Andrew Reid

[quote name='gelly' timestamp='1353198180' post='21881'] Great write up. Would be very interested to learn more about the external battery you are using with the BMCC (and maybe competing battery options). Cheers. [/quote] It is the Blackmagic camera solution from Switronix, a PB70, full review soon. http://www.switronix.com/products?page=shop.browse&category_id=50 Once you have the PB70 (power base) then you can also use it with DSLRs as well as the BMC. Just buy the appropriate connector.

It is in the right aspect ratio. Bokeh remains squeezed with anamorphic optics.

Don't feed the troll :)

[quote name='haarec' timestamp='1353097658' post='21800'] New design of anamorphic lens or converter is a realy nice. I have read about it couple of days ago and I liked it right away assuming I can afford it :) My tips: 1. No dual focus Sedulous design: 2. Sharp images full of tiny datails. 3. No barrel distortions (can be seen of a video - streetlight on the right) 4. Not to much anamorphic flares 5. 21:9 compliant. upcoming standard 21:9 is 2,35 (2540x1080). In this case may be little more than 1080 to crop it in post production but not less. In a 1920 world it should give 1920 x 820 rather than 815 - no 2 pixel wide letterbox in 21:9 screen. 6. Affordable. normal lenses price in mind. I don't realy care about oval bokeh [/quote] Nice list and good point about 21:9 standards. There's already a Philips TV with that ratio isn't there?

No nothing can save the VG900 footage from the notoriety it is going to achieve in the shootout, not even a Mac :)

[quote name='Stunko' timestamp='1353095803' post='21792'] Longest, most convoluted write-up on a single camera since like.... ever. Also, this "test footage" must have been the most boring I had ever watched. You needed a camera recording RAW to create -- THIS? Regarding the image quality.... seems to me that an $800 digital camera recording not in RAW could have pulled this off just as well.[/quote] Oops cut you off there, since you instantly lost credibility.

Thanks for all the feedback guys. In order of importance what do you think is most critical to you? Single focus barrel (not dual focus like Kowa) OR adaptable to different primes? If the adapter cost for example around $1000 (I just made this up, nothing to do with actual pricing as this is not decided on yet) and was dual-focus would you buy it? With dual focus you cannot rack focus during a shot and it takes longer to confirm focus, is trickier too. How much would you be prepared to spend on a high quality single focus anamorphic (like the Iscorama)?

Let's test this intuitive Windows 7 claim :) Task 1. I need to backup the entire system. I click Time Machine, it is done. You click.... Task 2. I need to have live mail, iMessage and twitter updates top right of my screen. I click Notifications in the control panel and tick a box. You click... Task 3. There's a problem with your hardware configuration. Through research on Google you realise the BIOS has a wrong setting in it. Oh this never happens on a Mac, next... Task 4. Your operating system is in German. I click Language & Text. You click... And tell me how many steps this takes in Windows 7 Home Premium. Task 5 and final task for we want to go back out and shoot. DaVinci Resolve is crashing due to QTDecoder issue, you also have green speckles over video playback in ALL APPS... You fix it for me, whilst I play with my Mac :)

Eye opening because the VG-900 is a total, unadulterated, nightmarish disaster.

[quote name='matray' timestamp='1353056455' post='21755'] Where is the oval Bokeh ? The sharpeness isn't great at all and again ? Where is the oval Bokeh ?! Only flares aren't good enough. An oval and strong bokeh is definiteively needed ! Flares can be faked like with the Atlantic filter, but not the bokeh. That's what matter the most to me. [/quote] Are you referring to [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(247, 247, 247)]Apefoscope? I prefer image quality from the SLR Magic.[/background][/size][/font][/color]

Not just design, you pay for better engineering and build quality.

I'm editing the shootout footage now and it is eye opening. Expect it on the blog later!

The Metabones EF adapter vignetted on this. I include the VG-900 in my shootout with the GH3 and Blackmagic coming soon on EOSHD and you will be surprised at just how bad a camera this is, unfortunately.

The LA7200 is really soft at F2. This is nice and sharp. If they give us that image quality and an easy way to rack focus, it will suit me fine. If it is as nice optically as the Kowa 8Z but focuses like a normal lens then it will be amazing.

A99 and VG-900 by the way are dogs for aliasing and moire. Worse than the old NEX 5N and 7, yet far more expensive. There's zero reason to suffer such bad image quality when you can get a full frame D800 or 5D3 for similar money - I know these aren't perfect either but the image is FAR better. You will see the VG-900 (same sensor as A99) in my shootout vs the Blackmagic and GH3 it is a total embarrassment and I feel bad for all the Sony people on this one because it showed such promise and it was pretty brave to put a full frame sensor in a video camera. This coming from a big fan of the RX100, NEX 5N and NEX 7 which all shoot better video and have better ergonomics than the VG series. The menus and buttons are just horrible on the VG series and can only assume image quality is either compromise because the sensor is designed predominantly for stills or crippled to protect the FS100.

Maybe that 13.9MP count in 16:9 was what gave the GH2 a cleaner image when downscaled. Maybe 16MP is a trickier number. Certainly 18MP+ seems to be tricky because yet to see a high MP camera with good video aside from the 5D3 and that is only moire free because it is so soft!

We don't want focus through like LA7200, that doesn't work at fast apertures or with a shallow depth of field. We need the Iscorama style focussing method of prime at infinity and one focus barrel, no breathing. Agree dual focussing is a deal breaker (for me at least) and have made that clear to SLR Magic. I want them to package this as one lens with the prime and anamorphic focussing as one unit. Focus more important than having it as a stand-alone adapter in my view. Have a Kowa for that and don't use it because of the dual focussing.

What was the solution Charlie? Separately I'm having issues with Resolve in Windows. Was working fine until a few days ago and now Quicktime decoder exe keeps crashing during sessions. Windows is so reliable isn't it??!?

There's also this from our friend in Brazil. Apefoscope. http://vimeo.com/52730117 Let me know your thoughts guys and gals...

OzNimbus yes there are always "ifs" but do you really want to wait until the camera has hit shelves and all pre-orders filled before I report an update? The supply of dirty glass was the issue and that has been resolved.

Please remember my blog is a personal view. It is not the encyclopaedia Britannia entry for Windows 7, I am reporting my personal experiences. Still as I write, Windows remains a pain in the ass for me and many others. My QTDecoder.exe keeps crashing during Resolve sessions through no fault of my own and it is a fresh installation of Windows 7! It really is far more unstable than OSX and that is a fact I'm afraid, even if you are one of the lucky ones who have never had to lose several hours sorting out Windows and driver issues. You have been warned...

[media]http://vimeo.com/53623079[/media] [i]Above: A message from Andrew of SLR Magic[/i] SLR Magic are stepping into the world of anamorphic lenses. Developed afresh, this will be a 100% new custom designed anamorphic lens for filmmakers but priced accessibly for DSLR filmmakers as well as pros. The footage above is from the early prototype and I have been speaking to Andrew about the early development of the lens.

Never? They have built a camera for $3000 that rivals the Alexa, I'd say it was pretty much going according to plan :)

[img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bmcc-hi-res-1.jpg[/img] Blackmagic Design's CEO and founder Grant Petty has some better news today regarding the cinema camera (my [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/9186/blackmagic-cinema-camera-review"]review here[/url]). The sensor supplier issues are resolved and the factory may begin to ramp up as early as next week.

GH2 sensor is 18MP total to support multiple aspect ratios.