Tag Archives: open

Slow Motion Educational Videos!

Slow Motion Educational Videos

We want to share a few videos that explain the principles behind slow motion video shooting. There is a lot of confusion when it comes to slow motion; how to shoot it, how to play it back and the dos and don’ts to get the best footage possible.  The principles of shutter speed, light sensitivity, triggering and playback are all based on classical photography techniques with the main difference being extremely short time-scales and the need for inordinate amounts of light… but it can get tricky!

The internet is an information tool that democratizes the ability of the audience to learn and experience new information shared by millions of individuals. Gladly this also includes high speed camera information and sample videos.  Be sure to subscribe to the channels behind these videos so that they can continue sharing their knowledge with all of us. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Slow Mo Quality!

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

We have gotten a few questions about the EOS 5D Mark IV when it comes to it’s 120fps 720p slow motion mode.  We covered it back in August but samples were hard to find back then; all that has changed and now we can rate and position the camera in our HSC Camera Guide ranking.  While it will not win any contests for resolution or frame rate we think it is a good all around camera with useful features for video enthusiasts.

The negatives like high price,  Moire & Aliasing prone slow mo resolution, huge inefficient 4k bit rates on an old codec, 1.74x crop in 4k recording and big system bulk still apply for this camera.  The Panasonic GH5 for instance destroys the 5D Mark IV in the video spec department but that is ok considering the 5D Mark IV is a stills workhorse with a full frame sensor first and an excellent AF and high ISO performance package. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

iPhone 7 Slow Motion Tests and Examples!

iPhone 7 Slow Motion

We waited long enough and now we have real world samples and comparison tests from the iPhone 7 in regards to higher frame rates. The iPhone 6s was the king of slow motion quality last year and now there were high hopes for the iPhone 7 to continue that reign however what comes down to is a mix of technology stagnation with a measure of slight improvement when it comes to shutter speed control and detail.

The iPhone 7 does 120fps 1080p as well as 720p at 240fps which is the same spec as last year’s iPhone 6s and a continuation of the feature. It has been used in many productions big and small as a crash camera for hard to get shots and some fun slow motion YouTube clips. The iPhone 7 may not be the best slow motion phone out there when it comes to quality but since it is the most ubiquitous; we are sure to see it grace your screen more often than the competition. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

iPhone 7 Slow Motion Remains The Same!

iPhone 7 camera

There was a lot of expectation regarding the slow motion capability of the iPhone 7.  Apple has been dominating the spec since the early days on the iPhone 4s. However while the processing and sensor quality have improved; the resolution and frame rates have stayed the same in the iPhone 7.   There are huge speed increases and much more memory available to do a lot of things in video but Apple has chosen to stay at the same spec level in it’s latest phone.

The slow motion performance of the phone has improved with every iteration when it comes to quality and it will probably have a better dynamic range rating as well as better overall noise control. The spec remains at the top range in smart phones but it is not pushing the boundaries of what can be done in current hardware. We were expecting 480fps at 720p and 240fps at 1080p as possibly moving forward with the feature. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon 5D Mark IV Slow Motion Samples!

Canon 5D Mark IV

For many the EOS 5D Mark IV was to be the resurrection of the DSLR camera as a video professional’s tool of choice. However just looking at the reactions online and the spec sheet itself it looks like Canon missed the mark by a mile in this aspect.  Several camera shortcomings like the codec, crop factor in 4k and lower resolution for higher frame rates come to mind.

The over four year wait which was about the same between the Mark II and Mark III models is extremely long for a product class that needs to evolve constantly in order to remain competitive. With Sony and Panasonic doing real innovation in the video space in a much smaller time frame usually 18 months, Canon needed a product that could withstand to scrutiny for a few years. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Canon 5D Mark IV disappoints with 120fps 720p!

Canon 5D Mark IV

We have been following the rumors on the next version of the Canon 5D with some subdued but hopeful enthusiasm. However, as many rumor sites now claim the final specs for the camera to be released next month probably at Photokina; it is clear that there is a big disconnect in performance from the common DSLRs in the Canon line and the mirror-less competitors from Sony and Panasonic.

There is a lot to like in the camera specs but also a lot of disappointing things for the video enthusiast or professional.   The camera has always been primarily a stills powerhouse and it is clear that this pedigree is maintained in the Mark 4. Auto Focus with dual pixel tracking support, pixel count and sensor should be heavily improved along with dynamic range as seen in the 80D and the impressive 1DX Mark II. → Continue Reading Full Post ←