Had a chance to do some more tests with the 24-70 today, shooting in low light in an office, handheld, just keeping a nice smooth move around changing light environments. And what did I learn? For stills the L is a mighty mighty lens, but I’m just not seeing the same results for video. Handheld, without the IS it’s very shaky, and that’s fine for certain applications, but it’s pretty full on. I’m also seeing very obvious blockiness throughout the picture, not just in the blacks, very clear evidence of the compression codec. Strangely, compared to some crap video I shot in Holland on the kit lens (admittedly outside in daylight), there’s a big difference. The kit lens – no blockiness. I’ll do some proper tests when I have a second, (I have the High ISO noise reduction switched off, so maybe I’ll turn that back on) but it’s a little worrying. It’s pretty clear already though that the IS is a definite must for any serious run n gun shooting and that means the EF-S 17-55, a quality, quality lens by all accounts so where does that leave the 24-70. Well, it’s all good. For taking stills my god it’s an epic piece of glass, and I suspect that I’ll find perfect applications for it in video, particularly on sticks, for interviews, that kind of thing. What I am feeling the need for though is something like the Sigma 30 f1.4. That will function near enough as a nice fast equivalent 50mm, nice and light and really fast. Charles Son shot this lovely piece on it and it looks great.
Final thoughts – it’s early days for DSLR filmmaking. We’ve all been beguiled by beautiful images on Vimeo and sure it looks ace in a small window, but I’m an editor and spend hours looking at screens and analysing images and what I’m seeing with the 7D doesn’t cut it for broadcast, at least not what I’ve seen so far. HOWEVER…. and this is a big one…. things will only improve. As I keep having to repeat to myself, the camera itself is just one part of a kit. The equipment will get better, and the resolution and the support will improve along with it. I’ve invested in a ZFinder, a Redrock Micro and lenses with the full intention of upgrading to the 5D Mk3, a camera which will surely be something really special. My research has shown that the 5D is the daddy, even above the 1D mk4, and it’s down to the full frame capability. A year’s more development and the current model’s successor ought to be a cracker.
I suspect that right now there are many many many people like myself who were really intrigued by the DSLR revolution but unlike me are biding their time to get involved. I jumped in with both feet and bought all the ancillary kit you need to make the camera work effectively as a video camera, but that’s all bought now so it’ll just be a question of buying a new body. It’s my prediction that the 5D Mk3 will be the real game changer and the one that everyone will want and Canon will sell a dumpload of them. All those people will be playing catchup to us folk who’ve gone for the 7D and learnt to work around it’s foibles. We’ll be laughing when that sucker comes out.
Till then…
Samples here…
Check the blacks for blockiness in the encoding (f2.8, ISO 3200, Shutter 50)
Blockiness not so bad in better light (f2.8, ISO 3200, Shutter 50)
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