Today, Canon announced their new, much-anticipated Cinema EOS C300 video camera. Not long ago, we got a sneak peek; some of its key features are a Super 35mm size sensor, 12-stops of dynamic range, on-board 50 Mbps recording to CF cards and HD-SDI outputs. The camera comes in two versions, one with a Canon EF mount and the other with a PL mount. The sensor is 4K (3840 x 2160) in resolution, with a unique color pattern that produces a very clean 1920×1080 signal. From our brief testing of the camera, we could find no rolling shutter artifacts, moire issues, or other problems found on HDSLR camera sensors. The sensor has a native ISO of 850 and produces a clean signal all the way up to 20,000 ISO, giving amazing low light performance. And in the case that you have too much light, the camera also has built in ND filters.

…continue reading Canon Announces New C300 HD Camera

Video capture with an HDSLR can be tricky with day exteriors, even when the camera is rated at 200 or 320 ISO. The Schneider True-Match Variable Density Filter system offers a quick way to get exposure into a workable zone. Aesthetically, the unit allows directors and DP’s to maintain a level of exposure that takes advantage of the larger sensor area of the HDSLR by keeping the f-stop low and the depth of focus shallow, thus delivering a more filmic look.

The True-Match filter system consists of a match set of filters that, when turned in opposite directions, create various levels of ND. By carefully matching these filters, blue shift has been eliminated at high-density settings. The range is 11 stops of exposure compensation. A 77mm True-Match circular pola is threaded onto the lens and a step-up ring is threaded into the 77mm polarizer filter. The step-up ring accepts a rotating 4×4 filter stage, which holds a 4×4 True-Match linear polarizer.

At this year’s Canon Expo, we had an opportunity to see Canon’s recently announced EOS 60D HDSLR. The 60D is a full-featured HDSLR positioned between the Rebel T2i and the 7D, with one notable exception – the 3” LCD now articulates, solving the problem many video shooters had with high and low angle shots. HD video functions are similar to the rest of the EOS line, with H.264 1080/24p/25p/30p and 720/60p/50p recording on to SDHC & SDXC cards.

…continue reading Hands-On with the Canon EOS 60D

One of the great advantages of HDSLR cameras is their small size. One of the supreme disadvantages is that there can be all sorts of little fiddly bits to keep track of. My old Super16 Aaton kit was a dozen cases — when I had to pare down to a Run ‘n’ Gun doc kit, I could get it to four — but that’s not how so many of us fly these days. We needed to get a fairly complete camera kit into a single case.

With this in mind, Abel and PortaBrace worked together to develop the “ultimate” HDSLR shooter’s case. The goal was to fit a camera built with front rods, follow focus, mattebox and optical viewfinder, along with a complete set of prime lenses or zooms, an HDMI/HD-SDI converter, and lots of batteries, chargers, CF cards, etc. It had to be easy to run around with on a shoot and fit inside a hardcase for shipping. After much work with PortaBrace, reconfiguring some products and creating new ones, we think we’ve come up with the Ultimate HDSLR Travel Kit. Take a look at the video to see more.

We sell a number of different quality shoulder mount rigs for HDSLR cameras, but often we have customers that just want to keep their cameras small and lightweight. One of the major advantages of shooting with an HDSLR is the ability to blend in with a crowd without anyone knowing you are shooting video. Here are a couple solutions that will allow you to add function and stability to your HDSLR camera, but still keep it small and relatively invisible.

iDC Run & Gun Kits

iDC has made a Run & Gun Kit for the Canon 5D Mark II, 7D, and Rebel T2i that is both small and very functional. The Run & Gun kit combines a modified Hoodman LCD viewfinder with a simple follow focus. The follow focus butts up against the lens and rotates focus or zoom using friction only, so there is no need for gears. The system does not utilize rods, which keeps it small and light. Additionally, the viewfinder is designed to quickly attach and detach from the camera for easy viewing. When held up to your eye with one hand on the camera body and the other on the follow focus, the Run & Gun kit is very stable and easy to use.

Zacuto Target Shooter

If you are looking for a small way to stabilize your HDSLR, then you might like the Zacuto Target Shooter. This small support is designed to add an additional point of contact with your body for increased stability. It may not seem like much, but with both hands on the camera, the extra support is sometimes all you need. The Zacuto Z-Finder Pro can also be added for better viewing and yet another point of contact with your body.

Manfrotto Monopod & Fluid Head

A unique solution that one of our sales agents, Matt Livingston, came up with is combining a Manfrotto 685B Neotec Monopod and the Manfrotto 701HDV fluid head. While using a monopod is not popular in the video world, it can be used as a useful stabilization tool for HDSLR cameras. Matt combined the monopod with the 701HDV head to allow for quick position changes as well as fluid pan & tilt control. Check out this music video Matt shot using his monopod creation, and four Canon 7Ds (with Zeiss ZE 21mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 100mm macro lenses) and a Canon 5D Mark II with a Zeiss ZE 85mm.

Canon has a new HDSLR camera and a new Final Cut Pro plug-in. The EOS 550D (or Rebel T2i as it is also called) is their latest HDSLR camera, with an 18 MP APS-C size sensor and the ability to record full HD video. In terms of video, the specs are very similar to that of the 7D:

• 1080 recording at 24,25, and 30
• 720 recording at 50 & 60P
• Full Manual Video mode
• HDMI output
• Stereo Mic Input

The big differences from the 7D is a lower ISO range (100-6400), and it records to SDHC or SDXC cards instead of CF cards. The sensor is not exactly the same, so some comparison will have to be made, but the price is significantly different at under $1000. Read a full review of the new 550D at DPreview.

The other big news is that Canon is developing a plug-in for Final Cut Pro. It will allow importing of ‘EOS Movie’ footage into FCP through the Log and Transfer mode. The plug-in will convert the QuickTime movies created in Canon HDSLR cameras into Apple’s ProRes 422 codec at approximately twice the speed of Apple’s standard conversion. Additionally, users will also be able to add timecode, reel names and metadata to footage quickly and easily. This is great news for anyone working with Canon HDSLR cameras. A beta of the plug-in will be available in March.

As HDSLR cameras are used in more professional applications, we find our clients looking for ways to make them fit within a more traditional on-set workflow. One of the first issues we tackled was monitoring. These prosumer cameras have HDMI outputs, but our clients need HD-SDI feeds. Our solution is portable and battery powered. Check out the video to see what we came up with, and click the link to view the HDMI to HD-SDI Kit for HDSLR on our site.