5DII Test Video - Beach Sunset 1080p

[timescapes.org]

Nothing special. Just a test video I shot yesterday using the $240 Sigma 28-300 f/3.5/6.3 (Nikon version with EOS adapter) to gain control over the iris.

http://www.vimeo.com/2452171

Vimeo provides a 1080p download link the lower-right-hand corner.

[paulg1979]

Pretty amazing!!

I assume that was straight out the camera.

[Sauk]

ha that bird that dove down into the water. I was like what the hell is that bird doing! Landed right next to that surfer

[equetefue]

pretty impressive

[nicksan]

Is it me or does it look a little "jerky" when panning?
Looks pretty nice though!

[JeffreyG]

This is good, it shows the type of work that the 5D2 is capable of. Basically, this type of tripod mounted series of short scenes with minimal panning is where the camera will be most capable.

I also think slowish zooms might be a good idea, as this blocks the camera from using a super thin DOF. Another good approach for budding videographers might be adapting old manual Nikkors and such with aperture rings.

[Metalstrm]

Jeez, when that dog jumped for the frisbee and the guy took a photo of him, my first thought was that he had shot him (with a gun). :o

[timescapes.org]

Is it me or does it look a little "jerky" when panning?
Looks pretty nice though!

Sorry that's just my terrible panning skills. :o

The camera actually performs really well, even with whip pans.

[Sauk]

Jeez, when that dog jumped for the frisbee and the guy took a photo of him, my first thought was that he had shot him (with a gun). :o


lol I was like I wonder if he got the shot lol

[monokrome]

It's 30 degrees outside, with 30mph winds, It looks great!!

[HSK]

I'm impressed with its video capability. I wanna get hold of one.

What do you mean though by using the adapter to control the iris? is it because the lens is a nikon sigma?

[timescapes.org]

I'm impressed with its video capability. I wanna get hold of one.

What do you mean though by using the adapter to control the iris? is it because the lens is a nikon sigma?

Canon does not allow you control the iris in video mode. The whole thing is AUTO everything in 30p video mode-- ISO, iris, shutter. To gain control over the iris, you simply slap a Nikon compatible lens on the 5D2 with an EOS adapter. The camera will not be able to control the iris, so it will control the ISO up and down to expose the scene properly.

Here's where I'm going to get a little technical, in case people are googling around on this topic and want the info....

If you want to control the iris and the ISO, there is a way of doing that, too, by locking the exposure (AE LOCK * ) at ISO 640 or 800 or whatever you want, to avoid the chroma noise that can appear above ISO 1600. To do this, you should stop the camera down to f/22, then point the lens at a very bright light source. Now hit AE lock and you should be locked at a fairly low ISO. You can make slight adjustments until you hit the perfect ISO you want. Now that Exposure and ISO are locked, simply open up the iris to f/3.5 or f/8 or whatever lets in enough light to expose the scene properly.

Controlling the iris also controls focus and DOF to a certain extent, obviously.

[HSK]

Ahh! thanks for that information, useful for me as I had no idea.

[gooble]

Looked pretty good except for the jerky panning. How were you panning, by holding the body? You didn't have video head with an arm did you. I'm wondering how pans will look with a basic video head. Will they be ok or do you need a fancy fluid head and stuff?

[FlyingPhotog]

Very nice Tom.

[BlackMICA]

Cool stuff man. I just picked up a 5D MKII myself. What are you using to edit the HD video? I downloaded a trial of Premiere Elements which accepts the .mov file but it plays very choppy. I've heard people say that they transcode the file but I have no idea how to do that. Any tips, I'm about as noob as they get with this video stuff.

[aznmarkofdafiji]

Omgsh, I think that was amazing!

I loved the vid/song combo!

[timescapes.org]

Looked pretty good except for the jerky panning. How were you panning, by holding the body? You didn't have video head with an arm did you. I'm wondering how pans will look with a basic video head. Will they be ok or do you need a fancy fluid head and stuff?

I was kind of on a the side of a cliff, trying to step around the legs of the tripod and stuff.... just bad camera work. :oops: I'm still getting used to the 501HDV fluid head.

[timescapes.org]

Cool stuff man. I just picked up a 5D MKII myself. What are you using to edit the HD video? I downloaded a trial of Premiere Elements which accepts the .mov file but it plays very choppy. I've heard people say that they transcode the file but I have no idea how to do that. Any tips, I'm about as noob as they get with this video stuff.

Yeah, you have to transcode it. You can use Premiere or AE to render them as Photo-JPEG @ 95% and they will scrub 10x better in Elements. I still have not figured out how to batch process the clips, tough! If any knows how, please tell me.

Also, Cineform's Prospect HD is a perfect solution, and their HDlink can batch process. It's rather pricey, though.

[Chosenbydestiny]

Geez. You're tempting me to get one now... or later when it's easier to get at a fair price anyway.

[Domino81]

Mother of christ, that looked good. Btw... your time lapse in the desert knocked me off my chair.

[danskim]

Canon does not allow you control the iris in video mode. The whole thing is AUTO everything in 30p video mode-- ISO, iris, shutter. To gain control over the iris, you simply slap a Nikon compatible lens on the 5D2 with an EOS adapter. The camera will not be able to control the iris, so it will control the ISO up and down to expose the scene properly.

Here's where I'm going to get a little technical, in case people are googling around on this topic and want the info....

If you want to control the iris and the ISO, there is a way of doing that, too, by locking the exposure (AE LOCK * ) at ISO 640 or 800 or whatever you want, to avoid the chroma noise that can appear above ISO 1600. To do this, you should stop the camera down to f/22, then point the lens at a very bright light source. Now hit AE lock and you should be locked at a fairly low ISO. You can make slight adjustments until you hit the perfect ISO you want. Now that Exposure and ISO are locked, simply open up the iris to f/3.5 or f/8 or whatever lets in enough light to expose the scene properly.

Controlling the iris also controls focus and DOF to a certain extent, obviously.

Could you temporarily tape the contact pins on a regular EF lens to get the same manual control?

[YONG JIA LIN]

Nice work Timescape.org, video and music are wonderfull.

Cineform products are too expensive, I do use Canopus Procoder for transcoding work, it is fast, easy to use and can do transcoding automatically, the Watch Folder feature is wonderfull. You can just setup the transcoding setting once, than anytime you drop some files into that folder, it will automatically transcode the file for you. Save huge of the time.

www.canopus.com

[BlackMICA]

Yeah, you have to transcode it. You can use Premiere or AE to render them as Photo-JPEG @ 95% and they will scrub 10x better in Elements. I still have not figured out how to batch process the clips, tough! If any knows how, please tell me.

Also, Cineform's Prospect HD is a perfect solution, and their HDlink can batch process. It's rather pricey, though.

I really hate being such a noob but can you explain how to transcode a clip using Premiere Elements? I can't seem to find the option to do so? Also, is Photo-JPEG the format you're transcoding it to? Thanks.

[mypoppy31]

Nothing special. Just a test video I shot yesterday using the $240 Sigma 28-300 f/3.5/6.3 (Nikon version with EOS adapter) to gain control over the iris.

http://www.vimeo.com/2452171

Vimeo provides a 1080p download link the lower-right-hand corner.
Your video was great!...which only proves that shooting with the most expensive lenses is not always the best way!.. I've got a sensational lens which is something similar to yours. Its the Sigma 18-200 f3.5 OS which I now keep on my Canon Rebel XT most of the time.
I bought this lens from B&H in New York City. I told the rep there that I needed a lens for shooting indoor with only existing light. When he showed me this Sigma, I told him it was a f3.5 lens and it was simply too slow for indoors. He then told me that I could gain two or three shutter stops with it. I then told him I'd try it out and would return it if it didn't work for me. So, I'm enclosing an attachment which will show you how decent the lens is indoors with only existing stage light. And, I was sitting all the way in the REAR of the freakin theater to make matters impossible. Take a look and let me know if I'm the only one who thinks that this Sigma lens is terrific!. And, I never, but never ever use the flash!.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZKFQz9HrYA&feature=channel_page

[akjijioeh]

Canon does not allow you control the iris in video mode. The whole thing is AUTO everything in 30p video mode-- ISO, iris, shutter. To gain control over the iris, you simply slap a Nikon compatible lens on the 5D2 with an EOS adapter. The camera will not be able to control the iris, so it will control the ISO up and down to expose the scene properly.


It this becuase the lens is a Nikon lens and the EOS body doesn't know how to control it? So how do you set the IRIS, is it one of the rings on the outside of the lens?

[Kagemaru]

That's a great idea by using the Sigma lens. I have a Nikon to EOS adapter waiting for me at the post office. I like the range and versatility of that lens. I'm sure it's pretty light too right?

[twofruitz]

I'm on ebay right now looking for old manual aperture lenses :D