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Here's my first compilation of test footage with the SLR Magic Anamorphot. Even before the lens arrived I knew this would be an upgrade in both performance and functionality coming from the Century Optics 16:9 adapter I'd been using for over a year now but I was anxious to see just how much. My favorite lens pairing on the Century Optics was my Nikkor 24mm f/2 which, on the GH2, became pleasantly wide instead of feeling more like a normal focal length. Some folks hate the distortion you get from non-rectilinear lenses once you start getting this short but I love it. It's a subtle curve that doesn't feel fisheye at all and the anamorphic glass + scope framing just accentuates this quality. Paired with the GH2 both adapters can go a bit wider, to about 18mm-20mm depending on the lens design, but this Nikkor is the widest prime I currently own. On the Century Optics if I needed infinity focus I also got soft, chromatic edges regardless of stop with the Nikkor. This isn't always an unattractive quality and more than once I've read reputable DPs giggle over their choice to shoot on some vintage set of anamorphics *because of* their soft, soft-edged, chromatic character. One man's lens with character is another man's junk lens. Anyway, if I didn't need infinity focus then slapping on my Tokina +.4 achromat provided good, sharpenened up footage mostly free of chromatic effects. The SLR Magic Anamorphot, on the other hand, doesn't need any extra help. It's sharper at f/2.8 on my Nikkor 24mm than the Century Optics at this stop with or without the Tokina doublet, doesn't go soft at the edges and doesn't go all chromatic either. Where I really felt the limits of the Century Optics adapter was anything above 24mm. For straight 16:9 shooting I loved the look of my F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 even though it's a bit soft and exhibits coma wide open because most of its faults are hidden from the GH2. To get soft but still *maybe* useful footage with the 50mm on the Century Optics I'd have to be at f/4 though I really needed to be more like f/5.6 which is decidedly not "bokehlicious". Stacking diopters let me open it up but with a serious restriction on range. With the SLR Magic Anamorphot I could happily shoot at f/2.8 on the 50mm thanks to its close-focus system which behaves like a built-in variable diopter. Speaking of, SLR Magic decided to also produce a new line of high quality achromats as a set (+1.3 and +.33). Where diopters are an absolute necessity with the Century Optics and LA 7200 adapters they're totally optional on the SLR Magic Anamorphot. They become more of an aesthetic choice for further enhancing bokeh in close-up photography, enhancing its stretched quality. SLR Magic rates the Anamorphot as sharp on lenses in the range I shot at as wide as f/2.8 though YMMV depending on the complexity of the lens design. Some lenses have been shown to perform even better than the ratings provided by SLR Magic. For the sake of this test footage I kept generally to the f/2.8 - f/4 range, which I anticipate will be my preferred spread of stops for shooting with the lens though for anything serious this will require a 1st AC to pull focus. A few daylight exteriors are likely shot at f/5.6 but I only went further stopped down, to f/8, on one comparison shot against the Century Optics adapter.

My experience with the 5D Mark II and ISO is that Canon kind of cheated a bit.   ISO 1600 is more like 800 or 1250 on other cameras.

Having read through many EOSHD forum threads, I've happy to purchase two G6's with Canon FD or Yashica ML lenses (subject to availablity) to film events, interviews and short documentaries. With regard to editing, my instinct is 15" Macbook Pro + FCP, however, my budget points towards a Windows laptop + Premiere Elements. Is a i7 quad core laptop overkill? Would I need additional hard drives and hardware? I'd welcome your help and suggestions for a good photographer yet novice film-maker.

Picture: EOSHD Forum, by Orangenz Panasonic have confirmed that the GH4 (quite amazingly) outputs 10bit 4K 4:2:2 from the onboard micro HDMI port without the YAGH external HD-SDI unit. However there are still benefits to using the HD-SDI outputs. Here I have more details on how this whole thing works and what external recorders might be in the pipeline to offer 4K recording on the GH4... Read the full article here

Part 2! All the night parts were done using m42 russian glass, iscorama and a 5D3 shooting raw. Lighting was mainly practical with flames, a couple flashlights and one "Kick" led panel (from kickstarter). we're currently moving towards an 8-episode first season, to be shot during May, using BMPCC and anamorphic lenses (Iscorama and Foton-A). :)

Hi everyone! So I need help on picking a camera, I've also sucked at deciding in general. Basically I need it to film videos for my vlog, some of me at home and others me filming protests. If it was just videos at home of me talking I wouldn't care that much, but filming protests means the camera has to do well in different lighting, specifically low light, and it has to deal with a lot of people moving around. Another important thing is audio, because during protests I might ask someone some stuff and I'd like the viewer to be able to hear them. I know DSLR's don't do very well in that aspect, although you can buy a separate thing for that. I'm not sure about budget yet, I am a student though so don't suggest anything more than $800ish while I figure what I can afford. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you :)

Wow Sean, thank you. Someone needs to do this for the Letus, too haha. Answers a few questions and just seeing that much natural footage puts my mind at ease. I'd ruled out the SLRMagic for a number of reasons, now I'm trying to figure out how I can buy one immediately and not preorder from England!!! You also do a great job of explaining in one place the benefits of 1.33x adapters, some of which, (vertical field of view and what-not) I had previously filed under 'it just looks different', now I know why :)...

Um, guys, does Andy need an intervention? He didn't mention the g6? :)

Yes, exposure is different, color, and aperture wasn't matched for same DOF. However, tests seem similar to my mine. The Panasonics are very sharp but colors a bit washed out. The Canons colors are richer but the image softer. Unless I was going to maximum shallow DOF and/or color saturation, the Panasonic gives the cleaner image. What I concluded, at any rate.

Hey Tito! Can't wait for the review!

it has to have female vocals... karen o style! think cat power or something similar a small girl band! a song like maps from the yeah yeah yeahs here are some girl fronted groups: http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2014/02/19/las-top-10-rising-female-fronted-bands?page=2

I just got a new Fotga DP500 2S follow focus including rails. Everything about it feels and functions very smooth with all my lenses except my Canon FD 50mm 1.4. When using this lens with the Fotga the result is some rather "wobbly" footage. On the footage it looks like the Canon when turned is not centered precise, - object are moving a bit up and down and from side to side. I have made many different adjustments to the setup with no luck. Focus by hand with out follow focus works fine. As mentioned before when using my other lenses with the Fotga - and the same gear/gearing - I don't have any problems at all. Just wondered if the Canon FD lenses in general are too "flabby" to be used with a follow focus or I just have a flabby one or maybe something else?

great idea Andrew! Here's my vote: Homesick Elephant http://homesickelephant.com Their whole album is great, but I think you'll like the track "Quiet as a Mouse".

congrats :)

I would recommend to get atleast 16bg DDR-ram and a proper graphics card (not only a integrated one). The 15" macbooks are good because they get alot of use and have a big community of users. They are expensive though. FCP is probably a good starting suite, very easy to learn and good value in my opinion.

Ha.

mandyleigh.com I'm here researching what camera to buy for video's and came across the thread. Mandyleigh is my wife. She recorded the album live in the studio in London, with the producer of Frank Zappa/Van Morrison etc and muso's from Frank Zappa/Van Morrison and Steeleye Span. Personally, 'Let it Go' is my favourite song, though 'Winters Day' is a close second as I love early 70's rock. Many of the songs are about her dealing with her suicidal depression that she had many years ago. I wrote 'Grey' about her (bring your razorblades for that one! :) ). Believe it or not but the dancey happy sounding 'Keep The Silence' was also about her depression (as she felt she couldn't speak about it to anyone and no-one wanted to hear how she felt... inc her own family). Have fun if you use any song.

check this band: Electric Château

Rony Trio, i.e. my well-travelled brother's band :) Here's his website: http://www.ronytrio.com/ Thanks for the opportunity !

Here's a suggestion. I'm kind of biased though. :) www.helloindustry.com www.youtube.com/helloindustry Here's the latest album. Listen to tracks

EOSHD, can we merge threads?