Canon Rumors

Everyone got all excited today about the rumor that Canon might build a camcorder around an APS-C sensor. APS-C is the sensor size that Canon uses in everything from the Digital Rebel line to the 50D, and it’s not that different from Super 35 motion picture film, or the RED One. It’s only a little bigger than the Four Thirds size that Panasonic is using in the GH1.

Click to embiggen

Canon Rumors then posted a follow-up with more alleged insights into Canon’s strategy, including this gem regarding DSLRs:

People in charge think that 30fps on 720p and 1080p is very good and will not improve it on this generation. PAL 25p is too close to 24p and is not contemplated as an option for now.

Hear that? It’s the sound of every filmmaker on the planet flipping off Canon with one hand while they Click To Buy a GH1 with the other. Except those that weren’t planning on making any films until 2010 that is.

These are just rumors, of course—and unatributed, incoherent non-quotes that don’t ring true to me (and are widely regarded as sketchy), so I’m holding my tongue (and my new 5D Mark II, more on that later). I wasn’t even going to post anything about this, but folks were starting to post comments about the camcorder rumor, so I thought I’d give y’all a proper place to do it.

Canon 500D

If I understand Canon’s product naming correctly, this cam will be 100 times better than the 5D.

The rumored next-gen Digital Rebel, AKA the 500D, now has a face to the name. I don’t ordinarily post camera rumors, but I got excited when I saw the flip-out screen.

1080p HD video is one of the rumored features of this camera, and after my experience shooting with the 5D Mark II, I must say that an articulating screen like this is a must-have for a video-equipped DSLR.

Fortunately, it is probably also an easy case to make that an articulating display makes sense for any live-view DLSR, whether you’re shooting video or stills (the GH1 has one, but so does the video-free G1 of course), so let’s hope we see more screens like this.

Via canonrumors.com via zoomonline.dk.

Color correcting the Stunt People short

…using the DV Rebel Tools.

Quicktime 7.6 Fixes 5D Movies

Apple released Quicktime 7.6 today, which “includes changes that increase reliability, improve compatibility and enhance security.” Sweet. Undocumentedly, it also changes how Quicktime movies made with the Canon 5D Mark II are decoded—for the better.

Above is the same 5D clip I wrote about yesterday, back in Color, with Grade Disabled. The clipping is gone. Unlike yesterday, now the waveform is contained entirely between zero and 100 IRE. You’ll see this as well in Final Cut and any applications that use Quicktime to decode the 5D movies, such as After Effects.

Yay! Problem solved, I guess. This is a scary thing for Apple not to document in an update though, because it will radically change the appearance any 5D clips you’re already working with. So update with caution, especially if you’re in the middle of a project.

I first read about this on the cinema5D.com, a new and already busy forum about making movies with the 5D Mark II. They have a good FAQ-like sticky post.

I was recently accused on Twitter of “liking and using” the 5D Mark II for shooting video, so I feel compelled to remind readers of my post-shoot review:

With 24p and manual exposure control this camera would be of use. Without those adjustments, it’s a tantalizing but ultimately frustrating curiosity to the DV Rebel. The best thing about it is what it portends for the very near future.

I have not yet bought a 5D Mark II. When I do it will be for stills, or because Canon has finally released a firmware update addressing my complaints.

Which I hope they do, now more than ever.