Tag: Sydney DP

Dragon Epic coming very very soon to Sydney

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Dragon, Epic, Red

Red’s latest camera, the Epic Dragon, is on the way to us in Sydney. We are going to have one of the very first Dragon Epic cameras in Sydney.

The new camera has a whole range of improvements over the current Epic camera. These improvements include a increased dynamic range and increased resolution. The dynamic range of the camera is now around 16 and a half stops, with a new colour science which takes advantage of the vastly improved dynamic range and low-light capabilities. Skin tones are softer, primary colors are more vibrant, and subtle color variations are discernibly remarkable. EPIC DRAGON cameras capture images that are true to life, with colors that can only be described as “brilliant”.

The RED DRAGON offers dynamic range that was once thought impossible for a digital sensor. Such a wide latitude provides the ability to take on challenging lighting conditions more easily. Improved low-light capabilities let you shoot at ISO 2000 and still produce a clean image. The wide dynamic range and improved sensitivity makes it easier to take on the unpredictable and capture the unbelievable.

The EPIC DRAGON can clock 100 fps at full 6K resolution, merging the worlds of hi-speed with hi-resolution. For even faster speeds, simply drop your resolution and take advantage of maximum speeds of up to 150 fps. With blazing fast hi-speed capabilities, there’s nothing that gets past a EPIC DRAGON.

For more about our latest camera feel free to contact us.

Red Dragon scores highest ever

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Scarlet, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

Red Epic DragonThe folks over at DXOmark, who have become the bible of camera testing , have tested the Dragon and the results are pretty incredible. The Dragon rose above all still cameras tested before it, including the best full frame and medium format cameras. Combining the best imaging sensor with the ability to shoot 100 frames per second opens up a whole new world of imaging to photographers.

http://www.dxomark.com/Reviews/RED-Epic-Dragon-review-First-camera-to-break-the-100-point-DxOMark-sensor-score-barrier/Overall-score-Epic-Dragon-takes-first-place-101-points

DXOmark went on to praise the Red Epic Dragon camera –

– As the new leader in this category, the prototype Epic Dragon surpasses the Phase One P65+ and P65+ HR models in color sensitivity, and it marginally exceeds the mighty Phase One IQ180 digital back in our rankings.

– The highest color sensitivity ever measured: exceptionally low noise at the base ISO.

– The headline news is, of course, that of the Dragon’s exceptionally low noise levels. The SNR (signal/noise ratio) curve shown above is simply outstanding – it’s higher than the Nikon D4’s curve for the whole of that sensor’s signal response. The shape of the response curve is interesting as well.

– This noise curve, coupled with a good color response, leads to a very high color sensitivity. At the pixel level (screen mode), the color sensitivity is simply the best ever measured. We normally calculate color sensitivity using an 8-bit output sRGB colorspace. In this case, however, the 8-bit sRGB color space was not large enough to accurately represent the color sensitivity of the Epic Dragon. As a result, we had to switch to a 16-bit sRGB color space!

– this new technology just may forever change the way both footage and stills are shot in the future.

For the tests, the camera was set to full 6k resolution at 23.98 fps, 16 bit and RC 5:1 compression.

Great new tool to setup all your Red Epic/Scarlet buttons

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Scarlet, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

DSMCResourcesIconRed has released a new set of tools for Epic or Scarlet camera users.

One of the tools is amazingly good, it is visual tool for key mapping so  you to setup all the buttons / keys on your Epic camera while using a Mac or PC. Once you have run the program and setup all you button / key choices you save it to a camera SSD and then load to your camera.

Its a so much quicker, easier and simpler way to set up your camera using this program. This tool would be great for anyone one who either rents an Epic or Scarlet or  uses multiple cameras on a shoot. A great way to have all the keys / buttons setup uniformly.

The tools included in the latest release are:
REDMote Upgrade Utility
RED Guide Creator
RED Key Mapper

https://s3.amazonaws.com/red_3/downl…olkit_v5.1.zip

Sony commercial shot on Red Epic

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Sony, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

Sony is no stranger when it comes to making magnificent advertisements. Their new commercial for the recently released A7 and A7R full frame mirrorless cameras, which features some magnificently choreographed skydiving action, is no exception. What’s even more impressive is the fact that none of this was shot on a green screen. In fact, the entirety of the spot was shot practically at an altitude of 15,000 feet, with an overcranked RED EPIC.

Sony commercial shot on Red Epic

Now here’s the behind the scenes

BTS Sony / Red Epic shoot

How much fun would it have been seeing a skydiver with an F65 strapped to their helmet 🙂

Red Epic Dragon Frame Rates

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red

The new Epic Dragon camera allows for an amazing range of frames rates. Below is the maximum frame rate for each resolution of Epic Dragon. The minimum frame rate is 1 frame per second.

Dragon frame rates

Please note all frames rates are based on 23.98 time base, 8:1 compression with Lookaround turned off.

6K shooting

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

With Red’s new sensor coming out now, its about time to have idea what you are getting with 6K shooting.

So what is 6K, well it is 6144 x 3160 pixels or 19.4 megapixels at a 1.94:1 aspect ratio.
6K is 9.36x more pixels than 1080p.
6K is 8.78x more pixels than 2K.
6K is 2.2x more pixels than 4K.
6K is 1.4x more pixels than 5K.
6K is 14% more resolution than 5K for a pristine full debayer down to 4K. Meaning it’s a 66.7% down sample/debayer to 4K.

What does all this mean to me?
Well if you’re thinking about a 4K finish it gives a bit more freedom for creative re-framing, cropping, or leveling. Fine and high frequency details will actually down sample into 4K and benefit from that extra resolution. There are many ways to work with and finish REDCODE for screen and print use. Over sampling and the use of a debayer pattern help eliminate aliasing artifacts. If you want crisp and detailed images there’s options. If you want a smoother feel there’s options. Just depends on what you’re after and the workflow you choose.

So we’re now in some new exciting territory!

Many Thanks to Phil Holland for all the numbers and great chart.

phfx_redDragon_whatIs6K

Power of 5K

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Red One, Scarlet, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

This TVC is a great example of the power of shooting 5K. By choosing such a high resolution to shoot in enabled an extremely flexible outcome in post. The camera was mounted vertically to make the most use of the resolution, and the shot was framed head to toe with just enough room to allow a few hand gestures. While all the shot sizes had already been decided prior to the shoot, we didn’t have to worry about shooting anything besides the one shot size, knowing that it meant we could get a shot from an extreme close up all the way to an amazing wide shot if needed.

The shoot was a fun day. The director loved the freedom as he knew a shot take could be used in any size in the end TV commercial.

One note for this approach of reframing in post is that I would not recommend this for anything other than a chromakey shoot or white limbo background, as with reframing in post you loose all advantages of being able alter your depth of field with your shot size changes. Vertical shoot

The next Red Epic …

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Red One, Scarlet, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

The next Red Epic is Epic Dragon and it is now out and about. Red has released a few Epic Dragons for testing and evaluation of the new sensor and electronics. So far the word is great.   Added dynamic range of some say 3 stops over what the current Epic has makes this truly stunning.

One test was shot by Aussie Director/DOP Mark Toia and he was quoted as saying that now the Epic Dragon see what his eye sees. Anyway proof is in the pudding so heres what he shot. Please remember this is a camera thats in beta and still has not got all the colour science and post work out, so if you like the pics now remember they will only get better and better as Red releases camera updates and Redcine software updates.

GoPro updates

by North Coast Videographer, posted in GoPro, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

There is new firmware for the GoPro Hero 3 cameras and a new app. With these you now can watch video recorded on your GoPro via WiFi on your smartphone or tablet. In video playback mode you can only watch a low res version of the footage but its a great feature making it really easy to check a shot back straight after the shoot to make sure all went well.

You can also view stills taken with your GoPro via your smartphone or tablet. With Stills you get a reasonable high res image version.

You can also save video or stills directly to your smartphone or tablet and even share these immediately with social networks.

I love these updates, they make a great camera even better!

New GoPro App

Greenscreen TVC

by North Coast Videographer, posted in Epic, Red, Red One, Sydney cameraman, Tim Bradley

Red Epic camera on a R90malibu-green-screen-b5ac2c219da1028fbf2c026e7ba8e15d

I shot a green screen shoot yesterday for a TV commercial. We approached this slightly differently than the usual as we decide to shoot with the Epic camera mounted at 90 degrees shooting 5K HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio.

By setting up this way it meant that then we would shoot the talent head to toe and just wide enough to accommodate any hand movements for the whole shoot. Because of the 5K resolution of the Epic camera combined with the added resolution boost by shooting with the camera mounted at 90 degrees meant all the reframing could be done in post with no loss of quality. The finished TVC will have shots ranging from close ups to very wide shots where the talent will be about a quarter of the screen height.

This all enabled us to shoot very efficiently without sacrificing quality.

So on your next greenscreen shoot think about mounting your camera at 90 degrees.