New Camera- Why D.A.?!?!?

So after much internal debate- I decided to purchase a DSLR camera, a Canon EOS D7 to be exact. I had the credit and after talking with a friend about shooting her wedding, thought I needed more options for both video and regular photos. The D7 shoots amazing HD video and combined with my recently acquired Canon HF-G10, two Go-Pro HDs and my older Panasonic AG-DVX100, I should be ready for any filming situation. I really wanted to do the shallow depth of field shots that DSLR cameras are so good at, especially with video. I still need a more powerful audio recorder for my rig and tripods upgrades etc. Nothing like seeing a $3,000 camera wobbling around on a $50 tripod. Audio wise I am looking at the Zoom H4n for field recording and movie production. This will take the load off my Panasonic AG-DVX100, which has amazing sound of it's own (with powered XLR inputs etc.) but records to DV tape. I shot my last two features on the Panasonic and love the image quality, but times are changing and HD is the way to go. I was reluctant until the prices came down for all the cameras, and lets face it DVD is Standard Definition anyway. BluRay is still not selling like the manufacturers hoped, but do look better for projection houses and screening.

File Conversions

Going through all the tons of footage for the new Season 5 episodes of Go-Kustom TV converting files and looking for potential B-Roll for Rats & Gassers: Kustom Kulture Takes A Ride. That's been the boon for rekindling Go-Kustom TV is getting multiple use footage for several projects. The file conversion is a long  process for the Canon HF-G10 Camera. The native format the Canon records in is MTS files which have to be run through three programs (in my work flow) to get them into my FCP 7 timelines. They look incredible when done- so it is worth the work. 

Kustom Kulture Festival Silverdale, WA

We had a blast vendoring at the Kustom Kulture Festival in Silverdale, Washington yesterday. The weather started off overcast and a bit chilly. Forecast was for 20-30% chance of showers, of and on all day. We rode the ferry out to Kingston from Edmonds (love riding the ferries in Seattle). Highlights of yesterday were hanging with my wife and daughter (wish my son wanted to come along), meeting tons of cool and legit car owners, getting some kill Salmon Burgers (right across from us on the vendor alley), talking a bit with Gordy Lee, meeting Miss Cara Mia and April MayPhotography in the flesh, finally getting to interview Hatchet Mike Roberts about his Caddy, hangin' with Justin Vincent and his bad ass repainted Chev Pick-Up, getting a hello hug from Miss Kitty Mansfield and making a few bucks selling my films and merch. to boot. Downside was getting a massive sunburn on the back of my neck. My new Canon HF G10 seems to be doing what I need it to do. Easy video taping on the fly in unpredictable lighting and with chaotic backgrounds all in 16:9 1280p HD. These are stills I pulled from the video clips. I am amazed at the quality compared with my Panasonic AG DVX100. The Canon is also insanely simple to hold and run around with for handheld shots. Go-kustom TV is back!

Canon HF G10 Just Arrived

So the Canon HF G10 I ordered a few days ago, just came in via UPS. Looks sturdy, well made. Not too sure about everything being done from the touch screen, but I think I am going to get great results from this video camera.