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Evan Estern · July 7th, 2010, 05:18 AM

I'm new to this site as a member, but I've been looking over (ok, studying) threads related to HDSLR photography for a few months now as I build my camera package. I'm a working DP with 20+ years on the job and as such my background is old school film. These days I mainly shoot commercials and documentaries. For the past couple of years I've been doing most of my shooting on the RED, Sony EX3, and for the last 8 months or so, almost exclusively on Canon 5D/7D cameras. I still own an EX3 for doc work, but I'm starting to wonder whether I'd be better served by selling it and putting the funds into my new 7D package. It's been fascinating to see the shift (at least in the commercial jobs I'm getting) from RED to RED with 7D/5D as B camera to just the Canons as the sole cameras.

I've always been a specialist in hand held cinematography and my weapons of choice were Aaton and Bolex cameras for 16 work and the Moviecam system for 35. I've done most of my best work with the Bolex, believe it or not, and became somewhat of an expert in getting special effects out of those little cameras on the fly. I once calculated that I had put over a million feet of film through my 2 Bolexes. Anyway, I've long hated the ergonomics and design of video cameras--my current EX3 is a torture device. Shoulder rigs and such can help with steadiness, but I can't move the camera the way I want to when it's on any of the rigs I've tried. The reason I bring up Bolexes is that when I started using the Canon HDSLRs it was like reuniting with an old friend. Nearly every skill I developed on the Bolex translated seamlessly over to the Canon--I actually love shooting hand held again and the possibilities and potential of these new cameras has just been so exciting to me. If anyone is interested in seeing my work my website is www.evanestern.com. The top 5 spots under "Recent Work" were all done mostly with the Canon 7D. Anyway, I look forward to learning a lot from the contributors here and perhaps I can offer a pointer or two from my perspective.

July 7th, 2010, 05:18 AM	#1
Evan Estern New Boot Join Date: May 2010 Location: Falls Village, CT Posts: 20	Greetings From Northwest Connecticut I'm new to this site as a member, but I've been looking over (ok, studying) threads related to HDSLR photography for a few months now as I build my camera package. I'm a working DP with 20+ years on the job and as such my background is old school film. These days I mainly shoot commercials and documentaries. For the past couple of years I've been doing most of my shooting on the RED, Sony EX3, and for the last 8 months or so, almost exclusively on Canon 5D/7D cameras. I still own an EX3 for doc work, but I'm starting to wonder whether I'd be better served by selling it and putting the funds into my new 7D package. It's been fascinating to see the shift (at least in the commercial jobs I'm getting) from RED to RED with 7D/5D as B camera to just the Canons as the sole cameras. I've always been a specialist in hand held cinematography and my weapons of choice were Aaton and Bolex cameras for 16 work and the Moviecam system for 35. I've done most of my best work with the Bolex, believe it or not, and became somewhat of an expert in getting special effects out of those little cameras on the fly. I once calculated that I had put over a million feet of film through my 2 Bolexes. Anyway, I've long hated the ergonomics and design of video cameras--my current EX3 is a torture device. Shoulder rigs and such can help with steadiness, but I can't move the camera the way I want to when it's on any of the rigs I've tried. The reason I bring up Bolexes is that when I started using the Canon HDSLRs it was like reuniting with an old friend. Nearly every skill I developed on the Bolex translated seamlessly over to the Canon--I actually love shooting hand held again and the possibilities and potential of these new cameras has just been so exciting to me. If anyone is interested in seeing my work my website is www.evanestern.com. The top 5 spots under "Recent Work" were all done mostly with the Canon 7D. Anyway, I look forward to learning a lot from the contributors here and perhaps I can offer a pointer or two from my perspective.