Full HD on Canon EOS 5D Mk. II -- officially announced

Evan Donn · October 10th, 2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anmol Mishra

Even if its not parfocal, you can still set the aperture and then focus for film purposes. The 3rd party zoom lenses from Sigma, Tamron, Tokina should still be fine..
It really does not matter if you focus first and then set aperture or if you set aperture first and then focus.

I'm not talking about changing aperture, I'm talking about changing zoom - the traditional way to focus with a video camera is to zoom all the way in on your subject, focus, then zoom back out to compose your shot. This only works though if the lens holds focus while zooming and my understanding is that if it's not parfocal this technique will not work.

Andrew McMillan · October 10th, 2008, 10:04 PM

yes it would be nice if some one could post a decent all purpose zoom the can hold focus,
could be from any manufacturer.

Kevin Shaw · October 11th, 2008, 12:31 AM

Do a Google search for "Canon parfocal zoom" and you'll find some good info on this topic.

Ray Bell · October 11th, 2008, 01:19 PM

For those of us that use VLC for video playback... you'll need to do the following to
get VLC to playback the 5D MkII footage... (gleaned from a different site)

H.264 codecs are pretty CPU intensive and VLC can't use multi-cores to decode it yet.

1. Open Tools/ Preferences
2. Click Show settings = All
3. Go to "Input/Codecs
4. Go to "Other codecs/ FFmpeg" subcategory
5. Set "Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding" to ALL
6. Restart VLC

J. Stephen McDonald · October 11th, 2008, 09:57 PM

I thought I knew the answer to this, as Canon described it as an H.264/MPEG-4 format, using a 38.6 Mbps rate. However, another announcement by Canon, in describing its new Digic-4 processor, gives some confusing information. They say that the video format with Digic-4 cameras will be a non B-frame (keyframe) type of H.264. They also say that about 6 MB of storage is needed for each second of HD video in the SX1 camera, which would give it a 48 Mbps rate. Elsewhere, in the SX1 owner's manual, it says that a 42.4 Mbps rate is used. Doesn't all MPEG-4 encoding use a B-frame or keyframe system? Does the SX1 ultrazoom/fixed-lens camera (About $600.-$700. predicted price), have a different video encoding system than the 5D Mark II? And does the SX1 use an even higher bit-rate?

Maybe, someone can straighten this out for me. Actually, having an HD video-capable camera as low-cost as the SX1 and with its great lens power and such a high bit-rate, with non B-frame encoding, would interest me. Here's the link to this Canon annoucement:

Canon Tips Off Enhanced Capabilities of Its New Image Processor -- Tech-On!

Jon Fairhurst · October 11th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Apparently, it uses only I and P frames. B frames look forward and backward, and are more complicated to create.

In compression, the decoder is specified. You can encode anything you want, as long as it can be decoded by a standard decoder. So decoders are required to understand B frames. Encoders aren't required to produce them.

Evan C. King · October 12th, 2008, 01:09 PM

Just a random tidbit, when I posted on the 12th that it would have it, it wasn't speculation, I knew someone who used it. This a comment based on the thread Chris closed (rightly so) where I criptically made it sound like speculation, I just couldn't reveal my sourse is all.

Steve Phillipps · October 12th, 2008, 01:22 PM

I freely admit that I haven't yet seen much from this camera, but it seems to me that comparing to an HD video camera is in the same sphere as comparing a DSLR stills camera to snapping a shot on a mobile phone. Or am I being a bit harsh?!
Steve

Andrew McMillan · October 12th, 2008, 02:05 PM

well it's more like if that mobile phone had 8 mega pix and mini interchangeable lenses. That's why this 5d is raising so many eyebrows. The only thing really missing is 24p

speaking of which does anybody know how that's going, any word from canon?

Steve Phillipps · October 12th, 2008, 02:20 PM

What does it need 24P for? Surely no-one is seriously thinking of using this for cinema release?!

Chris Hurd · October 12th, 2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Phillipps

Surely no-one is seriously thinking of using this for cinema release?!

You're right. Instead they're seriously thinking of using the Nikon D90 D-SLR for cinema release, since it is indeed equipped with 24p.

Tyler Franco · October 12th, 2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Phillipps

What does it need 24P for? Surely no-one is seriously thinking of using this for cinema release?!

If you are going to make a low/no budget feature length film with a Sony EX1 with a Letus, why not use the Mark II 5D? Better control, better low light, less noise at high gain. You would be recording the audio separately anyway. Used properly I can see this camera giving better results than an EX1/Letus combo.

Of course, you still aren't going to really need 24p, because seriously, what are the chances of needing to really go out to a film print?

Andrew McMillan · October 12th, 2008, 04:04 PM

Isn't 24p motion part of the cine look?

But Honestly I am one of the guys that can't see the emperors new cloths. I have never really *seen* 24p or any frame rate difference for that matter. But I know what looks like film and what doesn't.

Steve Phillipps · October 12th, 2008, 04:09 PM

Tyler, you must be joking?!!!

Andrew McMillan · October 12th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Idono I think tyler might be right. I never liked the ex/lex combo almost perfferd a stock hvx.

October 11th, 2008, 09:57 PM	#275
J. Stephen McDonald Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 909	What Type of Video CoDec is Actually Used on the 5d Mark II? I thought I knew the answer to this, as Canon described it as an H.264/MPEG-4 format, using a 38.6 Mbps rate. However, another announcement by Canon, in describing its new Digic-4 processor, gives some confusing information. They say that the video format with Digic-4 cameras will be a non B-frame (keyframe) type of H.264. They also say that about 6 MB of storage is needed for each second of HD video in the SX1 camera, which would give it a 48 Mbps rate. Elsewhere, in the SX1 owner's manual, it says that a 42.4 Mbps rate is used. Doesn't all MPEG-4 encoding use a B-frame or keyframe system? Does the SX1 ultrazoom/fixed-lens camera (About $600.-$700. predicted price), have a different video encoding system than the 5D Mark II? And does the SX1 use an even higher bit-rate? Maybe, someone can straighten this out for me. Actually, having an HD video-capable camera as low-cost as the SX1 and with its great lens power and such a high bit-rate, with non B-frame encoding, would interest me. Here's the link to this Canon annoucement: Canon Tips Off Enhanced Capabilities of Its New Image Processor -- Tech-On! __________________ Steve McDonald https://onedrive.com/?cid=229807ce52dd4fe0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/22121562@N00/ http://www.vimeo.com/user458315/videos Last edited by J. Stephen McDonald; October 11th, 2008 at 10:34 PM.

October 11th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#276
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Apparently, it uses only I and P frames. B frames look forward and backward, and are more complicated to create. In compression, the decoder is specified. You can encode anything you want, as long as it can be decoded by a standard decoder. So decoders are required to understand B frames. Encoders aren't required to produce them. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

October 10th, 2008, 10:04 PM	#272
Andrew McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colombia Posts: 153	yes it would be nice if some one could post a decent all purpose zoom the can hold focus, could be from any manufacturer.

October 11th, 2008, 12:31 AM	#273
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	Do a Google search for "Canon parfocal zoom" and you'll find some good info on this topic.

October 11th, 2008, 01:19 PM	#274
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	For those of us that use VLC for video playback... you'll need to do the following to get VLC to playback the 5D MkII footage... (gleaned from a different site) H.264 codecs are pretty CPU intensive and VLC can't use multi-cores to decode it yet. 1. Open Tools/ Preferences 2. Click Show settings = All 3. Go to "Input/Codecs 4. Go to "Other codecs/ FFmpeg" subcategory 5. Set "Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding" to ALL 6. Restart VLC

October 12th, 2008, 01:09 PM	#277
Evan C. King Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 532	Just a random tidbit, when I posted on the 12th that it would have it, it wasn't speculation, I knew someone who used it. This a comment based on the thread Chris closed (rightly so) where I criptically made it sound like speculation, I just couldn't reveal my sourse is all.

October 12th, 2008, 01:22 PM	#278
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	I freely admit that I haven't yet seen much from this camera, but it seems to me that comparing to an HD video camera is in the same sphere as comparing a DSLR stills camera to snapping a shot on a mobile phone. Or am I being a bit harsh?! Steve

October 12th, 2008, 02:05 PM	#279
Andrew McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colombia Posts: 153	well it's more like if that mobile phone had 8 mega pix and mini interchangeable lenses. That's why this 5d is raising so many eyebrows. The only thing really missing is 24p speaking of which does anybody know how that's going, any word from canon?

October 12th, 2008, 02:20 PM	#280
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	What does it need 24P for? Surely no-one is seriously thinking of using this for cinema release?!

October 12th, 2008, 04:04 PM	#283
Andrew McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colombia Posts: 153	Isn't 24p motion part of the cine look? But Honestly I am one of the guys that can't see the emperors new cloths. I have never really seen 24p or any frame rate difference for that matter. But I know what looks like film and what doesn't.

October 12th, 2008, 04:09 PM	#284
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Tyler, you must be joking?!!!

October 12th, 2008, 04:12 PM	#285
Andrew McMillan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Colombia Posts: 153	Idono I think tyler might be right. I never liked the ex/lex combo almost perfferd a stock hvx.