Brian Valente from Redrock Micro shows off a rig built to house the Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Brian Valente from Redrock Micro shows off a rig built to house the Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Few cameras have generated as much interest as the EOS 5D Mark II on release. This digital SLR also has the ability to shoot 1080p video at 30 frames per second; allows for manual exposure with the ability to adjust exposure by 2 stops over or under; and features a 3.5mm mini-jack for audio in. While not perfect in every way - what's on offer is good enough for filmmaking.
Perhaps the biggest limitation is the form factor. Shooting video with an SLR style camera is awkward compared to a video camera. The still camera form is built for a certain shooting style: to hold the camera and watch moving images on a video screen is not the easiest of tasks to perform.
Of course, using a tripod to mount the camera helps with stability - however, for when you need to get mobile the Redrock Micro Cinema Bundle offers the features expected in high end film production. Integrated into the rig is a follow focus unit, which gears to a ring around the lens - enabling absolute fine control of focus, with repeatable actions; the matte box allows for using filters and shielding light to prevent lens flare - use of filters is incredibly important, particularly NDs, as this lets one work at wide apertures to make the shallow depth of field cinema look complete. Furthermore, a handle and frame take the still factor form and turn it into the motion picture form.
All I can say is this gets me wildly excited as before us we have a movie making machine with the rig which lets us work the still camera form like a movie camera. These two together make quite a combination.
