bookmarking this thread

hey cool, appreciated.

what are your thoughts on focal length? i've got a 28mm, 60mm micro and 85mm, just keep with the 28?

In conjunction with what Robbie said, I've been told that being as wide as possible is best. I'm not a fan of 18mm, but it works.

I'd bet you're most pleased with the results from the 28mm over the rest. I think you mentioned POV stuff at some point, but for best results at keeping everything in focus...this should all get you moving in the right direction for your own testing.

As someone already mentioned, it's a lot of user error. The more you do the more you learn the camera and the science.

lol, yeah, i hear ya, paying models to learn the science has added up. :upsidedow

i guess i'm over-thinking the video, it should be the same science as stills re: dof, i can prolly use the 60mm, just move back, i would think the 85 is approaching telephoto and prolly would be tough to learn how to handle properly.

Any one using one of these?

Sony PMW-100 XDCAM HD422
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/ima...345/854243.jpg

Canon XF105 HD
http://static.bhphoto.com/images/ima...345/733533.jpg

This is the ENG version of the camera I have (FS100).

Actually, it isn't...this is:

http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uplo...8/nex-ea50.jpg

NEX-EA50

This camera is fantastic and will absolutely revolutionize and set the standard for event video cameras. As a former DSLR user, I feel relieved that I can now whip this camera out and instantly record short DoF video with servo zoom/ pro audio and a solid auto-focus as opposed to a clunky DSLR with loads of accessories that are sometimes risky and unreliable.

I spent the first few days with the EA50 running tests and comparing it to my older 1/3" sensor camera (Sony Z5U). It's clear that the larger APS-C sensor on the EA50 does preserve way more detail in the image and the depth of field is noticeably shallower. By default, the EA50 image is much more contrasty (like many DSLRs) and may seem to have a weak dynamic range. Messing with the picture profile settings helped quite a bit though.

The camera itself is very light - almost too light as there are no moving parts. I found wind to be an issue, even on a tripod. Since the camera is very long, it has a tendency to bounce in a seesaw motion. Having a solid tripod and more accessories to weigh the camera down does help, but its length and lightweight is definitely an issue for image stabilization.

Buttons are solid and accessible. Aside from the goofy picture/video mode button on the back of the camera, the EA50 as auto-iris and photo on the 'dumb' side, which is convenient. All other buttons (auto/manual, manual audio) are similar to any previous Sony ENG camera.

I answer many more questions about the camera including the SELP 18-200mm lens on my Vimeo page, just search NEX EA50 and look for the Z5U comparison.

I would have given this camera 5 stars but there are some serious problems with the image that hopefully Sony will work out that I note in "Cons".

VS

Warning Very Poor Low light performance!

If I could I would returning the Sony NEX-EA50U as it has very poor low light performance. My 3-chip Panasonic AG-AC160A had much better low light performance.

Wow Sweat!!

dang, i couldn's shoot like i do with that camera, no upskirts with how long that is.

Mine is basically just that box in the middle. Lots of people dislike the shape of it, but I love it.

I have the EX-1R and I can't say enough good things about the EX-1 line. BTW, I saw your post on the pro forum about audio settings a few years ago. I'm sure you have your answer by now.

Robbie, I cant help wondering..
you set it for aperture priority mode at f16 or so to obtain the very shallow dof and get most the scene in focus.
1600 iso
you shoot ambient lighted set.. which is pretty dark by our standards.
what kind of film speed does that produce?

btw, cool to see the questions and answers here - some of this stuff is good knowledge.
fwiw i shoot at 30 fps, someone smarter than me told me that interlaced is a bunch of half frames which can seriously fuck your stuff at the wrong lighting set up so i stay the hell away from it.

I tried shooting porn with a DSLR, but I like the camera to move in and out of the action during a scene, and that's incredibly hard to do with a DSLR. So I shoot video with a video camera, and stills with a DSLR.

BTW, the only glamcore material shot on DSLR I've seen that I've liked has been solo scenes (e.g., some stuff Jay-Rock's posted here). The b/g or g/g stuff always seems to lack heat, and the fact that the camera is sitting back on a tripod capturing not just the beautiful models but also the beautiful location that the producer spent a ton of money on, removes the viewer from the action, IMHO.

Anyone shooting with a DSLR could benefit from a monopod with a nice head and viewfinder.

When you say "ambient lighted set" I'm not sure what you're saying. All lighting on video is "ambient".
When I'm shooting a porn scene my "ambient" lighting is 2 Kino Flo panels, one overhead Kino Flo panel, and a Kino Flo ringlight on the camera.

The little video I posted in this thread was indeed shot with just a normal old light turned on overhead in my bedroom.

But it's all "ambient" light. :)

When I switch to camera mode...I'm wirelessly triggering 3 580EX speedlights so the photography is NOT ambient, if that's what you meant.

I shoot everything and move all around with my Canon 5D when I'm shooting a porn scene. Once you have the thing in focus (and use a high f stop to get the entire frame in focus) you can move in and out all you want to.

Check out this video (I use this same Ready Rig when I shoot a porn scene) and watch the guy using a DSLR shooting gorgeous video on the move (the footage shifts back and forth from a 2nd cam following him and then the footage from his own camera POV):

i meant natural light, the sample you provided was shot using "available" light, no lights added. i was wondering what speed the camera selected at those aperture priority parameters:
iso 1600
f16

I don't know...I shot that a couple of months ago and since it was shooting video I didn't really bother to look at all the properties that I normally would look at when shooting a picture. (didn't shoot any pics of that...it was just a viral vid for youtube)

But as you can see...with me just letting the camera choose that when it auto focuses, it shoots plenty bright enough for a "normal" scene (I'm like you and want things way more lit up when I'm shooting a fuck scene so there are no shadows and you can see the penetration, etc.)

Fantastic thread!!!!

Robbie, your set up looks great. Do you have a stabilization rig for your cam? If so, how to you manage upskirts or down low / looking up shots?

yes very much great 'usable' info in here... what GFY was meant to do for us other than amuse the shit out of that is thanks guys...

I just looked up Ready Rig's on B&H's website, and they're $1,900. I can shoot gorgeous video with an HD video camera that costs less than that.

I'm sure you can. But when you are shooting scenes and holding that camera and your back is killing you and your arms are falling off and you have to struggle to change settings (especially if you're using a ring light with ballast)...then you REALLY appreciate the Ready Rig.

One of THE best investments I ever made.

And since I make my living doing this...I'm not so sure I would want to try and shoot "gorgeous" hd video with some consumer cam. No offense to you, but I really enjoy what I do and I would no sooner use cheap gear to shoot movies than I would trade in my Jeff Beck Signature Custom Shop Strat and Bogner amp for a cheap Korean strat and a solid state amp.

Using that Ready Rig. Watch the vid of what it can do...for the price it's the most amazing thing.

The next step up from that are companies making rigs that cost 10's of thousands of dollars and can't do what the Ready Rig does.

thx for all the infos folks.

Robbie, not sure if you rent but i just got an email from borrowlenses and noticed that the cine lens is available
http://www.borrowlenses.com/product/...24mm_T1.5_Lens

Bro this is all you need to get awsome stable video with a DSLR http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Section.ht ml

Thanks dyna_mo I didn't even know that site existed!

Thats the beauty about film making process, everybody does it differently. Nobody is wrong.

Borrowlenses.com is awesome. Just dropped off two at the post office that I used for a shoot on Sunday.

They can have gear to you within 24 hours if you need it.

I got a nice Carbon Fiber one from a chinese company with a Manfrotto 501 clone for this same price.

Fucking love it.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-B...933939501.html

they really are. i've pretty much rented everything up until i bought the d600, checking out bodies, lenses, flashes. really help me sort out a kit that suits my style. i was glad to see they lowered shipping prices a while back too. top notch operation!

ok, that's badass, how short does it collapse to?

Guy I shot with this weekend splurged on a C300, because that's what he's saving his pennies for.

Kinda nuts to spend $500 to have to test something, but beats spending $6500 only to find out you bought the wrong camera.

For that, they are awesome.

C300 is definitely nice for those of you out there with Canon glass.

Does everyone here shooting with Canons use Magic Lantern?

Less than 36''. Probably closer to 28''. It's nice with an almost 7lb cam on it, weightwise.

that's my experience too, i had originally planned on going with a 70-200 f2.8 , just knowing how many shooters use that glass and how badass it is in both nikon and canon mounts, but after checking out the canon mark ii with it i realized it was not going to work at all for me! it's too much tele for me and it weighs a ton.

That's what we had hooked up to the c300. And I thought my setup was heavy.

this one looks nice too,

quick release though on all of these, ugh, proprietary. i have another brand

The quick release on the one I posted and the Manfrotto are identical.

The Chinese can clone anything..

Nice thread!

I shoot with a Canon XF305 Great camera! Love the Beefy 50 Meg per sec and the 422 color. 422 cant be beat! Everything is really crisp and sharp. And the color rang is sick! For "Porn Sex" I like it that way better than a DSLR.



But for Music videos I use a Nikon D4 with a Ninja 2. I capture at 220 Megs per sec and at 422 color. (broadcast quality)

When I shoot Run and Gun DSLR, I use a Juice link Pre amp. Its a must for clean DSLR sound!!



When sound is important, I capture sound externally with a Sound Devices 702 External recorder. The pre amps and sound capture with this cant be touched!



Here is a simple sound test to give you an idea how important a pre amp is when shooting a DSLR

https://youtube.com/watch?v=KKVeBqhXMvM


DSLR Video cant be beat for the film look, but the DSLR sound is pretty bad.




My Mic's are Sennheiser MKH 60 and an MKH70. Yes they are expensive, but will last you a lifetime.

And I hate being cabled up, so I use Sennheiser 2000 series Wireless solution. Its pricey, but CNN uses it and I don't get the clicks in my audio that can be caused by people texting on set.


And lastly, I can actually handhold a a DSLR with this Rig i put together.





Problem: Getting nice depth of field shots for for teases and story line and still getting a nice movement with sex in crystal clear focus.

Solution: Light the set up enough to hit F10 and use a 17-35 lens. Yes, 17-35. Why? because the longer the focal length, the more compressed the background.(depth of field)


Image stabilization? I have shot porn for 11 Years, I got a super steady hand with no shake. (I spend 3 times the time behind a camera monitor than I do with my kids and family.)


This is not stuff I just read about, this is through serious trial and error on my own time, not on my clients Dollar.

Sound, Pre Amps, DSLRs, Field recorders, Wireless Sound solutions, etc. 7 weeks plus on my own time! I don't take what peoples I don't know opinions on some forum at face value. (Not meaning the GFY forum). (GFY, I know the shooters and respect them and their opinions)



Best advice I can give, is read up and actually do your own research before you buy anything. Or do what I do and buy it all, test it and send beck what suck and doesn't fit your style.


At the level, I and others on this board are at shooting, we cant afford to make mistakes. We cant turn in, bad sound, fucked up picture, fucked up focus, etc.


I never claim to be a know it all, but where I shoot at, its very competitive, all of these shooters are serious studs and when I shoot, how ever I choose to shoot it,(DSLR or Camcorder) you better believe, i will know what I'm doing before I do it.


This board has always been a 2nd home to me and feel free to post questions of call me up for any advice. Im the guy that will share everything I do and point you into a direction that is right for you.



Just dave

Wow great post man. Thanks for the info on the sound...what the fuck do you do anyways read everything you can about every piece of equipment. Nerd.

Im a contract Director for Brazzers.com And I shoot music Videos.


Just Dave