Camcorders vs DSLR and autofokus

Since I have a crop camera, I need 35mm lens or less. 50mm will be 80mm on my 650D.
Isn´t that correct?

I also like NeatVideo a lot. Are you using the newest version of FCPX, and if so how is NV working for you? I am still on FCPX 10.5 as I heard NV had some bugs in 10.6 & 10.7?

You can also look at the option of buying inexpensive second hand vintage lenses - Nikon AIS lenses are meant to be very sharp, and work with a simple mechanical adapter on the EF mount.

Yes, there is a slight crop factor when compared to FF cameras. The problems is that while it is easy to find fast 50mm lenses, it is not so easy to find fast wide lenses (like 24mm and 35mm), or if you can find them they tend to be very expensive.

There is one company that produces modern fast wide lenses, and they are reasonably priced. Which brings us back to......Rokinon!

Incidentally Rokinon lenses are really made by Samyang, so if you can find a Samyang dealer in Norway you will be getting the same lens (they also are sold under different brands like Bower, Optitek, Wallimex & Vivitar).

They make a 'cinevised' version of these lenses specifically for video shooting - they have uniform T stop markings, integrated follow focus teeth, and a de-clicked iris.

Worth investigating before you put down the cash on a more expensive canon lens which has less features.

I´m using the latest version of FCPX.
I can´t do something in FCPX while it renders from NV. I have a Macbook Pro 2.5 GHz i5, 8GB 1600 MHZ DDR3, so that´s might be why FCPX crashes if I´m doing something else while NV in rendering.
Besides that, I haven´t seen any troubles.

I´m looking at the Rokinon 35mm f/1.4. However, I read that this is a fully manually lens. Is it so that I can´t use autofocus what so ever?
I´m not ready to be fully manually, yet.

It looks like its more inexpensive to go for a Rokinon 35, than Canon 35. But I don´t like the idea of it being fully manually.

Its full manual.

I have never known a pro cameraman to use the autofocus function; you need to be in control of your camera! Do the canon cameras even allow autofocusing while they are rolling?

There is no science to manual focusing. Its just one of those things that you need to get used to, and the only way to get used to it is through practice. Most people will get the hang of it in one day, and be proficient and confident within 1 week.

Where is the I like button?

Yes, Canon allows me to autofocus while rolling. It´s not so good though. However, I autofocus, and the turn to manual to keep the focus.

I do both photographing and filming, and its when taking a photo I´m having trouble focus manually. I never seem to get a sharp image. It seems sharp at the moment, but when transferring to my Mac I can see that I didn´t find the focus. Don´t know what I´m doing wrong.

Manual focussing through the optical viewfinder is very difficult as it is so small. In the old days you would have some sort of prism or semi circle to help manual focussing; these aids are not available on modern cameras.

So really, to take manual focus photos on a DSLR you really have to use the live view mode to get correct focus. If you are outdoors the glare from the sun can make it difficult to see the screen. For this reason it is advisable to get an LCD loupe (this is an inexpensive hood and magnifier that helps to focus outdoors).

simonpwood wrote: Manual focussing through the optical viewfinder is very difficult as it is so small. In the old days you would have some sort of prism or semi circle to help manual focussing; these aids are not available on modern cameras.

So really, to take manual focus photos on a DSLR you really have to use the live view mode to get correct focus. If you are outdoors the glare from the sun can make it difficult to see the screen. For this reason it is advisable to get an LCD loupe (this is an inexpensive hood and magnifier that helps to focus outdoors).

When I switch to live view I get 1 black frames on each side, making the picture smaller then the LCD window. After taking the picture and looking at it, the picture has 2 stripes on each side telling where the black frames where. Havent transferred picture to my Mac, but the lines are probably not there.
Anyway, it´s still hard knowing if a have correct focus even with live view. Is it supposed to be that hard?

And finally. Does anyone use the optical viewfinder anymore since live view is better?

Generally when you switch to live-view the whole screen is filled with the image. You also have the option of using the magnify button to zoom in further to help focus even more.

I dont know why you are seeing frames on your screen?

Optical viewfinders are used for autofocus when taking photographs - uses no battery.

It´s a crappy picture, but you can see what I mean:

bildr.no/view/1383661
Bad phone camera.

The zoom function is good. However, I want to fill my whole screen.

You're in HD 1080p, not SD 4:3?

simonpwood wrote: You're in HD 1080p, not SD 4:3?

Recording settings says 1080 24p, what I want. But I don´t know how to change it.
When recording, I don´t have those frames on each side.

Something not right there. You need to go through all your menu settings to see whats up. Maybe there is some frame setting, or crop setting, that you have put on?

simonpwood wrote: Something not right there. You need to go through all your menu settings to see whats up. Maybe there is some frame setting, or crop setting, that you have put on?

I just found out. It was the aspect ratio. It was set to 1:1. Changed it to 16:9, and voila

Thanks!

Regarding lenses, I´m considering Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM and Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM.
Don´t know the differences beside technical details: www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-b...p4&sortDir=ascending

You know?

I just returned my 650D, and bought a 6D instead.

And look up to this guy www.facebook.com/Paul.Wex.Films?fref=ts and his work!
This is what I want to do.

After months with research I finally know what I want to do!

Thank you for all your contribution!
Looking forward sharing my work with you sometime in the future!

Ahhh... Seychelles... surely that can't be a level of hell, or we'd all sign up. Masterfully done, a wonderful emotional roller coaster, his music really makes it, & like any good Elvis song, stops... & starts again.

Most refreshing is to see real people, in daily situations, filmed freely without the ridiculous hysteria of the West. Just attempt to film your passport being stamped, or the flight attendants in North America & prepare to be tackled to the ground & repeatedly tazered while your camera is smashed into oblivion.

But not so in Seychelles, everyone freely celebrating the joy of life, in the village, at the beach people dancing, laughing, playing, yes... even children, nobody is weird or creepy about it... its just called life...

Love it!

Ah, no, I said 'unedited holiday footage' is one of the 7 levels of hell. Edited footage is a different thing altogether.

Its a fantastic video, and one that I show to lots of people that think a DSLR cant be used handheld and without all the accessories.

But just imagine all the dross that was cut out of that: all the unusable shaky footage, all the unusable out of focus footage, and yes, even unfriendly people holding up their hands and saying don't photograph me (I'm sure it even happens in paradise).

So the point is a DSLR can certainly be used handheld, and it can give you very discrete view of your surroundings (especially when people think you are just taking photographs not filming) - but for gods sake don't inflict the unedited footage on people! And don't post your test footage on youtube!

Some here might be old enough to remember level 6, which was a darkened room & multiple clattering trays of different shapes to "treat" the guests to a slide show of our holiday snaps.

"Oh my! How'd that one get in there?"


:blush:

What is 6 and 7 levels of hell?

I´ll try hard to be really good filming with my new DSLR. That´s what I want.

And of course, I won´t put unedited footages of people on net. Will try to ask them before doing so.

TrixTrax9000 wrote:
Most refreshing is to see real people, in daily situations, filmed freely without the ridiculous hysteria of the West. Just attempt to film your passport being stamped, or the flight attendants in North America & prepare to be tackled to the ground & repeatedly tazered while your camera is smashed into oblivion.

Love it!

That´s what I also love about other countries other than the West.
The happiness in the faces of kids from Cambodia when I showed them my camera was fantastic!