iPhone 4 is the new 5D Mark II

[Alexander Ibrahim]

Holy cow, that looks like ass. Granted, I think most of it is the abysmal coloring job, but that unwatchable jello rolling shutter doesn't help much either.

It's weird, I watched a couple of their other spots, and they're very nice. I don't understand how they could think that iPhone footage looks good when they're clearly capable of creating quality work. And it baffles me how they'd waste time with a toy when they've got a Red on their hands! Oh well, more work for the rest of us who care more about quality imagery than the latest gadgets.

I don't think that was a bad coloring job, I think it was iPhone's autoexposure creating issues. Also, they needed a bit more light in the shadows.

As to the rest, the very coolest thing about this is that you have an HD camera that you can do helicopter shots with on the cheap using a cheap RC mini copter. I bet the whole thing was well under $1000, "camera" and copter.

Frankly I am jealous of that one thing right there.

Yes rolling shutter and a bunch of other things suck, but HELICOPTER SHOT!

I think with a RED you need something very close to a real helicopter to pull off the same sort of shots. Even a DSLR with a lightweight lens might have exceeded the payload weight of the heli they were using

I wouldn't use that sort of shot for most of my work... but even with all its apparent flaws it works in some cases. For example, it would be perfect if I was trying to show a remote drone in combat. If I shot such a thing on RED or film I'd degrade the look anyway, here its pre-degraded.

I don't know how controllable the helicopter was, but I think if it moved more slowly rolling shutter would have been less distracting, and thus relatively more usable.

 

[Scott Crawley]

I'd try an iPhone 4. I know you have a 3GS already, but the iPhone 4 has all the advantages you just named, but it shoots HD video.

If you really want to go the DSLR route, then I recommend either the 7D or the GH1 over the 5D.

What I really love about all these cameras is that they are always THERE. If I see something when I am out and about just living my non-cinema life, I can shoot it.

That's wonderful. Seriously wonderful. I like the 21st century so far.

I have to agree with you. I've heard from many sources that the 7D is a better choice for the video. Since any DSLR I buy would first and foremost be an SLR, I no can do a small sensor. Since I don't really need to replace an SLR yet, I've been hunting for excuses to buy a mk II, but all of the hassle of getting the video to work well has made it less than compelling. I'm leaning toward the phone, I guess.

 

[JosephArthur]

Hold the iPhone the wrong way (i.e. the way most people hold it) and you can't make calls on it either :devil:

Far too funny. Now to fly an iphone on a Red Action cam or a merlin.

 

[Eafrick]

Holy cow, that looks like ass. Granted, I think most of it is the abysmal coloring job, but that unwatchable jello rolling shutter doesn't help much either.

It's weird, I watched a couple of their other spots, and they're very nice. I don't understand how they could think that iPhone footage looks good when they're clearly capable of creating quality work. And it baffles me how they'd waste time with a toy when they've got a Red on their hands! Oh well, more work for the rest of us who care more about quality imagery than the latest gadgets.

Well thanks for the compliment on our other work I'm Erika, producer at FLF... This was just an experiment and a fun diversion on set as we were shooting the actual commercial on the RED. We just wanted to play around, and then quickly threw it together and uploaded it in about an hour. You can see the behind the scenes pics of our little iphone 4 mounted next to the RED here: http://www.salon.com/technology/the...0/iphone_4_camera_used_to_shoot_tv_commercial.

Anyway, thanks for checking it out! It's definitely not one for our reel, but pretty fun to see what a phone can do these days!

 

[Robert Frank]

Anyway, thanks for checking it out! It's definitely not one for our reel, but pretty fun to see what a phone can do these days!

Hi Erika. Welcome to REDuser!

The iPhone is fun for sure!

I have to say the commercial you produced with it is nicely done, but it seems to me that although the iPhone helped get the shots it's also the limiting factor in the overall quality of the footage. The RC heli shots are fun for sure, but, oh, the wobble!

I'm looking forward to seeing more from your team! RED stuff that is!

 

[Liam Hall]

it seems to me that although the iPhone helped get the shots it's also the limiting factor in the overall quality of the footage.

Robert, it's a f***ing phone. It's not Alexa, Epic or Scarlet, it's a phone and people were simply having FUN with it. When they finished they could have ordered pizza, called their mum or checked the position of the moon, who f***ing cares, it's a phone and that's the point!

 

[Robert Frank]

Robert, it's a f***ing phone. It's not Alexa, Epic or Scarlet, it's a phone and people were simply having FUN with it. When they finished they could have ordered pizza, called their mum or checked the position of the moon, who f***ing cares, it's a phone and that's the point!

Relax, you're going to have a stroke! that was the point I was making too, although obviously not too well.

Sheesh...

Did you see the part where I said it was fun...?

 

[Vladimir Cassel]

Oy, this site sometimes...

Erica, thanks for taking on that experiment. It's eye-opening and thought provoking on what the future holds for us. Happy filming!

 

[joshua csehak]

Well thanks for the compliment on our other work I'm Erika, producer at FLF... This was just an experiment and a fun diversion on set as we were shooting the actual commercial on the RED. We just wanted to play around, and then quickly threw it together and uploaded it in about an hour. You can see the behind the scenes pics of our little iphone 4 mounted next to the RED here: http://www.salon.com/technology/the...0/iphone_4_camera_used_to_shoot_tv_commercial.

Anyway, thanks for checking it out! It's definitely not one for our reel, but pretty fun to see what a phone can do these days!

Haha, yeah, like I said, very nice other work And welcome to Reduser! You used the Red footage for the actual commercial, I assume?

I guess I don't get what's fun about shooting on a phone, unless you're showing off how you can work within its limitations to make it look like a real camera. Or of course, if the story calls for it. Helicopter shots are definitely cool, though, I'll give you that. There's a guy that sells R/C helicopters made for mounting small cameras on: http://www.skyshutter.com/ The copters go for around $10, IIRC, but require a lot of experience to pilot and can't hold a Red (though they should be able to take a scarlet). I think he'll also contract out himself to pilot one for you for a few $k a day. Not cheap, but more affordable than a real copter. (NB: My numbers could be way off here, check the site.) I've been curious if there was a consumer copter that could fly with a t2i and 50mm 1.8 prime strapped onto it. I bet there is...

You, of course, have an obvious retort: "Well, we're on salon.com, and you're not." Like I said about the people who did the train short, kudos on taking advantage of the iPhone 4 craze to build your company's presence. Brilliant bit of marketing

 

[Adam Jeal]

I don't think that was a bad coloring job, I think it was iPhone's autoexposure creating issues. Also, they needed a bit more light in the shadows.

As to the rest, the very coolest thing about this is that you have an HD camera that you can do helicopter shots with on the cheap using a cheap RC mini copter. I bet the whole thing was well under $1000, "camera" and copter.

Frankly I am jealous of that one thing right there.

Yes rolling shutter and a bunch of other things suck, but HELICOPTER SHOT!

I think with a RED you need something very close to a real helicopter to pull off the same sort of shots. Even a DSLR with a lightweight lens might have exceeded the payload weight of the heli they were using

I wouldn't use that sort of shot for most of my work... but even with all its apparent flaws it works in some cases. For example, it would be perfect if I was trying to show a remote drone in combat. If I shot such a thing on RED or film I'd degrade the look anyway, here its pre-degraded.

I don't know how controllable the helicopter was, but I think if it moved more slowly rolling shutter would have been less distracting, and thus relatively more usable.

For heli shots you can get much better images out of a Panasonic Lumix compact camera such as the DMC FX-150 which shoots 1280x720 @ 24 fps, has a nice 28mm Leica lens, uses a CCD not CMOS - no rolling shutter, weighs 179g with battery and is a lot cheaper to buy than an iPhone

Adam

 

[Ian Laurie]

Awww sure but will the lumix tell you its gps coordinates?


hahaha in all seriousness, I think this is funny, and super awesome at the same time... shooting web videos? then the iphone may actually work for you... amazing. awesome. and freaking hilarious. plus you can get the iphone places no real camera could ever ever possibly go... like in a miniature train tunnel.

 

[C. Jagan Mohan]

If your destination is web why to shoot in even 5D mark II. just use iPhone its cheaper.

 

[Ian Laurie]

If your destination is web why to shoot in even 5D mark II. just use iPhone its cheaper.

AND THERE IT IS FOLKS!!!!! I can't wait to see the old red vs dslrs flipped on its head over a phone