra stop you get with one 85mm lens for the same price as another that doesn’t vignette as badly. Or you gave up a contrast performance you really preferred in favor of the IS lens of greater overall value. But what if money were no object, and focal length and speed were matched? An aspect you’d find yourself evaluating closely is the way each handles its bokeh, or de-focused areas of the image. DigitalRev’s latest Battle of the Bokeh is a comparison between Canon, Nikon, and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lenses in precisely this spirit — with some unexpected results. (more…)

What's the Best Camera Under $1K? Canon T4i, Sony NEX-6, Panasonic GH2 Shootout

Dave Kendricken — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:39:00 +0000

Kevin Good and the Weapons of Mass Production team are on a sleepless mission to determine the best bang for your buck, and weed out all the rest. Each contender will get its due where it excels, but a clear winner will emerge from the settling dust just about every time — and WOMP will suffer no runners-up, all on behalf of the budget shooter. You know this from the show’s 24-70mm lens shootout — you also know how to shoot with an iPhone, or how others measure up to GoPro as action cameras. Now, WOMP sets out to answer the question of questions in today’s camera market: what’s the best you can do for under a thousand dollars? (Runners-up, beware). (more…)

Weapons of Mass Production Action Cam Shootout: GoPro HERO3 vs. Panasonic TS4

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:48:19 +0000

One could say that last year marked the occasion when GoPro really ‘went pro.’ How ‘pro’ does GoPro go? Well, 2.7K imagery (and even up to 4K in sub-FMV frame rates), almost universal mountability, and a toy-sized frame aren’t factors to mess around with in the action camera world. Similar offerings from competitors may actually have some advantages over the GoPro HERO3 line, though — and this is exactly what Kevin Good and Weapons of Mass Production have once again set out to evaluate — pragmatically, thoroughly, and entertainingly as usual! (more…)

Neutral Density Shootout from Dave Dugdale: Which Variable ND Filter Should You Buy?

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:19:50 +0000

By now Dave Dugdale and his site Learning DSLR Video should be fairly familiar to you because of his honest personal experience and no-nonsense gear reviews. In our modern, lovely era of acquisition technology — particularly regarding the proliferation of low-cost, high native ISO cameras — the need for Neutral Density filters inevitably arises. That said, there’s quite a few options out there, but like lenses themselves, quality concerns must be heavily weighted against price-point. Dave has recently created an ND filter shootout that incorporates both of these key considerations into his conclusion. Read on to find out which ND filter just may be the right choice for your needs. (more…)

Canon, Nikon, Sigma, and Tamron 24-70mm Lens Shootout: What's the Best Value for Your Money?

Dave Kendricken — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 03:16:44 +0000

Kevin Good over at CrisisLab has recently published a comparison of both higher end (Canon and Nikon) and less expensive (Sigma and Tamron) lenses common for various types of DSLR shooting — 24-70mm f/2.8 zooms. The test compares overall clarity, both at the center of each lens as well as at the edges, the quality of bokeh, the amount of vignetting, and the ability for internal optical image stabilization. The results of each test were weighted against the going price for each lens, in order to determine which possesses the best overall value. Read on to check out the video — and which lens may have the most bang for your buck. (more…)

Now That Zacuto's 2012 Shootout Has Ended, Have Your Favorite Scenes or Cameras Changed?

Joe Marine — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 21:30:08 +0000

A lot has been said about Zacuto’s Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 — on this site as well as on many others. Almost everyone who could weigh in has weighed in, and the positives and negatives of such a subjective/objective test have really been argued ad nauseam. Now that all three parts of the shootout are available to download in full 1080p rather than just streaming, you can watch the test in the best quality possible (besides being in a theater, of course). We’d like to put forward to NoFilmSchool readers, if you’ve already seen the original test, what is your favorite scene now that you’ve had some time to think about it — and maybe even watch it a few more times (in full quality)? Is your favorite scene affected by what you know about the lighting circumstances or the objective test in the third part? Would you choose a camera solely on the subjective test or the objective test? (more…)

Pixel Peepers Rejoice! Empirical Test in Part 3 of the 2012 Zacuto Shootout Reveals Best Cameras

Joe Marine — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:25:16 +0000

Part 3 of the Zacuto Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 is finally here after parts 1 and 2 were released in June and July. In those two parts, there was a very strong emphasis on the creative choices for each camera and the way each scene was lit. Since the directors of photography and the colorists were all given equal time to do what they needed to do, the final product relied just as much on the the shooters as it did on the cameras. The original lighting setup, however, was kept consistent in order to achieve an empirical test that would show off the true capabilities of each camera. We already know who you picked in the subjective test, but who will be the winner in the objective test? (more…)

Zacuto's 2012 Camera Shootout Concludes on August 15th, See What You Missed in Parts 1 and 2

Joe Marine — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 20:00:36 +0000

Every single Zacuto shootout — and really all camera shootouts for that matter — seem to cause quite a debate. Feelings tend to be hurt if someone’s personal favorite isn’t near the top of the pack, and often more than one individual is unhappy with the way the test is being conducted or shown to the public. I was lucky enough to see the 2012 shootout in person, and while web video will never replicate the theater experience, my favorite scenes weren’t too far off from the majority of viewers — except in regards to the GH2 scene. That scene, to the surprise of many, just so happened to win a blind poll on NoFilmSchool right before part 2 was released. While the first two parts dealt with subjective choices, part 3 should finally reveal the empirical test where each camera is compared objectively. Check out the trailer below. (more…)

Zacuto 'Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout' Part 2 Now Available for Download in 1080p

Joe Marine — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:51:21 +0000

The Zaucto Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 has, like most Zacuto shootouts, caused quite a stir among professionals and amateurs alike. Many chose specific cameras in Part 1 that were finally revealed in Part 2, and we actually conducted our own poll before Part 2 was released that showed what the audience felt was the best scene. While surprising to some (and not to many others), the Panasonic GH2 was selected as the top scene followed by the Arri Alexa and Sony F65. The fact that a camera under $1,000 is even in the same league as two cameras well over $50,000 speaks to how far digital technology has come in the last 5 years. If you haven’t seen Part 2, it’s finally embeddable (below) and downloadable, and if you go to Vimeo, you can get the full 3.2GB 1080p file. (more…)

The Overall Winner of the 2012 Zacuto Camera Shootout Poll Is....

Ryan Koo — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:34:03 +0000

Now that part two of Zacuto’s Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout is out, we know which camera was which in our poll. Several hundred voters ranked their top choices among the Apple iPhone 4S, Panasonic GH2 (Hacked), Canon 7D, Canon C300, Sony FS100, Sony F3, Sony F65, RED Epic, and Arri Alexa. One response got over twice as many votes as the 2nd place finisher — see which here: (more…)

Zacuto Finally Reveals Which Cameras are Which with 'Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout' Part Two

Joe Marine — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:30:14 +0000

There’s no question that any material Zacuto releases about cameras is going to create a stir. Actually, anytime anyone releases anything about cameras people usually get very defensive if their favorite camera isn’t at the top of the list. We already ran a poll about which cameras were the favorite for NoFilmSchool readers, and if you happened to be at the shootout in person at one of the screenings, the results are pretty interesting. I’ve already given my thoughts on the shootout, and today with the release of Part Two, you’ll be able to finally match up your favorite scenes with what cameras they were shot on. Check out a trailer below: (more…)

Which Camera Won the Zacuto Camera Shootout? The (Anonymous) Winners and Losers

Ryan Koo — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:21:44 +0000

A couple weeks ago Zacuto released their Revenge of The Great Camera Shootout, which pitted the Apple iPhone 4S, Panasonic GH2 (Hacked), Canon 7D, Canon C300, Sony FS100, Sony F3, Sony F65, RED Epic, and Arri Alexa against each other. This year, however, there was a twist — they didn’t tell you which was which. I ran a poll asking folks which camera they liked the most, and with over 600 responses here are the results, by camera letter: (more…)

Which Camera Do You Like Most in Zacuto's 'Revenge of The Great Camera Shootout'?

Ryan Koo — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:23:34 +0000

Following a series of in-person screenings around the world, this year’s installment of Zacuto’s Emmy-winning series The Great Camera Shootout is finally available online. The shootout puts the Apple iPhone 4S, Panasonic GH2 (Hacked), Canon 7D, Canon C300, Sony FS100, Sony F3, Sony F65, RED Epic, and Arri Alexa through their paces in a slightly different format than previous years — this time, each camera’s respective DP was allowed to change the lighting to simulate optimal conditions for that particular camera, but they’re providing a “blind” test for the first episode. UPDATE: I’ve added a poll for those who have watched the test. Choose which ones you like the most and we’ll find out which is which in episode two! (more…)

Thoughts After Seeing the Zacuto Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012

Joe Marine — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:13:38 +0000

A tremendous amount of time is spent perfecting the Zacuto shootouts, and if you haven’t seen what went into the Revenge of the Great Camera Shooutout 2012, you should watch the behind-the-scenes immediately. The documentary is going to be split into three parts, with part one being released tomorrow, June 15th. I didn’t have a chance to see the RGCSO (as Zacuto calls it in acronym form) at NAB because the showings were cancelled, but thankfully they’ve been showing them around the country and I was finally able to attend. (more…)

How Much Work Goes into Zacuto's Camera Shootouts? Find out in These Production Log Videos

Joe Marine — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 23:00:43 +0000

While I was excited to see the Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout at NAB, it was not to be, as there were some technical issues, and the screenings were cancelled for the entire week. As many of you know, Zacuto has done a number of camera shootouts in the last couple of years, and many of them have been strictly technical discussions. Their goal this time, however, is to go beyond the tech specs, and really get the most artistically out of each camera. I’ll be seeing the shootout very soon — and will share my thoughts just before it goes live on June 15th — but if you want to see the massive amount of work that goes into producing these things, check out the behind-the-scenes production log videos below. (more…)

'We Just Aren't Up for the Grief,' Jim Jannard and RED Give Up on June 4th Camera Shootout

Joe Marine — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:37:25 +0000

Welcome to the world of public camera testing, Jim. The wild west camera shootout that Jim and Co. were planning to have at RED Studios Hollywood on June 4th has been cancelled. It seems all of the “grief” that he’s been getting over the situation isn’t worth the trouble, and he and RED “have better things to do.” Surprisingly, Steve Weiss entered REDUser forum territory to explain the choices that had been made for the Zacuto camera test, and the fact that RED had been offered many times to come to the shootout, manage their own RED Epic, and control the post-production method used for that camera. (more…)

The Canon 5D Mark III, Canon C300, and RED SCARLET Shoot a Nighttime Bike Race Side-by-Side

Ryan Koo — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:36:46 +0000

Remember when video cameras had sensors that were one third of an inch? It was damn hard to shoot anything at night. But now there are a million cameras (well, not a million, but a bunch) with Super35-size sensors. So while you can actually get a decent exposure while shooting a bike race at night now, not all sensors are created equal. Here’s the Canon 5D Mark III, Canon C300, and RED SCARLET filming the same bike race. The first pass of the video has no key (so you don’t know which is which), and then they show you the second time around: (more…)

It's a Wild West Camera Shootout: Jim Jannard and RED vs. the World on June 4th

Joe Marine — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:43:33 +0000

Pay-Per-View…Or not. It seems that Mr. Jannard has a bone to pick with the people at Zacuto, and he wants the world to see in 4K. He’s unhappy with the tests (I couldn’t see the newest test at NAB thanks to technical difficulties) since the final output for all of the camera shootouts thus far has been 2K, and it levels the playing field for those cameras that can’t shoot above 1080p. With more and more theaters moving to 4K projectors, it is important to at least consider if 4K should start to be included in the near future. Unsatisfied with anyone else who does camera testing, Jim has decided to do his own camera test in 2K and 4K and is inviting other camera manufacturers to RED Studios in Hollywood on June 4th. (more…)

If You're at NAB, Don't Miss Zacuto's 'Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012'

Ryan Koo — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:24:41 +0000

UPDATE: all NAB screenings are canceled on account of a technical problem discovered by Bruce Logan, ASC. Which means signing up here will be the first chance to see the screening…

I’m not at NAB this year, and one of the things I’m most bummed about missing is Zacuto’s annual camera shootout. This year’s installment features an impressive lineup: the Sony F65, ARRI Alexa, RED Epic, Sony FS100, Sony F3 w/ S-log, Canon C300, Canon 7D w/ Technicolor, and a hacked Panasonic GH2. They’re screening the shootout 35 times at NAB, so don’t miss it if you’re there. The rest of us will just have to wait until it is released online on June 15th — or register below if it’s coming to your city: (more…)

The RED SCARLET and Sony F3 Trade Blows in a Head-to-Head Test and... Both Look Good

Ryan Koo — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:03:38 +0000

DP Timur Civan, who lensed my RED SCARLET test short and now has a SCARLET of his own, has done an apples-to-apples comparison with two of the top similarly-priced Super35 motion picture cameras currently on the market: the Sony F3 and the RED SCARLET. Timur has the luxury of owning both — and some flawless Cooke Panchro primes — and has set up a nice skin tone and still life test. Here it is: (more…)