mercer

Does anyone know the value of FD L series lenses? They ballooned years ago, and I was lucky enough to pick up a 50mm 1.2 L for a pretty decent price before they were compared to the K lenses. At the time I was only shooting video on the 5D3 and had it modded by Simmod to the EF mount and declicked. I didn't add a follow focus gear or a larger front ring since I pull focus from ring. I've checked eBay but the pricing seems to be all over the place.

Thanks. I shoot raw video with either the 5D3 and Magic Lantern Raw or cDNG with the Sigma FP. Recently I've been treating their raw files as rec709 in Resolve's Camera Raw Tab and then after those basic adjustments, I use an S-Curve LUT, Log Wheels for micro adjustments and tweak the color channels in the RGB tab. Obviously, I'm going for a dark, moody image, but I have a horrible monitor so I'm never 100% sure what the final output looks like on other devices... Basically, I just tinker with it. One day I'll make a movie that will be constructed of the coolest b-roll shots I can take with the most dramatic lighting possible. I've yet to come up with an interesting plot for that film.

Speaking of Nikkor non-ai lenses, I have a small set with the updated "c" coating, the 28mm f/2, 50mm 1.4 and the 105mm 2.5. All are in mint condition, but they could use a CLA. Those old non-ai Nikkor lens' focus lubricant dries up pretty good, and although the focus is smooth and holds, it doesn't have the same dampening as older Taks or Minoltas have. Anyway, can anyone recommend a lens tech in the US. I'm in the Philly area, so anywhere in the mid-Atlantic, northeast would work.

Sorry for the repost but after second thought, I realized that this wasn't shot with the Super Takumar 50mm 1.4, it was actually shot with the Nikon Nikkor 28mm f/2 N.C. non-ai lens. I was using the Tak a lot last spring/summer, so I just assumed that was it, but the close up bothered me so I went back to my notes. Anyway, I didn't want to misrepresent the lens...

I think that's the average profit the camera manufacturer is making.

The B&W footage looks cool. The location probably helps a little. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully that blonde haired woman was/is a friend/girlfriend/wife and not a ghost you accidentally captured on video.

I don't know enough about them to recommend anything. I have the 40mm and I think I have a 28mm lying around too. Hmm, I never heard that. I messed up an old Yashica m42 lens years ago trying to declick it. And I've declicked a few Minolta lenses (mostly Celtics) with moderate success. The one issue with Minolta lenses is that although it's simple to do and there's a bit more friction to the aperture ring than say a Zeiss Jena, the aperture sometimes won't stay wide open and closes slightly. Now this was without any grease, so using grease may fix that. Stupid me decided to declick a 50mm Celtic Macro lens. I ruined any resale value, but it will stay open without drifting.

I've kinda been all over the place with cameras lately. As I mentioned a few replies up, I turned 50 last month and my GF has had a rough year medically, so my time is limited for filmmaking, but she's starting to feel better... and I'm starting to feel older. Part of me wants to take a couple short film chances with a more serious set up than I have tried before. Then there's the other part that wants to grab a GH7 (or something similar) and treat it like a French New Wave 16mm camera. And then I'd love to throw paint at the wall and try to make something bigger with something unconventional... a ZV-E10 II and a gimbal... or even a Pocket 3. To lend a nod to Andrew... a big part of me just wants a fun camera that I can do some shorts with (no misconceptions that I'll be a pro director one day) but I would like to have a certain level of quality. You know what, never mind... I'll just watch camera reviews and cinematic videos on YouTube instead.

That gimbal is pretty cool. The right kinda price too. Do you have it? Have you used the follow focus?

Yeah I meant the Osmo... I guess it got mounted to a Zenmuse? My drone and gimbal vocabulary us very limited. But I first saw footage from raw mudule camera when I was looking for ML Raw videos a while back. I believe some of this video was shot with the Osmo... probably the drone footage... the rest was with a 5D2... You know as I was replying to your last comment< I was thinking about the Pocket 3 and how it could probably work because I"ll probably only use the gimbal for some tracking shots while most of them will be fairly static... well static and slider shots from a 12" slider for very slight movements.

It really has. I love to hate that stupid thing. I wish I could just be happy with an R7 or a GH6 but there's just a texture to raw video that my paltry skills can attain much easier than with other codecs. If I could afford an R5 or something similar, I'd retire the FP and my 5D in a heartbeat. Of course, I recently turned 50 years old, so I am at that age where I care less and less about things... the way I look, what I wear (Velcro shoes are in my future) and pretty soon, what camera I have. I figure I'll either go all in with an IBIS/AF gadget or just dust off my 5D3, shoot ML Raw and complain about how spoiled kids are with their new fangled gear.

Konica does not work on EF. I used it years ago with my EF-M. Seriously cool little lens, though. I understand why it has/had a bit of a cult following.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think a phone gimbal would work, and I think @BTM_Pix has already told me that at least twice... I guess I was hoping for a new, tiny product. If only DJi would put their old raw camera from the Zenmuse? into a new DJi Pocket... I'll check out the two you recommended and look up the size specs. I usually steal locations, so I try to go as incognito as possible. Most people don't notice or care, but a gimbal may draw more attention. Any cheap tripod suggestions? I have a new Benro that is decent but it's not very compact. Quick to set up though with the leveler on the bowl.

I've decided to give my FP a final fair shot and hold off on selling it. But I think I need to stop fighting it and trying to make it something it isn't. So I'm considering getting my first gimbal. But I'm looking for the absolute smallest and simplest set up. Are phone gimbals usable with an FP if it's stripped down with a small, light lens? Otherwise I'm going to use a tripod and a small slider for locked off shots and some shots with slight movements. I'll be using this for a run and gun short film. Any gimbal and tripod suggestions?

Those rangefinder lens mods look great. Is anyone using the 40mm lens from the Canon QL17 for a similar mod? Love the Konica 40mm 1.8 pancake. Haven't used it in years. A crazy good lens, though. I'll have to get an adapter and try mine on the FP. I just dug out my very small collection of East German m42 lenses because I was thinking of picking up a Praktica SLR or a Spotmatic F. I've had my eye on a Canon LTM lens for the FP to try and keep the size down. I had an FD L 50mm 1.2 modded to EF a few years ago, but now I wish I hadn't done it and left it in FD mount because my favorite film camera is the Canon AT-1. I really like the look from those old Canon 50mm lenses. If I can't find the LTM for a good price, I may pick up a cheaper FL... they all seem to have a similar look. Although the extra blades on the LTM does make it a bit more appealing. Anyway, it's cool reading posts about vintage lenses on here again.

I saw there was a price drop on it. It seems like a steal if you need the resolution. I'm still trying to figure out how to get 1080p and 4K footage to look good, and I'm poor, so I'm not the demographic for it. However, I think there's probably a real cool opportunity for an inventive filmmaker to make an entire film in their garage with a small green screen set. I'm not much of a crop in later kinda guy, but being able to shoot limited coverage and build the scene in post sounds interesting. Have been tempted to pick up an XH2 for that purpose. But then I realize I already own a couple cameras I don't make films with, I probably don't need another. Good luck with it.

Maybe even bring in some actors and make some micro short films and show how old cameras can still be used to make art.

@Andrew Reid you should go back and revisit some of your favorite cameras from the beginning of eoshd... GH1/GH2 15 years later... I'm sure that would be really popular on YT and direct some people to the forum.

Every time I think I may be done with the Sigma FP, and think I need AF and IBIS, I mess around with some old footage... Shot with the 50mm f/1.4 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar

Don't forget to edit your reply on how many cameras you need. Out of curiosity, because I haven't been following this camera too much, what are people using it for? Do you shoot and sell stock footage?

I've watched most of it. Will finish it later today. After your holiday film you shared with us a few years ago, I think you know how much I enjoy your work. And this one doesn't disappoint. I must admit, I don't watch a lot of documentaries and what I enjoyed about this is it felt like a TV show instead of a "documentary" but we could probably spend a few pages discussing what a documentary is and I'd be proven wrong every time. I really enjoyed the look and would love a breakdown of which camera was used where? Everything blended seamlessly, so great job with the color work. Which leads me to say that the piece looks really professional. I never noticed any lack of DR or wondered why you didn't use an Alexa or an Amira. I just read in your reply that most of the people shots were done with the e-m10? That's amazing. They look great! What picture profile did you use and how did you approach the final color look? As far as the story and where it can go as a whole? I'd say your approach was really good and your main character is such an interesting guy. The women were all great as well. I was inspired by their excitement and it was great to see how comfortable they were around the camera. Did you use a speedbooster with that 50mm? Either way... 75mm FOV or 100mm, I suppose it helped to keep the camera a little further away. I could argue that you could have been even further. There's obviously a personal disconnect with birding... cameras and binoculars give the viewer a distanced bird's eye view... so to speak... and I noticed that in some of your shots, which I really liked. Personally, I would take a look at all the footage and edit it into 10 minute pieces and put it on YouTube. I'd imagine there's a huge birding community that would totally dig this material as a web series and you'd probably get thousands upon thousands of views. Add some BTS footage on the equipment you used, and you can lure in the DIY filmmakers as well to hit two niche YouTube markets. Anyway, thanks for sharing and I'd love to hear any more details about the cameras, lenses, settings, color and post work. I'm looking for a fun camera I can go handheld with and just shoot stuff. I think you've mastered that on such a high level it should be shown to film students about what can be done if you don't have an Alexa, or even an FX6 or a Canon C series camera!

If you wait a month or two, the S5 will probably be on sale new at B&H for $999. It's hit that price a few times in the past 6 months.

Exactly. I've even thought about getting another GH6 just to have that. Although it's not exactly what I'm looking for at least I know there are plenty of Look LUTs floating around for it. Another reason I'm interested in the Z6iii is for raw options or Flat Profile. But I go back and forth. Sometimes I'm tired of messing with log, other times I just want to mess around with it. I guess it's a luxury of being a hobbyist. If I got paid for any of this, I would find the path of least resistance.

It is a very cool option to have, but I think I want to be more basic about it. I kinda miss the days when you just used a picture profile in camera and kept it simple. With log footage, you can sit at the computer and try a ton of different LUTs or grade a ton of different ways. For me, by having that option in camera may give me more options but I want less. But it is something to think about that I didn't consider. Thanks.