Blue-tailed Bee-eater (with a beta EOS 7D) By Romy Ocon On ExposureRoom

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Blue-tailed Bee-eater (with a beta EOS 7D)	2votes
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Common name : Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Scientific name: Merops philippinus
Habitat: Open country usually associated with water - along rivers, marshes and ricefields.
Total length: 290 mm.

CAPTURE INFORMATION:
Candaba wetlands, Pampanga, Philippines, September 11, 2009, Canon EOS 7D (beta) + EF 500 f/4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TCs, 700 mm, bean bag, manual exposure in available light, f/7.1, ISO 200, 1/125 sec, 720/60p capture slowed down to 24 fps.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This video is copyrighted and cannot be used without written permission. © 2009 Romy Ocon, www.pbase.com/liquidstone.

Updated: 4 months ago

Short

Genre: Nature

Duration: 00:01:25

Definition: This Video is a High Definition (HD) Video

Dimensions: 1280 x 720

Size: 65.53MB

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Director / D.O.P. / Editor: Romy Ocon Rating: 5.00

Tags: 500 f4 L IS 7D blue-tailed bee-eater candaba wetlands canon 1.4x tc ii liquidstone merops philippinus nature philippines wild birds wildlife

Equipment: Canon EOS 7D

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Comments

laurent wittmer

September 14, 2009 04:14 PM

Very, very beautifull romy, as usual :-)

Could you give us your first impress about the 7d, particularly compared with the 5d mkII ?

Kindest regards,

Laurent.

Romy Ocon

September 14, 2009 06:11 PM

Thanks, Laurent.

As far as filming wild birds is concerned, I'd prefer the 7D over the 5D2 because of the longer reach, 720/60p and more ergonomic controls.

laurent wittmer

September 15, 2009 01:34 AM

Hello Romy,thanks for your answer.

Did you notice any diference in the quality of the video (especially for the bandwith and the color treatment) ?

Romy Ocon

September 15, 2009 02:18 AM

Hi Laurent,

I shot mostly stills with the beta 7D, and only did very few HD footage, all at 720/60p. I wished I had the time to compare it with the 5D2 at 1080/30p. Hence, I can't conclude which is better in video quality. What is better in the 7D is the video control ergonomics.

Shiv Kumar

September 15, 2009 07:32 PM

Romy,

I've been admiring your work (both photos and videos) for a while now!

I guess now with video possibilities in still cameras things might start to change a bit and I was wondering where you thought things (as a birder) were headed.

Do you track these birds and understand them where you could make documentaries and such?

Romy Ocon

September 15, 2009 08:05 PM

Thanks for the kind comments, Shiv!

I'm pretty excited with the introduction of HDV capability in DSLRs. This puts the ability of filming wildlife in great quality to the hands of many pro and amateur wildlife imagers (stills and footage). And this is with the same gear already being used in wildlife photography.

We're still at the infancy stage of DSLR film-making tech, and the current offerings of Canon are kludgy to use well in the field. But I foresee the following in perhaps the next 2-3 generations of DSLRs.

1. 1080/120p, with option to shoot 1080/30,25,24p in RAW, or even higher res at these frame rates if using non-RAW. A processor/buffer system capable of such data throughput will of course bring exciting dividends to the stills capability of the camera (ex. 24 MP 16-bit RAW stills at perhaps 12 fps).

2. I wish that the mirror be finally retired, and a 100% EVF will be utilized. Such will bring pro-grade AF to the video function, and will usher in a new exciting class of wildlife images not commonly seen before (imagine a footage of a flying bird with an OOF terrestial background, in slomo).

3. Option to crop and use only the central portion of the sensor. This will bring in tremendous reach flexibility to bird filmers.

We live in exciting times, Shiv..... and I can't wait to see what the DSLR makers will offer in HDV capability with each succeeding new camera model. Meantime, we try to make do with whatever rudimentary HDV capability we have on hand. :)

Shiv Kumar

September 15, 2009 10:23 PM

Romy,

I can sense your excitement from your reply!

Yes, these are exciting times. I wonder if it makes sense for camera makers to continue to fake the cost of full frame sensors and if it isn't really time to simply merge the DSLR and 1/3 - 2/3 inch sensor video cameras...

On the other hand, you could use a video camera today no? Yes, they're bigger, and you'd have to carry two cameras with you but you could achieve the footage you're after today.

I know a lot of wedding photographers are made the move to video. Do you see the same kind of thing happening in your field? And what do you see happening from storytelling point of view.

laurent wittmer

September 16, 2009 02:31 AM

Hello Romy and Shiv,

Thanks again Romy for your answers, and sorry for my bad English :)

I would just like to react to the askings of Shiv with my own experience : I'm working in video (teaching) since 15 years and fond of filming nature and particularly birds since nearly the begining of camcorders but i must admit the new generation of still/video camera is for me a revolution. first is the excellent ratio quality/Price, second the posibility of using a great diversity of optics, third (it is new for me, but not the least ;-) )is the ability of making wonderfull still pictures ! (i've the opposite experience of Romy : from video to Photo). Dslr are also light. Actually, the main problems of DSLR are ergonomy, AF (but with animals, i rarely useit) and third is the quality of sound. No doubt that this will evoluate and many accessories and software may also help to improve widely the possibilities. As Romy, i'm waiting for the disapearing of the mirror wich seems to be the next great evolution. Finally Camcorder or Dslr ? it doesn't mind so much if it is less expensive and best performer and i now really appreciate the photographic ergonomy.

Yes all that is very exciting.

Shiv Kumar

September 16, 2009 02:49 AM

Laurent and Romy,

I understand what both of you are saying. I'm playing the devil’s advocate here so bear with me.

What's you're really asking for is a video camera that allows changing lenses so you can use your current investment of lenses. Agreed, ergonomics, weight etc. play a critical role but I guess the way I see it is, a merge of video and DSLR cameras. The DSLRs are going towards the video cameras and video cameras are going towards the DSLR.

There are a few other things that a DSLR (for video purposes) lacks, such as a swivel LCD, a view finder that allows looking through it for longer durations without having to squash your face against it. Lots more control over the image and audio and things of that nature.

The RED Scarlet is also going to impact this market and I believe that the video cameras will change to have full frame sensors, with removable lenses and then you pretty much have the perfect camera for video.

Yes, DSLRs will probably get better audio capability and no mirror.

My other quest revolves around having to make the change from Photography to Videography. Having to tell a story with moving images. So what are your thoughts on this?

Romy Ocon

September 16, 2009 07:39 AM

Hi Shiv and Laurent,

"My other quest revolves around having to make the change from Photography to Videography. Having to tell a story with moving images. So what are your thoughts on this?"

This is a very interesting point Shiv raised. I'm primarily a bird photographer and just an "opportunistic" bird filmer. So I tend to set up my birding trips and capture workflow to suit bird photography. Video-equipped DSLRs are thus perfect for my application.

The addition of filming to my bird photography was not so difficult for me - the same practices for getting close to the subject, shooting in good light, choosing a nice background and environment, long lens shake control, pleasing composition, etc. apply. What is difficult for me to learn is the post-processing and, more importantly, editing (or in Shiv's term - "how tell a story with moving images.").

As of now, I just shoot whatever bird videos I can, then post these for the time being as some sort of vignettes – short moving snapshots of avian subjects and their behavior. Eventually, once I gather enough footage, I hope to assemble these into a short bird film, possibly with the addition of environmental footage and narration. If by that time I haven’t learned good editing yet, I’ll probably enlist the help of a competent film editor.

In the hypothetical case that I get commissioned to shoot some bird footage with fixed targets and deadlines, I think I have to rent a proper HD videocam (supported by the 5D2 or 7D) for higher certainty of successful captures.

Romy

laurent wittmer

September 16, 2009 02:41 PM

Hi Romy and Shiv

"In the hypothetical case that I get commissioned to shoot some bird footage with fixed targets and deadlines, I think I have to rent a proper HD videocam (supported by the 5D2 or 7D) for higher certainty of successful captures."

That's another very interesting point, and this is one of the questions.

For having filmed wildlife with camcorders since long years, I'm not sure you would have a best average of succesfull captures of birdlife with an HD videocam (as by example XLH1 or the JVC Serie), may be a better sound (but in pro conditions, the competences of sounds engineer is genrally used), some zooming possibilities, (wich are not essentials on my mind). On the other hand the equipment would be very much heavy. I think that since the last firmware of the canon eos 7d and 5d markII many indispensable options make the option of using dslr more realistic than before, and that may increase in the next generations. The most difficult could be to convince the commissioners, but i agree this can still be widely discussed :)

Romy, I think you have a very good progressive approach of the way of editing videos, and I have no doubt you will be succesfull in that :-).

Romy Ocon

September 16, 2009 06:26 PM

Hi Laurent,

I've always been amazed at the camera work every time I see a footage of a bird in flight, especially if these are closeups. I'd assume that these were taken with a high-end camera (either video or film?). Would you know if such shots are normally auto focused, or are they manually focused?

laurent wittmer

September 17, 2009 03:51 AM

Hi Romy,

I don't know so much about filming birds in flight,
I think that flying birds in closeups is one of the most difficult exercice to make and there are probably so many answer to your question than footage.

Each situation have is solution (or not). One way could be to stay very, very close of the bird (unhappily, this mean a tamed animal :-( who have learned the behaviour you want to fix ) and to use a wide angle lens, you are about certain of being well focused. those scene can be taken in studio or outside with birds habituated since their childood, and at list once, i saw a camera on the back of a Golden Eagle).

Another way, more natural is to know very well the habits of certain species which have a very predicable behaviour (always perching on the same place, remaining flying spoted during a rather long time, always flying near the top of the same cliff ...) you need luck and many unsuccesfull footage but this is possible especially if you use slow motion (the 7d 60p may be ideal for that), and i think it's actually safer in that case to use manual focus.There are probably other options and may be the material will evoluate (perhaps with greater deep of field ?)

Romy Ocon

September 17, 2009 07:08 PM

Thanks for the info, Laurent. Looks like this type of BIF footage is tough to execute with wild birds. It makes me even more appreciative when I watch one. :)

Shiv Kumar

September 18, 2009 12:01 AM

Romy,

When you're taking a BIF photograph, you are really tracking the bird and you have it in focus. Granted the time you have it in the frame is not too long, but shooting a video isn't any different. You probably don't have auto focus on but given enough light you can widen the DOF and still get some good shots.

Ok, now how 'bout you do that and show us some footage!

Romy Ocon

September 18, 2009 12:46 AM

Hi Shiv,

Manual focus and deep DOF via small apertures is what I employ now at flying birds with the 5D2. I find that IS mode 2 helps tame the tracking shake a bit when using a 500 f4 + 2x TC. Interestingly, even with the deep DOF (which can be an issue on background aesthetics in still photography), video panning seems to blur the background well because of the relatively slow shutter speeds.

Here's a couple of early clips captured with a 500 f4 + 2x TC before the manual exposure firmware was released. I reckon the 5D2 chose an Av of f/45 for these clips. I prefocused manually on an arbitrary shooting distance, and let the DOF work for me. Prepare to get dizzy with my rough panning when you watch the clips. :)

http://exposureroom.com/romyocon_purpleheron

http://exposureroom.com/romyocon_emharrier

I wish that in the near future, pro-grade AI servo via the EVF will be a possibility in video.

Shiv Kumar

September 18, 2009 01:01 AM

Those shots are pretty good. What you need is a much better tripod. A video tripod with a nice fluid head. A good tripod would have made a world of a difference to those shots.

Plus, if you have a longer lens or a 2x adapter some of those shots would have been awesome.

If you have someone you can work with locally, what might be a good experiment is for the two of you to track one bird on different cameras with different lenses. Then edit the footage using the shots with the longer lens when appropriate. Or have you both at noticeably different positions and using different focal lengths and then edit the footage into one video.

laurent wittmer

September 18, 2009 11:58 AM

Hi Romy and Shiv,

I actually never have tried to film birds flying with a DSLR, so that i've no experience in that, but i does some footage with my precedent camera in dv : XL1 with a sigma 300mm (x 7 with the camcorder litte ccd !)

You can see some of them in this video (especially Black kite, godwits, purple heron...) :
http://exposureroom.com/members/oiseauxdeurope.aspx/assets/23911cd403054135a922b7064db52e95/

the deep dof of little sensor helps a lot.

Tomorrow for the first time, i begin a week of freetime with my new 5d mII, i'll try to take some flights, I'm very impatient for that :-)

Some news (and videos on xroom ?) in about 10 days.

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