Autumn Memories 1080p

Filmed at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in November, 2009 by John Marc Green, shot with Sony Z5U, edited with Sony Vegas Pro, graded with Magic Bullet Looks. You can see more of my work at http://johnmarcgreen.com

This is my first video uploaded to take advantage of YouTube's new full 1080p HD player. I have been following the explosion of DSLR cinematography, with UK filmmaker Philip Bloom leading the way, and wanted to see how much of a "film look" I could achieve with my Z5U.

It has all the characteristics a camera needs to achieve very shallow Depth of Field: excellent optics, a 20x zoom lens, three built-in ND filters, an almost completely round iris with a very nice Bokeh, and the new Exmor 3CMOS chip set which rotates the pixel sensors to capture more image in the same 1/3" form factor.

Although it is a "step down" from the Z7, it actually uses more advanced imaging technology and has a better stock lens, the widest and longest in its class. This is definitely an under-appreciated camera. I think if Canon had not released the 5D Mk II and the 7D this year, the Z5 would be getting a lot of attention.

In any case, it has been the perfect camera for me, and I have 10 years experience as a TV news photojournalist. I used to shoot with a Sony Betacam and then when we went non-linear we switched to the Panasonic P2 cameras, which are great, but over time you will definitely feel the weight wearing on you. I went freelance a year ago and the Z5 has been more than adequate for every application: events, web video, and legal depositions (it can burn the date/time stamp on the image, like the PD170). With its long lens, deep internal feature set, and the ability to record both to mini-DV tape and cheap cheap CF cards ($40ea!), you get a great archiving solution with an instant-access digital file, which saves a lot of time by avoiding 1:1 ingest time you have with tape. But it's great to have that tape archive, since tape is still the cheapest and fastest long term storage solution. I like not having to go to the trouble of burning a data DVD backup in order to get an archive quality master. It really is the best of both worlds.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• autumn
• memories
• 1080p
• Sony
• Z5U
• HVRZ5U
• Vegas
• Pro
• Magic
• Bullet
• Looks
• fall
• color
• Birmingham
• Botanical
• Gardens
• Bham
• Alabama
• Photography
• Film
• Look

[johnmarcgreen]

Thank you! I had thought about getting a 35mm adapter before the DSLR video craze. I had a T2i for a while but sold it before Christmas and have been waiting to see if a 5D Mk 3 will come out soon. I like the 60D better than 7D for its flip out screen and manual audio control. This was basically an experiment to see if I could get shallow depth of field with the Z5; I was pretty happy with the results, even if it's not as easy to get the shallow DOF look with 1/3 inch chips.

[bluetroll923]

that was amazing

[johnmarcgreen]

@bluetroll923

Hey, thanks very much! Glad you liked it.

[cratedigger89]

Wow. Beautiful work here!!

[johnmarcgreen]

@cratedigger89

Thanks!

[brianashak]

Nice. How many frames did you shoot in? 24, 30, 60?  Thanks..

[johnmarcgreen]

@brianashak I shot this in 1080 HDV at 60i fps, then converted it to 30p in Sony Vegas Pro. I used a velocity envelope to slow down one of the clips a little. I might have compressed it to 24p when I rendered it; can't remember.

Thanks for watching and commenting!

jmg

[2migell]

did you use the Magic bullet instant HD?

[GanEdenAustralia]

Wow that blonde bird is gorgeous and sexy

[analogueaddict]

I hate digital

[DemiTheCameraMan]

Nice work. Very easy to watch. I just did a series on 5D Filmmaking. Cheers!!!

[MrMeelaan]

That was amazing...well in vegas pro were to download magic bullet looks???

any idea...please

[cratedigger89]

@johnmarcgreen my pleasure!