Picture Stories by Stephen Alvarez

New Firmware for the Canon 7D 1.2.5

I don't shoot the 7d anymore, but for those that do here is the new firmware mac and windows from the UK site.

-Stephen Alvarez

Working in Video how do we collaborate?

 

Of the 3 major projects that I have to do in February 2 of them have big video components. Every commercial job that I bid on theses days has a video portion. The convergence of stills and video has happened.

There has been lots written about how to use dslr cameras to produce stunning video. Take a twirl around my 5D MK II above and see what how mine is set up. Juicedlink DT 454 preamp, Rode NTG1 shotgun, Zacuto finder, and a Manfroto 501 HDV video head all make shooting video easier. 

But what about after the shoot when you have to show things to your client, how do you do that? A couple of online tools make life easier.

Canon to offer locking mode dial on 5d MK II and 7d

Today cannon announced it will offer a modification to the 5D MK II and 7D. For a $100 fee they will ad a locking mode dial (see the announcement here). This fixes a flaw in both cameras. I can't tell you the number of times my 5D MK II has changed out of manual mode accidentally. 

I don't ever remember Canon offering a modification on an existing camera and I think that this is significant for those waiting for the Canon 1ds MK IV.

OK lets face it the 5D MK II is the top of the line camera. Yes there is a 1ds MK 3, but almost every pro canon shooter I know uses the 5D MK II. It is just a better camera. Also I've found that with the sensor in the 5D MK II I am running up against the resolving power of my lenses. Really I am seeing issues with my lenses that I never saw with the 1Ds MK 3. It is one of the reasons that I have mostly gone back to primes. 

What I am arriving at is that the replacement top end camera isn't going to compete with the 35mm equivalent cameras we are using now. It will be significantly different, it might even look different. It certainly will need to have new series of lenses. Also in this economy I wouldn't look for it anytime soon.

-Stephen Alvarez

Canon 7d vs Barbie Video Girl

Thanks to my friend Liz Grady for brining this to my attention. Maybe the video girl can get us all through until the 1ds MK IV shows up...

-Stephen Alvarez

Sewanee, TN

7D in Argentina

Ok this is one of the more unique dslr filmmaking techniques I have seen. Most of the commercial we were doing was shot on the Red One. But as anyone who has ever seen one knows they are monsters. So the director and dp attached a Canon 7D to this dancer's helmet (that is the camera wrapped in bubble wrap) to get a wild pov. When the commercial airs I'll post a version of it here. 

-Stephen Alvarez

 

Outside Washington

 On the train headed into DC earlier this year. A frame from my visual diary.

-Stephen Alvarez

Zoom h4n recorder field update -Sound Machines continued-

Zoom H4n Update

Back in September I compared the Sony PCM D50 and the Zoom H4n field recorders (here). At the time I’d had the Zoom about a week, was impressed with the features and audio quality but couldn’t speak to its reliability in the field.

Well after a hard trip to Uganda/Sudan I have to say its performance in the field is stellar. I’m listening to the audio now. The quality is very good and most importantly the recorder survived the abuse. 

The recorder is just the right size. It fits in the outside pocket of a Domke F2 bag. It is always handy.

Poverty, a poem by Fred Taban

Poverty, a poem by Fred Taban, recorded last week in South Sudan. 

Fred is a theology professor at the Episcopal Church Sudan Seminary in Kajo Keji County, Sudan. He has been a refugee for most of his life. When Fred speaks of poverty he know the subject well. I will share more of his extraordinary story here next month.

-Stephen Alvarez

which camera to buy? Canon 5D Mark II vs Canon 7D

5d MK II vs 7D

I got an email from Chile last week asking which camera to buy the Canon 5D Mark II ($2739) or 7D (in stock here) ($1700) . The truth is that I really cannot say. They are different cameras and do different things.  It really depends on what you need.  I have just gotten back to Kampala from shooting in South Sudan with both cameras sided by side so here is a BREIF out line of the differences. But first let me say that they both preformed flawlessly in the the hot, dusty conditions along the border.

Canon 7D as a VIDEO Camera first impression

By Stephen Alvarez

pimp my ride, my 7D set up for video

Unlike Ira, I bought the the Canon EOS 7D to use primarily as a video camera. Why you ask? You CAN buy a pretty good dedicated video camera for the same price. Well for 1700 bucks I get a video camera that accepts the excellent canon lenses that I already own and unlike the EOS 5D Mark II it supports multiple frame rates. Also after using it for a day or two the camera is more than good enough to serve as a backup to my 5D MK II's on a still shoot and the really fast still frame rate opens up some possibilities that I hadn't thought of (see that video at the bottom of the next page).