Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC) 6K G2 – First test shots

March 21, 2023
Other StuffPhotographyReviews

First time out with the BMPCC 6K G2. Shot using legacy Tamron Adaptall lenses:

Adaptall 2 70-210mm (46A)
Adaptall 2 80-210mm (103A)
Adaptall 2 90mm Macro (72B)

The first thing that impresses is how well this camera captures colour and how relatively easy it is to edit BRAW files in Davinci Resolve. I’ve been shooting with the Panasonic S1 and the Blackmagic Video Assist 12G 5 inch recording monitor also using the BRAW codec. There is a difference between the two versions of BRAW that is now plain to see, the BMPCC files are much smoother to edit and playback on the PC and the colour science is very different.

I’m unsure about where to go with lenses in the future when shooting with the BMPCC but for now my trusty legacy Tamron Adaptall lenses are filling the gap.

The Bird Man of The Marsh

February 21, 2023
PhotographyStockVideoMedia

Took the Panasonic S1 and Sigma 150-600mm Sports out for a couple of hours for the first time this year.

Footage captured mostly at Marsh Farm and Beeleigh in Essex.

Some footage from this and my other videos may be available to licence at: https://www.pond5.com/artist/stockvideomedia

Panasonic S 24-105mm f4.0 lens. Photo samples from first day out.

January 23, 2023
PhotographyReviews

Took the Panasonic S5 out with my new lens, the Panasonic S 24-105mm f4.0.

Took lots of varied photos at different focal lengths, handheld, and I must say that I’m impressed. This is a sharp lens and the images speak for themselves. I tried to capture photos off subject matter that will reveal the sharpness of the lens.

This video is a slide show that shows the images at 100% crop (1:1 pixels in 4K) and also in their entirety. Basic info regarding focal length, ISO, aperture, and shutter speed is included.

A look at Clacton-on-Sea with the Panasonic S1 & Blackmagic RAW.

October 16, 2022
PhotographyPlaces

First outing with the Blackmagic Video Assist 5″ 12G HDR Monitor/Recorder. Shot in 5.9K RAW (5888×3312)) at 12:1 fixed compression with a resulting data rate of approximately 71 MBPS which is just over 14 seconds per Gigabyte.

All footage captured to an Integra 512gb UHS-1 SD card good for just under two hours of recording at 12:1 compression. The card is good for 180MBPS read and 150MBPS write in A2 mode but only good for about 90MBPS write in the Video Assist due to UHS-1 limits so it’s only good for 12-1 compression.

Shot with the Panasonic S1 & Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports Lens.

We enjoyed our visit to Clacton-On-Sea in October 2022 and we were lucky to experience beautiful weather. The cooler October air and the bright sun brought a few headaches as the resulting heat haze rising from the sandy beaches caused a fair amount of distortion and Image softening on some shots which I hope doesn’t spoil your enjoyment.

I had a bit of fun with some FX in a couple of places so please excuse me!

35 free LUTs from Panasonic for V-Log. Link & demonstration.

October 13, 2022
PhotographyStockVideoMedia

A collection of various LUTs for V-Log provided free by Panasonic.

Available in various formats (see link below). Link, 35 free LUTs: https://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/cinem…

Basic V-Log – Rec 709 LUT: https://na.panasonic.com/us/resource-…

Demonstration clip captured with Panasonic S1, Sigma Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 Sports DG DN OS Lens, Blackmagic RAW (V-Log).

FIGHT! Pigeons in a flap.

August 14, 2022
Other Stuff

These two pigeons were having a fight.

Can you guess why?

  • 1. Territorial challenge.
  • 2. Lovers tiff.
  • 3. Don’t keep calling me a rat with wings.
  • 4. You slept with my wife/husband.
  • 5. A mugging.
  • 6. A lawful arrest.
  • 7. Got out of bed the wrong side.
  • 8. This will toughen you up son.
  • 9. Paid in bread by me to fight.
  • 10. ?

Filmed in Raw with the Panasonic S1, Sigma 150-600mm lens and Atomos Ninja V.

The speed of the Moon, how fast does it move?

June 23, 2022
Other Stuff

The Moon appears to move very fast across the sky, but at what speed is it travelling?

All is not what meets the eye, this video might explain why.

Disclaimer: not remotely scientific or accurate but some may find it interesting.

Novoflex MagicBall 60mm tripod head review. Unique, is it the best ball head? Tripod hack included.

June 5, 2022
PhotographyReviews

The Novoflex MagicBall tripod head is certainly unique but can it do the job? Is this possibly the way all ball heads should be made?

In this review I take a hands on look at the Novoflex MagicBall 60mm head AKA “The big one”.

Also, don’t miss the tripod hack that I use regularly, especially with a long lens.

Young Cormorant. Panasonic S1 and Sigma 150-600mm Sports Lens

April 14, 2022
Other Stuff

Spotted this young cormorant perched on a floating “island” in the middle of a small lake in Essex. A proud beautiful bird who honoured me by displaying his open wings and making the clip even better.

This is the first time I have seen a cormorant in the wild and I’m grateful that the Sigma lens had enough reach for this shot.

I usually shoot in manual focus mode but the movement of the island was unpredictable so for the first time I used constant autofocus with bird recognition. The S1 {mounted on a tripod} stayed pretty much on target with just a couple of very minor hiccups, which all in all wasn’t bad considering the flowing water that sparkled all around the subject. As said manual focus would have been difficult so I’m grateful to have the shot.

A couple of hours in Southend-on-Sea with the Panasonic S1 and Sigma 150-600mm Sports Lens

March 30, 2022
Places

Paid a quick visit to Southend-on-Sea during an unseasonably warm (19C) few days in march 2022. The sun heated ground rising through the cooler air caused a lot of heat haze. The visible distance out to sea was also affected which can be seen in the shots of the mile long pier for which Southend is famous.

Shot with the Panasonic S1 and the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports Lens. All shots were using a fixed tripod but the appearance of sometimes significant movement and distortion was introduced by the rising warm air which in turn causes softening of the image.

The main challenge with shooting video with a long lens is the weather conditions. Heat haze and the wind have ruined many shots for me. Overcast days without wind is the ideal shooting conditions.