Sample video footage w Voigtlander 35 mm F1.4

[JacePhoto]

I was in search of a nice video lens for my a7r. Previously i tried with the FE 35 F2.8 and FE 55 F1.8. Both were still pin sharp at their widest aperture. I couldn't get the bokeh effect i wanted.

My exploration led me to voigtlander as an affordable lens alternative. However, i couldn't find any good and relevant footage on youtube for my evaluation. I also couldn't decide between the 35 F1.2 and F1.4. Ultimately, i bought the 35 F1.4 because of the small pancake size for mobility.

Here is my first footage of it. Some parts were over exposed as i started filming under a shade. As i stepped out, the camera was already locked in to the exposure and hence over exposure. Also, no color grading was done.

Any advice, comments, tips to improve is appreciated. :thumbsup:

This is part of my personal project called 'Stories of Singapore'. Contributors (writers, photographers, videographers are welcomed).

Gears:
Sony a7r
Konova 60 cm slider
Voigtlander 35 mm F1.4
Sony FE 55 mm F1.8 (for some telephoto shots).

[video=youtube;psTkFZXzR7E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psTkFZXzR7E&list=UU0a7Ug64rQJ-w2taGLSmh_w[/video]

 

[Bamboopictures]

Thanks for sharing.
I like the rowing shots.
Did you use a waterproof casing?
What make of adapter did you buy?
For this video, the slight vignetting fits nicely with the subject matter!

 

[JacePhoto]

Hi Rodney,

Thanks for the kind words.

I didn't use a waterproof casing. I was standing in knee deep in the water. On hindsight, i should have gone chest level as the further from the shore, the calmer the waves will be.

I bought this one. This is good as it has macro function as well.

The vignetting bothered me actually. But too lazy to do something about it.

Your encouragement means a lot. Many thanks.

Any other tips to improve, will be appreciated!

 

[Bamboopictures]

Overall, I thought it was a great exercise for a new lens!
The shallow DOF must have been little hard to work with on the action shots but I found the focus peaking to be really helpful with rack focusing by hand.
The interview really showed off the signature voightlander bokeh.
An overhead diffuser would have been useful to soften the shadows. But then again I prefer wrinkles on a subject such as this.
In fact, I would have love to see tighter close ups, but without the distortion of wide angle.
The challenge of shooting at the beach is to keep the background from whiting-out while keeping the face at around 70 IRE.
For future stories, you can actually skip the talking head altogether and use 100% B-roll since the owner of the voice is unambiguous.
Of course, for water sports a go-pro would have been really handy.
But still the voightlander literally had its day in the sun!

 

[JacePhoto]

Hi Rodney, you were right. The tight close ups led to distortions on the lens. haha. Now i understand the lens better.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[flipfreak]

overall i like the clip. i don't really like interviews with the talker looking straight into the cam though. the sliding shot seems like an odd angle to do tracking with and the stop go focusing in and out at the end doesn't work. were u standing in the sea when he was paddling?

 

[kandinsky]

Thanks for sharing, cool story

Like Rodney, I personally would have favoured a couple more ECUs too. Reveal additional layers of detail and texture to the viewer. E.g., of his hand/fingers gripping the oar, his weathered skin, scratches on his board, etc.

What really bothered me was the focus hunting during the entire slide in/out shot starting from 2:00. Was pretty distracting for me. I think you have to really sort out the rack focusing if you intend to repeat similar shots in future stories.

Also on the last shot, can't help feel like there would have been an added dimension of expressiveness if his eyes weren't completely dark. Some front fill as an eye-light perhaps?

Really just nitpicking with the benefit of hindsight, doubt I could have done much better if I had been shooting alone

Reminds me of the Singapore of The Day project.

https://www.facebook.com/Singaporeanoftheday
https://vimeo.com/singaporeanoftheday

 

[Deunamist]

hey nice clip dude! have similar comments as the rest. I found the sliding during the interview a bit odd. in most cases I'd use a static shot for the front MS, and a B-cam for the slide, at an oblique angle.

liked your page already.

 

[Bamboopictures]

Might be interesting to see a black-and-white version....

 

[JacePhoto]

overall i like the clip. i don't really like interviews with the talker looking straight into the cam though. the sliding shot seems like an odd angle to do tracking with and the stop go focusing in and out at the end doesn't work. were u standing in the sea when he was paddling?

Hi Flipfreak,

Thanks for the pointers. Yes, agree w you and noted on it.

Yes, i was in the sea while he was paddling.

Thanks for sharing, cool story

Like Rodney, I personally would have favoured a couple more ECUs too. Reveal additional layers of detail and texture to the viewer. E.g., of his hand/fingers gripping the oar, his weathered skin, scratches on his board, etc.

What really bothered me was the focus hunting during the entire slide in/out shot starting from 2:00. Was pretty distracting for me. I think you have to really sort out the rack focusing if you intend to repeat similar shots in future stories.

Also on the last shot, can't help feel like there would have been an added dimension of expressiveness if his eyes weren't completely dark. Some front fill as an eye-light perhaps?

Really just nitpicking with the benefit of hindsight, doubt I could have done much better if I had been shooting alone

Reminds me of the Singapore of The Day project.

https://www.facebook.com/Singaporeanoftheday
https://vimeo.com/singaporeanoftheday

Hi Kandinsky,

Thanks for sharing. Noted on your pointers. You and Rodney guessed it right. I was trying to do a close up of his eyes but the idea flopped.

Thanks for sharing on the Singaporeanoftheday project. Thats really commitment! haha.

Actually my idea of 'Stories of Singapore' will be to eventually feature people in Singapore who needs help. Hence the abbreviation is 'S.o.S'. The idea is to use social media to help the less fortunate. The idea actually came from Facebook stories.

hey nice clip dude! have similar comments as the rest. I found the sliding during the interview a bit odd. in most cases I'd use a static shot for the front MS, and a B-cam for the slide, at an oblique angle.

liked your page already.

Hi Deunamist, thanks for the feedback. I guess my laziness and low quality of work got the better of me. Will ensure its perfect before i get it published.

Thanks for the 'like'! Let me know if you want to shoot any stories and put it up

Thanks once again!

 

[Deunamist]

what a waste dude.. If I had known abt this earlier I would have asked you to apply this grant with me.. Hahaha

http://www.iremember.sg/index.php/fund-intro/

 

[JacePhoto]

wow! nice! if i knew there's such a funding, i will have supported you.

 

[Deunamist]

Hahah.. End up I also didn't apply because I can't think of anything to do either.

 

[XsenseX]

I'm not sure if its the computer or something but i somewhat see lines in the video. Is that the interlacing due to using 60i and not 30p?

 

[Deunamist]

I'm not sure if its the computer or something but i somewhat see lines in the video. Is that the interlacing due to using 60i and not 30p?

that's interlacing for sure... Hahah. can't see at 480p. but 1080P surely very obvious.

 

[JacePhoto]

that's interlacing for sure... Hahah. can't see at 480p. but 1080P surely very obvious.

How to overcome that? It is more obvious in the handy cam PV-660EV that i use.... (Not in this video though).

 

[Bamboopictures]

Looks like somewhere in your workflow, interlacing option was selected. BTW, youtube does not support 50p/60p so just stick to 25p to avoid pulldown error. Keep to 25p from acquisition to export and you should be fine.

 

[JacePhoto]

Oh oh... Ok.

So just shoot at 25 p right? Will do so from now on!

Thanks. New knowledge for me. Haha

 

[Deunamist]

if the footage already shot can just use de-interlace filter in post la. most NLE will have it

 

[JacePhoto]

if the footage already shot can just use de-interlace filter in post la. most NLE will have it

Noted. Thanks!