Filed under: New Technology
Here is a quick behind the scenes look at the Canon 5D MKII - mounted on a Steadicam. This is a project that involves both video and stills, one that I’ll be working on for the foreseeable future with the Acroback group - a group that amongst quite a few things, is expert in the art of Parkour. Wanted to share this quick peak with you all.
Here is the link to the higher res version of this clip. Once again thanks to SmugMug for hosting the clip! They’ve been incredibly supportive of the Canon 5D MKII and my efforts - and you’re likely to see us working on quite a few upcoming projects together…
A huge thanks to Michael Fuchs and Richard Patterson for their pioneering help with rigging the RedRock Micro rig to the PRO 1 unit. I’m quite sure this was the very first time a the 5D MKII DSLR was mounted to a Steadicam rig… you’ll also notice an 800mm 5.6 in there from Canon as well. Many thanks to Steve Losi and Joe Delora.
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Vincent, another great clip! Glad to see you putting the 5D2 through the paces–like any of us had any doubts that you would continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with that camera. Also, you are amazingly quick on the draw with that 800, kudos.
Comment by Eric Baumann 12.03.08 @ 2:01 amThanks for putting out the video! I love the job you did in COLOR…probably my next app to learn 
and GREAT PHOTOS!!! ..can’t wait to see more!
Comment by Sean Nana 12.03.08 @ 3:12 amNice work Vince! I thought the steadicam shot was stellar.
Did you get to try the steadicam rig at all?
Comment by Tabb Firchau 12.03.08 @ 3:15 amThe clip looks great! That steady cam shot worked out really well, good to see that the lightweight body of the 5D MkII can be compensated for.
That opening footage with the legs floating through the crowd of people was brilliant! Looked very surreal.
Really looking forward to seeing more!
Comment by Levi 12.03.08 @ 4:53 am[...] AQUI « A simplicidade é o último grau [...]
Pingback by Vem ni mim trem! « Vinicius Matos 12.03.08 @ 5:51 amgreat vid vincent…
did you use ND filter for daylight short dof shots ?
i’m so waiting for a ‘5d auto aperture hacks: tips n tricks” from you 
vraiment magnifique … bravo
Comment by hangon 12.03.08 @ 6:08 amby the way: is the ikan lcd monitor connected via hdmi or via classic video output?
did you use it for review or even for focus control framing and live shooting?
Thanks for vid! Those legs over peoples heads looked way too cool 
Brilliant Vincent! This is way funky and I look forward to the film.
W.
Comment by Wilhelm 12.03.08 @ 7:59 am[...] Check it out here. [...]
Pingback by Behind The Scenes footage - 5D MKII on a Steadicam « Vincent Laforet’s Blog | The Click 12.03.08 @ 8:11 amSo was the focus controlled manually by the rig or by having a large DOF or a little of both?
Comment by Roby Davis 12.03.08 @ 9:06 amVincent, the more I see of this the more I want one and the greater the risk of my wife filing for divorce. Please post more.
Comment by kj 12.03.08 @ 9:20 am[...] Behind the scenes, another by Vincent Laforet. [...]
Pingback by newvibes » Blog Archive » Canon 5D MkII 12.03.08 @ 9:22 amThanks for sharing this video, Vince, can’t wait for my 5DII to arrive.
Curious about how you got licensing rights to Kanye’s song? I’ve found this process difficult, esp. when pursuing big-name artists.
Comment by JohnP 12.03.08 @ 9:40 amVincent, could you show the specifications to mount the 5DII in steadycam?
Comment by Humberto Teski 12.03.08 @ 12:38 pmI got my 5D Mark II today!!!
YAY!!!
So overwhelmed by all the features, specially having upgraded from a 350D!
The only video I shot was choppy, probably due to the CF card I have.
Tomorrow I’ll get to use this for real though.
Comment by Tozé 12.03.08 @ 1:03 pmHoly cow, that was really impressive.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I would like to see a behind the scenes in the future where you talk through what you’re doing.
Keep up the good work.
Comment by Gary Blake 12.03.08 @ 3:37 pm[...] http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2008/12/03/behind-the-scenes-footage-steadicam/ [...]
Pingback by Mais uma de Laforet… aguenta coração… « escola de imagem 12.03.08 @ 7:26 pmV -
You rock … and I’m so glad you included some still images. Thanks for all the hard work.
JI
Comment by Justin Ide 12.03.08 @ 7:40 pmthe photos at the end are stills from the video or photos taken with 5d? you always used natural light? great stuff your doing with this new camera!!
Comment by Federico 12.04.08 @ 6:22 amwicked awesome vince. still photographers are about to be a new paradigm soon. you continue to push the envelope.
thank you. =)
Comment by kent 12.04.08 @ 7:06 amVincent, thanks for sharing the great new footage.
I got my 5D Mark II yesterday, and I’ve discovered some tricks for partially controlling shutter speed and aperture for video shooting. Maybe you already figured these out, but I haven’t seen them mentioned so I thought I would share them here.
Basically it seems that the camera prefers to use a shutter speed that is 1/focal length, so if you are working with a zoom lens you can manipulate the exposure by changing the focal length and then using AE lock. Once it’s locked, you can go back to your desired focal length.
I’ve posted details on my blog about controlling shutter speed and aperture
Comment by Andrew Yip 12.04.08 @ 11:09 amIt was good to see how you used the SteadyCam unit. I especially liked seeing that white bazooka you call an 800mm lens! You’ve given us all so much to be inspired by, very much appreciated! But Vince, the score on this short vid… oy vey, irritating is an understatement. I imagine it has its place but not in a video of yours that we are trying to study. Just my 2 cents. Have fun in LA next week!
Sincerely,
Still No 5D2 in Ohio
yeah but it blows dookie you cant really edit it in 24p so that rules out 90 percent of softwares
Comment by rcp 12.06.08 @ 5:57 amIs that the gyro thingy I see on the back of the steadicam? How does that work in this setup? Not really sure how that thing interfaces at all, to be honest. Is it electronic? Main question is, did you need the gyro-thingy to make the steadicam shot smooth as seen? Thnx!
David Ditzler Reply:
December 9th, 2008 at 12:52 am
@SteveL, It is a Kenlabs Gyro.
They are powered by their own pack. Once they are up to speed you can unplug them and they stay useful for a while. That is the coiled power cord you see wrapped around it. It doesn’t really “interface” at all it just needs to be physically attached and aligned on the correct axis depending on the motion you want to correct. In this case the stedicam does most of the stabilization on the other axis.
@David Ditzler, in this case the gyro was not powered up. It was simply used as bolt-on deadweight, as we didn’t have enough mass to properly balance the system without it. You’re right, it’s a Ken-Labs Gyro, but the Steadicam system provided all of the motion damping here. We could have used lead weights, but we had the gyro handy, and with its 1/4×20 thread, screwed right into our rig easily.
Comment by Mike 12.09.08 @ 10:48 amIs that a gyro-stabilizer on the back end of the Red Rock support rails? Working on gearing up and training for HD video to accompany dissertation research in South America. Vincent, enjoyed your presentation at PDN Road Show Santa Monica and we chatted briefly. If you’re like-minded, email me. http://www.brucefarnsworth.com
Comment by Bruce Farnsworth 12.11.08 @ 3:08 amFantastic job and all 3 vids amazing! Can someone tell me the name/artist of the song in video 2?
thx and I want that camera!
K - you are becoming a new version of the New York City documentarian. Great impressionistic stuff.
Comment by Bruce 12.14.08 @ 11:30 amHow did you get Kanye to “OK” this??
Comment by Ryan 12.16.08 @ 9:37 pmIm so inspired by your work man. I think I’ll gonna leave my job and do some video work.
Comment by papang 01.20.09 @ 5:50 amVincent-
Hey I am out here in LA… I have been testing this camera for some upcoming music videos… I am having a problem getting the HD video to a monitor… Also what cables did you use to get to stedicam…. My partner is a big stedicam guy here in LA and we are needing some advice…. PLEASE!! Who operated stedicam???
I really enjoy all your hard work…!
You really need to look into getting to know some musicians and quite using music you don’t have the rights to…turned me off a little, especially when you roll your copyright. There are tons of impresionable Ute’s that are going to get the idea that you can use what ever you want…
Comment by Jake Hawkes 03.22.09 @ 8:28 pmThat was some amazing steadicam work and beautiful photographs…props!!!
Comment by mark 05.28.09 @ 9:31 pmThank you for useful information. With love …
reklam ajansları
HI Vincent - Amazing work! I have a 5d MkII and was wondering what shutter speeds you use for video now that everything is manual? Any help much appreciated
Comment by Phil 07.10.09 @ 4:35 pmI mounted a Canon D5 Mark II in January 2009 on a Steadicam Flyer and got amazing shots. We walked through an Bazar (Soukh) in Jordania and got amazing footage (you can see on (d5.christofoefelein.de).
Of course Fokus pulling is impossible so we left Fokus on a fixed distance like 2m.
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mike Reply:
December 4th, 2008 at 2:30 am
follow focus unit was a bartech–manufactured by jim bartell in LA–one of three main remote focus systems used in the motion picture industry. the others are preston and c-motion.
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
December 4th, 2008 at 10:46 am
yes - correct
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