The Great Camera Shootout 2010

The fine folks over at Zacudo undertook a very daunting task back in March of this year. They set out to compare each of the best ‘Video DSLRs’ on the market side by side next to 35mm film.

This resulted in a 3-part web series that is sure to surprise a lot of you. If you currently own one of these DSLRs, are thinking about purchasing one, already shooting video like a pro or looking to get started this is a very informative and interesting viewing experience.

Head over to www.zacuto.com/shootout and get out your popcorn.

“Which Video DSLR should I buy?”

Our friends over at DSLR University have put together a very comprehensive piece attempting to answer this very tough question. As they state right off the bat, it all depends on personal preference and what you plan on using it for, but they do a great job of weighing the pros and cons of each of these video-capable DSLRs:

Nikon D3s

Panasonic GH1

Canon T2i

Canon 7D

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 1D Mark IV

New Canon 5D Firmware fixes Aperture ‘Phenomenon’

Translation: Phenomenon = Glitch.

Firmware changes

This firmware update (Version 2.0.7) incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the aperture exhibits abnormal movement when shooting movies in manual exposure mode and Aperture Priority AE (Av mode) using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).

2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the exposure level shown in the LCD panel differs from what is shown in the viewfinder when shooting still images in manual exposure mode.

3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E4 or WFT-E4 II) may not automatically power off when used for FTP transfers.

These phenomenon only occur with the Version 2.0.4 and Version 2.0.3 firmware.

The Version 2.0.7 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.0.4. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 2.0.7, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Download it HERE.

Just Released: EOS MOVIE Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro

EOS MOVIE Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro (ce1100x.dmg.zip) is now available.  This is compatible with files shot with the EOS 7D, EOS 5D Mark II, and EOS-1D Mark IV.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=DownloadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=17662

Go to the product page, use the drop-down menu to select OS-X operating system, and it should be sitting right there.

Further down the page you will find a Quick Start Guide PDF document describing its operation.

Firmware Update for 5D Mark II Released

UPDATE: Canon has released a small fix for this update, firmware update 2.0.4, to address concerns about Custom camera settings in the 2.0.3 update.

Canon recently released their firmware update 2.0.3
Head over to the Firmware Update page and get the low down on how to upgrade your camera to the latest and greatest.

This latest upgrade brings 5 major improvements to the movie function and fixes a bug in the manual sensor cleaning function. Here are the full specs from the Canon website

1) Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.

NTSC:

1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed – actual 29.97 fps)

1920×1080 : 24 fps (added – actual 23.976 fps)

640×480 : 30 fps (changed – actual 29.97 fps)

PAL:

1920×1080 : 25 fps (added – actual 25.0 fps)

1920×1080 : 24 fps (added – actual 23.976 fps)

640×480 : 25 fps (added – actual 25.0 fps)

2) Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).

3) Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.

4) Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.

5) Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.

6) Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)

Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i) Announced

EOS Rebel T2i EF-S

Canon recently announced it’s newest DSLR with 1080p footage capabilites, the Rebel T2i. This is the most advanced Rebel to hit the market so far, and should be a great addition to the family of Hybrid Footage/Still DSLRs.

Specs:

- 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor

- DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)

- Continuous shooting at 3.7fps

- Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates

- 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots

- iFCL metering System with 63-zone Dual-layer Metering Sensor

- Quick Control screen to change shooting settings

- Exposure compensation +/-5 stops (although viewfinder scale is still +/-2 stops)

- Select maximum value for Auto ISO

- External Microphone socket

- Movie crop function

- Eye-Fi connected functions compatibility

Canon 1D Mark IV

Canon 1D Mark IV

I introduce you to the newly announced Canon 1D Mark IV. It shoots 16MP at 102,400 ISO with a 45-point autofocus system, 10fps bursts and also has 1080 video. The sensor is said to be similar in size to a Super 35mm motion picture frame, although is has a 1.3x crop factor so it isn’t considered full frame.

It seems that video is almost the main focus of this camera. It has full manual exposure control, stereo mic input, and 1080p video that shoots at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second. So far the examples are absolutely amazing.

Philip Bloom got his hands on a pre-production Canon 1D Mark IV and took it to Prague to shoot some winter night time footage. What he came up with is nothing short of stunning. These are easily some of the most impressive shots I’ve ever seen from a DSLR. Hope you enjoy and find some inspiration.

Some Inspirational Canon 5d Mark II videos

I went browsing through the Canon 5d group on Vimeo and found some incredible material. This is some very inspirational stuff if you happen to have a 5d or are in the market. It goes to show the possibilities are endless with some training and a little hard work. Enjoy.

Human Prints from julrom1 on Vimeo.

Eos 5D Mark II quick test from Stefano Bozzetta on Vimeo.

Night and Fog from Luke Humphrey on Vimeo.

Ian Provo / Coast Edit 2009 from Ian Provo on Vimeo.

Nostalgia (original version) from Edgar Maguyon on Vimeo.

LCD Hoods & Eye Pieces (Canon 5d Mark II)

Hoodman Loupe

ICD LCD Viewfinder

When in the field it can be hard to shoot and review clips using your LCD screen. These LCD hoods and eye pieces for the Canon 5d Mark II make it easy to get a good look at your screen without any glare.

You can either put the eye piece up to the screen when you need a look, or hook the attachment on and use it as you shoot.

I would go as far as to say that this is a must have for our 5d shooters.