Hu? MBL is available for Premiere for a long time already, just a hint.

Bear in mind that (in my opinion) it's Magic Bullet Looks that gave it the edit the magic, not Vegas.

What does "unsharp mask" mean? Is it a special filter in vegas or just a regular sharpening filter you used? It is so ... sharp! Its quiet seldom to see sharp footage from the mini and a small cam ... but it immediately turns on :D

Unsharp mask is a pretty standard technical word (I think). I know it from Photoshop and am used to using it on still images. Sony Vegas offers both options (I'm sure other software does the same). Wikipedia has this to say about unsharp mask:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsharp_masking

I used both unsharp mask and 'regular' sharpening in this video. The pros who do editing will say that that's not right, but I try not to listen to anybody other than myself :)

I liked the surface of the rock (granite, I think) and wanted to show the textures of it. I do feel that I have my Letus set-up pretty good when it comes to sharpness but no matter what, you always need a little sharpening in post - the more resolution, the more sharpness you need.

Something about adaptors and sharpness:

Optaining focus (with a camcorder) on a small screen (ground glass) inside an adaptor is not all that easy. Lenses (as in any camcorder) will focus well on near subjects as long as you are fully zoomed out. When you zoom in, you will notice that you will have to move farther away in order to still have focus on that subject.

My HG10 is about 70% zoomed-in in order to 'only' see the screen inside the adaptor (about 1 inch from the front of the lens). For this to work, the letus (and other adaptors) have achromats / macro lenses in front of the screen. If not, the camcorder wouldn't be able to focus on the screen. So, the first thing you need to do is to put the adaptor on the camcorder without a lens on the adaptor. Then you need to get good focus on the screen. The camcorder's autofocus will have a hard time doing this if you're not careful. After achieving focus, you turn the camcorder to manual focus and it will have to stay that way as long as the adaptor is on. Users will have to not touch the zoom button on the camcorder when in use (which sometimes can be tough). I believe some adaptor users have problems with focus on the GG rather than having trouble handling the lens's manual focus (the lens on the adaptor).

Hope that was remotely useful :)

Just realized that you have an adaptor too :) So, sorry if you already knew...

Hey, thanks for your comment. Wikipedia helped concerning unsharp mask. I'll immediately try it, if I got my Letus mini :D

Raw footage version now available: vimeo.com/1225769

I opened both in one screen and started simultanusly, now i'm sure MB is just to ad a visual feeling to your story. The raw footage is real and unspoiled, no overexposed flowers or funny colors. So it has all to do with waht you are going to use it for. Exept for the sharpness, I also experienced that the sharpness controle in Vegas is better on non sharpened even minus one sharpened footage! Do you agree?

Yes, I prefer a neutral setting in the camcorder. Generally, sharpening should be the last step in your production, not the first. Using the built-in sharpening of the camcorder is only recommended for people who don't do post production.

Try the free version that Rico has linked to, below. It works very well in Vegas, only has presets (which are pretty good), and does take quite long to render. but it's FREE :)

Thank you so much really great tip!

Raw footage version now available: vimeo.com/1225769

See my comments above.

:) Yes, I've used that on a few of my last videos:

download.sonymediasoftware.com/current/extras/vegasmovielooks_hd.exe (right-click and choose 'save destination as'). After installation, it will show up in Sony Vegas under 'Video FX'.

It's very good for a free piece of software - rendering times are extremely slow, though.

there is always a catch with "free" isnt there hehe

I believe that MBL does have a sharpening function, but I didn't use it. 'Only' unsharp mask and sharpening in Vegas.

I'm on the 8 Pro now, not sure if it will work with platinum edition. You should ask them before you buy :) Their website isn't quite updated yet. Maybe even just download the 'full' trial and try it out (a big fat red cross will be in your footage).

I work with MBL on vegas platinum 8 and it works well.

The vignette is 100% from MBL. I used presets and just played around changing / adding a few things that I saw in the tutorial (link above).

I shot this in 50i (PAL) but the HG10 can do 25p. I'll have to play around with that in order to learn how big the difference is.

Don't forget that MBL is also available for FCP, just in case anyone was thinking of switching over just to get MBL (which, let's face it, just might be worth it).

I don't do DVD's. All my footage is uploaded to the web.

I use Eugenia's settings for Vegas Pro. This video was rendered with a variable bitrate of 6-8mbps...

It's hard to be specific. I just started with some presets and took it from there. Mostly just changed some colors with the color wheel, added a grad filter and played with spot exposure.

The color wheel, grad filter and spot exposure I was referring to are not a part of Sony Vegas. Are you using the free plug-in I linked to above?
download.sonymediasoftware.com/current/extras/vegasmovielooks_hd.exe or the paying version from Red Giant Software: redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/magic-bullet-looks/ ?

The free version only has presets that you can turn up and down but not add to, while the paying version is the one I was referring to (sorry if that wasn't clear).

This tutorial will describe color wheel, grad filter and spot exposure: studiodaily.com/main/news/feed.rss/8216.html

Hey, you made it to the other side... :D

Don't look into the light - it will eat you up :)

An understanding bank adviser :) You don't believe the 'interest' they show me :D

Not in this video (which was handheld) but I do have the 'Rod Support' from Letus - the 45cm version. There are a few images of that setup at the end of this video: vimeo.com/1108248

Why? :) Are you going to go and throw some money their way? :)

There are cheaper alternatives and you might even be able to just built some sort of bracket yourself. I'm just not the handyman you seem to be :)

PK- Is there a reason why you went with the full 45cm? Im about to purchase the full bundle, but I figured the 30cm would be long enough with my HF10. What do you think?

The 30cm rods would have been long enough for me too, but the price was the same, so I went for the 45cm version.

I guess, you only need it if you want to add stuff like external screen, follow focus, mat box and so on.

I was nervous too before I tried it but it seems to work just fine handheld. The camcorder is so light that if you just hold the Letus, the camcorder and lens will balance fine. The Letus itself has an awkward shape, so holding it as the only option is not recommended. I for one prefer mounting it to a tripod. The Letus rod support is very sturdy and seems like overkill for a camcorder with the size of a HG10 / HV20. However, if you plan to add an external screen or other heavy stuff, it is probably a good thing.

No, the new version released for Sony Vegas renders no slower than 'normal speed x4'.

Thank you. MBL seems to be available for FCP. redgiantsoftware.com/products/host-applications/apple-final-cut-pro/

cool thanks.

I'm in love with the Letus :) I guess it was out of my range as well (especially considering that shipping and duty fees made it almost twice as expensive for me), but I do like to sometimes 'go cracy' and buy something extraordinary. I'm already an SLR user, so the lenses can be used on my Canon 30D as well.

I'm sure I'd be happy about owning any of the alternatives as well, though. I made a page about the alternatives here:
vimeo.com/hg10/forumtopic:321

maybe that will give you some new info.

All the best, Rico...

I haven't worked with TMPGEnc, so I'm not sure what you want to do.

Maybe you can find something here:
vimeo.com/forum:Technical_Help

Hi Luis

Thanks for your comment. I'm 100% an amateur and my video is only meant for the Internet and home viewing, though I'd be honored if anyone wanted to broadcast anything I ever did :). This was my first test with MBL and I only used presets. I'm very interested in film and photography, so I do know about the things you talk about. I do use MBL for 'the easy way out' but I don't necessarily think it has to be like that - MBL is very powerful and it's possible to spend hours on it :) (which I sometimes do).

On another note, I do believe that 'true art' is overrated. True art is art that comes from the heart, not something that comes from having a degree in something. Not that I consider myself an artist or you a geek with a degree :D

Beutifully shot and the mood and music blended perfectly. I envy your steady arms (as camp as that might sound!).

Perhaps it was just well meant advice, but I don't see how anyone could think this was intended for TV (though the quality of the footage is better than most I see on mine, regardless of any broadcast-safe colour issues)?

And MBL is used by many major studios for TV, advertisements and even for major box office movies, as in Jackass: The Movie.

redgiantsoftware.stores.yahoo.net/mbsjackassuserstory.html

They don't just slap on a filter of course, but I doubt Pixel Viking did either.

As for whether it takes ' the true art of filmmaking away', I think colorists might actually be more worried about it taking their job security away, which is understandable as technology is making colour correction easier and easier.

The biggest difference is the compression - HG10 does max. 15.000kbps while the HG21 does 24.000kbps. The HG10 has a 43mm thread while the HG21 has 37mm. The HG21 has a larger hard disc but max. recording time is the same due to the HG21's smaller compression. The HG10 is available in grey while the HG21 is black. The mic of the HG21 is in the front and not on top as on the HG10 - this is probably an improvement (however, few people seem to use the built-in mic). The zoom rocker of the HG10 is better than that on the HG21.

That's about what I've come across my now. I would get the HG21 (or alternatively the HG20) if you don't already have a HG10. However, you might also want to consider the HV30 - if you don't mind the HDV tapes. Image quality is better but the HV30 is also somewhat less user-friendly due to the tapes...

Thank you very much dude. That was very helpfull.
I don't have a camera yet, but I'll buy the HG21 or 20.

Thanks.

Call Me Kat = Katrine Ottosen
myspace.com/thisiscallmekat

The vignette here is part of the MBL preset that I used. With a Letus, you don't need to worry about vignetting - as long as you remember to zoom-in enough with the HG10 (so that you only film the center of the focusing screen inside the adapter). Problems with vignetting and 35mm adapters often come from people not zooming-in enough...

I guess that when you zoom you loose part of the frame. isn't that appropriate then to use a teleconverter to get the original wide-angle?

I think, I answered this in one of your other questions on another video but just to be on the safe side... :)

If you record an area (of the focusing screen inside the adapter) the size of 35mm film, you will always get the same result as if the lens was mounted on a 'full frame' DSLR - like the Canon 5D.

Artificial, in what way? Bokeh comes from the attached lens (diaphragm blades) and doesn't have all that much to do with the adapter.

I agree that different adapters have a different 'look' but don't see why you feel that bokeh is an issue...

I love the Brevis' bokeh, and have heard only positive remarks about both the Letus and Brevis. To each their own, sure. But I don't see any evidence of any adapter 'paling in comparison' to any other.

Rico, this piece looks great, love the grading. Cheers!

Yes, bokeh does come from the lens - the reason the bokeh may look bad on a Letus or Brevis is mainly because they are dark adapters and so when using them, one may have the lens open very wide to let more light in and it's this wide aperture that creates this (not artificial) but rather overdiffued bokeh that might not be desirable by some. The solution: more light + smaller aperture = good bokeh.

Great shots by the way Pixel!!! You did some really cool color grading here - Magic Bullet rocks!

Sorry, don't own any stabilizing software...

Gotcha. Nice work in any case.