5D Mk II vs. AF100 – Real Life Test: Similar Commercials
Test charts and sample footage only tell you so much. When the rubber hits the road, the real test of a camera is how it delivers on a paying gig. In this regard, I have been able to conduct a…
View ArticleAF100 Lens Comparison #1 – Sigma 12-24 vs. Lumix 7-14
Part of what makes the Panasonic AF100 so appealing is that its Micro 4/3 lens mount allows virtually any third-party lens to be used on the camera (with the correct adapter, of course). The “gotcha”...
View ArticleIs Magic Lantern Still Needed?
I have decided to rent a Canon 5D2 system to make a short video. I mentioned to the rental house that the Magic Lantern firmware upgrade would allow for better audio capabilities, and the technician I...
View ArticleCharleston Promise Neighborhood – BTS Part 2
Because of budget sensitivity, I approached the Charleston Promise Neighborhood video project as a one-man band. While I had a little bit of help with setup and carrying gear, for the most part I was a...
View ArticleA Fix for 5D2 Aliasing?
A few months ago, a company called Mosaic Engineering announced that they were developing an internal filter for the Canon 5D Mark II that would solve the camera’s well-known aliasing problems. This...
View ArticleBTS –“Dead Battery Anxiety”
A few months ago, I was hired by Slant Media to direct a series of web videos to promote Philips Electronics’ “Dead Battery Anxiety” microsite. This was a great project, based on a very entertaining...
View ArticleMixing AF100 & 5D Mk II Footage … On Purpose
I recently had the pleasure of shooting two commercials for the graduate studies program at The Citadel – the military college of South Carolina. I was hired by the good folks at Cognetix, who wrote...
View ArticleBTS –“Meetings Impossible” and “HurryHurry Pirates” Videos
I really enjoy pirate-themed videos. This year, I’ve shot two videos in which pirates have played a prominent role, so I thought it might be fun to compare and contrast the behind-the-scenes workings...
View ArticleGreat Lighting For Microbudget Video
No matter what camera you’re using, any shot is only as good as its lighting. When I was in film school, I was introduced to the Lowel Tota-Light, and I hated it. It was extremely bright, extremely...
View ArticleTesting the Canon 5D2: RAW vs. H264
I can’t sit on the sidelines when something like RAW video functionality on a DSLR comes out. There are a lot of nice test videos out now, but I needed to shoot my own. So, here it is! My first…
View ArticleUsing Available Light for Documentary Filming
I’ve done a number of videos for Wild Dunes Resort, and most of them have showcased all the great things to do on the beach where the resort is located. For this project, however, the assignment was...
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