Finally out! It was about time.
I will not list all the new features (over 200), if that is the kind of stuff you like reading about, head over the official Apple page. Instead, I will list the features that mean the most for us.
First, facial recognition. I already talked about it in my Aperture 3 prediction about 8 months ago. This is a big thing if you are often shooting the same people. I am just worried about how long it is going to take to pass over my 192 gigs of pictures…
Next on the line is Places. Another feature that most travel photographers will love. I know because I had to geotag over 2000 pictures when I came back from Vietnam. Not a fun experience! At the local scale, it is also going to be useful to organize pictures when doing on a location scouting day. I used to import them in iPhoto just for that and it was a real pain.
Video import and playback directly in Aperture! I love this one for two reasons: first because it is going to be useful to do everything in a single operation and also because it shows how Apple recognize HDSLR as a trend and not a novelty. As soon as I finish the download, I will see if it if possible to batch process video files automatically for conversion to ProRes.
Slideshows. I never used these in Aperture. I preferred working within either Lightroom, Animoto or Motion. But, with the new slideshows, I just have one thing to say: wow! I am impressed. 95% of the work I used to do in Motion is doable in Aperture and it looks even easier!
Finally, Brushes. It was about time Aperture got these! None destructive editing at the pixel level has been the reason why I moved to Lightroom (ok, also because it was faster!). I am glad the feature is now in Aperture since it saves a round trip to Photoshop for 95% of the image corrections.
While waiting for my review, you can read what Chase has to say about it. He was on the beta list so he probably knows more than me!
Note: You can upgrade to Aperture 3 from the Academic version of Aperture 2!
Note2: I havent found an electronic version for the full product, so I had to place an order and download the demo.
Some people are just luckier than me. The folks at Still Motion put their hands on a 1DMrkIV and had the great idea to make a side by side video comparison with the 5D and 7D. Read their comments here and check out the clip.
I have been playing with Animoto for over a week and think it is something you guys might be interested in.
What is it?
Animoto used to be a slide show creation web application but it has recently added video capabilities. So you can now mix stills, video and music to create a very pro looking video.
Think of it as Motion for dummies.
What sets it apart from other slide show apps?
First, it is web based. This mean you don’t have to install anything and once created, the slides are already available to others (according to your security preferences) and can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Second, the transitions are gorgeous and fit with the music. What ever the number of pictures you sent and the beat of the song you selected, the transitions will always be in tune with the music.
Third, Animoto supplies a bunch of royalty free songs you can use without worrying about being sued.
Finally, if you pick a pro account, you can remove all references to Animoto in the clip/player and make it look like the whole thing was your own creation.
Show it to me!
To demonstrate the application at its most basic, here is a clip made by letting the system run free. I just selected a bunch of pictures from a lingerie fashion show and then picked a song from the library. I did not reorder or adjusted anything other than spotlighting a few of my favorite shots.
WARNING: VIDEO NOT SAFE FOR WORK
This is the “brute” stuff coming out of Animoto. It is always possible to go back and tweak the display order afterward but I was curious to see what would happen if I let the system run wild.
Why you might need it?
Clients (at least in the wedding and portrait business) are now asking/expecting slide shows, often the same day as the shoot. While it is possible to generate one in Lightroom or Aperture, they tend to look more like a PowerPoint presentation than the work of graphic artist.
Using a solution like Animoto creates a very pro looking product in a very short amount of time (pick your selects and song, upload and then then download the high resolution file and you are done!).
How much does it cost?
Animoto prices its service according to the flexibility it gives you. Either you use it for fun or as a pro, the commercial account being the only one I would recommend for any client work since you can remove the Animoto logo and claim the work as your own! Prices are:
- 30$ for the all access pass for a year.
- 99$ for the 3 month commercial (keep reading to make this 4 months) access.
- 250$ for the full year commercial access.
Rebecca, our Animoto friend gave us a coupon code to get an extra month out of any 3 months commercial package purchase if you enter 5dtips on this page or use this link to get the other packages. The promo code is good until December 31.
On the flip side…
While super easy to use, it would be even better if the developers added a LightRoom / Aperture plugin to directly export the pictures to the site at optimal size and also a compressor droplet to downr sample the clips to a reasonable size.
My other suggestion would be a bit more flexibility on the aspect ratio of the video so it would work better in portrait mode. Then again, I guess they would have to redo all their animation/transitions…
In conclusion…
While it is not a tool I would use for every job (I am a control freak when it comes to slides), I think it does an incredible job at quickly creating a pro looking slide show. I did not have the time to test it with video but will very soon.
I just completed the 101 and 102 classes of the 5DFilmSchool training and would like to share my thoughts with you about it (as some others have already done).
I have been watching training videos for a while. Like I said in a previous post, I am a big fan of Lynda.com and spent countless hours in front of my computer learning about new software/techniques. This also means that my expectations regarding training video are high, very high. According to my experience, to be effective, a training has to: have the right pace, be precise (never leave any confusion in the head of the audience), have useful content and be entertaining. Lets see how the 101 class rated according to these criteria.
Note: I watched the digital download version and I suggest you do the same. It has a better resolution than the DVD version and you can watch it right away! Read the rest of this entry »
I have talked about using picture style in the past but I think this video explains the whole thing much better than I ever could. If you visit the Vimeo page, you will see a list of presets to download for both 5D and 7D.
The title of the clip is a bit misleading: the camera still has the same dynamic range, it just moves the extremes values toward the mid tones so nothing get clipped. Still, the end result is the appearance of a wider dynamic range once you are in post since you can push the color much further. This is what people mean when they say that you should shoot ‘flat’.
There is a big debate at cinema5D about if you should shoot flat and grade in post or shoot with the desired effect. I am more of a shoot flat and fix color in post kind of guy because it allows me to change my mind as many times as I want regarding the style I want to use. But by shoot directly with the intended look, you (1) save time in post and (2) possibly end up with a better end result since all the information stored in the file is actually the information you want.
This project might not be for everyone but if you are like me and have trouble keeping the sliding motion at a constant speed, here is a solution: automate it! Martin Koch had the same issue has me and solved it the geek way: by using an Arduino and a stepping motor.The detailed explanation can be found on his blog. While the given version is too weak to carry an HDSLR, you just have to upgrade the stepping motor and you will be set.
You can see the results in some sequences of this clip.
This has to be the piece of gear that I talked the most about without ever showing it up. Until now!
What is a slider?
Of all the gear you can add to your video tool box, a slider is probably the one that will add the most production value to your clips. Notice how the camera rarely stands still in a movie? Even in static scene, it keeps moving slowly from the left to right or from the front to the back (or inverse).
This is the work of a sliders or a dolly. Here is a quick clip to give you an idea of what it does.
Sliding is not the same thing as panning. Panning is done by rotating around a center point while sliding moves the camera along an axis. Also, panning is associated (most often) to cheap camera work while sliding is associated to dollies and expensive shots.
Why use a slider?
As stated above, sliding motions are associated to pro movies so if you add a few of these shots in your clip, it will increase its production value. They also add a special kick to your clip by adding a dynamic element to the shot.
How?
Of all the DIY projects, this one has to be the easiest ever! To make a 1m slider, you need to order two pieces and drill a hole. That is all!
The two pieces you need to order from Igus are:
- WW-16-60-10 DRYLIN W CARRIA
- WS-16-60 DRYLIN W RAIL
They cost about 150CAN$ and can be shipped either from US or Canada (to save custom). Just contact Kevin by mail ( kwright@igus.com) or visit their website.
Once you receive the two pieces, drill a hole in center of the sliding platform to screw your fluid head and install the rails on the tripod.
Voila, you are done! The technology used by Igus does not require lubricant but you might want to use some if you are having trouble getting perfectly smooth shots. I never had issue with it but my friend did, so it is up to you. Using no lubricant means one less thing to carry in your bag (and forget) and also that it wont get dirty.
Considerations
The reason my rails is still not installed on my tripod (yet) is that, after some experiment, I realized that I needed a new tripod. While I love my Manfrotto 190CXPRO, it is hard to adjust the legs to be perfectly parallel to the ground. This is usually not an issue when shooting stills since I can fix the horizon with the ball head. Unfortunately, to use the slider properly, the rails needs to be perfectly parallel to the ground, which makes it is a much bigger issue.
The solution is to get a bowl tripod. These are mostly used in the video world but are also useful for stills. I haven’t set my mind on which one to get yet, but the 350SHMVB Mini
Until I figure out which tripod I want, my slider will stay on its wooden legs!
Pushing it further
Igus parts are not design to create 1m long sliders. Their stuff is used to make huge track systems. This is why it is possible to assemble a few tracks together and create one huge and long slider. Any fans of Lego would be delighted at the prospect of creating one huge track!
Alternatives
If you want to take the easy road, you can order a slider from Indi Rails. They have various configuration starting at 99$. I have not tested it yet so I can’t comment on its built quality or smoothness.
There are other alternatives, such as the Glide Track which is made out of the same pieces as the DIY one I just described or the Pegasus which is supposed to be great (and priced accordingly).
Now what?
Order you pieces right away! In the upcoming weeks, I am going to post a few tips on how to get the best results from a slider. I have made enough mistake with these to know a thing of two about them. Stay tuned!
What something fancier?
A little bit eclipsed by the announcement of the 1DMrkIV, the announcement of an upcoming firmware update for the Canon 5DMrkII that would give it 24p and 25p is, for most people much more news worthy.
The first benefit of shooting in 24p is, of course, getting the elusive film look we have been talking about since almost a year.
I personally dont care too much for 24 vs 30p. The important element in this news for me is how Canon is going to implement this feature. Are they just going to drop down the frame rate so we can record longer clips or are they going to use the 20% saved bandwidth to increase the bitrate?
We wont know until next year (please make this January!), which make me wonder how it could be so long to implement such update.
It was expected, it is now out.
You can read the Canon official announcement here and look at its spec sheet here. Basically, it is a 7D with a 1.3 crop, 10fps, 16mpx sensor.
Here is a list of the key features:
- New 16.1 Megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor
- 10 frames per second continuous shooting
- Up to 121 large JPEG images in a single burst
- New 45-point wide area AF with 39 cross-type sensors with f/2.8 sensitivity
- High-speed Dual “DIGIC 4” processors for superb image quality
- 12,800 high ISO expandable up to 102,400
- Full HD movie recording at 30, 25 and 24 frames per second
- 3.0” Clear View II LCD with Live View mode
- Durable dust and water resistant body with 76 rubber seals
I have to admit that the 10fps is a bit of a let down for sport shooters hoping for more. But that is still a pretty impressive package!
It is available for order from Amazon
But I hear you thinking ‘how does it perform?’
Our friend Vincent Laforet and Stu teamed up to create a new video Nocturne. Shot at ISO 6400, take a look
Looking at the comments from Vincent and Stu, it seems like ISO 6400 is not a problem for video and, read this carefully, rolling shutter is minimal! Both of these news are great and I cant figure out which one has more impact.
BTW, I am ordering one.
First, if you have not seen this clip yet, watch it. It is interested in both its form and its content.
Battle for Hearts and Minds Trailer from Danfung Dennis on Vimeo.
Next, go read Danfung Dennis explanations of how it was shot and the gear he used. I like his Glidecam setup, looking at the picture you can see how many plates he used to balance the rig. Having played with a Glidecam 4000 balanced for the 7D, I can confirm how much weigth one has to put on this thing to make it stable.
