I have been rather harsh with Canon’s R5 as its not just a video tool. This picture from Paul Zizka using a pre production R5 is exceptional.

With its 45MP full frame sensor and exceptional low light capabilities there is a lot more to this camera that I clearly ignored.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

So we finally have an 8K mirrorless camera with a headphone socket I may add.

Before you rush out and spend your £4000 there are some serious flaws this camera is going to give you from day one.

For UK customers 8K 25P creates a lot of heat (There is no fan in this camera) and as the heat builds up in the camera you will get short recording times even as low as 15 minutes or less.

No one understands why Canon decided to go down this route as a filmmakers we need equipment we can rely on.

It seems to me Canon wanted to have the first interchangeable mirrorless camera filming in 8K to jump ahead of the competition but with no fan to cool things down have they jumped in too soon.

Аll-Nеw 45МР СМОЅ Іmаgе Ѕеnѕоr & DІGІС Х Рrосеѕѕоr

Сарturеѕ uр tо 12fрѕ оn Месhаnісаl Ѕhuttеr

Uр tо а fаѕt 20fрѕ uѕіng thе Ѕіlеnt Ѕhuttеr

Rесоrdіng ѕtunnіng Full Frаmе 8К RАW vіdео

4К vіdео uр tо 120fрѕ

Саnоn’ѕ fіrѕt Іn-Воdу Іmаgе Ѕtаbіlіѕаtіоn

Duаl Ріхеl СМОЅ АutоFосuѕ іі Ѕуѕtеm

Воth СFехрrеѕѕ & UНЅ-ІІ ЅD Саrd Ѕlоtѕ

Nеw LР-Е6NН lоng-lіfе bаttеrу

ІЅО Rаngе frоm 100-51200 (Ехраndаblе tо 50-102400)

5.69 Міllіоn Dоt ОLЕD Соlоur ЕVF

2 Міllіоn-Dоt Vаrі-Аnglе LСD Тоuсh Ѕсrееn

Тhе Саnоn RF Lеnѕ Моunt Fіttіng

Frее Uѕе оf Саnоn’ѕ Іmаgе Сlоud Ѕеrvісе

You have to question why Canon did not look at the Panasonic S1H recording at 4K and ask themselves why Panasonic needed a fan in their camera.

CANON UPDADE ON OVERHEATING

Canon just issued an official statement regarding the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 overheating during video recording. The company says they used a magnesium alloy body and “overheat control” for better heat management. Canon didn’t want to include a fan to keep the body compact and weather-sealed.  The EOS R5 can only record up to 20 minutes in 8K and up to 15 minutes in 4K 120fps. After that, the camera needs up to 20 minutes to recover before starting to record again.

HDW…We can safely say the R5 won’t be finding itself on any blockbuster studio set anytime soon with that crippling 20 minute wait between takes.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Whether you’re capturing audio on location, recording music, or producing a podcast, the H8 color touchscreen adapts to your project’s needs with three App-driven interface options. All with the touch of your finger.

I have bought various audio devices in the past from a Tascam DR-44WL to a Zoom R16 and found them menacingly complicated to use. One of my more useful purchases was the Tascam DR-60D which was used with my GH4 at IBC 2013.

With the addition of the Zoom BTA-1 Bluetooth module you can see your audio levels on your iPhone.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Zoom has been the way forward during the pandemic for many platforms from live TV to live football.

Many of us were not aware of zoom till we met COVID-19 and a worldwide lockdown became the normal. We needed a new way to meet each other and along came a ready made platform called zoom.

During a football game (see pic above) the screens requires no less than 23 men behind the scenes to make it happen.

Needless to say this will only be avaliable in the more affluent football grounds and my question is what happens if a stray ball hits the screen ?

I think this is a great way forward if you cant allow fans in the stadium.

Needless to say Erik Yuan has made nearly $4 billion in 3 months as usage of his video conferencing software goes through the roof during the pandemic.

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others – either by video or audio-only or both, all while conducting live chats – and it lets you record those sessions to view later.

When people are talking about Zoom, you’ll usually hear the following phrases: Zoom Meeting and Zoom Room. A Zoom Meeting refers to a video conferencing meeting that’s hosted using Zoom. You can join these meetings via a webcam or phone. Meanwhile, a Zoom Room is the physical hardware setup that lets companies schedule and launch Zoom Meetings from their conference rooms.

Zoom Rooms require an additional subscription on top of a Zoom subscription and are an ideal solution for larger companies.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

The rage from Japan seems to be dedicated Vlogging cameras. Only someone has decided Vlogging is for people who live in Toytown.

Once again, sadly, Panasonic have decided that we are not getting a headphone socket. After the GH4, GH5, S1 and finally on the FZ2000… all with headphone sockets this camera returns to the dark ages.

Not only does it not have a headphone socket but we are back to a mini HDMI socket and to top it off you get 10 minutes record time in 4K25p or 20 minutes in full HD.

Sound has not only taken a back seat with this camera but the lack of recording time is crippling.

We are in the middle of a Worldwide Pandemic and Panasonic decides to make a camera with features that will cut out 50% of their buying market.

I looked at this as I liked the size of it “nice and compact” but as soon as I heard the words “NO HEADPHONE SOCKET” I switched off.

Who are Panasonic talking to when they make such stupid design decisions. Yet they proudly show off the external mic socket…only one problem chaps…if the sound going into the camera is duff no amount of post production is going to fix this. I will leave you with a video review from Gordon Laing from Camera Labs.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

I read an article from Alister Chapman on Facebook about the problem with crews during a pandemic.

Alister Chapman “The challenges of a very simple Covid shoot. So – you think – lets shoot outside, the safest place to work. That’s fine as long as the weather stays dry. Then you find that you have crew members that can only use public transport and your exterior location isn’t close to any public transport routes – move to a different location closer to a railway station. Trains are much less frequent and social distance means seats may not be available, so need much more start time flexibility.Ask your crew to bring their own lunch and drinks. But then once they have drunk those drinks where do they go for a bathroom break? Public toilets are mostly closed, cafe’s and bars are closed. This would normally be such a simple shoot to organise.”

David “So why not get another crew”

Alister ” I’d rather stick with the crew I know, a crew that’s always worked hard to deliver before this. I know some of them have been hit hard by this, so I want to do my bit to help them earn a living.”

HDW “Very commendable”

Colin “Rent a motor home as a home base”

Alaister “No budget for that, this is a simple small crew shoot where normally we would go to a local cafe or bar for breaks. A motor home is to small for a crew to all sit down inside together and you would also need someone to sanitise it between each user. It also assumes there is somewhere big enough to park it on site.”

HDW : The problem is you never know what underlying health problems others have until you arrange a shoot.
In my own case I have chrohn’s disease and my cameraman has type one diabetes so both of us are reliant on the ability to need public toilets as a minimum.
Type one’s tend to run their blood sugars a bit higher to give themselves leeway thus causing them to need the toilet more frequently.

I thought I would throw this picture in for good measure hairdressing during a shoot in Edradour, you just can’t socially distance yourself from people while cutting their hair.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

This collision happened in Feburary and is only being reported now.

Getting down to the nitty gritty the Canadian police helicopter was on a mission and the police drone was on the same mission, there was a collision but not enough damage to the helicopter that it could not land safely.

Here is a chap I follow on YouTube “Droning On” to explain what happened

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

A look at the early days in colour broadcasting in the UK this should appeal to my broadcast buddies.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Hands up I do know who DPA are but I do remember seeing them at IBC a few years ago. DPA have come up with a genius interview kit for keeping the stress off the interviewers hand with a micro shotgun mic and boom kit best if you watch the video. It sounds very clear on the video.

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions

Sony have decided that there is no need to monitor your sound any more as they insist in bringing out mirrorless cameras with no headphone socket.

I would love to speak to the so called designer who keeps missing the point. Its totally reckless of any company to provide a video tool that does not allow you to monitor your sound.

Whats the point of vlogging if you get back to base to discover you sound is crap.

I will leave you with my good friend Johnnie Behiri who has produced a review of this camera for Cinema 5D

For all your video production needs in Scotland, get in touch with Small Video Productions