Hi all, Dave here. For a very informative and very helpful review for anyone looking at the decision to buy the Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera, watch the video.
For those that like to read, here is a summary text of the review.
Reasons why I was looking at the 5D Mark III to replace my 7D.
1. Moire and poor anti-aliasing.
2. Lens purchase decisions fork in the road (crop vs full frame)
Compared to the 7D, the 5D Mark III is better at everything, higher quality build, built for video, full HDMI out. Then came the 6D, full frame. Mega pixels, focus, no headphone jack, but GPS, Wifi, didn't have the video quality of the 5D Mark III.
Compared to 5D Mark III and the Cinema series C300, C500 to get to 4K $$$ and missing features
And then came Magic Lantern video raw...
-24fps 14bit raw video that blows away 8bit compressed video and competes with RED at least at 1080P
-Promise of even better future... MLV format, ISO less HDR video (14 stops of dynamic range), compressed RAW, Sound, stabilized features/bugs
Things I love about the 5D Mark III
Camera features:
-focus speed, FPS photos, auto-focus settings
-no aliasing, no moire,
-sensor is better, beautiful photos,
-less noise at high ISO
-600EX flash, High speed sync,
Magic Lantern features:
-video quality
-color depth 14bit amazing dynamic range ,
-focus peaking,
-zoom, mixed with 70-200 IS II L, amazing 600mm Zoomed video at F2.8
-intravalometer,
-histogram,
-scopes,
-advanced bracketing,
Things you will have to live with...
It is not perfect... yet.
- Setup/install/update of Magic Lantern not for the weak (hard to find and know the instructions are correct)
- Upgrades fixed pink frames but removed audio
- Raw video post processing steps/time (Rawanizer -> After Effects/Camera Raw-> Premiere)
- No audio sync, all separate and external (Zoom H4N)
- Sometimes flaky (video recording errors, pink frames, slow to start recording)
- 11 minutes of video per 64GB better know what you want and not waste time rolling
- Shooting Raw video in full hot sun temp issues
Is it worth it...
- Resounding YES! For the price and the quality and features, YES, you would have to spend $$$$$ on RED + accessories to get the quality with not all of the features (no photos), or double on Black Magic Cinema and get a cropped lens coverage with less features (no photos).
Accessories that you have to have:
- A video editing capable computer to process the Raw video
- Komputerbay 64GB(1000x) $120 or 256GB (1200x) $600
- CarrySpeed VF-3 (used to see live video focus peaking)
- Zoom H4N, H1, H6 (Quality sound recording)
- Tripod with a Fluid head for smooth video pans
Photo and Video equipment reviews with a little fun thrown in...
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Huge price drop ($200) on the DJI Phantom over at Dronefly.com
---BREAKING NEWS--- DJI Phantom price drop
If you are interested in getting into the fun of flying your GoPro Hero 3 using a quadcopter, now is the time. Dronefly has dropped the price of the DJI Phantom down to $479.00 (from $679.00) That means that you can get the whole package, DJI Phantom ($479.00), DJI Zenmuse Gimbal (still $679.00), and GoPro Hero 3 Black (now $329.00) for a total of $1487.00. Of course you will still need extra batteries, extra props, and other accessories but this is huge. I have worked with the guys over at Dronefly and they are great guys who go above and beyond to help all their customers. Tell them that David Watson sent you.
This amazing quadcopter is so easy to fly and easy to get amazing HD aerial film. It is so easy to fly that even a child could do it! Here is some of the amazing video that I have shot with this great combination.
If you are interested in getting into the fun of flying your GoPro Hero 3 using a quadcopter, now is the time. Dronefly has dropped the price of the DJI Phantom down to $479.00 (from $679.00) That means that you can get the whole package, DJI Phantom ($479.00), DJI Zenmuse Gimbal (still $679.00), and GoPro Hero 3 Black (now $329.00) for a total of $1487.00. Of course you will still need extra batteries, extra props, and other accessories but this is huge. I have worked with the guys over at Dronefly and they are great guys who go above and beyond to help all their customers. Tell them that David Watson sent you.
This amazing quadcopter is so easy to fly and easy to get amazing HD aerial film. It is so easy to fly that even a child could do it! Here is some of the amazing video that I have shot with this great combination.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Fire dancers in video raw
Hi all, I had the chance to attend the Luau at Thanksgiving Point this year. It was my first time. I gotta say, it was fun! When I got there, I was thinking that parking was going to be a nightmare. It wasn't. Smooth as silk, easy in, easy out. After parking, the line for getting in was at least a quarter mile long. I got in line thinking that I didn't even know if they were going to be sold out, or worse, run out of food. But the line moved pretty fast and I got in pretty quickly. The lines for food were fairly robust, but the cater company was keeping up nicely. I waited until most people got their food before getting mine, it gave me time to walk the gardens a bit and shoot some video.
If you haven't been to Thanksgiving Point Gardens, or if you are like me and thought that the gardens were just in back of the shops, first of all you would be wrong, and second, you really need to see this place. It is tucked away just to the north of the golf course clubhouse. It is HUGE! It will take you a couple of hours to walk around this place. There are waterfalls (and they are not tiny), streams, hills, and the flowers of every variety and breed, all manicured and on display. Seriously, you couldn't find a more amazing place hold, and to shoot, any type of event.
You see, if you take a camera into the gardens, it will cost you a photography fee of $100.00. You can bring 2 people with you but anyone beyond that has to pay $10.00. If you just want to walk around and take pictures with your iPhone, only $10.00. The luau cost $21 for entry and food. So, I figured if I was able to go to the luau, and take pictures with my equipment, I was saving myself 100 bucks. Turned out I was right. I brought everything but the quadcopter, which would have been cool... but after the latest news report of someone crashing into a crowd of people, I think it might be best to stay away from formal crowds of people.
So I shot some with the Canon 7D (16-35L II), and most of the Luau entertainment with the Canon 5D Mark III (70-200L IS II) using Magic Lantern Raw video. Take a look.
If you haven't been to Thanksgiving Point Gardens, or if you are like me and thought that the gardens were just in back of the shops, first of all you would be wrong, and second, you really need to see this place. It is tucked away just to the north of the golf course clubhouse. It is HUGE! It will take you a couple of hours to walk around this place. There are waterfalls (and they are not tiny), streams, hills, and the flowers of every variety and breed, all manicured and on display. Seriously, you couldn't find a more amazing place hold, and to shoot, any type of event.
You see, if you take a camera into the gardens, it will cost you a photography fee of $100.00. You can bring 2 people with you but anyone beyond that has to pay $10.00. If you just want to walk around and take pictures with your iPhone, only $10.00. The luau cost $21 for entry and food. So, I figured if I was able to go to the luau, and take pictures with my equipment, I was saving myself 100 bucks. Turned out I was right. I brought everything but the quadcopter, which would have been cool... but after the latest news report of someone crashing into a crowd of people, I think it might be best to stay away from formal crowds of people.
So I shot some with the Canon 7D (16-35L II), and most of the Luau entertainment with the Canon 5D Mark III (70-200L IS II) using Magic Lantern Raw video. Take a look.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Wild Tarantula crossing... up close and personal
So another day out looking for amazing video... Today's venture took me to the west side of Utah Lake. A long stretch of two lane highway with shooting ranges and beautiful views of the mountains all around. I haven't been out there since I use to ride my bullet bike at speeds faster than I should have. The weather was stormy, but not a bit of wind. Perfect conditions to fly the DJI Phantom quadcopter. I flew around for while, trying to capture some the beautiful light that was shooting through the clouds. Got some footage.
It wasn't until the ride back that things got interesting. It was about 7'oclock when I saw something on the road from quite a distance. As I came by and passed it, I realized that this thing was a big tarantula! I flipped my car around and drove back to find this guy hanging out in the middle of the road. I grabbed the camera and went to get up close and personal with him. I realized that this guy was not going to move, despite the danger of staying in the road. I grabbed a stick and helped him along to get out of harms way. Luckily all the cars that passed stayed out of the lane and he safely made it to the other side. I got back in my car and started driving home again. I wasn't another mile later that I saw yet another one! I decided that I wouldn't go back this time and kept going. Another 1/2 mile, and another one and this one was even bigger than the last two. I stopped and got the camera, and the tripod and got right up in this ones face. Wow, what a face. These creatures are amazing. They are so tall when they stand up and get all defensive. So I got some good video of that one and set off again. I saw 3 more on the road. I knew that we had tarantula's here in Utah, but I had no idea where they were, or how many there must be. Scary!
So here is the video. I added some of the flight video as to not scare you too badly. Watch in 1080p if you aren't scared at all.
As always, this was shot with Canon 5D Mark III, Magic Lantern Video Raw (14bit), 24fps, DJI Phantom with GoPro Hero 3 attached to Zenmuse H3-2D, 1080P 48fps and color corrected in Adobe Premiere.
It wasn't until the ride back that things got interesting. It was about 7'oclock when I saw something on the road from quite a distance. As I came by and passed it, I realized that this thing was a big tarantula! I flipped my car around and drove back to find this guy hanging out in the middle of the road. I grabbed the camera and went to get up close and personal with him. I realized that this guy was not going to move, despite the danger of staying in the road. I grabbed a stick and helped him along to get out of harms way. Luckily all the cars that passed stayed out of the lane and he safely made it to the other side. I got back in my car and started driving home again. I wasn't another mile later that I saw yet another one! I decided that I wouldn't go back this time and kept going. Another 1/2 mile, and another one and this one was even bigger than the last two. I stopped and got the camera, and the tripod and got right up in this ones face. Wow, what a face. These creatures are amazing. They are so tall when they stand up and get all defensive. So I got some good video of that one and set off again. I saw 3 more on the road. I knew that we had tarantula's here in Utah, but I had no idea where they were, or how many there must be. Scary!
So here is the video. I added some of the flight video as to not scare you too badly. Watch in 1080p if you aren't scared at all.
As always, this was shot with Canon 5D Mark III, Magic Lantern Video Raw (14bit), 24fps, DJI Phantom with GoPro Hero 3 attached to Zenmuse H3-2D, 1080P 48fps and color corrected in Adobe Premiere.
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