Andrew Reid

Those are some serious images in the video above. If the Pocket is anything like the URSA Mini Pro it will be a treat.

The worst thing about this forum for me is what happens after people write a long, reasonable post, I like I just did, setting out a balanced argument with rational thought - and the reply is lazy low quality effort that isn't engaging with the substance of the debate and does what you just did there - A) You ignore what I said in it's entity B) You ignore the subject being debated or sidestep it C) You put a pithy one line post up complaining about my attitude D) You don't take into consideration that it's my site... you are in my house as a guest, so basic manners should be activated E) You don't give me the benefit of defending myself in my own home... Versus Actual Idiots who refuse to get the point of the discussion and people who attack me out of the blue... What do you expect me to do man, seriously!? Hand them a prize, or me to say "goodbye, you're no longer welcome in my front lounge room!" Somehow I think the latter is more appropriate. As I come here every day to hear what the vast majority of good members have to say and contribute, I just don't want it spoiling by a minority. Whenever there is a controversial filmmaking or camera topic discussed it goes to hell. I don't want only safe topics and no politics. If you can't deal with it, leave. I don't want to have to deal with a pack of enemies in my own living room... with their stupid arguments and pithy one-liners... and I include ALL those who don't listen and don't debate as enemies of a discussion forum about filmmaking! I will always provoke idiots, and there's a very good reason for that... Because I can't be bothered to accommodate them. Server bandwidth isn't free!

The typical enthusiast Sony user has Canon glass, and that's the most dangerous situation for Sony right now with the Canon mirrorless rival on the horizon. They haven't been very good at moving people off EF lenses onto their own FE range because it's been way overpriced. They should have had a low-end, mid-range and high-end of lenses. Instead it's all a bit of a mixture, and a mess, with gaping holes in every price bracket. They tried to fill in some of the holes in the low-end with the 28mm F2 FE, 50 and 85... but forgot to do a 35! The 35mm F2.8 is mid-range and boring. The 35mm F1.4 is high-end and very expensive. But an affordable 35 is a basic requirement for every mirrorless camera. When Canon brings out a Dual Pixel AF full frame mirrorless camera with native EF adapter that works flawlessly, and Sony is still relying on Metabones, that spells trouble to me... Metabones have done a great job... But it will never work quite as well as the Canon system. Yep, totally agree.

Well in defence of actors, if you're assigned a role, you're playing a fictional character that might have nothing to do with you. It's somebody else's creation. Where I think James Gunn was misunderstood (and he did little to help things in the apology), was that he was playing a fictional role, an extreme character, that of a pervert. Now to be absolutely clear - this isn't me making excuses for bad behaviour, or absolving him of any responsibility, or justifying the content of the jokes, let alone denying the hurt they probably caused to people who have suffered from real abuse in their childhoods. But as Stephen Fry said self pity is a horrible thing, and if you feel hurt by something or offended, it takes character to rise above that and switch off. That's what I would like to see more of on the internet - if people are offended by a joke - don't expose yourself to more, don't get self pity and don't start grandstanding about how angelic and virtuous you are by essentially attacking the freedom of the artist to express a character - even a very offensive character. If, by extension we start removing rape (for example) from all fictional work, films, books and plays - a lot of classic material will have to be burnt and removed from our culture. A lot of lessons learnt, unlearnt. This is where all the outrage is heading... You know what, I am most of all angry at Disney's executives. If they would stand up for their artists when they make a mistake, and say "look, it's a sick joke, but it's fiction... it isn't real, and it doesn't represent the guy", this would all have died down and might never even have entered the news headlines, and we wouldn't be talking about it. Instead, firing him creates a shit storm and now everyone knows about the jokes and far more people are now hurt by them than his intended audience 10 years ago. Plus it justifies the action of those far-right conspiracy theorists - mission now accomplished thanks to Disney - who spread fake news and misinform the public. This is encouraging them to become more active, like a group of right wing activists attacking film talent (because the arts are mostly liberal). For now it is the high profile figures, but one day they might even come after some of us. That intended audience is an important factor in all of this too. There are people who enjoy provocative, edgy humour, in the right context, and who understand that it's an act, a fiction, a character, and not real life. By changing the context so that it's a statement on Twitter by a famous film director who then is fired by a huge company, simply smears Gunn as a wrong-doer, a pervert, doing things serious enough to lose his entire career... rather than what he actually was... a nice man, but with bad taste in jokes, who became a very good film director 10 years after the fact. Now that achievement in the arts stands for nothing. In fact has anyone attacking him here, actually seen Guardians of the Galaxy? He will be missed, by a lot of people. Millions enjoyed his work. Far more, than the small number offended by his bad taste humour. This will go on and on... Just now, Star Wars director Rian Johnson just deleted 20,000 tweets in self-defence, not that they contained anything remotely risqué. https://www.cosmicbooknews.com/rian-johnson-deletes-tweets (Which actually had the affect of idiots speculating that he was covering something up... like hiding the fact he was a Twitter pervert or something!?) I feel so strongly about this because it is an attack on the arts by very evil, bad people, who are leading a knee-jerk reactionary hysterical public into a book burning ritual. I also feel strongly about it because of how unfair it is to lose your career because of a fictional version of yourself telling bad taste jokes. Unless we're all to become virtuous corporate drones and bots... That is an attack on what it is to be human. To err. To laugh. To be silly and to have free speech. Sad era of history we are entering...

And now I truly believe Panasonic and Olympus must go full frame too. The success of the Sony A7 series was the catalyst for Nikon's return to the mirrorless market after the failed 1 series experiment, and according to Nikkei the mirrorless market is forecast to eclipse the sales of DSLRs for the first time in 2018. So as you can see, Nikon's hand was forced. Now Canon too will be forced to put one foot in the future rather than an entire leg in the grave. Last year, of all units shipped, 7.5 million units were DSLRs, down 10% on the year, while 4 million were mirrorless, up 30%, according to CIPA. In 2018 the number of mirrorless cameras shipped are forecast to exceed those of DSLRs. That's quite a trend going on. We are looking at over 6 million mirrorless shipments vs DSLR down at 5 or even 4 million this year. If the trend continues, DSLRs (and potentially their lenses) will be obsolete in a few years. That is big news. Read the full article

Actually will keep it open. If the forum is "getting worse lately", you must surely see it is the user generated part of the site. So if you want it to be more interesting, maybe post something that's more interesting and provocative? Or make something? Or contribute original content not just opinion soup?

Why not pay them?

Haha that's so far off the mark. There's a lot of people here using the NX1. The dedicated sub-forum is where they hang out. It's still a popular camera. I still use mine as well. It's a good alternative to the X-H1 but if the A7 III is his preference it seems he's made his own mind up and doesn't need more advice I own both and I think they have different strengths. The X-H1 is a little more enjoyable to shoot with, and has some very nice zooms. The 18-135mm, great for run & gun, the 16-55mm F2.8 is blisteringly sharp, the 18-55mm F2.8 is a lightweight gem / bargain. But it's not full frame and so if that's the look you're after, the A7 III is the best deal for the money. The AF is also better in video mode on the Sony, although it's not too bad on the Fuji. I'd put the dynamic range of both as quite similar in LOG.

The adapter is really important for me, I don't have much appetite to clear out all my existing Nikon glass. And I am sure that goes for a lot of Nikon shooters who are interested in mirrorless. I can use my Nikon stuff on Sony E-mount with AF, although to be honest the AF sucks - it might be that the data bus on Nikon's lenses is too slow to support PDAF on sensor, which is where that patent would help, with the traditional mirror box PDAF. A mirror inside the adapter would be really a shame though. They have PDAF on sensor (at least according to the leaks), and surely they can find a way to make it work well with Nikon F mount lenses, even if the bus is slower than Canon EF.... Maybe that patent was just covering their options from a while back before the final spec of the camera was developed. Not sure there is much customer demand to add a mirror to a mirrorless camera

I agree 100%. Wouldn't that be nice to get a piece of feedback and be able to physically drop it in a bin. With the internet you're lucky if you can delete it at all, let alone ignore it. And if I prune the trash from my own website, it's called "censorship"! The BBC is almost in thrall to Morally Outraged from Essex today with VOX pops, live Tweet-ins, etc. It's just popularism... it seems to be driving the whole democracy. The corporations give people what they ask for (more Star Wars, more infantile comic book heroes), the politicians can't do anything without asking us what we want (more Brexit!) and even state TV can't ignore destructive criticism from Morally Outraged from Essex via Twitter. I think this thread has run it's dreary, depressing, disappointing course. Will lock it.

I will. Close the door on your way out.

kidzrevil, you did not contribute much interesting in over 2000 posts anyway, and it's high time for new blood to have their time in the spotlight instead. I am bored of it. Some of the innuendo about me in the Gunn thread is grounds for a ban on any forum no matter what. I still remember from a few days ago the Catsin situation when he posted an extreme nazi video amidst our argument, claiming anti-semantic abuse. I don't accept him playing that card, and his ridiculous linking of the word 'rat' to that video, and I don't accept kidzrevil's nonsense drivel on this topic either. Stop playing the victim card. You're not a real victim. You just lost an argument, that's all. If you are both gone by tomorrow you know why.

I think his prior love ran off with another lens?!

You have to give him more credit than that Jon, it's a pretty complex DIY project to pull off. And if it works well, the lack of polish doesn't matter. I'm curious if the SLR Magic Rangerfinder works on the red Isco though... It would have made the implementation of this far easier.

A comedian walks on stage and tells a joke. He plays an act, where he is a serial killer with a stammer and silly walk. Does that make him a murderer? According to Disney they actually couldn't. Walt Disney Studios chairman said: ‘The offensive attitudes and statements discovered on James’ Twitter feed are indefensible That's an interesting way to describe an edgy fictional comedy act... as a real life attitude?! A statement?! Give me a fucking break. Yeah but, Einstein, I'm not defending the jokes. I'm not defending the content. I'm defending the person and the concept of making edgy jokes 10 years ago without them being dug up by a right wing fanatic in order to end a top filmmaking talent's career. Have you even listened to what he had to say upon being fired? "My words of nearly a decade ago were, at the time, totally failed and unfortunate efforts to be provocative. I have regretted them for many years since – not just because they were stupid, not at all funny, wildly insensitive, and certainly not provocative like I had hoped, but also because they don’t reflect the person I am today or have been for some time.’ I'd argue they didn't even represent who Gunn was 10 years ago, because it's fiction. An act. Yeah, I always have to lower the bar when talking to idiots *SHRUG*

SEE... You are the disease. You have to make it personal. The whole topic is about idiots like you, in fact... Who cannot tell the difference between targets of jokes and subject material, or even the difference between reality and fiction, personal life (real life) and defending a film director's right to carry on working despite being an absolutely terrible comedian. Are you truly thick or something? True, true. It happens a lot from Trump's side - liars with abhorrent opinions on how to run a country... they turn the tables in self defence. Trump will label CNN "fake news" because he knows full well the power of fake news. "Fake news" from rival Fox got him elected! When he lies, all he has to do is accuse the other side of lying. It's like some kind of yin and yang strategy. Of course I expect Cernovich to have outspoken and controversial opinions as well... guess how he attacks... 360... He'll call out the same behaviour in the opposition and get them into a lot of trouble. This is where we find ourselves with Gunn... And those who think it's unfair get labeled pedophile sympathisers by idiots like KidsRevil, because in the first instance he can't tell the difference between an act, and a real person, then to compound that, in second instance he equates defending James Gunn's character, with endorsing the content of his act. The bar has been lowered so much by people like this, it is why we are having conversations about rape and child molestation in a discussion about a film director. It's why you can't defend another artist if he's made bad jokes on taboo subjects, which presumably look bad when taken out of context and misunderstood by idiots. I can't continue to defend Gunn. I am going to tar myself with the outrage brush and bring all sorts of angry confused accusations onto my shoulders from idiots who can't tell the difference between actual pedophiles and film directors who joke about taboo subjects. Has Lars Von Trier been interviewed recently? Maybe I should go back to talking about a director who maintains his edge and yet remains relatively unscathed - he's only been labelled a Nazi for his jokes - which is far less worse than being branded a pedophile. Would love to know KidsRevil's simplistic view of the John Lasseter situation as well!! just for laughs... Let's hear it!

I must take it at face value I am afraid!! Kids R Evil! You think kids are evil. Clearly. I am OuTRAGEd. You BETTER delete your past tweets!! ? Is there? Edgy jokes don't violate criminal law. Fact. Do you think I am in a Larry David sitcom or something? I do understand social etiquette.... in real life. On the internet it doesn't work the same way. In real life, we don't do things like we do on Twitter. Twitter isn't a real life dinner date - do you think it is?! You have laws that protect people from jokes? Name one. And finally a reminder for late comers to the topic... I am not defending the content of his jokes at all. Easy to confuse, as I said from the beginning. No - I am defending James Gunn, the human being... and the artistic license we have to make jokes, sometimes shit ones, free speech, a huge filmmaking talent, the concept of edgy humour, jokes on twitter, and most of all the ability to grow as a person in the course of 10 years and not to have past errors hung around your neck for all eternity with no ability to move on from the past... Gunn stopped making stupid tasteless jokes a long, long time ago. Stephen Fry articulates it far better than I ever could... Go to 10m:00sec "Self pity is the ugliest emotion"

Yes, so much virtue signalling, so little respect for artistic freedom and storytelling. No wonder the bigger studios don't take risks any more. You're absolutely right. It is an age of hysteria and outrage and fanaticism. The arts is timid, self-censoring. Usually you need a vigorous artistic and film-making community to shine a light on the hysteria... It ain't happening much now.

People who defend Trump on the US economy don't realise that the economy is like a very large ship that takes a long time to respond to the commander. The changes Trump is making will be felt a few years from now. Today, you're experiencing the decisions the previous commander in chief made. Some of Trump's policies are impacting on people immediately, like the trade wars with his allies in Europe and China. If you think trade wars are good for jobs, think again. Anyway back on our favourite topic.... Today the hounds are out again making certain ideas and satires off limits for comedy. It's as bad as burning books. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44936332 This time it's the Rick & Morty co-creator and the guy behind the sitcom Community. Nearly 10 years ago he filmed an online skit, a parody of Dexter, called Daryl. His fictional character abuses a doll. And over at Netflix they are not allowed to write ideas about fat girls becoming thinner. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44934692 Of course none of the outraged have actually seen either the skit, or the show. And it's all fiction we're talking about. FICTION. It's like suggesting computer games turn people into serial killers. Yeah it's a shame it has become so personal. We're in such a selfish age of individualism, everything has to be. So one cannot have an opinion any more without it becoming a character judgement. And one cannot defend a person's career and films, without also being seen to be defending the content of their jokes. John Lasseter is gone and nobody defended the guy. First they came for the celebrities and nobody spoke out... one day it will be the everyman, and still nobody will speak up. You're the one saying Kids Are Evil.

I agree with Rob's posts. Well reasoned.

http://collider.com/james-gunns-firing-guardians-of-the-galaxy/ "The jokes about rape and pedophilia that got James Gunn fired from his position as writer and director of Marvel’s hugely successful Guardians of the Galaxyfranchise are largely un-funny, tasteless, and in most cases disgusting. We should probably get that out of the way right up front, because to defend Gunn in the wake of Disney’s decision is—to a lot of reactionaries with itchy @ fingers—is to also defend the content of the tweets. But a surprisingly often overlooked part of the conversation is the fact that the ringleader of Gunn’s downfall, Mike Cernovich, had to scroll back to 2011 to find the tweets at all. Seven years, conveniently bypassing apologies and mea culpas, overlooking attempts at change, ignoring statements like the one Gunn posted just days before he was fired" "To deny someone the capacity to change is a dangerous precedent to set, not just in Hollywood where a person’s public life is on display 24/7 but to anyone engaging in the social media age. It sets the bar at, “What’s the point?” It gives the message that concepts like betterment and learning are futile because the sins of your past are an immovable weight that only gets heavier the harder you climb." "The Guardians of the Galaxymovies are, boiled down, stories about shitty people—rascals, thieves, assassins, criminals—learning through intense trial and error to be less shitty. Not just that, but the literal magic that comes with the realization that your past does not define you. One of the most genuinely insane opinions I’ve seen come out of this situation is, “I still love the Guardians movies, but I can’t support Gunn.” You learned nothing"

Clearly this topic is too edgy for some people. Personally I find it interesting. The culture and politics around it are interesting. I have also learnt that compared to the UK and Europe, the US in 2018 is a very politically correct and conservative society with easy to offend sensibilities. Feels like Victorian England out there! What's up with you guys? Lighten up!

It's a blog about camera tech. Go figure!

There's a place for this. It's called the SHOOTING forum!

Gervais on the Gunn situation. Right as always. Also see Humanity, on Netflix. It will be educational for quite a lot of people! Disney and even JK Rowling have no problem with Johnny Depp, who has been accused of worse things than making bad jokes or hugging in an office environment. None of them proven though, I might add. Do we really now have to go through our entire social media history dating back years and delete any jokes, for sake of our careers? Seems yes, we do, it's the new world we live in.