5d Mark II rental in LA

[Josh Negrin]

Hey guys,

I just bought a Canon 5d Mark II and three primes and will be getting it 3/14. I'm excited about getting the cam, and will be renting it out in LA as soon as I get it. For the cam, 2 16gb flash cards, a cf card reader and three primes (28mm, 50mm, 85mm) I'm renting for $125 per day.

I have some tests I'm excited to do with the camera (a buddy of mine has the camera and I've shot with his before but not with primes!) and I'm going to play with it as soon as I get it, but I'll rent it out soon after. We shot this vid in santa barbara- http://vimeo.com/3051140

BTW, I'm getting the Scarlett as soon as it comes out!

Email me at wayoutforce@gmail.com if you're interested

can't wait!
jn

[Zakaree Sandberg]

i wish nikon made a decent video stills camera.. d90 sucks

[Josh Negrin]

d90 does suck, and I know why you say this, because you've got some awesome Nikon lenses!

[Zakaree Sandberg]

i might be renting your package for some stills shooting:)

[Josh Negrin]

awesome man! you have my email, I'll post again when I get the cam.

[Tom Lowe]

Are you talking Canon primes, or Nikon, or something else?

I really enjoy shooting with Nikon-compatible lenses on the 5D2, because you gain physical control over the iris. I think there is some crazy workaround for controlling the iris on Canon EF lenses, but I have not taken the time to figure it out. Iris control is important, in terms of helping to keep everything in focus and getting the DOF you want. Indie productions are probably not going to want to f around with the complicated EF lens workarounds, which I believe involve locking exposure, among other steps.

If I was putting together a package like this, I might look at Nikon lenses with EOS adapters (or cheap Sigma or other 3rd party primes and zooms made for Nikons... as long as they have iris rings). I don't think the camera can even shooter wider than 2.8 in video mode, so obviously 2.8's would be fine for most shooting. I might also look into follow-focus and a monitor if you can afford it down the road. Keep in mind that in video mode, the camera is only a 2MP camera, so you don't need a lens capable of resolving 21MP for video.

One thing I am coming to love about the 5D2 is how quick I can set up shots. A couple weeks ago I drove past this group of deer near the telescopes at the very large array in new mexico. I hit the brakes and was out of the SUV, with the tripod set up and the camera rolling in under 60 seconds! 20 seconds later the deer were gone over the hill, so really, with any other camera, I would have missed that shot.

Another beautiful thing is how inconspicuous the camera is. I can set that baby up in the middle of a crowd in a busy spot, and no one really thinks I am even shooting video. You can get away with murder. :) Definitely good for music vids shot without permits in cites and stuff.

Good luck with your endeavors, JNFilms.

[Sanjin Jukic]

There is a better brand "new kid in town" according to HD video with DSLR

Panasonic DMC-GH1 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=332733&modelNo=Content03032009032503558&surfModel=Content03032009032503558)

[Josh Negrin]

Are you talking Canon primes, or Nikon, or something else?

I really enjoy shooting with Nikon-compatible lenses on the 5D2, because you gain physical control over the iris. I think there is some crazy workaround for controlling the iris on Canon EF lenses, but I have not taken the time to figure it out. Iris control is important, in terms of helping to keep everything in focus and getting the DOF you want. Indie productions are probably not going to want to f around with the complicated EF lens workarounds, which I believe involve locking exposure, among other steps.

If I was putting together a package like this, I might look at Nikon lenses with EOS adapters (or cheap Sigma or other 3rd party primes and zooms made for Nikons... as long as they have iris rings). I don't think the camera can even shooter wider than 2.8 in video mode, so obviously 2.8's would be fine for most shooting. I might also look into follow-focus and a monitor if you can afford it down the road. Keep in mind that in video mode, the camera is only a 2MP camera, so you don't need a lens capable of resolving 21MP for video.

One thing I am coming to love about the 5D2 is how quick I can set up shots. A couple weeks ago I drove past this group of deer near the telescopes at the very large array in new mexico. I hit the brakes and was out of the SUV, with the tripod set up and the camera rolling in under 60 seconds! 20 seconds later the deer were gone over the hill, so really, with any other camera, I would have missed that shot.

Another beautiful thing is how inconspicuous the camera is. I can set that baby up in the middle of a crowd in a busy spot, and no one really thinks I am even shooting video. You can get away with murder. :) Definitely good for music vids shot without permits in cites and stuff.

Good luck with your endeavors, JNFilms.

Thanks Tom,

From what I hear, April will bring about a firmware update that will allow manual shooting and some say 24p. Source www.canonrumors.com

As for the rental, I went with EF primes as opposed to the 24-105 L that most are buying, simply because when I was shooting with my buddy's cam, there were times when I wanted to be open wider than f4.

MY dba is JN Rentals and I bought and built www.lacamrental.com, which I'll add personal video, shot with the cams, to later.

I'm excited to get the camera, I have an action script ready to shoot!

[kidrobot]

The 5D can always use the widest aperture, after that it uses fixed settings. So, if you've got the 50 or 85 f/1.2, you can take advantage of it.

It seems that you can get pretty good manual control at ISO100 and 320, if you have an AF confirm chip that has lens info about a fixed aperture lens, like f/2.8. As long as the camera thinks that, it becomes more friendly towards the user. All according to cinema5d.com

[Emanuel A.]

Keep in mind that in video mode, the camera is only a 2MP camera, so you don't need a lens capable of resolving 21MP for video.21MP not. 2MP in any way other than as 1080p output, either. But once it samples only one out of 3 pixels (horizontal not vertical), the sensor resolution drops to 1/3rd. Being the actual 5D Mark II full resolution in movie mode (before downsizing to 1920x1080) 5.9MP instead.

[Tom Lowe]

The 5D can always use the widest aperture, after that it uses fixed settings. So, if you've got the 50 or 85 f/1.2, you can take advantage of it.

How does this work? I have the EF 24 f/1.4, and I'd love to be able to shoot video with it at f/1.4 in the evenings. Does this require a workaround or anything?

I remember seeing a video that claimed that the 5D2 only uses three possible iris settings, 2.8, and then something like f/9 an then f/16.

[Tom Lowe]

I'm not sure how the camera samples the sensor for video. I imagine it's possible that you might need a lens that could resolve something like what you are saying -- 6MP or whatever. But really, any decent lens should be able to handle that type of resolution.

This is the first I have heard about the firmware update. Very good news if true!!

[Paris Remillard]

How does this work? I have the EF 24 f/1.4, and I'd love to be able to shoot video with it at f/1.4 in the evenings. Does this require a workaround or anything?

I remember seeing a video that claimed that the 5D2 only uses three possible iris settings, 2.8, and then something like f/9 an then f/16.

I just read on one of the 5D sites that if you set the aperture where you want it, then press the DOF preview button at the same time that you press the lens release and slightly unscrew the lens in the mount, the aperture will stay where you left it. I just tried it and it works. You still have to trick the camera to get the desired ISO and shutter speed by pointing it at objects of varying brightness and then quickly pressing the * button for Exposure Lock when you hit the combination of the two that you're looking for. You can then use the Quick Control Thumb dial for exposure compensation once everything has been set for fine tuning. The Exposure Lock will automatically unlock after a bit if you don't start recording. Just FYI. Good luck. And let's hope for the rumored firmware updates. I just got my camera yesterday, and I reaaalllly want manual controls. I hate it when electronics make decisions for me.

[kidrobot]

How does this work? I have the EF 24 f/1.4, and I'd love to be able to shoot video with it at f/1.4 in the evenings. Does this require a workaround or anything?

I remember seeing a video that claimed that the 5D2 only uses three possible iris settings, 2.8, and then something like f/9 an then f/16.

No workaround needed. If it's dark enough it'll use f/1.4, just lock the exposure. I've looked into my 50/1.2 a couple of times and it stays wide open.

It has fixed iris settings, but that includes wide open. Hopefully this firmware rumour is true, but this being a Canon product, the odds certainly aren't great.

[Tom Lowe]

No workaround needed. If it's dark enough it'll use f/1.4, just lock the exposure. I've looked into my 50/1.2 a couple of times and it stays wide open.

It has fixed iris settings, but that includes wide open. Hopefully this firmware rumour is true, but this being a Canon product, the odds certainly aren't great.

So when I am shooting in the late evening, it should automatically be at f/1.4? Obviously shutter speed and ISO are going to be maxed out as well. I hope this is correct. I will have to check it out and see if I can confirm that.

[Josh Negrin]

this is from dpreview

The lack of manual overrides for ISO, aperture, and shutter speed in movie mode are clear limitations for the EOS 5D Mark II. However, exposure compensation and AE lock remain fully functional and are easy to use.

The 5D Mark II shoots all movie clips in a “Program AE” mode – regardless of where the mode dial is set on the camera. In movie mode, the camera automatically controls the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. You have no true manual control of any of these settings, although there are ways of creatively manipulating how the camera will decide what settings to use. When the 5D Mark II is automatically making adjustments to these three settings, it will do so in the following order:

1st) ISO
2nd) Shutter speed (1/30~1/125 sec.)
3rd) Aperture

Because the built-in microphone picks up all of the internal camera operating noise when shooting, the camera was designed to adjust the settings in this order because adjusting the aperture is the loudest of these settings, and the ISO is the quietest.

Being aware that the 5D Mark II adjusts the exposure in the order that it does allows some degree of creative control. Knowing that the camera “doesn’t really want to” change the aperture if it doesn’t have to means that if the camera is aimed at a very dark scene when the movie is started, the aperture will typically be very wide, and will generally stay there throughout the video clip – unless there is a dramatic change in lighting conditions in mid-clip. Aiming the 5D Mark II at a bright light source when starting the video will cause the aperture to close down, assuring deep depth-of-field.

Best Regards,

Chuck Westfall
Technical Advisor/Professional Products Marketing Division
Consumer Imaging Group/Canon U.S.A., Inc.