Comments on: iPhone 4S vs Canon 5d MKII

By: synthetic

synthetic — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:02:54 +0000

I’ve posted my first video, obviously it’s an industrial for TASCAM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w-j7RucS2dI

The Picodolly was pretty shaky, but I was able to stabilize it in Final Cut Pro. I did it in FCPX, which is cool in a few ways and maddening in most others.

By: synthetic

synthetic — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:21:12 +0000

I would think that would be very shaky. Even with everything tightened down on the Pico Dolly it’s still a bit shaky with the 100mm with the arm raised. I’m hoping it’s not too bad or that I can fix it in editing.

By: Oliver Chesler

Oliver Chesler — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:18:53 +0000

Yes I would like to see your video. Speaking of dolly shots I was looking at this: http://cinetics.com/

By: synthetic

synthetic — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:50:39 +0000

Actually, I’ve been shooting video for the last two days. I used my 5DmkII and 100mm lens for about 80% of it. I’m shooting product videos for handheld devices so I’m doing a lot of tight shots. For the rest of the shots I used my 50mm or 40mm lenses (actually 17-40mm, but zoomed all the way in). I wanted to use my 15mm fisheye but it was way too wide.

I bought a few things that made my stuff look really cool, besides the lenses. I got a pair of video lights from B&H for $200, including the barn doors and stands. I got a set of colored gels to clip i front of one of the lights, and I got a pico dolly from these guys:

http://photographyandcinema.com/

The dolly shots make a HUGE DIFFERENCE. Set up a table in front of where you’re shooting and dolly in or by, use a small depth of field = looks like a million bucks.

I’ll send you the finished video if you’re interested, email me to remind me.

By: Oliver Chesler

Oliver Chesler — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:35:11 +0000

Ah yes I’ve been learning on the “Vimeo School” about how to calculate the lens differences when not using a full frame sensor/camera. Thinking…

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:32:17 +0000

I know you’re not asking me. But the 50mm won’t be much good with the 60d or 7d because of the APS-C sensor. It basically turns into an 80mm lens.

I have a Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 zoom that I really like. And I have a Canon 28mm f1.8 (not the $$ L series). I’d like something in the 15mm range for the kind of pictures I like to take. Again, because of the smaller sensor it would be more like 24mm. I like a little wide-angle.

By: Oliver Chesler

Oliver Chesler — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:24:45 +0000

Thanks Brian… my plan is to shoot with the iPhone and make sure I actually create a few finished projects then I can justify spending. I drool over the footage I see shot with the 5d and various lenses… more than any other camera I’ve ever seen.

By: Oliver Chesler

Oliver Chesler — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:23:17 +0000

Do you have any Canon lenses you love? What would be your 2nd best after say a 50mm?

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:57:28 +0000

Sure, it’s possible to shoot a nice video with the iPhone, just like you can make an album of good music with an iPhone. Talented artists can use whatever and get it to work.
But the minute you need to add a zoom, shoot at night, use something other than 30 fps, or change lenses, the comparison is pointless.
Oliver you should look at the in-betweens as well, like the Canon 60D and 7d. The sensor is smaller but they shoot amazing video and cost much less than the 5d.

By: synthetic

synthetic — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:27:25 +0000

It looks OK in the small head-to-head but breaks down in the full frame example, IMO. But it’s stunning quality for a phone. I think you’d get better results from any of the Canons, if you invest in some nice lenses. The glass gives you that nice small depth of field with little balls of light in the background.