the editman.com

Last week I got two new things. First a Zacuto Z-finder which you can see in the picture below mounted onto the back of my 7D.
It makes the camera much easier and more comfortable to use. It's enlarging the LCD image so you don't get a supersharp view.
I would rate some sort of viewfinder for the 7D as a must. Tried a Hoodman and although it does work the Z-finder is better overall.

I bet many people will start turning their heads because it makes the camera look a bit odd.
It's almost like there's two lenses in each end of the camera.

Mounted on the hot shoe is a Sennheiser EW112 G2 receiver. Just so you can run around and record and at the same time pick up a mic mounted elsewhere.
I've found a way to shoot using a Manfrotto 681 monopod and a tilt head from Manfrotto. Very steady and easy to use.
A tripod is better for prolonged sessions but when acting fast to what happens I found a monopod to be great.
You can move around and the monopod doesn't get in the way. And it's great to take stills with!

This winter will see some projects starting off and equipment wise almost everything is set.
I do have a small lighting kit in customs waiting but after that I'm on hold.


7D 35/1.4 Z-finder and Sennheiser G2 receiver.

This Tuesday I shot an IBM corporate video in Kista/Stockholm. We went to the IBM Forum Nordic and had two interviews to record and capture the facilities.
My plan was to use the Canon 7D to do it all but the first subject had a patterned shirt and moire was horrible.
I had no choice but to switch using the Panasonic GH1 with no moire. This shows the GH1s strenght and it's way superior to the 7D.
For further interviews I'll only be doing it with the GH1 and it works well in either 1080p or 720p.



All other images I captured with the 7D and used my camera slider to make smooth shots. I have to work to get it really smooth but I think it will turn out ok.

Audio was captured with the chain AT897/Juicedlink CX231/Sony PCM-D50. I've made a cable that attenuates line to mic levels and used that going between
D50s line out and the GH1s mic in. Just to ensure I at least have useful audio in camera. But I will sync audio in post to get full fidelity.




Used Canon 35/1.4 and Canon 50/1.2 for the interviews and the Canon 16-35/2.8, Canon 85/1.8 and the Canon 50/1.2 to capture everything else.
Both the GH1 and 7D was set to 1080p. I really like the GH1 because it is so easy to use.

The last month I had the Nikon D90 I managed to get this shoot of a grasshopp outside one of Swedens many castles.
I used a Nikon AF 85/1.8D and got a great shoot. A real beauty!

I just came back from this years fotomässa (photo fair) in Stockholm.



There are just to many things to see at these fairs but several exhibitors had HDSLRS with decent rigs.
The Nikon D300s, Canon 5D mk II and of course the Canon 7D was on display with various rigs.

There were also alot of big lenses on display and you could play with them. Look at the size of that Sigma!

Philip Bloom, one of the evangelist for DHSLRs were there and talked about Canon cameras
and what the biggie is. He did a good presentation that was easy to follow. But my girlfriend
fell a sleep due to the technical talk...



Afterwards he were at the Scandinavian Photo both and answered questions.
They had several rigs and I got a chance to put my fingers on some of them.
Some follow focus systems was a bit worse than I expected. But one thing I hadn't tried before was the Z-finder.
It didn't take me long before I ordered one and I'm picking it up this monday! It really is a large viewfinder and I understand
why so many like it. Expensive yes, but really great!



Here is a Canon 5D mk II with a Beachtek underneath.


Nikon D300s with FF, mattebox and Ikan 5.6" LCD.

I did see some of the other new and exciting things for exampel the Ricoh system, Panasonic GF1, Olympus Pen E-P1...
Well there were many interesting things to rest your eyes on.


Statue girl in the Olympus both.

This film was made during a trip I made to the largest island of Sweden - Gotland.
I spent many summers here and revisited some of the places from my childhood memory's.

I think this shows what a great camera the GH1 is. I used a Fader ND on all shots to control light and had the GH1 in 1/50 and 720p.

Regrettably I'm selling my loved Nikkor lenses and gathering Canon L lenses.
Expensive yes but these lenses are meant to last.
Since I sold my D90 and got the 7D I was not sure about Nikon or Canon cameras.
Couldn't really decide which brand I could get comfortable with.

Nikon cameras are really good and I'm used to how they operate and how they focus.
Something I have spent some time getting used to with the Canon 7D.

I'm starting to get the hang of it and now it's time for a Canon only lens setup.
I've decided to go with only L lenses except the Canon EF 85/1.8.
The 85/1.2 is just to expensive and not worth it.



I started the L series with a Canon 16-35/2.8 L. I've missed a true wide angle on the D90 since I only had a 24/2.8.
If you wanna go wide and have a large aperture you're very limited. Next was a tele lens and after reviewing the excellent
www.photozone.de it was clear nothing short of the Canon 135/2.0 L would do. Got this one from ebay a bit cheaper than
in Swedish stores.

And today I got a Canon 50/1.2 L. What a lens this is. Fast and built to last. As you can see on the picture above I put it on the GH1
and it works really well even on the GH1. For comparison I took some pictures with this one and the Canon 50/1.4 and the Nikkor 50/1.4D.
Wide open they all had about the same sharpness and image quality. But the 50/1.2 is faster of course. I like it!