Very fast tele?

[Patrick Grossien]

BTW can you post a full sized screen grab or R3D of the image? Would love to see what the details look like. Even if you say it's noisy...

EDIT: when is the eruption supposedly due?

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Patrick,

Yes, the lightning is very normal; you have a very powerful plume of stuff going up like a rocket, and the 'stuff' is pulverized rock particles which rub together and create enormous amounts of static...

The volcano is in semi-constant eruption. Sometimes it's more active, sometimes less, but you can count on several good BANGs most days. Activity has been increasing.

A successful shoot should have high activity, decent weather, and a full moon for night work, so that controls my timing. I'm looking at going to Japan one of the next full moons (mid October, mid November, or mid December); I'll be hooking up with another REDuser who is based in Tokyo and is also very interested in shooting this volcano, so we have multiple cameras running. Also planning to get in even closer to the crater… hard hats ON!

*grumble* I hate showing off unfinished work… ok ok crappy Youtube video alert...

Not well graded, not stabilized… and don't ask me what in hell the Youtube compression did to it at the start! Now you see why I want Dragon, moonlight, and a 1.3 or 1.8...

No pitch to Jarred yet, I read something not so long ago which was basically a 'quit emailing me, guys!' appeal, so probably not going to go there.

Mike

 

[Patrick Grossien]

*grumble* I hate showing off unfinished work… ok ok crappy Youtube video alert...

Not well graded, not stabilized… and don't ask me what in hell the Youtube compression did to it at the start! Now you see why I want Dragon, moonlight, and a 1.3 or 1.8...

Still, it's cool! I like it. Thanks so much for sharing. I know what you mean about the unfinished work. But a quick grab like this is still amazing. Not something you see very often.
The compression @1080 is alright for youtube don't dare watching it in lesser.... hehehe.

No pitch to Jarred yet, I read something not so long ago which was basically a 'quit emailing me, guys!' appeal, so probably not going to go there.

Well, I understand what you mean. I'd still say that this is different. If you don't want to bother Jarred, maybe try running it by Brent first?! Not that he isn't swamped either, but still I'd guess Jarred's email account might look worse
I truly believe (and I do mean that), that this is worth trying. And I also believe that for this kind of footage there is a big chance the collaboration could come to fruition. Of course there's always a chance of them wanting to do it but not being able to because of other reasons, but as I said: you'll never know until you've tried.

 

[Clint Lealos]

That youtube clip is a pretty rad start if you ask me. I can't wait to see what you end up with this time. Let's hope the dragon comes in time, but I'm pretty sure you'll get some super awesome footage with the MX sensor and that 200mm f1.8. Those static electricity lightning bolts are intense! I just love when people can capture nature's finest moments, even in the harshest conditions. I've filmed my share of lava flows in Hawaii, so I know how tough it can be dealing with the elements. This project is just a whole different beast with tons of challenges. My hat's off to you good sir. Sorry I can't think of a fast long lens that would help you. Might be cool to get your hands on a Monochrome if you can't get a Dragon? Good luck Mike!

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Still, it's cool! I like it. Thanks so much for sharing. I know what you mean about the unfinished work. But a quick grab like this is still amazing. Not something you see very often.
The compression @1080 is alright for youtube don't dare watching it in lesser.... hehehe.




Well, I understand what you mean. I'd still say that this is different. If you don't want to bother Jarred, maybe try running it by Brent first?! Not that he isn't swamped either, but still I'd guess Jarred's email account might look worse
I truly believe (and I do mean that), that this is worth trying. And I also believe that for this kind of footage there is a big chance the collaboration could come to fruition. Of course there's always a chance of them wanting to do it but not being able to because of other reasons, but as I said: you'll never know until you've tried.

Thanks for being kind about the grab!

One thing is, I'm Scottish born and bred. Brits in general are funny about cutting in line, and jumping the queue - we hate that, or anything that looks like that! I'm sure there are a LOT of people out there with projects that could benefit from being shot on Dragon, and they're waiting on upgrades too. I'd feel lousy trying to get ahead of them, you know what I mean?

And, I would only use my own camera after it was upgraded: I wouldn't take a loaner camera into such a dangerous situation. It's a very hostile environment. What goes up must come down, and last time I was there my Epic and I both got a good dose of volcanic ash. Took a lot of cleaning.

I'll think it over. Maybe I'll just point Brent at this thread and say 'just say no so I can tell Patrick I tried'

Cheers

Mike

 

[Patrick Grossien]

I'll think it over. Maybe I'll just point Brent at this thread and say 'just say no so I can tell Patrick I tried'

Hehehe, that's more like what I want to hear!

I understand what you mean about the cutting in line, and that's very noble, modest and british of you, but I didn't actually mean for you to cut in line to receive the upgrade, but more like the other "first hand field experiences" we have seen already. Basically it means that RED sends you a pre-production model of the Dragon for a few days, you shoot awesome stuff, deliver them your findings and send the camera back.

And if you tell them about the hostile environment, this might even be more interesting for them to see how it holds up
And for RED it might be interesting, because there's probably not so many people who are willing or knowledgable enough to go through the lengths to fly through the fires of Mount Doom.
If I were I badass camera manufacturer, I'd want my camera to shoot a close-up of a fire spitting mountain.

 

[Matt W.]

I hate to be the heretic, but the F3 and C300 gain up substantially more cleanly to extreme ISOs than do the MX and Alexa; both are useable around 20,000 ISO. They have as much exposure latitude as the MX, just not 4k resolution. For one particular gig it might be worth the rental, as both cameras are extremely cheap to rent. Never used the C500, and I think it still commands a decent fee, but it should be the low light 4k camera to beat, at least until the Dragon is widely available.

 

[Hrvoje Simic]

Hehehe, that's more like what I want to hear!

I understand what you mean about the cutting in line, and that's very noble, modest and british of you, but I didn't actually mean for you to cut in line to receive the upgrade, but more like the other "first hand field experiences" we have seen already. Basically it means that RED sends you a pre-production model of the Dragon for a few days, you shoot awesome stuff, deliver them your findings and send the camera back.

And if you tell them about the hostile environment, this might even be more interesting for them to see how it holds up
And for RED it might be interesting, because there's probably not so many people who are willing or knowledgable enough to go through the lengths to fly through the fires of Mount Doom.
If I were I badass camera manufacturer, I'd want my camera to shoot a close-up of a fire spitting mountain.

+ 1

This would be a nice promo footage for the new sensor, showing both DR and sensitivity, plus a good test for the camera.

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

I hate to be the heretic, but the F3 and C300 gain up substantially more cleanly to extreme ISOs than do the MX and Alexa; both are useable around 20,000 ISO. They have as much exposure latitude as the MX, just not 4k resolution. For one particular gig it might be worth the rental, as both cameras are extremely cheap to rent. Never used the C500, and I think it still commands a decent fee, but it should be the low light 4k camera to beat, at least until the Dragon is widely available.

I'm very much a 'right tool for the right job' guy. And the right tool for this job needs to be capable of pulling decent stills too… 5K or, better, 6K is non-negotiable. Reports are that Dragon is pretty clean too… let's find out!

Mike