Ted Hinkle

well... I'm pretty sure I'm going with the 24mm 1.4 lens. I think I'm going to get the most use of it even though it's a prime. It's wide enough for most shots and I personally tend to use a lot of wide shots. Also being able to open up to 1.4 is a great advantage that I think I'll be abe to make great use of with so many low lit receptions.

Ok well I'm starting to narrow it down a little but still looking for suggestions here's where I've narrowed it down to: 24mm 1.4 - love the low light capabilities easy to mount on merlin. great for dark receptions. 16-35mm 2.8 - versatile wide angle adaptability. Love that I can go as wide as 16mm so it's able to go wider or zoom in closer than the 24mm but not as good in low light. When lens elements are moved I'll have readjust the merlin to counterbalance. 24-70mm 2.8 - reccommended by others, has ability for decent wide shot but can go in closer to 70mm. Probably very safe and most versatile, for some reason I just don't get as excited about it though.

Ok so I've finally broken down and invested in the 5D mark II. But I bought the body only. Now I need to invest in a lens, and I'm having trouble deciding which lens to buy since I can only afford 1 right now. But before I ask for help I should state what my goals are in terms of using this camera and what it's application is. Yes... I'm another one of those over enhusiastic wedding videographers. However my incentive has always been to give a different look and to give an artistic point of view which is why for the longest time our main stay format was super 8mm. And to a degree it still is. But I've also fallen in love with the results I've seen from the 5D mk II which has led me to this purchase. Let me also state that I'll be using the 5D mk II mostly for artistic shots while another camera will act as the "safe shot" and also capture sound. I also have a merlin steadicam that I'd like to make use of with this new camera. Which makes me think I should get a wide angle lens like the 16-35mm 2.8 for wide angle versatility or the 24mm 1.4 since it's fixed and it let's in more light. But on another note I absolutely loved the 85mm 1.2 when I tested it out... geat for low light, shallow DOF, which would be nice for cose-ups getting ready or toasts. Or the 70-200mm 2.8 which would also be good for toasts and although not as good in low light it would probably be best for ceremony shots when I can't get nearly as close as I'd like to. I know, I know I ciould debate about this for years but I need to make a decision so I can start playing around with the camera before my first shoot with it. My photographer friend thinks I should get the 24-70mm lense and play it safe. I don't know what to do... Any thoughts out there??? I should also say that I'll be renting additional lenses for my first shoot. Logic tells me what I need is probably something versatile that not only will I use, but that will also help me get use to the functions of the camera. Which lens should I buy???

Here are some stills from some of the footage I shot with it.

Ok well that's good to know. Duall Camera sells them too they say the UWL I fits the Nikon R8? Should I just stay away from that? On another note here's the lens I've got. I'll post some stills from the footage I shot with it as well. It looks like it's some sort of small cctv type c-mount lens with a step up ring to fit a super wide adapter of some sort. Not sure?

I've been curious about this too. I'm looking to get a slight fisheye effect (no vignetting) for my super 8 cameras. I purchased a Beaulieu 4008 ZMII "super 8 sound" before they became "pro8" package off ebay 3 years ago and along with it came some sort of fisheye super wide angle lens. It's fixed focus and only has aperature control, I've been really happy with the results. Not really sure what kind of lens it is though. It's hard to identify, I'll try to post pics when I get the chance if someone thinks they can identify it. I wish I could find an adapter for my Nikon R8 to get something as wide or perhaps one for my minolta D10 for time lapse work. Do I need to stick with the old school UWL adapters or would something like this work?here There's also the century c-mount lenses. Duall in New York rents a 1.9mm C-mount lens, but I have yet to see some stills or footage of what that acheives. Seems like it should be wide enough or maybe too wide. On top of that I couldn't find one for sale anywhere or even afford it if I could find one. This guy posted some footage supposedly shot with the 3.5mm lens but it's not quite wide enough for what I want to do.

Well, for anyone with a lack of experience in this area such as myself. What I found by fiddling with things a little further was that if I zoomed all the way on a object and tried my best to focus on it and then flipped in the ground glass, that it seemed to allow me to dial in the focus a little better. Perhaps that's an accurate interpretation of what the ground glass is to be used for. Please correct me if I'm wrong. That's how we learn right... even if sometimes we have to ask dumb questions just to get a better understanding.

I guess this is what I get for starting a lame topic.

It was just a dumb mistake I overlooked while inspecting my camera. I feel I understand DOF, aperture control, and focusing pretty well. 35mm SLR cameras and Video cameras typically don't have ground glass that flips into the screen, aside from your Redrock M2 and other 35mm spinning ground glass adapters. It's not something everyone has to work with to make a living. The extent of the manual for the Beaulieu 4008 ZMII on ground glass isn't much more than one sentence that says "The advantage of the screen is that it gives the operator an accurate appreciation of focus and the depth of focus available with the aperature used." I was just wondering since there are so many experts out there that are kind and willing to help out if someone could expound on that a little, or explain how it works to someone who hasn't had the privilege of knowing.

Ok well I must have been doing something wrong, seems to be working fine now. Getting it out in the bright day helped a bit too. Don't think it needs collimated but I'll have it checked out. Ground glass didn't seem to help at all and it looks pretty dirty. What's the purpose of it? Doesn't seem to help me focus.

So the purpose of the ground glass is to check focus? I feel kinda dumb for not knowing that. I guess I need to get to know this camera a little better. I do remember trying that, but still couldn't get anything out of focus. I should also say that my endeavor is mostly to get some depth of field in my image. Getting the image in focus isn't the problem, because everything seems to be in focus no matter what I do. The problem is getting some DOF. I try it again but I'll follow your instructions Andries and see what happens. Will let you guys know.

You see I think this might be what I'm talking about. I just looked at and compared the footage side by side, instead of recalling the footage to mind from my head. It wasn't so much that the images where dull I think it's more like Andries said the image I got from the nikkor lens is more "contrastier"... it pops more. Where as the image I got from the Angenieux was just ok. It left me wanting more. Although... Huge! As another note I just picked up my beaulieu with the angeniuex zoom lens on it and while looking through the lens I found that there is no apparent adjustment for focus! I cant get anything to go out of focus. Is there a written manual for this lens, because something isn't adding up? There is a slider on the top side of the lens that is closest to the screw mount, it has a little red dot on it. It kinda snaps into place at the top of the camera but if I pull it or slide it downward everything goes out of focus and no matter what I do nothing will focus unless it's in that top position... is that the macro setting? If so when I pull it down and nothing will focus does that mean the lens is jacked up? Will collimating fix that? Wow what is up with this?

I picked up the camera about 2 years ago and I've shot with it probably a little over a dozen times shooting anywhere from 4rolls to 12 rolls each time. When I first purchased it I had a tech look at it and he said everything looked pretty good. But I've never had it collimated so that's probably the issue, I could have been a hair overexposed too making the picture seem a little washed out. I'm sure it's something that I should have done sooner. I just thought I'd check to make sure the lens had a good reputation before I spent the money to collimate it, camera needs serviced anyways so that's a no brainer. I do wish I could get a little wider with the image though maybe I'll check out that schneider 6-66mm zoom. Thanks for the advice guys!

I've got a Beaulieu 4008 ZM II with a Angenieux Zoom 8-64mm and a Nikon R8 with 7.5-60mm lens. I do like using the Beaulieu however most of the footage I shoot with the Angenieux lense seems rather dull in comparison to the Nikon. When I use my super wide angle lense on the Beaulieu the footage turns out great. For some reason whenever I shoot with the Angenieux lense on the beaulieu I'm never satisfied. Not that it's horrible and there's something wrong with the lense it's just not that great. Is this typical of this angenieux lense, is it just my lense, is there a zoom lense comparable to the nikon or better that I can mount on my beaulieu that's within a $200 - $300 budget?

I think if I wind up using the 5d MarkII I'm just going to rent the Z7U so that I can shoot 1080p and save the hassle of mixing 1080i with 1080p.... Or perhaps I should rent a Canon camera that shoots 1080p. Here's the reason... I like the idea of using the 5D mark II for artistic shots and angles, however I need a solid camera that I can shoot at the same time something safe that I can pick up all the action with including use of a good with a wirless mic. Then later in post mix the footage together. So the real question is what pro video camera would work best for mixing footage w the 5D MarkII or perhaps it's just a matter of preferance. Ideally I just want a 5D markII that gives me complete apereture/focus/ISO control or auto without any workarounds and that has XLR inputs... anything else I should ask Santa Clause for this year??? Ridiculous isn't it.... I guess I just the love the shallow DOF stuff I'm seeing from this camera.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've also learned from further research that it's quite the process just uploading footge from the 5D Mark II even onto FCP. I think I'm gonna keep things simple and not even try for a while. I was considering buying a Mark II, but I'm gonna wait for a while until the kinks get worked out and it's easier to edit and upload footage from it. Not that Canon didn't doo a good job... the footage I've seen looks amazing. I wonder wether Canon willl do something to make it easier or If better software/support will come from Premiere or FCP or someone else. It just seems there are too many hoops to jump through to make it work. I wonder if Nikon will ever make a camera that can do 1080p? That would be sweet! If so I hope I can afford it!!!

ny suggestions on mixing footage shot on 5D Mark II 1080p with Z1U 1080i footage? Can you mix 1080i with 1080p or is there a way of downconverting 1080p to 1080i? Or Do I just need to get the Z5U or Z7U to mix footage with the 5D MII?

I own a Z1U, however I'm hoping to start a project renting the newer Z7U and to shoot everything at 1080p. However I don't want to have to upload all the footage before returning the Z7U rental... Can I upload the footage from my Z1U later on so that I can return the Z7U and not have to pay for extra rent time??? Will the Z1U play footage shot on the Z7U at 1080p?

here's a couple more.

Ok so I know it's taken a while but here's some stills from the show. You can see some of the problems I was facing. At the end of the runway we had a dark shadow that was coming accross at an angle, which something I didn't see when we were prepping. All your suggestions have been very helpful so please anymore would be great.

Which canon 814 model do you have? the manual for my 814 auto zoom electronic says it will do 250D. Also you can try calling pro 8mm they might be able to process the film for you a certain way. There ways you can get around it, but if you really want to shoot with the higher ASA film stocks you might consider getting a beaulieu.

So what media format would you reccomend Jim?

One of the reason's I'm looking for a "point and shoot" is that I'm trying to help my customers generate more interest in Super 8mm. These are customers who have no experience what super 8 is or how to use it. So I'm looking for cameras that basically anybody can pick up and start using with little or no knowledge. I plan on creating a simple "how to use" booklet that will give them some direction without complicating things to much. While notch filters and modifications might work for some applications, for this I'm just trying to keep it as simple as possible. The reason why I wanted a camera that would shoot (250 Daylight) negative is that in my experience with this format I've been able to get some very good results, I think mostly because it seems to be very forgiving in a sense that it gives you seven stops of lattitude. The idea is for some one with little or no knowledge to go out and shoot something and to look at it (while it might not be perfect from a professionals standpoint) and say "cool, I shot that". So while I'm pretty confident with the way I'm going to do it, I think it interesting to see how others would handle it... what types of cameras and films stock they would use to give to an unexperienced person. I'm open to any suggestions.

Well in my own research I came across a couple of cameras. Nikon 8X super Zoom and the Canon 518 SV. Both seem super easy to use and they accept 250 Daylight cartridges. Any others out there?

What's a good point and shoot Super 8 camera for using 250 D?