B-cam for F5: A7S? Or Blackmagic Pocket?

Hi guys, I have a 14-page(!) day coming up for an indie feature, and our budget won't stretch to getting both a second F5 and an operator in. So I'm looking at cheaper options for a B-cam. I'll just have the B-cam on close-up coverage, so that the lower image quality isn't as noticable when we cut in. But I'm wondering which of these two options people think will fair better to intercut with 2k raw from the F5 - Blackmagic Pocket Camera shooting 1080p ProResHQ? Or the Sony A7S recording externally to 1080p ProResHQ on a PIX240? The Sony obviously allows me to shoot SLOG2, which will be able to match the F5 more readily I imagine. But it's only 8-bit output, which could pose significant issues. The Blackmagic Pocket has a different base colour-wise, but records in 10-bit so should have a lot more room to match things up in post. Thoughts? Alternatively, if anyone in Melbourne has an F5/FS7/F3/F35/F55/F65, is free this coming Monday, and is okay with $400 for the day - please get in touch with me! Cheers, Mark

Hey, Mark, Just something more to consider, after the colour matching issues. The a7s and BM Pocket have very differently sized sensors. The optical effects of your lenses, [e.g., dof, focus fall off], will be very different between the two cameras. The BM Pocket's sensor is Super16 sized. Whereas, the Sony a7s sensor is full frame, I believe. I was watching Poldark on PBS the other evening and noticed several shots that seemed to be a result of mismatched sensor sizes. I don't know what cameras they are using on this production. But, several times during the episode, I was jolted by shots that had a greatly different DoF and focus fall off (bokeh) than the rest of the photography. The show has an acceptable "filmic" look for a television production. But, these isolated "early digital video" look shots really stood out. Hope I'm not insulting anyone, here. And, maybe a less critical eye wouldn't have noticed it. It's just a cautionary note about a mismatch that may be related to sensor size.
Oh, yes... I haven't had any problem dealing with grading the BMPCC's CinemaDNG RAW in DaVinci. And, I am by no measure an expert. Best regards,
Will

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Video camera for greenscreen work +

Hi. I'm going to be setting up an in-home studio for a weekly, 1 hour show (to be viewed on the internet, not sure if could ever get it onto public access stations but might like the option).
The studio will be 20' long by 16' wide (probably minus a carveout for a bathroom) - but will retain a 20' length for filming.
For noise control, planning to hang heavy black curtains on the sides and camera end, add some carpeting, and possibly some simple / inexpensive treatment on ceiling as well. Will either paint back wall green or get some chromakey material to shoot against. WIll have a desk with 1-4 people for the show, positioned 6-8 feet from the greenscreen, and the camera on the other end (roughly 12 feet away)
I'm trying to keep the cost as low as possible, but would like it to be a step up from my $200ish consumer camcorders (a JVC Everio and a Canon HV20), so I've been looking at some used Prosumer or Professional Video Cameras that would allow me to capture the 4:2:2 colorspace I want to do for improved Chroma Keys. (I have Adobe Master Suite CS6 and will be doing my work in After Effects and Premiere)
We have a Sony DSLR A200 which came with a couple of lenses, but don't have any additional lenses beyond that (or much camera experience - so all sugestions welcome).
Cameras I've considered include
Sony HVR-V1U which I can get locally for about $1000 or less; one just sold on Ebay for $800ish - I'm a bit reluctant to make that big of a purchase there, but might consider it if a well established seller / store - B&H suggested this camera didn't give you 'true' 4:2:2 colorspace via HDMI; Sony said it did give you the colorspace, what was lacking in these earlier models (or hmdi ports maybe) was ability to transmit full intensity data (for brightness)
Think I might need to buy an HDMI Capturing device to get the 4:2:2 signal - Atomos Ninja 2 runs just under $700, lets you record directly to Hard Drives so fairly inexpensive option for massive storage; Have also seen a variety of products from Blackmagic (Intensity Pro - and Hyperdeck Shuttle - ranging from $150ish-$350ish)
Canon XF100 is newer, seems to be a superior camera. Records onto generic Compact Flash cards (which could help limit expense and make for easy editing); and meets 'broadcast standards' of 50Mbps at full HD, and might not need external HDMI capture - saw these at B&H for between $2000 used, $2500 new; Currently listed for $2100 at 42nd Street Photo.com - which looks legitimate as best I can tell.
Heard BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera mentioned as well - much cheaper, roughly $1000 for new - but seemed like those might need a variety ofa dd o (dont know if compatible with my Sony lenses) - and require fast (expensive) SD cards
Would welcome any advice about good video camera for greenscreen work - along with any experience on the Atomos Ninja 2 or Blackmagic products retailed above (and any tidbits on setting up audio/video studio; will be recording some music in there as well)
Thanks

It's a trade-off ... which is to say, it's like Life in general, right?
That many people that close-in is gonna be awful tight. Two people, ok ... three pushing it ... four is gonna work you some. Getting talent any farther away from the background given the limited distance the camera can move is not likely, without getting too wide a view from the cam exposing off-screen areas.
As to the screen blending into the floor ... you can affix the front edge out from the wall such as to get a curved shape that can visually blend wall into floor, you need a good two-feet radius to pull it off though. And if someone steps back, um ... yea, screens and photog's background paper can easily get a fresh new hole in them.
The "cove" backdrop support is a common commercial photographers tool ... needs to have at least a two-foot radius to be able to blend it visually from floor into wall. Often made by cutting 1/4" ply into 4-foot squares, then drawing a circle on them with a 2-foot radius, cutting out with a jig saw ... resulting in four corner sections that will be used for building the cove itself. Each with that radius of a circle cut out of it. Screw some small wood blocks onto the straight sides, using these blocks to fasten the cove-form sections to the wall and floor, then maybe three blocks flush with the edges of the cove one in the middle of the arc, then equidistant each side from there. Measure from an inch or two off the cove form onto the floor up flush with the bend of the cove and an inch or two past the cove-form up the wall. Cut a strip of 1/4" ply or masonry board or whatnot (some short of thin bendable but tough sheet good) that fits this dimension, push them tight to the form and screw through the sheets into the woodblocks on the cove forms.
Then your screen material can just drap over it and you won't step through it. We built one for our studio, it's 12 foot wide, works great ... and put two layers of 1/4" ply over it, the first stopping just at the edge of the cove form, the other going past that another inche and a half or so.

HT4972 I have ipad 1 . And i want to update it from ios 4.3.5 to ios 7 but i can't why ?? Please help me becouse i can't download apps from app store !!!!! I would suggust: 1 to create a big camera for i pads and ipods and iphones so we can put it in a

I have ipad 1 . And i want to update it from ios 4.3.5 to ios 7 but i can't why ?? Please help me becouse i can't download apps from app store !!!!!
I would suggust:
1 to create a big camera for i pads and ipods and iphones so we can put it in another ipad or ipod or iphone and it has a zoom lens
2 when i downloaded photos and music from a computer to my ipad , i cant delete them now plese do the itunes like samsung becuz samsung have an easier way to download thing from computer
I hope to help me with my poblome and fix it please !!??
And i hope to take my suggusts and make me happy becouse apple it is cooler from samsung
Apple the best
H.M

The iPad 1 can't run the newer operating systems. It'd be like trying to play a bluray disc in your 6 year old dvd player....it simply lacks the hardware to make the software run.
No suggestion about the camera, but given that Apple's attitude seems to be to focus more on the more mobile devices for photography (the iPhone and Touch cameras got features, the iPad and mini didn't), that is highly unlikely. You can tell Apple what you want, but you'd probably be money ahead to get a digital camera.
as to the photos, anything put on via iTunes has to come off via iTunes.Your main alternative would be to look for photo apps that offer file exchange that may give you more functionality.

Can I use an IP camera for FaceTime on my Mac mini?

I have a Mac mini running Mountain Lion and I would like to know if it is possible to use the streaming video from a wireless IP camera as the video source for FaceTime (and other video apps). If so, how?
Thanks!

HI,
My mistake. I saw the Mac Mini spec and presumed you were looking for any camera and had come across Wireless IP ones.
I know of one BlueTooth one (just to keep a spin on it ).
I have heard good things about this one - but mainly from 2 years or so ago when it was new.
Actually Wireless IP ones I know next to nothing about.
One of the main issues with iChat 2 through 4 is that the Video that iChat accepts is limited to DV from the External Firewire cameras that were about or certain USB Cameras that produce output that works with the Utility from Ecamm or the Apple Framework item that was introduced later in OS X 10.4 for the USB 2.0/UVC compliant cameras.
By Snow Leopard and iChat 5 most computers do have USB 2.0 ports and all but two of the Mac range have Internal Cameras that are in fact USB 2.0.UVC Compliant.
On the other side as it were, are Camcorders also move to USB 2.0 over Firewire.
However in many cases the output is not DV and none are UVC compliant.
The video signals from these cannot be "translated by either the iUSBCam Ecamm utility or the internal Driver from Apple.
So the main issue will be the format of the Video output from the camera for iChat or Messages.
Other apps, particularly Quicktime, are going to have less of a problem as Quicktime can handle many more formats.
7:54 PM Saturday; November 24, 2012
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Which cable do I need to connect my Mac Book Pro to my Panasonic PV-GS150 video camera for transferring video to iMovie?

which cable do I need to connect my Mac Book Pro to my Panasonic PV-GS150 video camera for transferring video to iMovie?

I totally understand.
Check some things from here, I have 2 and they have been great so far.
Check here, lots of storage and reasonable prices. Also great support, you get to speak to a person
Clean off your on the G5 drive and off you go.
I suggest buying a second drive and setting it up for a back up, Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, or SuperDuper (both "bootable" back up) All searchable on the web.
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/elite+pro
You can talk to a person for REAL advice, Phone: 800.275.4576 Ask about exporting to your G5 and and exporting to your existing OSX, you may only need a small inexpensive drive for this.
Quick delivery and willing to help.
Hope this makes you back up and running :-)
Do get a back up drive, as it is not ""whether my drive will fail, as much as "when my drive fails"
All the best

HT2986 I got a Samsung video camera for Christmass. I get error message when trying to down load video. Pictures down load fine. I have a Imac with system 10.5.8 and Imovie 8 (7.1.4). Is it camera problem or something on my end. Any help is appreciat

Got a new video camera for Christmas, Samsung HMX-F80, it down loads pictures just fine, but videos I just can't get it to down load. I was able to down load to my PC part no problem.
MY Imac, System 10.5.8, Imovie 8 (7.1.4). Do I need to upgrade? Or what.
Any help is appreciated.

Is it listed here?
iMovie 8 Camcorders supported:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014

Where can I buy a camera for facetime so I can usem it on my mac desktop (mac mini)

Where can I buy a camera for my mac mini to use face time?

Hi,
The software for your printer is available from Apple Software Update and not as any installer from teh HP site.
Follow the steps below to install the printer on Mountin Lion:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03378792&tmp_task=setupCate gory&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&os=219&product=441116&sw_lang=
For any issue getting the drivers be sure to reboot your Mac and try again.
If there are still issues getting the driver, install the package below and then add the printer under Print & Scan:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL907
Shlomi

I use my camera for video and photos. When I download my videos to my ipad1 using the camera connection kit, they will not play on my ipad. Is there a way I can get them to play?

I use my camera for video and photos. When I download my videos to my ipad1 using the camera connection kit, they will not play.
Does anyone know how I can make this work?

Yvonne-
I haven't tried videos on my camera yet. Do you use the Videos App to play them? I don't think they will play in the Photos App.
If yours are in a format that is not in Vazandrew's list, you may need to sync them to your computer and convert them to M4V or MP4 format. You can use a program like HandBrake to do the conversion. <HandBrake> Once converted, you can sync them back to the iPad and they should play.
This may not meet your needs, but the alternative appears to be getting a different camera. I don't know of another Video App that might work.
Fred

I accidentally deleted my iMovie off my mac, anyone know how to get it back because it came for free and is now 15 dollars to buy back??? pls help

i accidentally deleted my iMovie off my mac, anyone know how to get it back because it came for free and is now 15 dollars to buy back??? pls help

If you mean you accidentally removed the icon for iMovie from the Dock (the array of icons at the bottom of the window), you can add it back easily.
Open the Applications folder (if you open it from the Dock you may then need to click the Open in Finder icon), locate the iMovie program.
Drag the icon for iMovie down to the Dock, somewhere between the icon for Finder and the dashed line toward the right.
Wait for the icons at that spot to move aside, then drop it in.

Is there an external camera for ipad1 available and does it work with 4.3.5?

Is there an external camera for ipad1 available and does it work with 4.3.5? Really hoping to get facetime going on my ipad

AFAIK, no one makes an add on camera for the iPad1. If selling your iPad1 and buying an iPad2 is out, then you can use Skype on the iPad1. Although the other person won't see you, the iPad1 will receive Skype video so you can see them, if they enable their video.

Isight camera for mac mini

Looking to purchase a camera for my mac mini something along the lines of isight
My current setup is mac mini to hdtv
Camera is going to be mainly for FaceTime & Skype
Looking for a camera that is compatible with mac mini and the OS X 10.8

Hello, you'll need a Mic also, so I suggest these...
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Macally/ICECAM2/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/MacAlly/MEGACAM/

Need Camera for Boardroom

Does anyone have a suggestion for setting up a stand-alone or wireless camera in a large conference room? Is there a stand-alone client that will automagically connect to iChat Server? Maybe a wireless camera for a Mac Pro that will reach 40 feet? Or, maybe some way to get a iSight Camera (I'm sure I can find out) to reach the distance?
We have a Mac Pro tucked away in a closet at one end of the room and a large screen at the other end of the room 40 feet away. We need a way for the folks in the conference room to look at the screen, to see the other participants, and looking towards the camera at the same time.
Thank you, in advance, for taking the time to offer your input.

I know you’re looking for a camera (and I can’t help you much there, I just mounted a standard DV camera in our meeting room up high and use a wireless remote that came with the mount to adjust [custom install].
You’ll need a nice audio setup as well. I have had a great experience with:
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=546140&CTID=5040786
It works great on our mac conferencing system and tracks well even in the areas it doesn’t list as viable locations for conference participants. We even daisy chain them for our really large seminars. It has audio out too so you can use just the mic portion and output to a smart room setup or use the built-in speaker . mic combo (the speakers are actually quite good as well).

New camera for old iPhoto

We've been intending to buy a new camera for a bit, nothing fancy, just something a bit better than our now antique Canon (PowerShot A10) (yes, really!) and that can shoot some brief video. Just as I was about to buy, I wondered whether all the new cameras were in fact compatible with iPhoto 6. Of course, all of the links to the "compatible cameras" pages within the iPhoto6 help app are broken (indeed, why would Apple keep updating them at this point?).
Then I am just learning about RAW format, because of course with our ancient camera I have no idea what it is. I suppose we should choose a camera from this list to get full capabilities from it, which does rule out a number we had looked at.
I just discovered that they offer the new iPhoto as a standalone in the App store, and maybe it's worth the measly $15 for it.

Thanks -- as I looked into RAW, I realized it was far beyond our needs (and the cameras that do take RAW format pictures far beyond our price range).
So any camera, even a new model, would be fine, huh? I think I was fooled by googling up old web pages when this was not yet the case; and it doesn't help that the iPhoto 6 help app has a (non-working) link to a (no longer applicable) list of "compatible cameras."
Thanks again.
Message was edited by: begemot2

What is the best camera for me?

I don't know much at all about cameras, so I'm really hoping someone will be able to help me! I'm looking for a camera that's better than your standard point and shoot digital camera but one that doesn't cost a fortune. I want to be able to take pictures of NASCAR cars going down the track without them being blurry. I would also like to be able to take pictures of things that are sitting still or aren't going quite 200 mph. I guess I just want an all around good camera that also has the ability to take good, non-blurry pictures of NASCAR cars in motion. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the best camera and/or lense would be for this. Thanks so much for your help!

This is one instance where good gear helps but knowing how to use it properly is more important. Panning skills will be important, & so will choosing the right focal length of lens. I'll assume you have to shoot from the stands but don't know how far you'll be from the stretch of track you're hoping to shoot the cars along. A camera with a good AF system matched to a lens with fast AF capabilities will help too, but you could do this old school & use manual settings & manual focus too. You would set up the camera based on the lighting favoring a Tv that can freeze the car but blur the background & wheels / tires. Then you pick an ISO to allow shooting in the f8 range at that Tv & pre focus on the section of track in front of you. Pan with the car or group of cars as they go by & take a few shots while they are in the zone you've pre focused on.
If however you're really serious about it & think you'll attend enough events to justify spending the money the 7D, 1D2n, 1D3 & 1D4 are all worthy bodies for action thanks to their AF systems & frame rate. For lenses I suggest considering any of these as a starting point but again you may need longer depending on access to the action. 70-200 f4 L, or the IS version or maybe the f2.8 versions but since the 70-300 L IS seems to have both a very fast & accurate AF system it would be my first choice as a from the stands starting point. The 100-400 L would be my next addition to a motorsports kit but I don't think it's the lens I'd start with.
As for setting up a camera for action (DSLR's but some P & S may work too) I wrote an article which is a good starting point & the suggested shutter speeds for prop planes fit a rookie shooting motorsports so I recommend reading this plus use the link in my last post for another set of lessons from Canon that you should read.
http://www.rccanada.ca/rccforum/showthread.php?t=147971
As a side note I started attending R/C events to work on my panning skills so I'd be better at the track. A smooth panning swing is developed through practice & it's the key to good results, and follow through after the last shot in each sequence.
"A skill is developed through constant practice with a passion to improve, not bought."

Best camera for low light and sports

have the sx200is
looking for a newer camera for sports and low light shots

The challenge with sports is that you are REALLY pushing the camera gear to it's limits. Fast action requires fast shutter speeds. But fast shutter speeds demand a lot of light and only outdoor games played during the daytime have that. Indoor games or games played under field lighting at night generally do not have the kind of lighting needed to shoot with fast shutter speeds -- not the kind of shutter speeds needed to freeze action. So this ends up demanding a camera with excellent ISO performance and lenses with very low focal ratios so they can collect a LOT more light when the shutter is open. This gear is expensive.
You will want to consider a reasonable budget depending on what you can afford and the needs of the specific sports.
Are these indoor or outdoor sports? If outdoors, are these played during the day or are they night games?
The "best" camera for sports and low light is the EOS-1D X. It has phenominal low-light performance, has an amazing focus system, and can shoot at 12 frames per second. But it's about $6800 for the "body only" and then you still need lenses. I'm guessing this is probably not what you had in mind. But if money were not a constraint... this would be the one to go for.
The 5D III is another amazing camera for low light performance and and also has an amazing focusing system (largely the same as the 1D X) can shoot at 6 frames per second, and only costs $3500... again, that's the "body only". Still probably not what you had in mind.
The 70D has an extremely good focus system (though not as good as the 5D III and 1D X), not quite as good as low light (but pretty good and much better than a point & shoot camera) and shoots at 7 frames per second (1 fps faster than 5D III) and it only costs $1200 for the body only.
The T5i will be noticeably less expensive than the 70D... a good (but not extremely good) focusing system and 5 frames per second, but the body and 1 kit lens combined is about $850 but that wont a lens suitable for use shooting sports so you'll still need to invest in more appropriate lenses.
When shooting action photography in low light, what you _really_ want is a lens that can collect a lot more light than the average lens for that very brief moment when the shutter is open. Such a lens can allow you to use a faster shutter speed to help freeze those action shots. But *which* lens you use depends on the sport.
For low-light sports, these would ideally be f/2.8 zoom lenses... but f/2.8 zoom lenses are not cheap. Canon's EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM (ideal for most indoor sports and outdoor sports IF the action is happening close to you) is about $2500. Sigma's lens is about half that price. But if you're covering action on a large athletic field and the players are far away, they'll still be small. Sigma makes a 120-300mm f/2.8 zoom for sports... for the low low price of only $3600.
Scott Kelby does a video to talk about sports photography and he discusses the equipment used and why... and basically says if you want the gear for shooting sports, you basically need a suitcase full of money.
Tim Campbell
5D II, 5D III, 60Da

B-cam for F5: A7S? Or Blackmagic Pocket?

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