Pentax K-3 Graded Cat Test.

So I graded the cat this morning to see what I could pull from the K-3's video. One of the lessons that I've learned with the Panasonic GH2 is that if you want to grade the shot in post then it's best to shoot flat, turning down sharpness, saturation, and contrast in camera, and then adding it back in (with more control and on color calibrated monitors) in post. So that's what I've done here with the K-3. Watch:



Some observations:

1. Overall the K-3 file looks quite nice here and grades pretty readily.
2. I underexposed the shot on purpose in the hopes of not blowing out the white fur. As a result, the darks are a bit crushed; the camera appears to have less exposure range with video.
3. The whiskers and the fur sharpen up quite nicely.
4. I really like the FA43.

Overall, it's a promising performance. The K-3 seems to be doing ok with close up work. I've been less enamored with subjects at a greater distance, but there's more testing to do there before coming to any conclusions.

Testing the RICOH PENTAX K-3 HD Video Image Stabilization (AKA Shake Reduction, SR)

Went for a walk with the new K-3 this weekend to test out some of its video capabilities, specifically to see if digital image stabilization (SR) was useful on a monopod. Here are some sample shots:

Razor Thin Depth of Field is a Harsh Mistress

Still from PBS Frontline Documentary "League of Denial"

I recently participated in a discussion on PentaxForums where members noted Canon's apparent dominance in DSLR video. The premise was that while Panasonic gets a lot of attention online for their GH line of cameras, most people encountered in the real world are shooting with Canon DSLRs at the center of their rigs. It's something that I've noticed as well; I don't recall ever seeing someone shooting video with a GH1, GH2, or GH3 out in the wild. It must be, among other things, the allure of the larger sensor available in Canon DSLRs, from APS-C to 35mm full frame.

Pentax K-3: Can it Capture the Hearts and Minds of Budding Cinematographers?

The above is a screengrab from DVXUser.com, a popular video forum. While they've got plenty of sections on ENG style video cams and such, they've also got a booming HDSLR section featuring the front-runners in the space–Panasonic, Canon, and Nikon. Sony's got it's own section for everything from the prosumer NEX to their full-framed F series video cameras.

Where's Pentax?

Every once in a while a Pentax thread will show up in the HDSLR- General / Other section, but not very often. And if you step outside of the Pentax bubble to see if anyone else is talking about the video capabilities of the new K-3, you'll see that absolutely nobody is discussing it on DVXUser.com. Likewise, there's no mention on DVInfo.net, another popular hangout. EOSHD.com does have a thread about the K-3 rumored RAW video, but people aren't holding their breath.

Back in the Pentax bubble there's a lot of chatter about the K-3's video capabilities, and with good reason; it's the first Pentax that takes video seriously. But if DVXUser.com and other online hangouts are any indication, it will take a lot more than competence to win the hearts and minds of budding cinematographers. It will take something cool, a killer app, like RAW video.

Let's hope the spec sheet is right.

The Day in Which a Panasonic LX7 and Pentax Q Pretend That They are GoPros

I brought a Panasonic LX7 and a Pentax Q to a recent automotive press event where I got to test drive a number of electric and hybrid cars (along with some hooning in a Miata and wicked looking matte grey Hyundai Veloster Turbo). A Nissan GTR, Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels Edition, Cadillac CTS-V and a passel of Rolls Royce and Jaguar convertibles where also on hand but I avoided driving them. Ignorance is bliss, right?

Pentax K-01 shoots a Sony

Went to PhotoPLUS a couple of months ago to speak to manufacturers about cameras for motorcycle touring. Sony chose to show off the RX100, a camera most of you know about and might even drool a bit over. Here's what they had to say:



Shooting video in a convention center (Jacob Javits in NYC) is horrid. Let me count the ways - poor lighting, noisy, crowded, etc. This year I brought the K-01 with the FA31mm F1.8 mounted on a Vanguard CF monopod (Elite) with Manfrotto 701HDV fluid pan head. I also had a Sennheiser MKE400 mic and Switronix TorchLED mounted on the hotshoe via a v-bracket. I wish that I had a boom mic. I wish I had more lights. I wish I had other people to operate the gear so that I could ask more questions. But you do what you can when you're essentially a one man show.

Overall, the K-01 did just fine. I only needed web resolution and the ability to edit and upload via my iPad, so the K-01 got the nod over the Panasonic GH2, whose AVCHD files can be cumbersome to deal with on slower systems. My biggest gripe is the lack of audio monitoring, which is especially difficult since the K-01 doesn't even provide levels on the display. So it's totally spray and pray. I'd also love focus peaking while recording, not just before. With just these small changes, the K-01 could be a much better video tool, especially because you can use lovely lenses like the FA31.

Lag of Pentax Q rear LCD

Never noticed this before. Will have to test with other cameras.

Video Comparison: Drift HD 1080p vs Pentax Q

One of the things that I am hoping that the Pentax Q does is take higher quality video compared to POV cams. While POV cams are very small and very convenient, their IQ is sometimes lacking. To test the Q agains the Drift HD, I stacked them on top of each other and went for a drive. Here's the Odd Couple:


And here's the video:

Drift HD v Pentax Q from john flores on Vimeo.

Drift HD v Pentax Q from john flores on Vimeo.

[Click on the Vimeo logo if you want to watch it bigger.]
As you can see, the Q is handing the challenging and changing lighting much better than the DriftHD, and in a package not that much larger. It's sharper, got greater dynamic range, the 03 Fish Eye is less susceptible to flaring, and is doing a better job at reacting to changes in exposure. The sensor-base image stabilization is also helping out here.

In the Drift's favor is convenience - the battery lasts longer, it's not saddled with a 25 minute recording limit (24:59 actually for the Q), it's water resistant, it can accept external mic input, comes with a remote control, and it be mounted to a helmet more easily.

Stay tuned as I continue to test video. Next up, Pentax Q vs. Contour ROAM

Street Musicians, Tadoussac, Quebec

In the past I've dismissed the K-01 as a serious video tool, but I was glad that it shoots video at all when I stumbled into this:


Street Musicians, Tadoussac, Quebec from john flores on Vimeo.

It was dark and getting darker quickly as I enjoyed the street music. I started shooting at 8:55. I was pretty far North close to the Summer Solstice so that helped. The stills that I took ranged from ISO3200 at the start to ISO12800 at the end. That's two stops of light loss in the span of fifteen minutes or so of shooting. This video was shot at ISO3200 IIRC. 1080P. F3.2, 1/50s. Handheld. IS helped out for sure.

The lead vocalist is from New Orleans. The bearded guitarist is from Montreal. It would be so cool if they eventually saw this. Please share this with your musician friends and see if we can connect.

It's in the Bag: 2012/05/01

It's in the Bag: 2012/05/01, originally uploaded by john m flores.

Via Flickr:
Shooting an interview for the Library of Congress' Veteran's History Project. My friend is bringing his Fuji X Pro1 for stills. I'm shooting video.

Stuffed inside the LowePro Flipside 400...

Panasonic GH2
Pentax K-01 (backup cam and b-roll stills)
Pentax DA*16-50mm F2.8 zoom
Pentax DA21mm F3.2 Limited
Pentax DA70mm F2.4 Limited
Pentax M50mm F1.7
Express35 15mm rods and plates and articulating arm
D|Focus follow focus
smallHD DP4 EVF
Sennheiser MK400 on camera shotgun mic
Apple iPad

I'm also hauling a couple of CFL softboxes (85w, 400w equiv), lightstands, a Vanguard tripod and monopod.

Driving to Coney Island in 45 Seconds

This trip usually takes an hour. Two hours with traffic. You can take it in 45 seconds from the comfort of your home. Highlights include the Verrazano Bridge, and some of the rides at Coney Island.

Shot with the Contour ROAM's time lapse feature. Images initially processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for brightness, contrast, clarity, cropping, etc... I also did some global spot removal on the dirty windshield. Lightroom was great because I was able to edit a single photo and then apply those setting to all the photos in the set. I even did a gradient filter on the sky to help bring out some of the texture. Watch the clouds - they're pretty cool.

From Lightroom, I exported 1080p files which I then brought into Apple's Final Cut Pro X for sequencing and adding the skateboard sound effect.

The Secret Life of Trees (Video)

The Secret Life of Trees from john flores on Vimeo.

Played with the Pentax K-01 in the backyard the other day to do some initial video tests. Taken with the DA35mm F2.8 Macro Limited. Shot wide open (F2.8) or close to it. Manual settings. Available light.

So far yet so close... (Pentax K-01 and video)

There's a Pentax K-01 in there somewhere. I had hoped to use it as shown for a video shoot tomorrow. And while the setup looks complex, it's that way to make up for some shortcomings of the camera.

That Tascam on top for example is hooked up to the Sennheiser shotgun mic because if I hook the Sennheiser to the K-01 I have no way of monitoring audio. The K-01 doesn't even show level meters on the rear LCD while recording or playing back. That's an interview without any audio or poor audio just waiting to happen. Thus the Tascam.

Just below the Tascam is a SmallHD LCD display. Why bother, you might ask, if the K-01 already has an LCD? One reason - the K-01 doesn't provide focus peaking while recording video. Only before. So if the subject moves - say leans forward during an interview - you can't use focus peaking to regain focus.

No worries, I think, the K-01 has HDMI out! I'll just hook up the SmallHD and use its focus peaking to make sure that my subject stays in focus.

Alas, all's not well in videoland. The K-01's HDMI port is only capable of playing back photos and video. It's not live during recording. Not only that, the moment you plug in an HDMI cable into the K-01 it goes immediately into Play mode with no way of taking a picture or shooting video.

I was so looking forward to trying this setup out tomorrow. I guess I'll just have to swap in the Panasonic GH2...

So close Pentax, so close...

It's in the bag

It's in the bag, originally uploaded by john m flores.

Via Flickr:
Heading into the city tomorrow to interview the Managing Director of Ducati North America. From the interview I'll be producing an article for RoadRUNNER Magazine as well as a video for their website. I've got a lot of commuting to get there and only 30 minutes to interview, so my kit has to be light and quick to set up and tear down. Here's what I'm going with:

GH2 with Oly 45/1.8
GF2 with Panny 20/1.7
Panasonic hot-shoe mic DMW-MS1
Switronix TorchLED TL-30
Slik tabletop tripod with Velbon ballhead and Manfrotto quick release
Manfrotto mini-clamp with mini ballhead
49mm ND8 and polarizer
iPad2
2 Magazine samples
24 reflector

All of this fits into a small Timbuk2 Snoop Messenger bag. Think about that - a 2 camera system that shoots HD video that fits into a small messenger bag. This is why I love M43.

UNBOXED! ContourHD

Unbox Promise Pegasus R4 Raid (with Thunderbolt!)

Still from video interview

Still from Kenney Interview, originally uploaded by john m flores.

Ten years ago, getting a clean 2 megapixel still image was a technical challenge. I'm now getting quality like this at 24FPS. Pretty crazy...

Panasonic GH2 at work

Frank Kenney being interviewed for The Citizens Campaign, originally uploaded by john m flores.

Shot a couple of interviews yesterday. Here's the setting for one of them. The GH2 and all the related camera and audio gear fit in a backpack while the lights fit in a large bag. A great mobile kit!

Gear is as follows:
Panasonic GH2 camera
Pentax DA70 F2.4 Limited Lens (Fotodiox adaptor)
Cokin ND Grad filter and hoods (P)
Panasonic mic
Vanguard Alta Pro tripod and head
Interfit Super Cool-Lite 5 key
126 LED fill
Tascam DR-07 audio recorder
Radio Shack lavalier mic

GH2 Video with Pentax Lens

Spent some time with the folks at the National Popular Vote, a group seeking to ensure that the presidential candidate with the most popular votes wins. Paychex founder and erstwhile independent Tom Golisano has recently signed on as spokesperson (and major donor) and they announced their redoubled efforts in Washington DC. For more information about National Popular Vote, visit nationalpopularvote.com/​ and onepersononevote.org/​

Production Notes
The room had two big windows camera left and right. They were nice but I did fill the subject's right side with an LED panel placed on the desk between the subject and the camera.

Camera: Panasonic GH2
Lens: IIRX, Pentax DA70 F2.4 on a Fotodiox adaptor
Audio: Panasonic hotshoe mic

Tom Golisano and Dr. John Koza speak to Politico about the National Popular Vote movement from john flores on Vimeo.

Spent some time with the folks at the National Popular Vote, a group seeking to ensure that the presidential candidate with the most popular votes wins. Paychex founder and erstwhile independent Tom Golisano has recently signed on as spokesperson (and major donor) and they announced their redoubled efforts in Washington DC. For more information about National Popular Vote, visit http://www.nationalpopularvote.com/ and http://www.onepersononevote.org/

Production Notes
The room had two big windows camera left and right. They were nice but I did fill the subject's right side with an LED panel placed on the desk between the subject and the camera.

Camera: Panasonic GH2
Lens: IIRX, Pentax DA70 F2.4 on a Fotodiox adaptor
Audio: Panasonic hotshoe mic

Logan plays with an iPhone (video)

Logan plays with an iPhone from john flores on Vimeo.

Logan and I went to the River Star Diner for dinner the other night. He's an active little bugger - has a hard time sitting still. So after imploring him several times to use his inside voice and sit, I gave him my iPhone to play with. He's got a couple of games there that he likes, so it's an instant babysitter!

I shoot these little videos to practice and learn from my mistakes. I've graduated from iA Movie mode (720p, 60FPS) to manual shooting after having trouble with WB in another shot. I was curious to see how 24FPS would handle the movement of Logan's hands as he plays an iPhone flying game. Light in the diner was dim - not romantic restaurant dim, but dim enough - and had a yellow cast. At first I stabilized the camera on the table, and then reframed slightly.

Shot with the Panasonic GH2 with 20mm F1.7 @ (IIRC) ISO800, 1/50s, F2.0, 24FPS. Manual mode with WB set to tungsten. If you hear a click early on, that's me setting the AF to manual so that the camera doesn't hunt repeatedly between the phone and his face.