Studio F.7 and Ki Productions

New Nikon D4 Pro DSLR Camera is HERE...soon (Update

2012-01-06T06:38:00.001-08:00

The Nikon D4 has been announced. Let's take a look at what we know about the FX-format 16.2-megapixel CMOS Sensor and other 'stuff' we get with this beast.

For photography: Things that I look forward to trying out on this, as far as what's been announced, first and foremost is the 51-point auto-focus system. The way it has been touted is as if you have two choices, to cast it out like a net (For subjects in motion) or to concentrate on one focus point (When shooting more controlled environments). For studio work I don't really need to worry that much about auto-focus since I'm in a controlled environment, but when shooting at an event where people are constantly on the move, that 'net' had better live up to what might well be a 6000 USD camera (Although now word on prices yet). Also there is the 'enlarge images up to 46X' ability. Getting in there to see if you're right on the mark as far as focusing is concerned. Not that big a deal for some, but for others (Perhaps those not tethered to a computer while shooting) it's great. ISO ranges are said to be as low as ISO 50 to the high of ISO 204800 equivalent. How well this ranges will work we can only know after someone out there puts it to the test, but knowing Nikon, I have a feeling it will outdo it's predecessor.

For video: So far all I'm curious about is how well the codec stands up against the rest of the DSLR market. Have they caught up to Canon in anyway shape or form? I see the options of shooting full 1080p at 30fps and 24fps but nothing yet on 60fps and whether it will be at 1080p or 720p (Here's hoping for 1080p because that would killer for slow motion work). And as with the photography portion, I'm curious as to how the noise will be handled when bumping it up. The ability to adjust volume and a mic jack (Something we've been waiting for on the Canon's) is also an interesting addition, and a very welcomed one at that. And of course, no more 12 minute limit on video capture. That's going to be EXTREMELY important for event cinematographers. Now we just need some video samples to see what the codec is like...

There certainly is more to the camera than what I just mentioned, but these are what I hope to get to first. Then move on to other aspects of the camera. The fact that it is weather sealed makes it great for those extreme conditions, but just how extreme can we get. Stuff like that is what will be next on my list of many 'Can it...?' list.

UPDATE: The first video from this wonderful camera. Remember to click on the 1080p option to watch it in it's full glory!

And Jared Polin had a sniff of the upcoming camera and goes into some of what he learned from his 30 minutes or so of talk time with a Nikon rep and some hands on with the camera. Sit back and grab a sandwich or something because he's got a lot to cover:

Another Kickstart Campaign makes it...and offers a lot in return.

2011-12-31T22:25:00.000-08:00

I talked a bit about the Kickstarter success that some have had. This time around it goes to the people at Realm Pictures with their project The Underwater Realm.

I think what helped them bring in their backers was the offerings to be had: Leading up to the January 1st 2012 deadline, Eve Hazelton (The DOP on the project) managed to put together some very interesting (And free) lighting tutorials originally made for Phillip Bloom's blog. This showed her (And the studio's) keen skills on lighting a scene. So, as a backer when you pledge $50.00 or more you get some REALLY COOL rewards:

The @EveHazelton Lighting Guide! An hour long tutorial with practical examples of how to light for film and video. This will cover everything from the theory of light through to equipment demonstrations & how to plan and execute lighting setups for dramatic scenes! Available as a digital download or DVD

Ocean Fan Pack - Blu Ray (or DVD) of the final films with your name in the credits as a supporter! This compilation will include all the concept artwork, production blogs and the behind the scenes documentary. Find out in-depth exactly how the project you helped create was made and watch it all in HD on the sofa (couch)! We will also send you completely exclusive behind the scenes still photos and messages from the cast and crew during production that nobody else will see!

LED Lighting Pack - good quality soft light is hard to achieve cheaply, and almost impossible to achieve on location. We have developed a set of rugged, low power, high output, fully submersible, cinema quality, battery powered lights and are giving you the plans to build and develop this system for yourself!

All of these for $50.00...not too shabby!! It certainly beats some of what people are offering as rewards! I would suggest future Kickstarter people to take note here and learn. While there are certainly plenty of free resources online that you can learn from, for a few of your hard earned dollars you get some pretty amazing tutorials and setups, not to mention supporting a great project. If you're not already a backer, I'd suggest you take a look at their Kickstarter Page to see what they are up to. As I write this they are in their last hours, but already they've made a great impact on the indie community. I can't wait to see the final results!

Check out Eve's lovely tutorials and be sure to check out The Underwater Realm.

The Hobbit Trailer Debut: Will 48 fps be the way to go?

2011-12-28T06:30:00.001-08:00

So we get a glimpse into the world of The Hobbit. From the trailer, it looks like it will be quite an adventure...although judging by a trailer is like judging a book by it's cover really. What I am most looking forward to, as a tech geek, is how well the 48 frames per second will look instead of the usual 24 frames. Peter Jackson had this to say about it a while back:

"We are indeed shooting at the higher frame rate. The key thing to understand is that this process requires both shooting and projecting at 48 frames/s, rather than the usual 24 frames/s (The great majority of films have been shot at 24 frames per second since the late 1920s). So the result looks like normal speed, but the image has hugely enhanced clarity and smoothness. Looking at 24 frames every second may seem ok–and we've all seen thousands of films like this over the last 90 years–but there is often quite a lot of blur in each frame, during fast movements and if the camera is moving around quickly, the image can judder or "strobe." Shooting and projecting at 48 frames/s does a lot to get rid of these issues. It looks much more lifelike and it is much easier to watch, especially in 3-D."

While I'm not a big fan of 3D (Avatar being the only movie I could really enjoy in 3D) it will be interesting to see how people take to it. I'm not sure about theaters in Canada/U.S/U.K work as far as 3D movies and glasses go, but here in Japan you buy a pair (Clean, never been used), it's add to your first 3D movie experience at $2.00 a pair. Then you bring them home with you. So long as you remember to bring your glasses the next time you watch a movie in 3D, they cut the cost by $2.00. If you forget your glasses, you pay the extra money and now you've got 2 pairs.

So, will 48 frames a second be the next step in film. Unfortunately, I can't say. Outside of those making the film I don't think anyone can say. It was only a year ago that people wanted 24p for their Canon 5D mark ii. One has to wonder if the next thing we'll be demanding is 48p? What do you think?

Success: Youtubers vs Vimeo Users

2011-12-28T06:28:00.000-08:00

With all the sites out there that provide services for you to upload videos and pictures to, it's sometimes hard to decide where you want to plant your feet. Let's take a look at some of the differences between the two as seen from a candid viewer like myself.

Youtube for me is a place to watch wacky clips of animals, viral videos, crazy people doing crazy stuff. But there are also quite a few Youtubers who have become quite a success. The first and possibly biggest as of late is Freddie and Brandon from freddiew and their friends Sam and Niko from Corridor Digital. These guys started off with nothing and built what is now a huge following. If you go back to some of their earliest work, you can see how well they've progressed through the years. They are visual effects masters but are always kind enough to run through tutorials on their second channels so that people like you and me can have a go at it. Their clips are short and entertaining. But now with a combined following of almost 3.5 million people (A majority going to the freddiew channel) they managed to get to a point where companies as big as EA (Electronic Arts), are impressed enough to ask them to make paid national commercials for them. The commercial is only going to add to their popularity and possible revenue to make more movies.

And speaking of movies, freddiew managed to get an insane amount of support on their Kickstarter campaign to produce what they believe to be (We'll have to wait and see) a great feature. Youtube fans have shown their appreciation for the art they've created so much so that they managed to make $273,725 in contributions when their goal was only $75,000. That's 4 times more than they asked for, give or take. Compare that to indie film DP Phillip Bloom's Kickstarter campaign which fell short almost $18,000 short of their $48,000 goal.

Which brings me to Vimeo. I like putting up my artsy stuff where someone might appreciate a little technical information or where some might be offered up concerning the video. To be honest, if I made a feature, I would like to see it up on Vimeo. For some reason the community there is far more constructive and appreciative of what you put up, as far as the comments go. The lack of trolls that are all over Youtube is what makes Vimeo very appealing to some. It's also less cluttered and simply a nicer viewing experience. Unfortunately, Vimeo does not have a system in place to monetize videos...and I don't know why with so many wonderful pieces there to watch. I admit, a different crowd would be watching, but still a great way for filmmakers to continue making more of what people like to see would be to offer a way for them to make money to budget for future videos. The limits set for regular, Plus and Pro users is either good or bad depending on who you are. Without going into too much detail, I've stayed a regular user and will upgrade to a Plus user when I am able to make better contributions to the channel I have. So who are the stars of Vimeo? Well, it's hard to say. There are some wonderfully talented people doing all sorts of creative and informative stuff. Phillip Bloom is someone I've followed. He likes to put his gear to the test and then share his experiences, and I'm glad for that. He does have a great following and I believe is very popular in the indie film world. Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, the Kickstarter campaign he was part of didn't do well at all when you compare it to freddiew and friends. That's not to say they are poor. Phillip and others like Vincent LaForet, Tom Lowe, the Stillmotion crew and others still make plenty of money doing what they love.

I'll end it like this: A friend of mine who is also a lover of films told me that his Youtube watching is like partying with a bunch of friends, eating pizza and drinking beer. Whereas Vimeo is like sitting down by yourself with a bottle of wine (Or whiskey) and enjoying the flavor in a quiet room alone and content. What do you think? Where would you put your feature? What would like Youtube or Vimeo to do to make it 'better'?

Galaxy Nexus: My change over from Blackberry

2011-12-28T06:24:00.002-08:00

I'm going to make this short and sweet:

When I bought my Blackberry, I had decided I wanted it because of the QWERTY keyboard and because quite a few of my friends back home were using it. I has heard good things about it. But as time went by and with so many people buying iPhones (Not available with my carrier), I was feeling a bit green with envy. I wanted to take pictures and instantly upload them to my site or Facebook or any other social network. Unfortunately, the Blackberry camera is CRAP!

Then along comes the iPhone 4S and rumors that my carrier would be accepting transfers. I'm not sure how it works in other countries, or even here in Japan really, but from what I heard my carrier NTT Docomo, could technically allow the use of a Docomo SIM card in the iPhones. This was not something that Softbank (The official carrier) or NTT Docomo would confirm.

Next thing I know I have a friend talking to me about Android phones. I had never paid much attention to Android phones but when I saw the announcement of Android 4.0 for the Galaxy Nexus and it's camera functionality, I was sold.

Have it for barely 2 weeks now, I'm still getting use to things. I had a problem with it initially as it wouldn't show my contacts in order and Google Earth seemed to be missing altogether, even though it was installed. NTT Docomo advised a backup of my contacts and a factory reset. That did the trick.

Now I'm able to shoot video, take pictures and have some serious fun with my social networks...the kind I couldn't have with my Blackberry. As I am writing this I realize I should have some video and pictures to share but I don't, I'm still having a little too much fun with the other apps. I will however update this entry with content as soon as possible. I just need to get my shiznit together.

A word of advice: Turn off your Wifi and GPS as it drains the power. Also, understand that this massive screen takes a lot of juice so if you're watching videos or playing games, it's not likely to last you as long as your other phones. My wife was kind enough to supply me with a charger just in case.

Time 4 Timelapse

2011-12-28T06:24:00.001-08:00

The idea: I had to go to Umeda this day for work, but it would only be for about an hour. It felt like such a waste to go there and just come back home. I decided to bring my gear with me and do a little time lapse of the area. Many of my friends who live in Osaka will instantly recognize all these spots. Originally I wanted to get more train shots at both JR Osaka Station and Hankyu Umeda Station but found myself getting lost in some of the other areas of Umeda. This is an 'incomplete' project as I would like to add far more to it.

The Gear: Canon 1Dm4, Canon 17-40 4L lens, a cheap (light weight) tripod and the Canon TC80N3 Timer Remote Control.

The Settings: In manual at f4, I first focused the lens with auto-focus on and then set the focus to manual (So that it would try and focus while doing the time lapse), I set the white balance to what I liked (Avoid Auto-White balance as this can change the colors with clouds moving overhead and the sun going up or down). I took a couple of test shots to make sure it was composed properly. Before starting the time lapse I turned off the preview picture option so as to save on battery power. I set the controller to take a picture every 2 seconds. I shot in jpeg because I was really just looking to have a bit of fun. I would shoot RAW but I only had 1 of my CF card with me and no spare batteries.

I decided to take about 700-800 jpegs per location. I took out my ipod and listened to music while the camera snapped away. The most boring part of the job. I would then move the camera and repeat all the above steps. Once I ran out of power (The camera and myself) I packed it all up and went home.

The Edit: I imported all my jpeg files into Lightroom and did a batch color correction on the images in their respective sequences. Doing this is easy in Lightroom: Simply make the necessary changes to your first image in the sequence, then select all your images with the color corrected image highlighted and hit the sync button in the lower right-hand corner of Lightroom. This should then apply all the changes made from your first image to all the other images. Then export them to a new folder.

Import the images in After Effects to create the 'almost' equivalent 4K project. From here you can re-size the sequence to fit your 1080p or 720p timeline. Or you can do some fancy zooms and pans as I did with this video without losing any quality/detail. The zooms and pans are done using key frames. I set a key frame at point A (The start) and then pan or zoom and set a key frame at point B (The end) over a desired length of time. Do a quick Google search on key frames in Adobe After Effects and there are plenty of easy to follow tutorials on this.

Since this is more of a test video than an actual project, I am not too worried about all the details (read: flaws) in the video...with the exception of 2. The first is a brief moment of black between the last scenes, even though it was for just a split second. I had already deleted the project and really couldn't be bothered to go in and edit that out. The second, something that was really out of my control, was the second to last scene where I wanted trains coming in and out of the station to be the subject, but a couple decided that they would stand right there. I thought they would move out of frame eventually, but they never did.

Music: Crash OTS

Bye Bye Yoko

2011-04-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

View on ExposureRoom

A farewell video...need I say more. The poor video quality in the middle is because I was using the GoPro HD in very low light.

The Maestro

2011-03-16T00:35:00.001-07:00

This is a favorite film of mine. They do an incredible job of incorporating time-lapse in their video. I just love this and had to share.

Tomoyuki // Rena

2011-03-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

Shot on the Canon 1Dm4 with the Canon 100mm f2.8L and Canon 70-200mm f4L. This was a difficult shoot. I was the minister at their wedding and had to setup cameras as well. I brought my HV20 and GoPro for some B-Roll but didn't have time to set everything up. During the wedding I had a guest 'point' the camera down the aisle. Unfortunately, with the lighting and lack of time, the footage was not as high-quality as I would have liked it to be. Of course, I wasn't sure what the quality would be until I actually got home and put on the footage on my computer.

I joined the party and with beer in one hand and a shaky hand on my the Canon 1Dm4, I shot little bits and pieces. This was all done for fun of course. It was only AFTER the wedding that I thought 'Well, I could've put THIS camera THERE and THAT camera HERE'

Some Great Talent

2011-02-09T06:07:00.000-08:00

It's always nice to work with talented people, it makes my job a whole lot easier. On this day, knowing that I would have very little time to set anything up (We were working), I brought my 1DM4, Rode Stereo/Video mic and Zoom H4n. I knew Kawasaki kun would be there that day and as far as tenors go, he's one of the most talented I've had the pleasure of working with. I'm constantly asking him to do the 'higher' version of Nessun Dorma. Usually, in order to keep his voice clear and 'safe' for work, he doesn't perform it that high, but he did on this day. The violinist, another amazing talent, was kind enough to play a variety of musical scores, my favorite one being the theme song to Totoro. A great animation and must see, if you haven't already. Once we got some of the 'main' stuff down, the two did a bit of Mario Brothers for me.

I wasn't able to get everything on the Zoom, and I was going hand-held on everything. Exposure was hard to get right because it's basically a small chapel on the 23rd floor with window walls. It can go from blindingly sunny to dark (Literally takes a couple of clouds to make a world of difference).

Here are the videos I've edited so far and will add the rest as they are processed.

Tonari no Tottoro // となりのトトロ from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Nessun Dorma // Kawasaki Kun from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Vanity and the New Year

2011-01-18T07:33:00.001-08:00

I decided to be vain and do a self-portrait to send out as a response to the wonderful New Years cards I got from family, friends and students. Nothing says Happy New Year like vanity!

Harmonie Embrassee Wedding Hotel - Christmas dinner

2011-01-16T07:44:00.000-08:00

My wife and I enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner (On December 23rd mind you) at this nice hotel. While I wasn't able to eat everything that was put in front of me, it was a pleasant experience. It went a little something like this: champagne to start, appetizers that ranged from raw fish and small portions of duck, to some rather delicious pate of sorts. Next, the soup. I have to admit, my tongue couldn't really tell the difference between this soup (Which was suppose to be 'expensive') and soup that I make at home from water and soup mix. Then we had a half a quail, which is pretty tiny. It was stuffed with some sort of rice and bread. Then came the fish dish which was lobster. Very nice, although I'm not much for lobster (I really should've looked at the menu before ordering). After the lobster came some flavors ice, a kind of break between the main dishes. The next big dish (My favorite) was the beef and Foie Gras (Fatty duck liver). The portion size was small (I could've finished it off with a single bit) but instead I took the time to savor the taste. My wife, not being the biggest fan of Foie Gras, gave me her portion. The beef was so soft that it almost melted away when you put your knife to it.

And just when you thought it was all over, the cheese cart made it's way to our table. The waiter kindly asked us what our preferences were and cut us each our own plates of cheese. All of this of course was with a bottle of the cheapest wine on the list (About 4000 yen). I managed to sneak in a beer near the end.

The evening ended with the desert tray and choosing from an assortment of different deserts. A nice cup of tea with that and we were already wishing we could just lay in the hotel lobby for a couple of hours.

A nice dinner...here's hoping that next year turkey is on the menu!!

A Room with a View

2010-11-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture taken from entrance on the 10th floor of my apartment. You can see all the little houses, mountains and a pond named Bentenike Pond. This photo is taken from the 10th floor of my apartment. A wonderful view of the Nigawa area in Takarazuka City. I also put my Canon HV20 outside one morning to capture the sunrise again. I find that I'm using my HV20 far less these days unless I'm going for some time-lapse and I don't want to worry about leaving more expensive gear in the open. The total recorded time was just over an hour and was compressed into 39 seconds. Some color correction was done in Adobe Premier Pro using Magic Bullet Looks.

Sunrise Time-Lapse from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

A Great Short Film on the Canon 7D

2010-11-23T01:05:00.001-08:00

This is another great video that inspires. The 10 minute short captured by the Canon 7D is done masterfully well. It feels a bit like the movie Stranger than Fiction, but just a bit. What is impressive is the acting, the cinematography, the coloring and editing. And of course we can't forget that this was all something filmed on a camera that cost less than 2000 bucks.

Vicky and Sam from Nuno Rocha on Vimeo.

GoPro HD All over the car

2010-10-19T03:07:00.000-07:00

This would be the first time I actually use the little camera and it's various attachments to see how it would stand up in the extreme conditions of Japanese highways etc.

Obviously, checking footage isn't possible unless you bring a laptop into the field with you. You have to kind of guess what you what taken and just work with what you get. I wouldn't rely solely on this for a project. This is definitely one of those cameras that are for "Danger Zones" so as not to break your more expensive gear.

The suction cup was amazingly strong. I was surprised at times that it didn't leave any kind of markings on the car. I had it in it's waterproof sealed case rather than having it open at the back because clouds where in the air and I wasn't sure if it was going to rain or not. That left me with some crap audio to work with.

I hope to get a small video up showing what I got. Some of the video is fogged up due to the moisture in the air I'm sure. The battery lasted surprisingly long. At one point on the highway I thought "The battery has to be dead or the card full." When I jumped out the next chance I got I was surprised to see it was still going strong.

HDR video - It's here, it's neat

2010-09-14T03:26:00.001-07:00

HDR Video Demonstration Using Two Canon 5D mark II's from Soviet Montage on Vimeo.

....but I see a lot of people already complaining. I haven't seen a video in HDR, this would be the first. Perhaps I'm in the dark a bit on this. However, when HDR photography was introduced to the masses it was quickly used on EVERYTHING as a means of turning a dull photo into a not-so-dull photo...but a still in the 'dull' category. HDR has it's place in the world of photography. I'm not sure where HDR will play a huge roll in video/cinematography, but for now it looks very neat. You need 2 DSLR bodies recording the video, one under-exposed and the other over-exposed while capturing. It will be interesting to see what will become of this.

Then, there's the move I made from one end of the Kansai area to another. A couple photos of the beautiful new view I have from my apartment and the first visitor we had. How he got to the 10th floor is beyond me.

Also, I'd like to congratulate Nikki and Nozomi on their wedding. I wasn't their as the photographer so you'll have to put up with some odd angled, slightly noisy photos. All the best to you 2.

GoPro HD Hero Pics and Vids

2010-08-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

Been a while...

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Life can get a bit crazy at times here in Japan. The summer is way too hot and humid. The air-conditioners cost a lot to run so my wife and I avoid it by using fans and ice packs, very old-school.

BUT you don't want to hear about life and how hard it can be...you want to know about the GoPro HD Hero and it's abilities.

First thing is first...for the price, it is a great little toy. Video delivers in great HD quality and the pics are very usable. I wouldn't go trading in your DSLR or anything but the quality of the 5MP camera isn't that bad for photography.

There is a down side to this and the biggest is not being able to compose your shots since there is no LCD screen for you to use. You actually have absolutely no idea what you've taken until you get home and put it on your PC. That is of course unless you have a laptop you bring into the field with you. Also, since you have no manual control over the aperture, the following problem CAN occur when using video: You start your video in a bright scene where your GoPro HD will open stop down the lens (Close the size of the hole of the lens in order to reduce the light coming in to allow a proper exposure of the scene). Then you turn off your GoPro HD. Then your in another scenario where the area your filming is a bit darker. Your aperture will be stopped down (From the previous scene you recorded)and will start off very dark and slowly brighten as the aperture opens up (The hole of the lens gets bigger). However, if you are not aware of this you may take your footage 'dark' and think you've taken it properly exposed. THAT'S the disadvantage (Or one of many) to not being able to compose your shots. Of course, GoPro is planning on add-on packs, one which will be an LCD screen so you CAN compose and review your shots (Still photos or video).

Still, the pros outweigh the cons. It's small, indestructible in it's case, able to mount onto ANYTHING without worrying about replacing it if it does happen to fall and break. The fact it's water-proof up to 60m deep when many pro HDSLR water-housing units are in 1000's of dollars (I have an Epic Water-Housing unit which I would have NOT bought had I known I could get a camera AND housing unit in one for the same price).

The unit comes with 2 outer casings, one that allows more audio in (But is not water-proof and one that is completely water proof. The little I have used it in water, it's turned out pretty good. Some have complained about fogging. I can say that I have had fogging issues not with going under-water but going from a nice air-conditioned bus to a very hot and humid outside...a little wipe with a cloth will fix that in most cases.

It doesn't have 24p but it's slowed down 60i is wonderful and it's 30p can easily be converted to 24p in post-processing if necessary. GoPro has stated it's up and coming firmware update will include a 25p (And perhaps 24p) frame rate. Customers have also asked about being able to set the camera to take video up-side-down so that they can avoid this in post (The attachments for the GoPro are versatile so to allow almost any angle of shooting) Some like to have their GoPro set up-side-down and want the camera to take the video this way so they don't mess with it in post (I personally don't see this as a big deal since you're composing your video on scene...you're guesstimating.)

The various attachments make this a must for many sports users, rock climbers, cliff divers, racer car drivers etc. It's a safe camera to use if you're not sure setting up an expensive unit is worth the risk. I wouldn't get this for photography ONLY. Taking a bit of time to understand the field of view in it's different settings is a must so you can guesstimate what you're going to get out of it when you have it in any of the settings. The front menu LCD is a bit, what's the word: chaotic, encrypticogopheric (Is that a word)...hard to understand would best summarize it. If you want to use it for photography, learn the settings...if you want to use it for video, learn how to go back and forth between 30p and 60i and it's different field's of view. I still take video and pictures with my thumb in the way. Give yourself enough time (When taking video) to allow the aperture to stop down or open up to allow the exposure to compensate for itself.

For the money it's a great b-camera. Get yourself one and say I told you so (Maybe if you say my name enough they'll send me some free stuff, and free is always good, if it's useful). I've recommended this to many friends and most of them have got themselves one. A lesson or two from me and they know what to do in their individual circumstances. At the end of the day, you have to decide whether you can live without composing...that is until they get their LCD add-on...at which time this review may be invalid (But still, mention my name...it can't hurt)

Below you'll see a couple of shots taken with the GoPro HD and a video I've posted on Vimeo. The last 3 videos have been with the GoPro HD Hero ONLY because it's been small and easy to use compared to the Canon 1D Mark 4 I usually use.

Takarazuka Gardens from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

At the end of the day I can only say that if you like photography or video and you need a camera you can afford to lose and not worry too much about your wallet but enjoy as much as if you had spent a whole wad of cash on, this is it. No turning back on this one!

My ugly mug

Harmonie Ambrassee Wedding Hotel

If this review was helpful to you, send me a quit email to let me know. I'm a fan of flattery...but at the end of the day, if you've bought yourself a good usable camera that helps your business or the ability to enjoy life with your friends and family, that's all that's important.

Here is a video that I really enjoyed taken with GoPro HD Hero and an RC airplane.

wet weekend from Wobby on Vimeo.

Now that's what I call VIDEO to the EXTREME!!

The Ishigaki Jima Saga

2010-05-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

5 Days of Ishigaki Island

The weather was not in our favor for this 5 day trip. We arrived on a Monday and left on a Friday. It rained every single day except for Friday, but even then it was windy. It meant less Canon 1DM4 time on the beaches and more time in the car driving around checking out the island.

The island itself is beautiful. Tomochi and I both saw the beauty of the island even though it was miserable weather. The water was still that nice blue color that you only get in the tropics. There was a patch of sun without rain one Thursday morning so I took the Canon HV20 and the Epic Cam water housing system out for a test run. I will do a small review on the Epic Cam at a later time.

This was the first time filming underwater and I think I have plenty to learn about what you need to get a good solid piece of film to work with. Because I wasn't able to view the LCD while recording, I didn't notice that I turned it off and spent a good 30-40 minutes THINKING I was filming when I wasn't.

If you're thinking about going, do! It's a wonderful place. My only real advice when staying there is to stick to the hotel restaurants or to buy your food at the supermarket. Tomochi and I were not entire successful in finding local restaurants that didn't make our stomachs turn. The hotel restaurants on the other hand were great and affordable.

Here are the 5 days I spent with Tomochi on the Island of Ishigaki:
Everything was either hand-held or on a monopod. I love my monopod

Ishigaki Day 1 from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Ishigaki Day 2 from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Ishigaki Day 3 from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Ishigaki Island Day 4 from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/11597224

Ishigaki Day 5 from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Canon 1D Mark IV - The transition to Canon and review

2010-04-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

Canon 1D Mark IV - The transition to Canon and review

The story of my transition from Nikon to Canon is long and boring. In short, the Nikon D700 I had was suppose to be my ‘photography’ tool, while my new Canon 7D and lenses would be my video gear as my Canon HV20 was now limiting my creative ability. Having just entered the world of motion photography, I was extremely impressed by the Canon 5DM2 and the videos I was seeing on Vimeo.

The Canon 7D was a fun toy and it got me use to the Canon body, but I quickly got tired of carrying a Canon 7D + lenses and gear AND a Nikon D700 for photography. Enter the Canon 1DM4 (*Applause everyone*)

I sold all my 7D and D700 equipment to buy myself a Canon 1DM4, the only one available in my area and at a discount price. With the extra cash I bought myself some nice L glass and so started my new adventure.

Going from Nikon cameras to Canon for photography is a bit tough at first, but you get used to it. From a photographer’s point of view, this camera is worth the extra money compared to the Canon 7D. I say this because I do a lot of photography at night without strobes. While fast glass is one way of dealing with this issue, a nice ISO setting with minimal noise is also pretty killer. Add to that the 10fps when doing sports photography or trying to capture those droplet shots we love and hate.
But how about the video?

Well, if I were looking at something for JUST video, I would stick with the Canon 7D. The reasons:

- High ISO
- I see very little difference in rolling shutter.
- While high ISO is nice, it’s not worth the extra money when you can get yourself a nice lighting setup or faster glass.
- The white balance setting on top allows you to easily use the Kelvin temperature to monitor white balance. There is a way to do it on the Canon 1DM4 but it’s a two step process which can become tiresome when shooting on the go.
- The white balance setting on top allows you to easily use the Kelvin temperature to monitor white balance. There is a way to do it on the 1DM4 but it’s a two step process which can become tiresome when shooting on the go.
- Being able to setup C1, C2 and C3 is a great way to go from photography to 24p to 60p.
- It’s cheaper! With the Canon 7D I felt that if I broke it I could work a couple of months and replace it (I’d still cry, but not for as long) whereas I doubt my wife would let me buy another Canon 1DM4 if it were to meet the pavement at a high speed. Price is important unless you’re making money. Even then, I could see Canon 1DM4 working in conjunction with several Canon 7D’s.
- Of course L glass is more expensive and you have to use L glass on your Canon 1DM4 even though it’s a crop sensor. While L glass is nice, I loved my Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens. It was THE lens for me and my short lived Canon 7D days.

For those of you who are still looking for reasons to go the way of the Canon 1DM4 here they are:

- High ISO with quality images makes it a wonderful tool to work with in dark situations. It is incredible.
- The larger body makes it easier to handle. You could of course get the battery grip for the Canon 7D making it larger and easier to handle though.
- Dual card slots so you don’t have to swap cards in the middle of a shoot.
- Auto-ISO that works very well as an auto exposure setting. I choose the shutter speed and aperture and the brains of the Canon 1DM4 dials in the ISO to maintain exposure and image quality. It’s smart!
- Did I mention the ISO?

Here is a video I shot over the course of the evening with the Canon 1DM4. I used the Sigma 24mm 1.8 lens the entire night. AWB was used because it wasn’t something I expected to get ‘perfect’ as I’m still just having fun. It hasn’t been graded. Edited in Premier Pro CS4. Compared to the 7D shots I have, I don’t see that much of a difference, but you be the judge.

Dirty Old Men from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Debute

2010-03-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

So I've got myself a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV with some nice new L glass. I spent the evening testing out the high ISO for noise levels and for photography, I'm loving it. As far as video is concerned, I've still got to fine tune my skills in handling noise/gain. I should have a nice video going by sometime next week. Here's hoping for a good 2010 with the EOS-1D Mark IV.

7D Finale

2010-02-27T03:26:00.000-08:00

late SHINENKAI - Monterey Kyoto from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

This was taken with the 7D, the last time I would use it before shipping it off to the U.K. I've also shipped off the wonderful lenses I bought with the 7D AND all my Nikon gear. What does this mean? It means I've spent that extra little money to get the Canon 1DM4. I will be adding new video and photos. It's a bit sad that I let go of both the 7D and D700. The 7D was my first Canon, but what a first. It was capable of so much and the lenses were extremely affordable. The Nikon D700 had a full-frame sensor and was good with high ISO levels. To get the best of both worlds, I sold all I had and got the new 1DM4 and I'm loving it for both photography and video. The above video was the last time I would use the Canon 7D. Enjoy! Next round is on the 1DM4.

Inspirational Videos - Not mine, but I wish it was

2010-02-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.

This is a video that apparently uses Trapcode Particular to create the effects seen. A wonderful use of the AE plug-in.

Compositing - 3D

2010-02-06T22:58:00.001-08:00

Compositing Breakdown (T&S) from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

I Feel Pretty - By Chigusa

2010-02-06T05:33:00.000-08:00

I Feel Pretty - Chigusa from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

A Westside Story classic performed by Chigusa at Tom's Warehouse in Shinsaibashi. A wonderful voice, performance and all around act. The only trouble was with getting her voice recorded properly on the Zoom H4n and Rode Stereo Video mic. Hopefully next time I will have some new gear equipped to handle such a voice.

Rode Stereo Video mic on 7D

2010-02-03T04:42:00.000-08:00

Nella Fantasia from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

The Rode Stereo video mic was fit into the hot shoe of the 7D which was standing about 2.5 meters away from the talent. Even though the mic is great, the AGC (Automatic Gain Control) makes the captured audio not so hot. The fact that the mic is being used in a setting where it really shouldn't (Not the right mic for this type of audio recording) was something I knew going into it. I just wondered if the audio was any better WITH than WITHOUT. Under these circumstances I don't think it matters. Crap is crap.

Below is the same clip with some editing done to the audio (And a different color correction applied). I hope to get my Zoom H4n to another session on the weekend.

Nella Fantansia (Slight Audio Correction) from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Osaka Aquarium 大阪海遊館

2010-02-03T04:36:00.000-08:00

Osaka Aquarium 大阪　海遊館 from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

A day at the aquarium in Osaka. I had actually left the house with a half charged battery in my 7D. I didn't realize until I got to the aquarium. Realizing that I had to be careful about setting up my shots and not taking too much 'what if' style shots where I wasn't certain what the outcome would be, I was set to go through the aquarium taking video at both 1080 24p and 720p 60i (Converted to 24p). I was shooting through 30 centimeter acrylic glass most of the time. A lot of the glass was dirty as well. I was also forced to go with a higher ISO than I usually like to use on the 7D. Color correcting this was a pain and it shows that I sort of gave up mid way. I do plan on visiting the aquarium again, with a full battery (Or 3) and take more time setting up the shots.

Shinsekai in Slow Motion

2010-02-03T04:29:00.000-08:00

Slow-Mo Shinsekai from Jason McDonald on Vimeo.

Using some time off during the holidays I decided to go to the zoo. Unfortunately, the zoo was closed. I decided to head into Shinsekai and take video at 720p 60i with the intention of converting the footage to 24 frames a second to give it that nice slow-motion effect. It also gave me the chance to use the cheap Neutral Density fader filter so that I could leave the lens wide open and not worry about the image being blown out/over-exposed. I didn't have much to work with because the cold was getting to me. I will work harder to get better shots next time around.

Ai-chan

2009-12-04T09:16:00.002-08:00

Every once in a while someone surprises you with a funky style and attitude that cracks you up no matter what situation you're in. Ai-chan is definitely a character. A talented singer and hard worker, she makes everyone laugh with her 'naive' look on the world around her...and the world she sees around her isn't necessarily what everyone else see. The world through her eyes is definitely a colorful one.

Crew Member

2009-11-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

Digital Video Information Network and
Digital Video Forum Crew Member

Birthday Party '69

2009-11-16T20:52:00.000-08:00

Tomochi's birthday was celebrated with wine, friends, wine and more wine. This time I took the 7D out for a spin with mostly Sigma 30mm f1.4. I varied the ISO between 320 and 640 for the most part. There are some shots where I use the 11-16mm and the 17-55mm but for the most part it was just 30mm.

The only downside was that the FOV with the 30mm in such a small restaurant made it hard to capture the REAL atmosphere of the place.

Still, good times!

Canon 7D: New Photography/Cinematography tools

2009-10-17T11:33:00.001-07:00

This is a newer version with some added video using the Canon 17-55mm lens and Sigma 30mm lens. I received my new Tokina 11-16mm lens a few days ago but haven't had the opportunity to really give it a go. Hopefully I'll be able to add a version 3 of this video which will include all friends and family.

Canon 7D: New Photography/Cinematography tools

2009-10-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

I decided to buy a Canon 7D with 4 lenses: Canon 50mm 1.8f, Canon 17-55mm 2.8f, Sigma 30mm 1.4f and Tokina 11-16mm 2.8f. This HD capable DSLR is going to be mostly used for just that, HD video. The ability to swap different lenses, the HD capabilities, the control over DOF is what makes this a great buy. The lenses should cover most of the ranges I'm used to filming in. I would like to add a 70-200mm 4f sometime in the near future, but studio lights need to be replaced and proper accessories to complete the new gear need to be bought.

Japan is beautiful

2009-10-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

A rare glimpse into the world of a geisha, or rather, a geisha in training or a 'maiko'. Japan's beauty is vast but some of it's mostly beautiful treasures are the hardest to capture. Timing is the key. I consider myself lucky having captured this shot.

New Adventures

2009-10-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

You are never too young to pose for pictures. Today, testing out some new lighting in the living room, we've captured a lovely lady ready to put on her best face for the camera. The smile is hidden under her exterior composure. In my experience, it's always been a little more interesting taking photos of those with more stories to tell, whether verbally with a story about the wars they saw or otherwise.

Silent Samurai

2009-10-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

I decided to add my one celebrity photo to my portfolio. This photo was taken at Kyoto Movie Studios in Japan. The photo was taken while they did a demonstration of how they would direct samurai films/T.V shows back in the day. The entire study is old Japan with actors and actresses walking around as geisha, samurai, shougun and more. Once a week they have a real geisha walk through the studio as part of their show. The photo is of 福本清三, Fukumoto Seizō, who is a Japanese actor. He was the 'silent samurai' in the Tom Cruise movie 'The Last Samurai'. He's started in many Japanese dramas. On this day he participated in the television re-enactment of a television show. While he was off to the side with some other fellow actors I managed to catch him looking my way. I had my D200 )Since the replaced with a D700)and my trusty 70-200mm 2.8f lens on. He stayed there looking my way long enough to capture a few pictures. A very nice man.

Choir Girls : Ai and Chie

2009-10-11T07:00:00.001-07:00

Always a pleasure to work with, Ai and Chie are doing a pre-wedding warm up of "The Lord's Prayer". Both are extremely talented and have incredible voices. With my knew 7D I hope to set up a shot with them as they sing while capturing their voices with the Zoom H4n. Hotel Monterey Kyoto (ホテルモントレ京都) and St. Simon Zelotes Chapel (サイモンゼロテス) built right inside is a wonderful place to get married.

Our Newest Member：よろしくお願いします。

2009-10-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

Our new violinist at Ariose Chapel at Ravimana Kobe. While nervous, she performed outstandingly in her audition.

ラヴィマーナ神戸の新しいバイオリン奏者。緊張したけど、オーディションはぜんぜん大丈夫だった。すごいうまい!!これから,ラヴィマーナ神戸のアリオスチャペルでがんばれ!!

Welcome

2009-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00