Can you tell me what this bloke was doing?

[OzzieTraveller]

G'day all

I was at the Hall's Gap (western Vic) zoo and a group of Americans arrived to film the zoo's white kangaroos. While one bloke had a regular video camera, another was shooting stills, but this particular character wandered around with this Canon 5D attached to a large, curved metal "handpiece thing"

1- here he is...
http://i43.tinypic.com/16bdfuc.jpg

2- here hs is again, 1/2 hidden bu the mic & zoom lens of the video camera
http://i41.tinypic.com/rvf380.jpg

All guesses are acceptable
Regards, Phil

[ricktas]

hahaha. T'is a steady cam. They use them in making movies all the time, so my guess is he was using the video function on the 7D. Basically what is does is image stabilisation for video. You know how when you use a video camera and walk around with it, the resultant video often shows the up down motion of your walking, well a steady cam counteracts that effect, creating a reasonably smooth, level and professional looking result.

[farmer_rob]

The source of Rick's answer is actually in the picture - see on the apparatus arm: "Steadicam".

[mikec]

Ahem that's a 5D Rick, damn Nikon users :D

But as the others have pointed out the last picture basically says what it is (http://www.tiffen.com/handheldmerlin.html), even down to the model.

[I @ M]

Ahem that's a 5D Rick, damn Nikon users :D



Thanks for pointing that out Mike, I would never had known the difference between the 5D & the 7D and that is why I was wondering why he would have one of those under Canon's newest model.
As everyone knows, that device is an optional aftermarket gizmo that allows Canon cameras to actually achieve focus sometimes occasionally once in a blue moon. :p :D

[mikec]

Thanks for pointing that out Mike, I would never had known the difference between the 5D & the 7D and that is why I was wondering why he would have one of those under Canon's newest model.
As everyone knows, that device is an optional aftermarket gizmo that allows Canon cameras to actually achieve focus sometimes occasionally once in a blue moon. :p :D

What you talking about? My 5D focuses fine, maybe Nikon users just can't work out how to use the shutter release ;)

[Redgum]

There's a gimbal between the base plate and the grip that allows the camera to remain steady. A good one in the movie business is about $40k and comes with a specialist operator.
I'm trying to work out how he triggers the camera in movie mode without touching his setup which would defeat the purpose.

[OzzieTraveller]

G'day all ~ or should I say "youse lot ov experts"

If one bloke was quite obviously shooting video, and he was operating hand-held ... I was pondering about the use of a Canon for apparently video work ... surely a dedicated video camera would be better suited to video work than a still camera which has "some" video capabilities??

Regards, Phil

[Redgum]

Undoubtedly, yes!

[I @ M]

Ozzie, it would appear that the Canon video capabilities are far far from shabby and according to an article I read a professionally done video with a dslr had a professional video photographer, who was shown said video, convinced that it was done with gear costing 10 times the price of the dslr.

[JM Tran]

G'day all ~ or should I say "youse lot ov experts"

If one bloke was quite obviously shooting video, and he was operating hand-held ... I was pondering about the use of a Canon for apparently video work ... surely a dedicated video camera would be better suited to video work than a still camera which has "some" video capabilities??

Regards, Phil

season finale of House was recently shot with a 5DMKII:)


most famous use of a Steadycam was by James Cameron in Aliens, not for the filming but for the 2 Marine machine gunners which had mounted their machine guns on, so awesome:)

[johndom]

By the look, he was shooting 2nd camera, not sure what lens that is, looks like a zoom. He is getting a wider or tighter shot of whatever the guy next to him is shooting on the other camera.
Its all the rage in the low budget video world at the mo, shooting on the stills cameras. You can put your 1.4 lens on and get a look for minmal$$ that you cannot get on a video camera at the same price point as your 5d.
Ultimately its all about the content, if the story is good you wont care what it looks like. But coming from a film background, I like 35mm film on a big screen. Its a beautiful thing when done right.

[Redgum]

That's stretching it a bit even for a gaffer. Despite the "chip" they shoot at 1280 x 720P resolution which barely qualifies for HD these days and can be done in a camcorder (1920 x 1080) for $900. It's only the glass that makes them look good but it's a painful exercise. Give me $4k's worth of video gear (cost of a good DSLR kit) and I'll guarantee a video streets ahead of any Canon or Nikon. It's a gimmick that will probably be replaced within two years when the cost of manufacture gets too high for the consumer market.
A built in phone would be more practical. :) :)

[edgewing]

You can have a quick squiz here to check it out. It is $849.00 US.

http://www.steadicam.com/handheldmerlin.html

and can be purchased here in Oz at

http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/3347/steadicam-merlin-camera-stabilizing-system-stm.html

at the snip price of $1295.00 AUD :) Might be a good idea if one has had a hard night :)

[nwoody]

5d mk2 if you really want to be exact