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This is quite possibly the most stupid idea I've had but maybe it's possible to zoom the sensor image out before it's recorded (i.e. so there is a thick black border around the image). This would enable to crop box to capture the full or nearly full image rather than the zoomed one. I know it's likely impossible but just throwing the idea out there 

[Update]

I've seen a few posts exploring the possibility of converting card slots to enable the output of data to bigger storage devices and seeing this http://davidhunt.ie/?p=2641 got me thinking.

It might be possible to build something similar with a small SSD as a back-up drive directly in the handgrip. This can be taken one stage further with the use of a Rasberry PI computer (as in David Hunt's example) to pull raw files from the SD/CF card and maybe even convert the raw data into any codec installed in the internal OS. This frees SD/CF card space and you also have NLE ready files (conversion might be a step too far for the PI but who knows?). The Rasberry PI runs on it's own ARM GNU/Linux OS and has USB, HDMI and ethernet ports plus an SD slot and it can playback full HD video AND it's ridiculously cheap.

It would take some programming to get the camera and grip talking but the hardware part of it is relatively simple and can probably be built for under 100 Euros (excluding SSD). This method will also negate the need for anyone to butcher the CF slot door in order to fit a cable output, damaging weather sealing in the process (on expensive camera bodies)

Going even further, an SSD docking bay could be fitted making hotswapping of drives easy. This would be at the expense of a battery for space reasons unless someone can design a new style grip to incorporate everything. Alternatively a VMount could be added although that would bulk things up more so not ideal for some situations.

I doubt this will allow for faster transfers of data from the camera in place of the SD or CF card but might mean you only need one fast card as data is offloaded. The best bit is that the battery grip port already has the ability to send to external storage either via USB or Wifi with an appropriate BG such as the WFT-E3A http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/520284-REG/Canon_2375B002_WFT_E3A_Wireless_File_Transmitter.html

Rasberry PI - http://www.raspberrypi.org


Update: I'm going to attempt to build a test version outside of a battery grip as I only need to order an RPI and temporary power source. I might need some assistance with a script to test basic cam-to-PI communications. If all goes well I will look at the other options detailed in this post and then try to fit it all in a grip. 

Updated install instructions here:  http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=9852.0

Sorry, this is a little rant/plea..

With all the excitement surrounding the new ML raw video shooting features there is also the inevitable deluge of poor quality 'test' videos.  I don't know about you guys but I'm tired of seeing videos that look like they were shot by a 2 year old during an earthquake. They serve no other purpose than to show the world your camera can shoot raw.

Test video are great when you're actually testing something but so many are extremely poor quality, handheld affairs that are a waste of time, especially if they are uploaded to Vimeo where some of us have to wait to buffer before watching.

If you're going to shoot a test video please think of the viewers!

It's not hard to get a half-decent shot that shows off the potential of ML raw video (or ML features in general). If you don't have a tripod or a rig/cage etc why not put your camera on a stable surface, a fence, a car (but not mine) or even the floor. Try shooting something that TESTS the function(s) you are using. Try shooting a brick wall,  diagonal power lines or patterns etc to test for moire. Try shooting foliage and flowers for detail and landscapes to test for resolution (this will also improve your manual focusing skills). Shoot a friend (not literally) or people in the street to test for skin tones (this will help a lot with learning or improving your  color correction/ grading skills in post). Shooting in low light or at night is a good test for noise and DR but don't try shooting with a slow kit lens (we all know it looks crap because it can't capture enough light). If you want to pull focus don't rely on your camera to do it. Watching a kit lens hunting for focus is tedious. Switch into MANUAL on your lens body and do it yourself, after all, that's how the vast majority of professional DPs and focus pullers do it.

If all you want to do is have the features to play with then OK, that's great but please don't upload your crappy videos that do nothing to demonstrate the amazing features the ML developers are gifting us or helping in any way to solving specific problems. If you want to run around and not care about what you're shooting, use your phone but if you're using ML you probably have an interest in becoming a better film maker, cameraman/woman etc  so why not start today?

Am I correct in thinking that (in theory) raw DNG FPS can be increased substantially in low resolutions (480p) for ultra slow-mo? It would be fun to try it

I just noticed 3 GH2's and 2 GH3's have appeared on my local classified ads board when there have been non for over a year. Also, 2 guys selling their 5d MkIII's have just re-listed them at higher prices. This didn't happen when the BMCC or pocket cam was announced. Coincidence?

Does the cluster/block size matter when formatting SD cards?

I've just found a bunch of mint condition old Russian lenses going cheap. I think most were for a 16mm film camera so they probably have bayonet mount but does anyone know if the Meteor 5-1 f1. 9 / 17-69mm and the Mir-11/Mir-11m 12.5mm f2 were available with m42 mount? Can they be converted for Canon use?

The seller knows nothing about cameras or lenses and it's a bit of a journey to go see/check them.

Also, the BMCC Pocket is super16 size so maybe these would work with that and an appropriate adapter (if there is such a thing as a bayonet to EOS adapter?)

I find the log files that are generated for each shot, invaluable especially when doing tests. However, you can only see the data when you open the .log files on a computer. Is it possible to have a very basic in-camera reader? and if possible, could that data also be used to update the camera settings? Could the metadata also be wrapped in the .mov files so that it is viewable directly in an NLE or are there any plugins that could do this in Premier/AE etc?

I tend to alter camera settings a lot depending on the shot/lighting conditions etc but I can see a use for resetting to a previously used set of parameters pulled from a log file.

Check this out - http://www.cinemartin.com/cinec

It's PC only but works perfectly and it's FREE!



from the site:-

CINEC : The multi video encoder for windows

ENCODE TO CINEMA & BROADCAST FORMATS
INCLUDING PRORES 4:4:4, PRORES 422 HD, LT, PROXY, AVID DNxHD, XDCAM

Transcode / encode videos fast, to high quality film & broadcast HD formats
With Cinec, fast processing capabilities are featured -multiple cpu cores for encode- among highest quality

Encode videos to film-cinema & broadcast especialized formats Suppports PAL, NTSC, HD, 1080i, 1080p, 2K & 4K

So the 5d MkIII is going to get clean, uncompressed 4:2:2 HDMI output in April 2013 (yes, 6 months time  ) http://nofilmschool.com/2012/10/canon-5d-mark-iii-getting-uncompressed-hdmi-in-official-firmware-update/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nofilmschool+%28NoFilmSchool%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Shame it's still only 8-bit.

The obvious question is will this be something ML can bring to other models?

If the LCD backpack can be used for monitoring I wonder how long it will be before someone rips one of these apart and retrofits a lens mount? 

http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2012/10/17/gopro-hero-3-launched-2-7k-video-at-30fps-as-well-as-1080p-60fps/

Shoots with a flat profile at 4k (fairly useless 15fps) but 2.7k up to 30fps and full HD 60fps

Hi guys,

I've been working for a couple of months developing a new log picture style and Luts. With the tonality of Neutral and similar to Technicolor's Cinestyle PS it brings a little more highlight detail into play when grading.

Super Neutral Log PS will be available soon FREE

You can check out something I shot using the PS and 1%'s GOP/ALL-I build of ML for the 600d here:

https://vimeo.com/groups/superneutral/videos/49436519

There is also a couple of links in the comments to download some before/after shots from the movie footage (video stills) and some JPEG comparisons with Cinestyle taken from some RAW images processed in Canon's DPP (note: these are NOT stills from video).

Andy

Is anyone else having a problem getting GoPro Cineform Studio (free version) to work with 1080p files?

I have it working perfectly on an old laptop running XP but it just crashes if I try to open a 1080p file on my desktop system (i7-3700k running Windows 7 64bit). It seems to be a resolution issue with Canon H.264 because 720p files open fine and I have some old Nikon 1080p's that open ok too.

I've tried everything I can think of and even contacted GoPro but they won't even acknowledge my problem. I can of course still work with the laptop but it's very slow.

I have also tried to convert with other converters like Mpeg Streamclip but I get a 'license expired' error for the Cineform codec.