Black and white footage at DVinfo.net

Steven Dempsey · May 9th, 2006, 08:58 PM

This is just a quick shot with no lighting used. I overlayed a title and added music and matted it to 2:35:1 just for fun. I wanted to give it more of a movie context. It looks pretty cinematic to me and the shot looks nice and wide despite the lens limitation in the wide end.

Interesting thing is that when Cineform renders back out when I choose m2t, it seems to be introducing some interlacing artifacts. You can see it mostly on the door handles. I'll have to investigate this further.

More thoughts: Just rendered it out using Cineform's native AVI and it looks as good as the original. Problem is it's about 5 times larger than the m2t but at least the quality is preserved. I don't think they have perfected their m2t export yet.

http://www.realm.cc/upload/disjecta/dolly.m2t

Ken Diewert · May 9th, 2006, 10:30 PM

Steven,

I just picked up my H1 yesterday so I've been watching your footage a lot. Nice Stuff. Loved the Snoqualmie Falls. It's funny that after researching the camera purchase for 2 months, the first time I actually shot with it was yesterday just as I was handing over the money. One of my first impressions was that I thought the wide end of the zoom was better than I expected it to look, as evidenced by your dolly down the hallway. All in all, for a single lens, it does offer alot. I do miss being able to jerk the zoom, I find the servo softness takes a bit of getting used to.

I still haven't built my NLE yet, though your choice of PPro 2 w/Cineform Aspect is something I was leaning towards. I will likely just downconvert and use this system for the time being till I sort it out.

BTW, is the B&W native or in post?

Steven Dempsey · May 9th, 2006, 10:31 PM

Native :)

Oleg Kalyan · May 9th, 2006, 11:18 PM

Steven, B&W looks good, just curious what soft do you edit on?
HDV native or you upconvert footage?

Oleg Kalyan · May 9th, 2006, 11:20 PM

I think I got it, sorry I am on FCP 5.

Steven Dempsey · May 9th, 2006, 11:21 PM

I edit HDV native using Premiere 2.0 and Cineform's Aspect HD. I get real time playback and, with the native Cineform effects and transitions included in the package, there is no rendering needed.

It's a pretty sweet setup but it's lacking reliable m2t export and they can definitely refine the native Cineform AVI that's exported also although it's damn close to the original.

The Cineform software is still a little buggy with Premiere but they are working furiously to get it fixed and post updates often.

Steven Dempsey · May 9th, 2006, 11:23 PM

I haven't had a chance to do much as far as correcting the levels etc. but with proper lighting and deep blacks applied via levels control, the black and white looks really great.

Steven Dempsey · May 9th, 2006, 11:51 PM

Here's one more I did with the dolly and some random lighting. My daughter gracefully helped. This is just a raw m2t file direct from the camera:

http://www.realm.cc/upload/disjecta/dolly1.m2t

Ron Pfister · May 10th, 2006, 04:55 AM

Great stuff, Steven! What kind of dolly are you using?

Curiously,

Ron

Steven Dempsey · May 10th, 2006, 08:19 AM

Thanks Ron. I'm using the dolly system from Performax which is basicall just a T-shaped setup for the tripod to slip into, the usual angled skateboard style wheels and lengths of PVC pipe that attach to each other. Anything similar will work, of course, the real art is in keeping the movement consistent and slow.

Ron Pfister · May 14th, 2006, 06:13 AM

Steven: I googled for Performax products, and found everything under the sun from health insurance to condoms and power sanders - but nothing video-related. Can you help with a URL?

TIA,

Ron

May 9th, 2006, 08:58 PM	#1
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Black and white footage This is just a quick shot with no lighting used. I overlayed a title and added music and matted it to 2:35:1 just for fun. I wanted to give it more of a movie context. It looks pretty cinematic to me and the shot looks nice and wide despite the lens limitation in the wide end. Interesting thing is that when Cineform renders back out when I choose m2t, it seems to be introducing some interlacing artifacts. You can see it mostly on the door handles. I'll have to investigate this further. More thoughts: Just rendered it out using Cineform's native AVI and it looks as good as the original. Problem is it's about 5 times larger than the m2t but at least the quality is preserved. I don't think they have perfected their m2t export yet. http://www.realm.cc/upload/disjecta/dolly.m2t

May 10th, 2006, 04:55 AM	#9
Ron Pfister Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Basel area, Switzerland Posts: 285	Great stuff, Steven! What kind of dolly are you using? Curiously, Ron __________________ Ronald P. Pfister halimedia - digital solutions and services www.halimedia.com

May 14th, 2006, 06:13 AM	#11
Ron Pfister Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Basel area, Switzerland Posts: 285	Steven: I googled for Performax products, and found everything under the sun from health insurance to condoms and power sanders - but nothing video-related. Can you help with a URL? TIA, Ron __________________ Ronald P. Pfister halimedia - digital solutions and services www.halimedia.com

May 9th, 2006, 10:30 PM	#2
Ken Diewert Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada Posts: 1,200	Steven, I just picked up my H1 yesterday so I've been watching your footage a lot. Nice Stuff. Loved the Snoqualmie Falls. It's funny that after researching the camera purchase for 2 months, the first time I actually shot with it was yesterday just as I was handing over the money. One of my first impressions was that I thought the wide end of the zoom was better than I expected it to look, as evidenced by your dolly down the hallway. All in all, for a single lens, it does offer alot. I do miss being able to jerk the zoom, I find the servo softness takes a bit of getting used to. I still haven't built my NLE yet, though your choice of PPro 2 w/Cineform Aspect is something I was leaning towards. I will likely just downconvert and use this system for the time being till I sort it out. BTW, is the B&W native or in post?

May 9th, 2006, 10:31 PM	#3
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Native :)

May 9th, 2006, 11:18 PM	#4
Oleg Kalyan Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MOSCOW Posts: 860	Steven, B&W looks good, just curious what soft do you edit on? HDV native or you upconvert footage?

May 9th, 2006, 11:20 PM	#5
Oleg Kalyan Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MOSCOW Posts: 860	I think I got it, sorry I am on FCP 5.

May 9th, 2006, 11:21 PM	#6
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	I edit HDV native using Premiere 2.0 and Cineform's Aspect HD. I get real time playback and, with the native Cineform effects and transitions included in the package, there is no rendering needed. It's a pretty sweet setup but it's lacking reliable m2t export and they can definitely refine the native Cineform AVI that's exported also although it's damn close to the original. The Cineform software is still a little buggy with Premiere but they are working furiously to get it fixed and post updates often.

May 9th, 2006, 11:23 PM	#7
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	I haven't had a chance to do much as far as correcting the levels etc. but with proper lighting and deep blacks applied via levels control, the black and white looks really great.

May 9th, 2006, 11:51 PM	#8
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Here's one more I did with the dolly and some random lighting. My daughter gracefully helped. This is just a raw m2t file direct from the camera: http://www.realm.cc/upload/disjecta/dolly1.m2t

May 10th, 2006, 08:19 AM	#10
Steven Dempsey Disjecta Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 937	Thanks Ron. I'm using the dolly system from Performax which is basicall just a T-shaped setup for the tripod to slip into, the usual angled skateboard style wheels and lengths of PVC pipe that attach to each other. Anything similar will work, of course, the real art is in keeping the movement consistent and slow.