This time the review is pretty short cause there s not that much to talk about cause it is an easy lens to mount without special handling cause it is a screw mount and not a bayonet. I also did new light setup with a reflector and a led panel an actually is a nice setup, and also made few self portraits of myself for a profile picture.
Now I have done all the reviews of the adapters I own I can start reviewing the manual lenses I own. Which is quite allot at the moment, mainly will sell of allot after the reviews and keep the best ones in my collection.
So here is the test with just a Zippo lighter, had actually burned my finger during the test and gotten a heart shape blister on my trigger finger. But was interesting actually only using a lighter as a light source and it works pretty well with the f1.2 and f1.4. The test I kept ISO800 as the max because anything above would cause extreme ISO noise into the picture. However would had been wonderful if Canon came with same high ISO noise cancellation like Nikon, but might happen next year in the new cameras. So here is the video showing you the results of the test.
The difference between the f1.2 and f1.4 is not that extreme different, but also want to say filming at night you really need to buy extra lens and not using the kitlens. I actually saw someone trying to film an event at night using a 18-200mm f3.5-6.7 and was pretty stupid and asking the organizers the whole time to put spotlights on, while the person who is filming for the event should actually be carrying own lights or use better lenses for low lights. Cause I filmed the same event with just the f1.8 lens on iso1600 but able to capture the event without the extra spotlight, plus I always got the backup external LED light I can attach to my hotshoe, if its just way to dark.
I just wanted to test my f1.2 some more before I go into giving a total review about this lens. Especially I have to say this is mostly a lens build for low light and not really taking pictures in sunny situations and have nice dof. So here is a video where I am using a very cheap 2 euro bicycle light with 2 LEDs to light myself up and showing different ISO but still on the same speed and aperture.
Have to say it is an interesting lens cause where you over expose it will do something interesting it will actually add kind off softness filter on its own, which allot of people hate, but I find it interesting. Also need to test it further out with more low light test plus also some test to get rid of the softness using filters.
Also I am now rendering my videos different, before used WMV render which caused allot of detail lost in the smaller versions on Youtube while HD still had all the details. Now rendering in Photo JPEG MOV which is much higher detailed also did this in full HD but next video will be normal HD again cause it was a huge file of 2GB which I had to upload and took too much time.
Here above is a schematic how to wire your DSLR camera for audio recording and playback and also for enabling to record with two microphones on separate channels. If you wonder what an RCA cable is, look at the video below where I will show each component and how to plug them together and into the camera.
Actually RCA cables are easier to find than stereo to mono splitters but also with these cables I can do more, however have to say you will have allot of ables hanging from your camera to get to use the AGC hack. But you can bunch them together neatly into a nice small package. Hopefully Canon will release a new firmware with the AGC control for 550d, so we don't have to use this setup too much or use Magic lantern which actually have allot of flaws, so you have to consider if you really think its worth it cause it might break your camera. But I really would like to get a wireless mic to record with, but the biggest thing at the moment I wish for is the AGC control.
Actually the area where I live is quite boring especially at night, there is no living soul outside. Mainly interesting are the cars passing by and creepy ally ways and mostly the street lightings. Sorry for the shakiness was quite a windy night so wasn't really able to get much of steady shots, also wasn't using a tripod.
Actually found something interesting cause if the subject is very close to the lens the shadow cast of them can cause interesting shapes appearing in the bokeh behind it. However the softness at night is not a problem with this lens, will follow come with a real review video soon but have to sort out some stuff with the sound.
Olympus OM lenses are quite good especially way better quality then most other lenses I have and also the design of the lens is pretty. Only bad is looks somewhat too small cause the diameter is even smaller than the adapter. And have to say Olympus lenses in Holland are bit rare or if there are sold allot people would bid pretty high prices for it. 50mm f1.2 and 50mm f1.4 is so hard to find even 2nd hand here, luckily I found a small old camera shop in Schiedam, who still had it and just had to buy it even though. Especially I didn't want to get another 50mm f1.8 cause I wanted to see how different f1.4 is to f1.8. Also the mount was quite hard to find, in the Netherlands, I had to order one online though.
Have to say I haven't use the Olympus that much especially I can't get my hand on a filter, cause the filter thread is 49mm which nowadays allot of stores don't sell its bit of an oddball size. Cause other filter threads are mostly 52mm,55mm for the 50mm lenses. However I now own 3x 50mm lenses with f1.4 I need to test them all and make a decision which to keep. Even though they are nice lenses have to say rather sell it off and use the money for something else.
Actually I had all these parts already in Hong Kong but never had place them together into this configuration back then. Actually had bought the flash bracket so it was possible to use the flashmount of that on the monopod and attach an microphone to it, so I could use my monopod as a microphone boom. And the mini tripod came free with my pico projector and I bought a monopod just to film more steady shots plus also less tiring when filming long performances than holding the camera for a long time. Also not all event have allot of space for you to use an big tripod. Simple easy rig to get more steady shots and also moving shots. However have to say using this setup is less about focusing but getting more steady moving camera from one place to the other while still filming and also able to stand still.
However I don't really use this setup at all, cause have tried it at few events and you have to look out not to bump into someone cause of the rig, and its not only with this shoulder rig but all the rigs. Also I rather film with nice fast lenses and it means you have to refocus the lens allot and also make allot of very short shots of nice things. Mainly its not that really useful for most events.
However this setup might be more useful for filming movie or documentary and bit run and gun( shooting stuff both standing still plus on the move). However I have to say using a shoulder rig is more about showing off that you are filming, instead of doing photography and especially at party events when you are not walking around with a rig, people would think you are a photographer and they would ask you to take a picture.
PS: Also don't show up at an event when you are hired with a DIY PVC rig its just not professional, at least put some effort into it to show more professionalism with either this rig or real shoulder rig.
I have been collecting old manual lenses for a while and have almost finished collecting about all the lenses I actually want to have, there are still few out there which are a bit hard to get my hands on in the Netherlands, like Vivitar Series 1 28mm f1.9 which has the most crazy bokeh there exist. But back on topic, I have 3 lenses which uses Pentax K or Bayonet PK mount which I use on my Canon EOS 550D. Yes, I am using Pentax lenses on a Canon, which I manage by using an adapter which I bought. However the lenses are quite great there is a bit of a problem with the adapter not sure if it is just the one I got, so I have to buy or test another one to see it. However you can buy an adapter about 20euro online which does not have an AF or Focus confirmation chip, cause if you want one with it its about double the price. View the video below for more information.
I was actually very lucky able to buy that lens for very cheap will do few other adapter reviews first before I start reviewing the old lenses. I have two m42 adapters which one does have the chip which also bought cheap. And an Olympus Om adapter, which I ordered online and was most expensive one I've got.
However you might ask why not use old manual FD lenses from Canon self to use on a brand new Canon Digital SLR. The problem with old Canon camera lenses is that the old camera with FD mount have a mount which is closer to the film which in digital terms much closer to the sensor. To be able to use the lens you have to use an adapter with a glass which changes the focus point, however these glasses are very low quality, so you will loose detail and also few stops.
You might also know there are also Nikon lenses which you can use an adapter to put on a Canon. There is not much of a problem with this setup but the main things is that old Nikon fits on New Nikon camera's and the problem is that the lenses are quite expensive even the very old ones. And there are also few others mounts like Leica lenses which are probably the most expensive of them all.
Have been doing these vids alone and doing it without scripted and seem not really doing it yet, its still bet amateurish. Next review I will try a scripted one so especially I wont be talking double might even best easier to talk also when it is scripted then having to think what to say.
With in a few days will launch new chungdha.nl website with total simple and professional look, however chungdha.com will still be kept as a blog with minor adjustments.
I am now trying to gather a crazy amount of extras for a certain scene. It going to be fun and for sure hopefully get a great crazy scene out of it. Also hoping to promote more filming in Rotterdam and film more people interested or actors or even a crew in Rotterdam, so there would be more films made in Rotterdam, cause since I am back in Holland every movie that is shot or any camera jobs have all been in Amsterdam. Even the 48hours Project in Utrecht team I joined ended up filming in Amsterdam.
While Rotterdam is a super city with allot special new architecture compared to Amsterdam which only have allot of tourist attractions and very old fashioned look, cause for me Rotterdam has its own charm which is much better than Amsterdam. I have to say I have seen about enough movies that are filmed in Amsterdam and mostly give a picture of Holland to have old houses or only rich people in villas in Wassenaar or de Gooi and that the rest lifes in old house.
Another interesting thing is that Who am I with Jacky Chan was filmed in Rotterdam and which is mainly only film I remember that is filmed in Rotterdam, can't recall any other titles that were shot in Rotterdam. However I have to say there are a few odd stuffs in that movie especially scenes shot in Holland and said that it was in Africa. Especially the Koopgoot where they drive through with a rally car and also a part was shot on the route I walked daily for several year going to school. Also was able to see Jacky Chan in person which was kinda awesome.
Hopefully I can get enough people, however I have to say I planned it well ahead of time giving me about 2 weeks to gather enough people. The other factor is that I am in Holland and same for England the damn rainy weather. Hopefully its going to stay dry on 20-21 November which most is planned now, however the coming Monday I should be able to see the weather forecast and hopefully its dry.
Hopefully able to gather people using social media and some advertisements, but have to say Dutch social media ain't doing well compared to the ads.
One of my secret tools I use to make really fast mock ups to test folds is block of 1mm grid paper. Most of you might know about 1cm grid paper, but 1mm is way better especially you wont have allot of occasions that you have to measure something smaller than 1mm. No need for a ruler just count the stick lines for 1cm and the thinner ones for 1mm, put down some dots and play connect the lines.
Also its really fast and mostly its an eco friendly way to design cause you dont need to use energy for a computer and printer. Plus you don't have wait for startup and then also starting up the software, also cost time to make it and than also printing it. While in most of the time just fast drawing it on paper would have spent less time. However you might say if you did it on the computer you are sure to have the template ready if its correct. Yes if it is correct that is, but have to say experimental design, templates or folds its just to test it and rarely have to be accurate size. I rather make several fast mock ups to understand the design and them build the template in the software and after it just have to do minor changes.
For a while I have been looking at the new DSLR gear for filming, but have learned from my own experience most of them are far to absurd to buy, not only cause of the cost cause mainly you don't really need it. There is much mystery about a follow focus people say it improves your stability and you can easily rack focus from one point to the other. The fact is when you are filming you are watching the screen and focus by seeing if it is in focus or not and not paying much attention to the rest. And a normal use of a follow focus is normally on a film set with a 2 man operation. Find out more in the video below.
I found people are way too much depending on gear which would improve the filming, while totally do not seek experience and learning the proper technique. I was lucky enough to have learn techniques from photography before I went into film. Able to learn proper use of a DSLR and also proper use of DSLR for filming. I have to say even though people buy a DLSR for filming I would advice to learn the proper techniques of photography too, cause photography basically is the base for filming.
This is the very first lens I had bought in Hong Kong and it was pretty cheap for around 50 to 60 euro, if I had bought it brand new in Holland it would had cost me around 100 euro. Without it I probably would not had won best cinematography at 48hours project. So back then I was pretty happy I bought it, however after research plus gaining more experience over time, I wish I knew there were other options. View the video for the review of the lens showing the build and the looks of the lens and which situation you could use it for.
I wish I knew the world of old manual lenses cause I would easily have spent less money to able to get a 50mm f1.4 which have a much better build quality, for around 20 euro you can get a m42 adapter with AF chip and for 30 to 100 euro you can get a 50mm f1.4 lens, which still is less money than brandnew Canon 50mm f1.4 lens which cost around 300euro. However have to say for photography its much faster in focussing than I am. I have actually taken allot of nice picture with this lens especially cause of the shallow depth of field. Also filming its a nice lens to have but I have to say there are better ones out there.
