Zak Forsman

okay, so i'm upping my game here and taking one for the team. before the weekend I switched from renting a Pocket to owning a Pocket. it's shipping from Paris (I got a great deal ($565) from Lovinpix.com on a new one) so I expect to hear my Micro Cinema Cam will ship anytime between now and the day my new Pocket arrives at my doorstep... because again, that's how these things usually work. You're all welcome.

okay, thanks. truth be told, i'm skeptical that kind of functionality can be passed over HDMI. I'm sure you can see the Micro's menus, but when it comes to using the touchscreen to navigate them I'm not so sure. With the Micro Studio, this guy could monitor the camera's menus with his VA, but still needed to use the buttons on the camera to navigate them. Jump to about 6 mins in... https://youtu.be/j7pvcTs-sfc?t=6m I'd love the be wrong, but even if the VA could be used as a touchscreen for the Micro, how would it know which of the two menu systems you are intending to access and navigate? my gut tells me the rep you spoke to got it wrong.

I wasn't aware that was the case. I watched a video recently with a guy who has the VA and the Micro Studio 4K and he said he couldn't use the VA to operate the Micro's menus. Have a link or something where you've read that the VA's touchscreen can be used to navigate the camera's menu system, and not just its own? I'd like to read up on that.

I agree with Aaron. I'll be using my SmallHD 502 with the BMMCC for everything from LUTs to frame masking to anamorphic desqueeze to focus assist and exposure tools. Also picked up the sunhood, and friction mount for it so I only need to use one hand to reposition the monitor. Definitely recommended for anyone who has the 501 or 502. What's also nice is my 502 uses the same LP-E6 batteries as the Micro.

there is no mFT to mFT speedbooster. I have EF lenses and more than likely the Metabones BMPCC mFT/EF Speedbooster I have will work perfectly on the Micro.

hi kaylee, i watched it thru the Vimeo app on an Apple TV. so it was playing in 1080p. and yeah, just referring to light, filtration, lenses, production design, post color, etc. meaning, what a camera is capable of shines in the right hands and looks like mud in the hand of another. here's a sample frame from Friends With Kids... everyone who has released URSA Mini 4.6K footage has been in a race to be amongst the first crop of footage out there, which is why each of them has had the same caveat: don't judge by the grade.

so sharp. maybe too sharp. on my 4k television, the rocks on the beach almost appear to vibrate. I bet the URSA Mini 4.6k would look great with vintage glass. whenever I see a camera that looks a little too much like video, I try to remind myself that both Drive and Friends with Kids were shot with the same camera in the same year and one looks like a proper movie while the other nearly looks like a sit-com.

the workshop has their own sony FS700 and rokinon lenses which i'm not the biggest fan of frankly. I brought my rectilux/kowa combo. it was the camera depts first time shooting anamorphic. we did no more than 3 takes per setup.

thanks! that was done for an actors' workshop. they hired me to come in and write/direct three shorts in one 12 hour day. I think Not There turned out the best despite having shot it in 3 hours. The lead actress in that, I feel, is one of those actors who could be a huge breakout success just given the opportunity. and yeah, she throws a great punch. She recently was "this close" to being cast as a series regular on a new FX show that John Singleton is producing, but the went with someone else at the last minute. Heartbreaking to be so close but I'm sure she'll have more opportunities. She deserves it.

i've thought about picking up this lightweight tripod (also from Sirui) after seeing Mattias Burling's video showing it's versatility.

no, works pretty well for me. it weighs just under 2 lbs on its own. rated to carry up to 11 but i probably put about 5 or 6 pounds worth of stuff on it, max.

i happened to have a Manfrotto 500 head that I bought to go with a slider. works well with the Sirui.

hi mercer, each stage of the leg slides out smoothly under their own weight. I don't have to apply any pressure after unlocking each stage. gravity does all the work. this is with the three-legged base attached which adds a little weight though. EDIT: just read your follow-up. thanks for the insight. i'll be mindful about how I let the legs extend.

deleted.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've rented a Blackmagic Pocket Cam for the next 10 days which *should* mean the Micro will ship any day now -- because that's how these things work.

listed load capacity (yeah, i said it) is 17.6lbs. i bought the aluminum version. the carbon fiber version is a lot more expensive and not much lighter.

yes, they're very solid. the build quality overall is "confidence inspiring". that being said, if I could change one thing, it would be for a clamp style lock to simplify operation. but the twist locks only require a half turn to loosen and tighten for height adjustment. and (good for me) they're labelled so I know which way to twist, until it becomes second nature. so it's not a big deal.

it's very stable. at it's lowest height setting, i've left a small rig (camera, cage, top handle, lens) on it overnight. and love how versatile it is. like being able to take the feet off and use them as a hi hat. i also had a manfrotto 501 head that i put on it.

Probably. Going to wait and see if it's a keeper before buying that.

I have one pre-ordered from a place that Aaron Green recommended. I'm most excited by the global shutter option. There is something about the way it renders motion that makes a subtle difference. And of course, I look forward to shooting raw and prores without the need for an outboard recorder/monitor. I've been running around with a GH4 and Odyssey 7Q+ and it can be a bit unwieldy when I'm on my own. I have assembled everything I need to shoot with it collecting in a box. some purchased, most I already had -- cage, cards, cables, 502 monitor, speedbooster, ND, follow focus, tokina 11-16, sigma 18-35 + 50mm, and Rich at Dog Schidt Optiks is crafting a Trump 58 set with the 38 and 88 attachments for me which i can't wait to pair with the bmmcc. Hopefully it ships this month. I also picked up this fantastic monopod by Sirui. bought it for the Micro but have been using it with my GH4 in the meantime and I love it.

haha! rich posted two pics of the lens he's building for me on instagram today! dying here. can't wait to get my paws on it. the finish looks rad!

Had a chance to try it out yet? Would love to see it in action (and I've run out of videos to watch on Vimeo).

This makes me very happy to see because aspects of your lens mirror what I ordered from Rich a week ago. I placed an order for a Trump 58 set and will be picking up the 38 and 88 soon too. Could very well shoot my third feature with it, a sci-fi revenge thriller. Can't wait!

take note that the daytime shots were captured with the A7S. The nighttime shots, slow-mo and SLog3 examples were A7S II.

speak for yourself. i've been hiding under my desk since last night.