Thursday, 22 March 2012
We're back!!
This blog was temporarily taken down by Google by one of it's automatic systems, several weeks and several re-instatement requestes later and it's finally back!! I hope to add some more DSLR video posts soon!
Sunday, 15 January 2012
More time-lapse with 500D/550D
Looking at the stats, it looks like time-lapse is a pretty popular subject for users finding this blog - so I thought I'd do another post on the subject.
Here's some time-lapse I did a little while back shot on the 500D.
Essentially it's a combination of sunsets and night time shots, I really wanted to have a go at trying to capture the stars moving across the night sky - I was really pleased with how it turned out.
Shooting timelapse, the main decision you have to make is how long a delay to have between the photos. There's no hard and fast rule that I've ever come across, it's something that kind of just comes with a bit of practice. Sometimes if it's really windy and you can see the clouds moving quickly across the sky anyway then it's too fast for time-lapse, the camera just won't cope with constantly taking photos that quickly. In those instances your best bet is probably just to shoot movie and then speed the movie up a little to create the effect you're after.
For the sunset shot's here, they were two quite still evenings, I set the delay to about 4 or 5 seconds. If you have the time, you can sometimes shoot about 30 frames - then stop and preview on the back of the camera. Holding the play button down will scroll through the frames and give you a rough indication of how smooth it is, if it looks OK then delete the test, reset and shoot your time-lapse.
Shooting the stars is somewhat more difficult and much more time consuming, these shots were typically around 30 second exposures each, which lengthens the shooting considerably. For example, shooting a shot every 5 seconds, at 24 frames per second it's going to take you a couple of minutes to get a second of final footage. Compare this to a 30 second exposure and this jumps up to about 12 minutes.
The other problem with star time-lapse is focussing, it's normally too dark to see anything through the viewfinder or on the back screen, especially if you're not in the ideal conditions such as being in the middle of the desert somewhere with no light pollution. My best results were done by not looking through the camera to focus at all, but looking on the lens itself for the little infinity icon - don't make the mistake of thinking (as I did) that it would simply be a case of turning the focus all the way, it's usually all the way and then back a little bit.
Shoot in RAW format if you can (if your memory card is big enough), especially for the low-light, night time shots. It gives you much more scope for bringing the detail up in post.
If you're lucky enough to have Adobe After Effects, this is a great application for converting your RAW photos into movies as they import directly onto your timeline. If not then you'll have to batch process your photos into Jpegs and then use some other software to convert the stills into movies.
Here's another example of some time-lapse, but a very different subject:
For these shots, I was using a delay of about 30 seconds between each photo. I think compared to other flowers, daffodils open quite quickly - which is what I needed as I don't have a mains adaptor, so I needed to do each scene on a single battery, which it only just did to be honest. If I'd have had a mains adaptor then I would have made each scene a little longer and maybe tried a few other types of flowers.
I hope that this little guide helps you to try your hand at some time-lapse and you have loads of fun with doing it. If you do, post your results in the comments!!
Make sure you have enough space on your memory card:
And don't forget your timer remote:
Here's some time-lapse I did a little while back shot on the 500D.
Essentially it's a combination of sunsets and night time shots, I really wanted to have a go at trying to capture the stars moving across the night sky - I was really pleased with how it turned out.
Shooting timelapse, the main decision you have to make is how long a delay to have between the photos. There's no hard and fast rule that I've ever come across, it's something that kind of just comes with a bit of practice. Sometimes if it's really windy and you can see the clouds moving quickly across the sky anyway then it's too fast for time-lapse, the camera just won't cope with constantly taking photos that quickly. In those instances your best bet is probably just to shoot movie and then speed the movie up a little to create the effect you're after.
For the sunset shot's here, they were two quite still evenings, I set the delay to about 4 or 5 seconds. If you have the time, you can sometimes shoot about 30 frames - then stop and preview on the back of the camera. Holding the play button down will scroll through the frames and give you a rough indication of how smooth it is, if it looks OK then delete the test, reset and shoot your time-lapse.
Shooting the stars is somewhat more difficult and much more time consuming, these shots were typically around 30 second exposures each, which lengthens the shooting considerably. For example, shooting a shot every 5 seconds, at 24 frames per second it's going to take you a couple of minutes to get a second of final footage. Compare this to a 30 second exposure and this jumps up to about 12 minutes.
The other problem with star time-lapse is focussing, it's normally too dark to see anything through the viewfinder or on the back screen, especially if you're not in the ideal conditions such as being in the middle of the desert somewhere with no light pollution. My best results were done by not looking through the camera to focus at all, but looking on the lens itself for the little infinity icon - don't make the mistake of thinking (as I did) that it would simply be a case of turning the focus all the way, it's usually all the way and then back a little bit.
Shoot in RAW format if you can (if your memory card is big enough), especially for the low-light, night time shots. It gives you much more scope for bringing the detail up in post.
If you're lucky enough to have Adobe After Effects, this is a great application for converting your RAW photos into movies as they import directly onto your timeline. If not then you'll have to batch process your photos into Jpegs and then use some other software to convert the stills into movies.
Here's another example of some time-lapse, but a very different subject:
For these shots, I was using a delay of about 30 seconds between each photo. I think compared to other flowers, daffodils open quite quickly - which is what I needed as I don't have a mains adaptor, so I needed to do each scene on a single battery, which it only just did to be honest. If I'd have had a mains adaptor then I would have made each scene a little longer and maybe tried a few other types of flowers.
I hope that this little guide helps you to try your hand at some time-lapse and you have loads of fun with doing it. If you do, post your results in the comments!!
Make sure you have enough space on your memory card:
And don't forget your timer remote:
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Cheap viewfinder for Canon DSLRs
When video was first taken up by pro's on the DSLR's, one of the first accessories they bought was a viewfinder - for hand held video it provides much better control over focus and the third point of contact steadies the shot considerably. The trouble was though, that these viewfinders were very expensive - out of reach of many low-budget film makers who had chosen the DSLR in the first place because of their low cost.
This viewfinder is for sale at Amazon for £22.99 which is an amazing price. I decided that for this price it was worth a try, but was very sceptical - you know the saying 'if it looks too good to be true, it probably is'
Wow was I pleasantly surprised! The viewfinder arrived in a little cardboard box, no fancy packaging and no instructions - but it's straight forward what to do with it anyway. It comes with a little metal frame with some double sided tape on it, simply stick that to the back of your camera and the viewfinder then attaches to the frame via some magnets. The viewfinder stays on well, seems to be well made and works a treat. The big rubber eye-cap easily accommodates my glasses and the picture you see through the lens is fantastic. The inside is covered in a flock type covering that cuts down unwanted reflections. It's very easy to see the sharpness and it does steady hand-held shots considerably - this view-finder is highly recommended... They do two different versions depending on the size of the rear screen on the camera, so make sure you get the right one.
Buy them from Amazon here:
This viewfinder is for sale at Amazon for £22.99 which is an amazing price. I decided that for this price it was worth a try, but was very sceptical - you know the saying 'if it looks too good to be true, it probably is'
Wow was I pleasantly surprised! The viewfinder arrived in a little cardboard box, no fancy packaging and no instructions - but it's straight forward what to do with it anyway. It comes with a little metal frame with some double sided tape on it, simply stick that to the back of your camera and the viewfinder then attaches to the frame via some magnets. The viewfinder stays on well, seems to be well made and works a treat. The big rubber eye-cap easily accommodates my glasses and the picture you see through the lens is fantastic. The inside is covered in a flock type covering that cuts down unwanted reflections. It's very easy to see the sharpness and it does steady hand-held shots considerably - this view-finder is highly recommended... They do two different versions depending on the size of the rear screen on the camera, so make sure you get the right one.
Buy them from Amazon here:
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Top 10 Rebel Video Christmas Gift Ideas
It's that time again, time when you might need to find Christmas gift ideas for the photographer in your life - or if you're the photographer yourself then it's the time you need to start leaving hints around the house... Here's a few ideas that won't break the bank:
1. Transcend 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card - £11.99
16GB is a great size, plenty of photos and video on the card - plus it's a fantastic price for a class 10 card. A fast card that's great for capturing video.
2. Battery Grip for Canon EOS 550D 600D/Rebel T2i T3i - £32.14
How about a battery grip for less than £35... The great thing about this is that it also takes AA batteries, so when your Canon battery goes flat and you're in the field, you can power your camera with some regular batteries!
3. 2.8X LCD View Finder Viewer Extender V2 for Canon 550D - £22.99
All the pro's recommend using a viewfinder for hand held video, the third point of contact provides more stable footage plus you have the added advantage of being able to accurately focus manually. This is probably the cheapest viewfinder around but has had some pretty good reviews, for this price (£22.99) it's worth a try!
4. Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens - £70.18
If you bought your Rebel camera with the kit lens and are looking at what other lenses you might like to try, this is a great low-cost next step. It's a prime lens (fixed at 50mm, not a zoom) - but with a very reasonable F1.8 you can acheive very nice narrow depth of field. At this price, it's a must have lens.
5. LCD Timer Remote £22.99
One of the cheapest timer remotes around, but it works great. Perfect for timelapse photography, or just use it as a remote shutter release so that you don't jog the camera in low-light.
6. Hama Stereo Directional Microphone - £33.50
The built in microphone on the Rebel series is OK, but for models with a microphone Jack (not the 500D) then an external mic is the way to go for good crisp sound, with a shield to cut out all that distracting wind noise. Rode mics are great, but for a cheaper option how about a Hama?
7. Velbon DV-7000 Video Tripod - £81.29
The most expensive item on this list, but fantastic quality and well worth investing in. A tripod is the single biggest thing you can use to make your video look more 'pro'. There are cheaper and flimsier tripods which are sometimes great as a travel tripod, but a heavy duty is great if you can take it. No more causing seasickness in your viewers!
8. Joby Gorillapod - SLR - £22.99
If you're out and about and don't want to lug your big tripod around, this is the perfect alternative. Wrap it around a tree, or a fence, or stand it on the floor somewhere and you have an instant tripod. For handheld video, leave the Gorillapod screwed to your camera, point the Gorillapod legs towards your body and it acts as a great stabiliser.
9. AC Power Mains Adaptor - £24.91
Another great accessory if you're interested in shooting timelapse, you often leave your camera on for long periods of time to shoot timelapse - avoid the frustration of coming back to the camera after many hours just to find the battery is flat! Obviously only works if you're shooting near a power source and not out in a field somewhere.
10. 101 Top Tips for DSLR Video - £9.36
All the gear, no idea? Learn all the tips and tricks for creating great video on your Rebel DSRL camera.
1. Transcend 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card - £11.99
16GB is a great size, plenty of photos and video on the card - plus it's a fantastic price for a class 10 card. A fast card that's great for capturing video.
2. Battery Grip for Canon EOS 550D 600D/Rebel T2i T3i - £32.14
How about a battery grip for less than £35... The great thing about this is that it also takes AA batteries, so when your Canon battery goes flat and you're in the field, you can power your camera with some regular batteries!
3. 2.8X LCD View Finder Viewer Extender V2 for Canon 550D - £22.99
All the pro's recommend using a viewfinder for hand held video, the third point of contact provides more stable footage plus you have the added advantage of being able to accurately focus manually. This is probably the cheapest viewfinder around but has had some pretty good reviews, for this price (£22.99) it's worth a try!
4. Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens - £70.18
If you bought your Rebel camera with the kit lens and are looking at what other lenses you might like to try, this is a great low-cost next step. It's a prime lens (fixed at 50mm, not a zoom) - but with a very reasonable F1.8 you can acheive very nice narrow depth of field. At this price, it's a must have lens.
5. LCD Timer Remote £22.99
One of the cheapest timer remotes around, but it works great. Perfect for timelapse photography, or just use it as a remote shutter release so that you don't jog the camera in low-light.
6. Hama Stereo Directional Microphone - £33.50
The built in microphone on the Rebel series is OK, but for models with a microphone Jack (not the 500D) then an external mic is the way to go for good crisp sound, with a shield to cut out all that distracting wind noise. Rode mics are great, but for a cheaper option how about a Hama?
7. Velbon DV-7000 Video Tripod - £81.29
The most expensive item on this list, but fantastic quality and well worth investing in. A tripod is the single biggest thing you can use to make your video look more 'pro'. There are cheaper and flimsier tripods which are sometimes great as a travel tripod, but a heavy duty is great if you can take it. No more causing seasickness in your viewers!
8. Joby Gorillapod - SLR - £22.99
If you're out and about and don't want to lug your big tripod around, this is the perfect alternative. Wrap it around a tree, or a fence, or stand it on the floor somewhere and you have an instant tripod. For handheld video, leave the Gorillapod screwed to your camera, point the Gorillapod legs towards your body and it acts as a great stabiliser.
9. AC Power Mains Adaptor - £24.91
Another great accessory if you're interested in shooting timelapse, you often leave your camera on for long periods of time to shoot timelapse - avoid the frustration of coming back to the camera after many hours just to find the battery is flat! Obviously only works if you're shooting near a power source and not out in a field somewhere.
10. 101 Top Tips for DSLR Video - £9.36
All the gear, no idea? Learn all the tips and tricks for creating great video on your Rebel DSRL camera.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
"Captain America: The First Avenger" Action Shots Captured With Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR Cameras
Following on from the 'is DSLR video dead' post, it's clear that it's far from it... the Canon 5D has been used in many of the action sequences on the new Captain America movie - yes, the big hollywood blockbuster one.
The camera was chosen due to it's size compared to traditional movie camera, allowing more cameras to be used in the action sequences. OK, so the 5D is a far superior camera than the 'Rebel' consumer range of DSLR's, with it being heavier duty and using a full-frame sensor - but isn't it a cool thought that you can now walk down the highstreet and buy the baby brother of a camera used in real movies?
Read the official press release on the Canon website here
The camera was chosen due to it's size compared to traditional movie camera, allowing more cameras to be used in the action sequences. OK, so the 5D is a far superior camera than the 'Rebel' consumer range of DSLR's, with it being heavier duty and using a full-frame sensor - but isn't it a cool thought that you can now walk down the highstreet and buy the baby brother of a camera used in real movies?
Read the official press release on the Canon website here
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Is DSLR video dead?
There seems to be a lot of talk on Twitter and the blogsphere about how video on the DSLR is dead, especially after NAB where everyone has seen the new large sensor "DSLR-Killer" video cameras. Is DSLR video dead? I don't think so, but for sure the honeymoon is over.
Which side of the argument you sit seems to depend on where you've come from, if you come from the video/film industry then there's less and less reason to continue using these cameras. For pure video they're hard to work with, miss some of the features of dedicated video cameras and have to be loaded up with rigs and accessories to make them usable.
If you come from a photographic background, these cameras are still the most versatile out there. They're extremely good still photo cameras and can still produce exceptional quality video as well. I come from this second group, I don't get excited by new releases of large sensor video cameras - I wan't to shoot stills as well as video. I want a camera I can throw around my neck and take with me, with a couple of different lenses to cover different angles and I want to come back with RAW photos and some great video to go along with them. I certainly don't want to go back to the days of having a stills camera in one hand and a video camera in the other, ocasionally nearly dropping one as I fumble around trying to swap them over.
Long live DSLR video!
Which side of the argument you sit seems to depend on where you've come from, if you come from the video/film industry then there's less and less reason to continue using these cameras. For pure video they're hard to work with, miss some of the features of dedicated video cameras and have to be loaded up with rigs and accessories to make them usable.
If you come from a photographic background, these cameras are still the most versatile out there. They're extremely good still photo cameras and can still produce exceptional quality video as well. I come from this second group, I don't get excited by new releases of large sensor video cameras - I wan't to shoot stills as well as video. I want a camera I can throw around my neck and take with me, with a couple of different lenses to cover different angles and I want to come back with RAW photos and some great video to go along with them. I certainly don't want to go back to the days of having a stills camera in one hand and a video camera in the other, ocasionally nearly dropping one as I fumble around trying to swap them over.
Long live DSLR video!
Monday, 14 February 2011
Canon EOS 600D
Canon have added a new model to the Rebel line-up, the 600D or T3i depending on your region.
Full-HD video with manual control over frame rate, exposure and sound and Digital Zoom permits 3-10x magnification while retaining Full-HD quality.
It also uses the articulating display as featured on the recently introduced 60D.
For stills, the camera also includes creative filter effects which can be applied to Raw and JPEG files post capture, including Toy Camera, Soft Focus, Miniature, Grainy Black & White and Fish Eye simulations.
Canon have posted some sample video from the camera:
Full-HD video with manual control over frame rate, exposure and sound and Digital Zoom permits 3-10x magnification while retaining Full-HD quality.
It also uses the articulating display as featured on the recently introduced 60D.
For stills, the camera also includes creative filter effects which can be applied to Raw and JPEG files post capture, including Toy Camera, Soft Focus, Miniature, Grainy Black & White and Fish Eye simulations.
Canon have posted some sample video from the camera:
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