BMCC kit reccommendations.

[Bill Koehler]

Originally Posted by John McCully

Two: while the MFT version is said to enable a larger selection of lenses it seems to me that people already shooting with the EF version are doing just fine. Why would I need a ‘larger selection of lenses’?

1. You already have lenses with a different mount system that would slap onto the MFT version just fine with an adapter.
2. Given the crop factor of the BMCC, having super-wides can be important. If you don't already have them, picking one up for less expensive may be easier if not locked into Canon EF mount.

But if you already have Canon EF lenses and have the wide end of things covered, go for it.

[Chris Barcellos]

Originally Posted by John McCully

Chris, check this out. When your BMCC arrives you might just be thrilled.

Drive Through Snow Canyon with the Blackmagic Cinema Camera on Vimeo

Nice stuff !!

[John McCully]

Nice, yes indeed, however a good question is ‘why’.

I downloaded the original and looked closely. The most compelling aspect to me is the smoothness, the lack of annoying camera shake, the way he used stabilization. He tells us he used a Kenyon 4x4 Gyro (costing more than the camera) and a Blackbird.

Also the location is clearly quite spectacular, even footage of that landscape shot with a cell phone in the right hands would be impressive, I imagine.

And yes, it appears that the detail in the clouds and the shadows indicates excellent dynamic range so that’s good.

I must say, however, the nagging question notwithstanding my gut feel alluded to earlier, is that shooting that kind of stuff with my EX1 I might come close enough. I’m certainly not among the many that look at this footage and say ‘what a great camera’. And if we turn a deaf ear to the ‘experts’ for a moment and trust our own eyes (and play around in Da Vinci Lite perhaps)...

I’m thinking again.

[John McCully]

...and again, and again. Well, I am so totally unprofessional, all this dicking about...it’s fun, and it keeps me off the streets. At the end of the day the EX1 is just too noisy. I know it’s a great run and gun camera but that’s less and less what I do, and reading Alister Chapman’s blog - his comments on the BMCC - that did it!

I placed an order.

[Tim Gauthier]

as someone who considered the BMCC and got a GY-HM600 instead... I envy you :D I expect to be doing more run and gun type work, and really like the ENG style of camera controls, but 'dat picture!'

Next camera's a BMCC :P

[John McCully]

Thanks for your comment, Tim, and I know what you mean about ergonomics and run and gun work, and seems the BMCC is not strong in that regard, to say the least. I’m sure you made a good choice. But for my intended use – as you say ‘dat picture’!

But what lenses?

As I search around the internet the easy and seemingly most frequently stated approach for the EF mount version is get a Tokina 11-16mm , a Canon EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 and a Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 IS II.

Right. That’s another $4300.00US and almost double that in New Zealand dollars. Not small change!

Other folks suggest forget the zooms and get a bunch of primes. Now if one was fortunate enough to be like Chris Barcellos and have a cupboard full of old lenses then it’s a piece of cake however when it comes to lenses I’m starting from scratch both in regard the hardware itself and the knowledge needed to make informed choices.

Oh well, lots of research...time. Whatever, part of getting there.

[Chris Barcellos]

One of the first things I will do upon arrival of the camera is to attach some of my old Nikon lenses and see just how much the smaller chip will affect my favorite full frame lenses. In other words, would I just pull the camera back and use same lens for same coverage, or do I actually go to a shorter focal length. I suspect it will be a bit of each, depending on what I am looking for in light gathering.

Of course, in a small room, I will have a problem, as my shortest focal length possible camera with my current lens stock is my 18mm to 55mm Kit lens for the T2i. Delivery expected tomorrow. I will update as I go along.

[Eric Lagerlof]

John, if you get the BMCC, you might want to rent some lenses, take them to a favorite spot that works for getting both wides and close shots. Play with them. Usually lens rental is pretty cheap and you may be able to get them via mail-order if there isn't a camera rental place nearby. I'm a 30 year video vet using pro and broadcast cameras, and when I got my GH2 I found a whole different approach; the camera was important but the lenses that people used were what they felt gave the images much of their 'personality'.

So if you can borrow or rent some lenses first...might be a cheaper way to get a feel for what you want. Just a thought.

[John McCully]

And an absolutely excellent thought at that, Eric, I reckon - many thanks. I was more or less coming to that conclusion, or rather a similar even cheaper alternative. I know this fellow who lives in the village where I’m currently located and he is the head honcho of the local photographic group, has the latest greatest Canon DSLR and I imagine a huge collection of EF mount lenses. I thought I might pop round and pay a visit, tomorrow. He lives right by the village gardens so I have ideal subject matter right there.

Based on the limited research I’ve done thus far I was, and still am, considering the lens John Brawley used for his Bondi shoot, the ‘nifty and very cheap Canon 15-85’. The people I’m purchasing my BMCC from tell me for what I want to do that’s a good choice. For shooting a TV thing in a studio then primes, for sure, but a zoom is a good choice when shooting from a goat track on the edge of a mountain where getting the camera closer or further away from the subject is essentially impossible as is carting a suitcase full of primes to the shooting locations, and the difference in image quality, especially where one has tons of light, will be minimal.

Makes sense to me. Comments, suggestions most appreciated.

However, trying before buying is the really smart thing to do, and probably fun enough at that. If this photo person is agreeable...

The camera is due mid next week!

[Chris Barcellos]

I have had the camera for 4 days now, and I can see that i am going to have to do a lot fo testing to get things right.

In my first time out yesterday, I used the Canon Kit lens, and then, for dramatic effect on the subject I was shooting, switched to a Nikon 135mm lens, for a compressed telephoto effect. The effect was great, but. I added a variable ND to allow control of the iris. The ND muddied up the color and image. Guess what, neutral density filters aren't really neutral..


Admittedly, I don't have a high end variable ND, but the differences between the two lenses used are so great that I likely won't cut the stuff together, and I am going to have to go back out and reshoot. Luckily, its only a few miles back out there.

[Noa Put]

The ND muddied up the color and image. Guess what, neutral density filters aren't really neutral..

Cheap ones will gives you issues, if you want to use a variable ND filter and want a good one I would suggest the Genus Eclips.

[Chris Barcellos]

Went directly to the Genus site, and says they are sold out on most sizes. Must have run out of good glass. Funny, a few months back I recommended to different people just to use the rubber hood to rotate their faders, and what do you know, I had been doing that for a couple of years. Genus is marketing the hoods that way. That is first time I have seen that.

[Noa Put]

If you are using quality glass and a camera like the bmc you should get the best filter you can find, regardless what it costs because if can have a very negative effect on the image quality, below are 2 tests, nothing scientific, but which show what effect a filter can have on your image.

Quick Test: Cokin "Pure Harmonie Variable ND Filter" on Vimeo

Genus Eclipse ND Fader filter test on Vimeo

[John Richard]

Standard ND filtration is the issue with creating muddy looking shots. The higher the ND filter used the more the muddied effect.

You have to go to IRND (Infra Red Neutral Density) filters instead of standard ND.

There has been some testing done with this issue and the Tiffen IRND filters seem to work the best for the BMCC sensor.

The Red cameras also require IRND and are susceptible to Infra Red contamination.

Some of it can be fixed in Resolve; but best to remove it during shooting.

We already have full sets of ND 4X4 - so I am wondering if we can buy just a single IR filter and then use all the existing standard ND filters in stack with the single IR filter.