Jonathan Ziegler
Forum Replies Created
-
Legal depositions. Sometimes $250 an hour (I’ve heard of more) with almost no editing – just a finished DVD. Profitability is up to you. What are you making on a $3k wedding gig? The $300 webmercial? The higher the number, the better the chance for profit. A $300 job can only make you $300, but a $3000 wedding video can make you up to $3000.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Well, I consider any situation to be “low light” where your light is less than ideal and/or you should use artificial light (for effect, highlight, art, etc) or otherwise provide additional light. I don’t like cranking up the gain (gain or grain). I’m imposing my personal feelings on the matter here, too. You can get some great lighting without a lot of cash, though, too. I’m a big DIY fan and I’ve used some nice cheap alternatives to 500W+ studio lights to avoid the dreaded gain grain like clamp lights with hi-Watt CFLs, bounces, LEDs, flashlights, GE broad spectrum bulbs (little 100W tungsten bulbs are great for fill), and the list goes on. Even an on-camera light can work for what you describe (remember on-camera lights are for light assistance not light replacement).
That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with available light as long as there’s enough light available exactly where you want it at the settings you want or intend to use. 😉
And, since I’m on this subject: https://www.videomaker.com/learn/production/lighting/ – VideoMaker is a great resource for video learning and their Plus Membership is only $25 a year. You get loads of great stuff even without the paid membership, too. They have content geared towards the novice/amateur and the more experienced and/or professional guys, too. They have really embraced the online experience and seem to have a really good feel for the biz as it stands now.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Did you do any color grading or other adjustments? What sort of mount is M42?
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Okay, let me clarify: I don’t care for MPEG2 (as in me, personally). It’s been in use for a long time: TV, DVD, satellite, cable, HDV, XDCAM etc. If I’m going to be using a lossy format, I’ll stick with AVCHD. AVCHD is really only a step away from MPEG2 (MPEG2 is h.262 and the new h.264 is its later cousin in MPEG-4 AVC). Long story short, MPEG-4 is better at good quality at lower bitrates than MPEG-2. Since most sub $3k cameras use compression in the codec versus a high-def, raw feed, it makes sense to get the best codec you can even if you will transcode to something like ProRES (start with the best footage even if its gonna wind up on the web or on DVD). I won’t go into all the reasons as I could go on for hours and I don’t have that kinda time! 😉
That said: I still like the cameras I used as examples. I love the XF100 (and the XA10 ain’t bad either with its compactness and cost of $1k less) and good quality recording. It’s a 3CCD in a world of CMOS chips, but the footage looks great anyway. Here’s a long-winded review of the Canons with Philip Bloom: https://philipbloom.net/2011/07/09/video-review-of-the-canon-xa-10-xf100-and-xf105/
I think the HMC150 has been out longer and there is a lot more reviews and such about it, but if you’ve ever used a DVX-100, this seems just like it with the addition of some serious pro features like the vectorscope. The JVC GY-HM150U I mentioned is the one I have the least experience with (sorry about that). I used it for one day and I liked the 60i features (maybe 60P at like 720?), the glass, and, of course, the price. Maybe I should take it off the list?
You’ll also notice I haven’t put anything from Sony here. Sorry. I like the VG20, but haven’t used it enough to make a proper judgement, but its basically a DSLR (or maybe a CMOS video camera with interchangeable lenses which is suspiciously DSLR-like). Runs something like $2000-2500?
As for lowlight performance: how much really low light shooting will you do? If you are like most shooters, not that much. You will be using bright studio lights for static shots or you will be shooting outdoors in sunlight. If you are doing work for your company, you won’t want to be fiddling with dark corners, you will be flooding the area with light and tamping down the aperture and shutter speed as well as throwing in a couple ND filters. Don’t spend a lot of money on the camera only to have lousy, dark, unprofessional footage – you can get that with a consumer camera! 😉
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
I like the rumors of new Mac Pros using Ivy Bridge:
https://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/25943-intel-ivy-bridge-e-coming-in-new-mac-pro-lineup
Supposedly fixes the heat issues and the non-NVidia problem they had been having with the old Mac pros. Despite the fact that Apple makes most of its money in one area doesn’t mean they will abandon all of their product lines: if you make a $1 billion a year on one product line versus $10 billion on another, you’re not turning your back on $1 billion when you can make $11 billion with both. Maybe the rumor is right and it will be ready Q4 2012, but I think it will be sooner for the first lineup with the faster machines coming out a quarter later in time for NAB 2013 or Supermeet or MacWorld or something like that.
Oh and yes, I really don’t like Windows. I think its funny that its called innovation when its still 2-3 years behind the Mac. When Microsoft switches to a UNIX/Linux kernel, I’ll consider using it again.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
It all depends. $3000 is limiting not for the camera, but the extras. Low end is a consumer camcorder, mid-range is a low-end DSLR with either the default lens and maybe 1 more (you will get nickeled and dimed to death with DSLRs) and the high end is something like a JVC GY-HM150U, Panasonic AG-HMC150 (I like this one – it reminds me of an HD version of the DVX-100), Canon XF-100, etc.
I’d stay away from tape since there are tons of SD and CF cameras out there. AVCHD has gotten a bad rep, but it’s basically the same thing the Canon DSLRs are using (different name, but the same basic function – MP4 and h.264 living in weird harmony). I’d stay away from MPEG2, too (personal opinion).
Something else, too: anything but a prosumer camera or higher won’t have any kind of resale value in the long run. If you really plan on doing this in a professional environment, don’t get a DSLR or a consumer camera: neither are really designed for that kind of wear and you’ll be down awaiting replacement and repair a LOT. JVC, Panasonic, Canon, and Sony all make great cameras in the $2k-3k range that have decent lowlight, well-made for thousands of hours of shooting, extremely versatile, great optics, and solid support.
I would pick up the phone and call your local equipment dealer – yeah, they will try to sell you something (duh), but they will also be able to work with your budget so they get a sale and a repeat sale year after year. Some have trade-in programs so you can recoup some cash and get next year’s model.
Finally, if you still aren’t sure, most cameras can be rented for not too much cash for a couple days or a week. You may find that you only need a camera once a month for a day or 2 and you don’t really need to buy. Oh and don’t forget lights, backdrops, tripod (get a good one with a good fluid head), SD/CF cards, cables, cords, power supplies and/or extra batteries (don’t get the off-brand, they don’t work as well – learned that the hard way), lenses, filters, 3rd party manuals, cases/bags, stands, etc. You can add extras for days so plan accordingly.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Okay, why are you asking us if you already have the answer?
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Well, consider this: how often will you really use it? A couple days a month? Every day? Rentals are as cheap as $100 or less for a weekend for a 7D (depends on where you live and how close the rental place is). A lens or 2 will cost more, of course and some include batteries and some don’t. Point is this: rather than wait around for a camera to get cheap, rent it cheaper than you can buy and you don’t get stuck with yesterday’s technology.
Besides that, check pawn shops, ebay, and craigslist. I know people who have gotten smokin’ deals in all 3 places (even thrift stores!) if you don’t mind used.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
Yeah, you really need to talk to a lawyer on this one. You are risking potentially a million dollar lawsuit on guesses from this board (especially if a photo is seen on national TV with millions of viewers). Also, 1924 is not in the cutoff – if it got a copyright and was renewed between 1922 and 1978, it automatically got a longer duration and may be current now. It might be. Maybe not… It actually depends on whether or not the photo was published ever, had received a formal copyright and whether it has been renewed or not… Copyright law has changed many times over the years extending some copyrights into the present and leaving others behind, orphaned, or in the public domain. I’ve heard the cutoff for all public domain works is 1885 – anything before that date is public domain, but I really don’t know for sure. Check Duration of Copyright circular: https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.pdf (US Copyright office). I’m pretty good with technical stuff, but copyright law is ridiculous.
The current law basically requires your due diligence: you need to research every single photo you want to use and be absolutely certain you can have the copyright. If there are any legal claims at all, you need to be sure you contact the present copyright holder and license or buy the rights. If you can’t prove you did the work, research, and have no paperwork for it, you could get stuck with a nasty lawsuit.
Might be a whole lot cheaper to contact someone like Getty and have them do a photo search for you. You will pay for the photo licensing, but you will be assured you have the rights to use them.
I wound up researching this when trying to find the present copyright holder for some publications I have from the late 1800s (American Century). Unfortunately, some of the works are still under current copyright law, but I can’t get some information because the original publisher doesn’t have all of the information any longer – it’s been over 100 years. Anyway, I wanted to use the gorgeous illustrations – detailed, hand-drawn, hand-etched images, ads, etc., but I can’t so I went with some from a stock agency which worked just fine.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293 -
With the release of every new model, the older ones get cheaper. Right now the mark II is $2200. It used to be $2500. See? It’s already cheaper. I expect to see it drop below $2k to about $1800 before you won’t be able to buy ’em new anymore.
Jonathan Ziegler
https://www.electrictiger.com/
520-360-8293