craigbuckley

Hey there I just got my SLR magic 25mm .95 as well..   Have you noticed any problems with the aperture ring? Mine stopped working for a bit, ( I couldn't adjust the aperture) but then started working... I know its not the camera because my other lenses worked just fine. The aperture ring also feels a little clicky... Have you felt this? Other than that its an amazing lens.   (can't adjust the aperture currently)

haven't opened it yet but I'll let you know how it is, very excited I'm having trouble uploading a picture but it's the SLR magic 25 millimeter .95

I think my gh2 and slr magic would be too heavy with this steadicam... Ugh this is difficult. I need something that won't sway and show my footsteps when I walk.. I know it will take time to learn and I am ok with that, I just don't know which one to invest in- to learn on... The only options right now are either flycam nano or one of the glidecam's, or the blackbird... Any suggestions gh2 users?

I like that video. I could definitely shoot it in that style... And I checked out that shootout link thanks.   But I do need lights for other uses, eventually,  a short film I will be shooting so I figure I should make the investment now...   Should I just go with something like this then ?   http://www.amazon.com/Fancierstudio-Digital-Continuous-Softbox-Lighting/dp/B0050K3DW2/ref=sr_1_27?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1361374572&sr=1-27&keywords=LED+light+set+video   I'm just worried about heat. I don't want my subjects or myself to get hot. Would this be a better investment?   http://www.amazon.com/ePhoto-Photography-Lighting-Balanced-ePhotoINC/dp/B003QRBAIA/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1361374604&sr=1-10&keywords=LED+light+set+video

I have after effects and final cut pro x, so I'm sure I can figure something out. But I like your idea of painting with light. Thats why I figure I need more lights (or paint) to use. If the room is dark, there is only so much I can do. Its definitely more dark in my camera than it is with my naked eye, even with an aperture of 1.4..   Would getting one LED 600 light be stupid ? I really just need it for small indoor shoots  of bands (for now). The room I always shoot in is not well lit.

 cool so I am going to look into some 600 LED's...   But as far as the other point, Axel can you recommend any good readings or video for this mattter? i don't know much about color grading (is it the same as color correcting?) and I would love to learn how to use reflectors and such, but every shoot I have in this one studio comes out dark.. so let me know what you think I should read up on to educate myself on "lighting without lights."

I'm not sure what a c-stand styled bar is. And also I'm not sure of the calibration process, so does anyone know a good tutorial for using steadicams? I couldn't find anything in Andrew Reids book for the gh2... Whats the best steadicam to use with the gh2? Thats around $500...

Could you show me the LED that you use or that you recommend?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Glidecam-HD1000-CAMERA-STABILIZER-SHIPS-FREE-/160615800357?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2565729e25 I am starting to be in need of a steadicam because my stabilizer/rig isnt cutting it. I have done some research and found out that with the light weight gh2, the glidecam pro 1000 is the best fit. Anyone out there that has a gh2 and used a steadicam that can offer some advice on which one to get? My lenses are somewhat heavy, canon fd 50mm, slr magic 12mm, but nothing super heavy. Would these work with the glidecam pro 1000? Any other steadicam recommendations?

Yeah I can't seem to find any prices on those, but I bet they are out of my range...   If you had under $500 to spend on lights for a shoot coming up, what would you get? Would you just wait until you can afford something more expensive? Or would some of these LED light kits work well for a shoot?   FLOlight LED's have been highly recommend, would something like these be ok? They are out of my budget for now but I could save up. I am going for a "cinematic" look so far with my old canon lenses that I use, so I don't want my light to throw off that look.   http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Flolight-500-Pair-2-/330873027576?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0991bbf8

So if you guys had to go with one external monitor, for video, would it be the HD DP6? or  a Marshall monitor?

To speed it up do you use final cut or adobe after effects?   And if you read the original message of this post you would see I already googled "gh2 time lapse" and read through, but there wasn't was I looking for specifically.

Ok so I have been searching the web and forum for some time lapse settings for my gh2. I know there is a hack for it but I was wondering, for a simple, cinematic time lapse (shot with video not stills- for now), what settings would you use on your gh2?   I know keep everything manual (focus, exposure) with a tripod. But as far as shutter speed? 1/2fps? I am just trying to find the correct settings for my gh2 to use it in a  time lapse. The time lapse is of people in  party by the way.    if anyone has a tutorial on shooting time lapses with the gh2, that would be great. Couldn't find anything like it on the web.  

The Z96 are way cheaper. I am going to get a bunch of those but wanted to see if there was anyone on the other side saying LED bolt would be the way to go (consider the price).   Also, if I couldn't use a set of the Z96's or LED bolt lights as my main lighting source, what could I use? What kind of light would I buy as my main lighting source? Other forums recommended these   http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/298604-REG/Impact_401470_Three_Light_Mini_Boom_Kit.html   Would this be better than those LED's?

Ok thanks everyone... Some good information in there...   That TORCH LED BOLT light seems right up my alley. In my price range and seems powerful enough. That video was helpful too.   But do you think I could use one of these as my main lighting source? or, would this be more of a backing light? Also, I know it says on camera light, but is this light still designed to be used on a stand? I have always been told not to use a light on your camera unless you are going for that paparazi look, so I am definitely looking  for something on a stand..   Between the LED Torch Bolt light and one of those LED lights on amazon  http://www.amazon.co... 500 with stand   Which would would be more powerful, and essential for a video shoot? Do the Z96 lights compare to the LED torch bolt?

I have some orange work lights that I may be able to make use of....   But I film a lot of bands and actors inside studios so I do need to purchase at least one light. Everything I have been shooting was under lit and lit oddly in weird places... So I  have been attracted to LED's because of their coolness and portability, but most people's opinion over these forums say LED's aren't worth it unless you invest in the $1,000s...   I'm not sure what to think but I would like a recommendation from you all on WHICH set YOU would invest in. Budget under $500.   Thanks again.

Would you recommend LED lights - burnetrhoades?   Or something else? Which ones from Kinos?

The general vibe I have been getting is that LED's aren't worth it unless you invest a good amount... any other opinion on this?   And what would you guys suggest for a shoot that is coming up in a month, under $500? Is it even possible to get something decent for that price? Tungstens? The color is definitely important.   (I will look into those vintage ones but portability is definitely needed)

I have been looking for some LED lights to invest in for my camera shoots. I am pretty mobile, mainly shooting bands but also screenplays/short films. Through some research I have found these portable ones   http://www.ebay.com/itm/4X-96-LED-Video-Light-for-DV-Camcorder-HDV-Z96-F135-/300546751509?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f9fb7c15   But I was wondering your thoughts if it was better to invest in something less portable and more stable like these,   http://www.amazon.com/ePhoto-Photography-Lighting-Balanced-ePhotoINC/dp/B003QRBAIA/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&qid=1360461706&sr=8-33&keywords=LED+500+with+stand    

Anyone? Is there anyway I get get the image of my viewfinder (gh2) on to my pc? A cord or app or something ?

thanks guys I will check all those links out...   I have read that some DSLRs have a "set white balance" function and you can point and shoot at something white and then it uses that as your white balance... Can you do this with the gh2?

Is there a way that I can turn my laptop into an external monitor? I can go from my pc to the tv but I'm wondering if I go can from my gh2 to INTO my PC- So I can view from my pc? Any other suggestions on something like this? I know the nexus 7 won't work for gh2. (I have an asus windows vista laptop and a macbook pro)

So I have been learning so much from this forum in the past few months and also going out shooting with my camera. Throughout my path I have run into trouble, which I then researched, asked the forum, and figured out my problem.     My current problem and where I am at "skill" wise is regarding white balance and then post production color correcting. I feel comfortable with focusing and getting a good cinematic shot, but when it comes to color I am screwed. I play around with the ISO and the aperture on my manual lenses to get the right light, but still sometimes I will look at my footage and say damn that looks amateurish. I usually leave it on auto white balance so I was thinking maybe this was my problem? Its the only auto function I use. (I dont know how to use the histogram).  I also am not great with color correcting. I have final cut pro x and its easy to use but I don't know what I am doing with it, I don't know what color to make it. Do you color correct everything?   So maybe you see where I am at and can suggest a good read or video for me to  learn about this stuff, or maybe some of you will even have some advice yourself: mainly on white balancing and color correcting.

Sorry yes I am looking for a medium/standard shot. The 12 is too wide and the 50mm is too close. And I thought the 35mm would be a little too close.   So 24/25mm it is. I thought I was shooting for 35mm not 50mm , so thats why I was looking at the 17.5mm focal length.   I have been looking at the Canon L series lenses to achieve the best quality, but I also found the rokinon/samyang 24mm and wondered if anyone could give me a comparison? Does the samyang/rokinon compare to the L series lens - quality wise? The samyang is half the price of the L lens..