Open Filmmaker

Photography and Videography Reviews & Tutorials

Main navigation

You are here: Home

Ten things you shouldn’t say to a photographer!

By Leave a Comment

Subscribe

Hello readers! I provide knowledge on photography and video, to help ease your learning curve. Click the red button for more free content on my YouTube channel!

You take amazing pictures, you must have a great camera!

Can’t you just edit that out?

Hey, can you take a pic real quick?

Those are great, now you can take all our event photos!

I didn’t bring a camera because I can get all your photos!

My cell phone has more megapixels than yours!

I’ll give you free exposure (instead of payment)!

When are these going to be on Facebook?

Let me take one too!

Can you take another photo just like this?

What do you guys think? Have another to add to the list? Leave me a comment below!

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Buy a GH5 in 2021

By 1 Comment

Subscribe

Hello readers! I provide knowledge on photography and video, to help ease your learning curve. Click the red button for more free content on my YouTube channel!

Panasonic Lumix GH5

Three years after starting my photography and videography journey, I bought a Panasonic Lumix GH5. I got a phenomenal bargain in near-perfect condition from a friend. He added extras that made the deal even sweeter.

These days, there’s many people that want to get into cinematic videos and GH5 happens to be one of those ideal cameras people lust over. It has internal 10-bit 4:2:2, V-LOG, 4K @ 60FPS, a headphone jack, dual SD-card slots, and much more.

The GH5 blows away the competition, and at a low price of $1297 – it’s the best value professional camera.

My journey started with much simpler, yet capable, cameras to earn my rite-of-passage with the GH5.

After shooting with the GH5, I think most people that want this camera don’t actually need it.

They’ve just fallen into the hype and likely feel GH5 will improve their content.

In this article, I cover five reasons why you shouldn’t buy a GH5. If these reasons apply to you, consider the alternatives I’ve listed.

1. You’re a beginner

Whenever I tackle a new subject, I start with the fundamentals and gradually increase my knowledge to gain confidence in the subject. One step at a time, right? If you’re a beginner, the first concept you should master is exposure.

Exposure is controlled through shutter speed, aperture, and iso.

It was my first major lesson in photography and it can be learned on any camera offering manual controls.

There’s many cameras tailored for beginners. Panasonic G7, GX85, G85, and G95 all have manual exposure controls at less than half the price. These cameras are great for beginners and don’t overwhelm you with superfluous features.

Make no mistake, the GH5 is a professional camera with professional features, but if you’re a beginner, consider alternatives to gradually improve your skills.

2. You want to vlog

If your primary goal is to Vlog like Casey Neistat, consider the platform and how your viewers consume your content.

YouTube and social media is largely accessed through 5″ mobile phones. So shooting 10-bit 4:2:2 4K in v-log then color-grading in post for a YouTube vlog about your life is likely not going to take you further than shooting 8-bit 4:2:0 in 1080p (or even 4K). And you could’ve put that time towards something else.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve recorded many videos in 4K 8-bit at 4:2:0 sampling to be screened on my big-screen Samsung 70″ TV.

However, for YouTube, the majority of your audience won’t notice the difference between image quality. And if they do, perhaps there’s other areas that need improvement.

Does your story-telling need work? Your lighting? Your sound?

Which brings me to the next point about leaving room for gear.

3. You could use the money

Aloe Blacc Mens T Shirt | Magik City - Cool T Shirts ...
Aloe Blacc: I need a dollar

The GH5 is expensive. In some cases, as much as by 3x as compared to beginner cameras like the Panasonic G85. Cha-ching!

The GH5 features dual SD cards with a minimum V60-rated UHS II card for 400 Mbps. And guess what, this requires more money.

The GH5 has a v-log upgrade for $100. Again, this is more money… you get the point.

If you’re starting out, consider getting a cheaper camera to put the remaining amounts into lenses, lights, audio and other equipment to further your photography or videography.

4. It’s complicated

This heading could totally be the relationship status with the GH5.

Are you aware of synchro-scan, all-I, v-log, and shutter angle?

Well, did you know the GH5 has 139 settings? That’s right, 139! Many of them are advanced terms and can be overwhelming to learn for the newcomer.

The GH5 also has v-log capability which requires addition color-grading in your video editors, not to mention additional time. So not only is v-log an additional cost, but requires more effort to get the colors right.

Make no mistake, this is a pro-level camera with pro-level features. If you don’t understand the fundamentals, you won’t understand the advanced, complex topics.

5. You’ll need to upgrade… everything

With 400Mbps and v-log, this is not exactly something that can run on your grandpa’s 386 with a turbo-button. For these higher image resolutions, you’ll need quick computing power.

In fact, DaVinci Resolve (free version) doesn’t suport 4:2:2 video files. You’ll need to upgrade to the studio version for $299. You can convert the files to ProRes (or other readable formats), but that’s an additional step.

For higher-end image quality, you’ll want a computer with at least 32GB RAM, 3 GHz processor, a video card with 8 GB RAM, fast SSDs and much more.

In short, you’ll need to upgrade everything. Otherwise what’s the point in getting a $1300 camera and shooting in a mode available at a lower priced camera?

Alternatives

Panasonic Lumix G7 – 2020 Review

The Panasonic Lumix G7 is the camera that I started with and it is packed with features. I’ve seen sales as low as $500 for this camera and two lenses. It features 100Mbps at 4K (30p/24p). It also doesn’t overwhelm you with advanced features like shutter angle and synchro scan. On these cameras, you simply double the frame rate (30fps = shutter speed of 1/60s).

If you can afford more, I’d recommend the Panasonic Lumix G85. It has HDMI pass-through which allows output to an external device while recording. The G7 lacks this pass-through feature. In addition, the G85 has in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

25 Reasons to buy a Panasonic Lumix G85 in 2020

Obviously this isn’t a comprehensive list, but I believe these cameras are the absolute best-value Panasonic Lumix cameras in 2020. The advantage of owning a camera from the Lumix line is that the features and menu settings build on each other as you upgrade cameras.

Conclusion

Panasonic Lumix GH5

The GH5 is a professional camera with professional features and definitely has it’s place. Unless you’ve accumulated some experience under your belt, consider one of the alternatives at a lower price. In the end, you’ll learn a lot more without feeling overwhelmed and can eventually upgrade to the GH5 when you’ve improved your overall knowledge and skills.

Shout-out

YouTuber Guy With Camera helped me convert 4:2:2 MP4s into ProRes. He made a video that uses ffmpeg to convert the files. He provides a script and walks you through creating proxies.

Shout-out to GuyWithCamera

Check out his channel for more helpful videos. Thank you, GWC!

Dragonflies and Sensors: The Quest for Image Quality (Canon vs. Panasonic)

By 1 Comment

Subscribe

Hello readers! I provide knowledge on photography and video, to help ease your learning curve. Click the red button for more free content on my YouTube channel!

Widow Skimmer
Widow Skimmer Dragonfly

Background

I’ve been shooting birds locally at the Colleyville Nature Center for the past year. I use my Canon 7D Mark II with Sigma 150-600. Sometimes I get there and there’s hardly any birds around. So then I resort to shooting the next best thing… and that’s dragonflies!

So this recent obsession led me to attempt to capture the best dragonfly photo possible. For those that shoot dragonflies or similar creatures, you’ll know that getting insects in-focus is no easy feat.

I researched online and of course macro photography came up often to capture the most detailed photo. I have an Oshiro 60mm macro lens, but these dragonflies don’t allow me to get close. So instead, I resorted to using extension tubes with my Sigma.

Dragonfly looks like a helicopter
Dragonfly or helicopter?

The Problem

I started stopping-down and even focus-stacking. However, there was one problem. While focus-stacking gave me a better image, I found it time-consuming. You see, the editor would align layers automatically, but there was room for improvement and I found myself stacking manually. After manually stacking several times, an idea lit-up in my head. Since I have access to a total of three cameras, I decided to investigate if one camera would give me a better image over another (without stacking).

Dragonfly
Dragonfly (leave a comment if you know the name)

The Quest

The cameras available to me are: Panasonic G85, Canon 7D II and the Canon 5D Mark III. I used the same lens (Sigma 150-600) across all three cameras. This lens has a Canon EF mount so it works natively on the Canon bodies and with an adapter on the Panasonic body.

What’s so special about these cameras? Well, they each carry a different sensor size as shown in the table below.

CameraPanasonic
Lumix G85		Canon 7DIICanon 5DIII
SensorMicro
Four-Thirds		APS-CFull-Frame
Dimensons17.3 x 13mm23.6 x 15.8mm36 x 23.9mm

If you need more information on how how sensor size affects photography, check out this awesome video by Jim Hamel:

How Sensor Size Affects Photography

So before I started, my guess was that the Canon 5D Mark III would obtain the sharpest image due to the larger sensor dimensions (gathers more light).

My test is NOT scientific. This is to see what it takes to get the best dragonfly photo (subjective). Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised at what I found!

A few points about the images:

  • All are single images (no stacking), shot RAW and processed manually
  • There are two pics from each camera, in random order
  • Click on the photos to view full-size and leave a comment on which camera was used for each photo
Dragonfly 1
A (G85, 7DII or 5DIII)
Dragonfly 2
B (G85, 7DII or 5DIII)
Dragonfly 3
C (G85, 7DII or 5DIII)
Dragonfly 4
D (G85, 7DII or 5DIII)
Dragonfly 5
E (G85, 7DII or 5DIII)
Dragonfly 6
F (G85, 7DII or 5DIII)

Conclusion

So which camera produced the best image? The reality is that all three cameras give a fantastic image. I was wrong guessing the 5DIII (larger sensor) would produce better images. I can’t tell which photo was taken with which camera. If anything, it came down to good lighting and photography skills, not sensor-size.

Will this experiment end the age-old debate of sensors vs. image quality? I doubt it. But I hope it reiterates what M43 users already know: size doesn’t matter, but the photographer’s skills do.

Dragonflies playing
Dragonflies playing

Agree or disagree? Let me know your comments! I’ll post the camera in each photo in a couple weeks.

How to load GH5 4:2:2 files into DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere

By Leave a Comment

Subscribe

Hello readers! I provide knowledge on photography and video, to help ease your learning curve. Click the red button for more free content on my YouTube channel!

The problem

DaVinci Resolve (free version) can’t load 4:2:2 10-bit files. You’ll need the Studio version if you want to skip this hassle.

The search begins

After searching both Google and YouTube, I came across this video from GuyWithCamera that converted the files into ProRes. He later modified the script to also creates proxies. For the full video, see below:

GuyWithCamera: Convert GH5 422 into ProRes

I was able to modify the script slightly and added my Windows instructions in writing (for Mac, see GWC’s video description).

  1. Download ffmpeg.
  2. Open notepad in Windows and save the file as “convert.bat” (w/o the quotes) into your folder containing MP4s and MOVs.
  3. Use Windows command-prompt to run convert.bat to convert all MP4s and MOVs

The script

ren *.mp4 *.mov

if not exist ".\converted\" mkdir ".\CONVERTED"
if not exist ".\converted-proxies\" mkdir ".\CONVERTED-PROXIES"

for %%A IN (<em>.mov) DO ffmpeg -i "%%A" -c:v dnxhd -vf "scale=854:480,format=yuv422p" -profile:v dnxhr_lb -c:a aac  ".\converted-proxies\%%A" for %%A IN (</em>.mov) DO ffmpeg -i "%%A" -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -c:a aac  ".\converted\%%A"

pause

Summary

If you have trouble loading your GH5 4:2:2 MOVs/MP4s, try the script above. Otherwise, you can always shell out the money to get DaVinci Resolve Studio.

Good luck!

Cameras on a Budget in 2020

By Leave a Comment

Subscribe

Hello readers! I provide knowledge on photography and video, to help ease your learning curve. Click the red button for more free content on my YouTube channel!

My photography and video journey started in 2017, with my first mirrorless camera, the Panasonic Lumix G7. I bought it with the intention of making short-films and other videos. Shortly after, I realized I’d much rather spend time with my kids so the filming took a back seat and OpenFilmmaker was created.

With the current quarantine situation, what better to do than reflect on my journey? I figured I’d put together a list of recommended cameras for both beginners and advanced shooters. Remember, this is a biased article. I love the M43 cameras for their portability and quality, especially for video.

You’re probably wondering why these cameras are so special? Well, take a look at the 25-Reasons Article. Long story short, these are great quality cameras delivering 4K at 100 Mbps (that’s pretty fantastic). With the exception of the GH5 which goes up to 400 Mbps.

Video (Filmmaking and YouTube)

I started with the Panasonic G7. It’s a phenomenal camera for YouTubers and short filmmakers. If you’re on a budget, this is the way to go. Now, the biggest issues with the Panasonic system is the Contrast-Based Auto Focus. For that reason, I need to mention the Sony cameras.

Sony A6xxx Series

If you’re expecting your video to always be in focus without putting any work into it, the Panasonic G7 is not the camera for you. For lazy focus-ers, you should check out the Sony A6100, A6400, or A6600. You will love their Auto Focus system.

Panasonic G7

For everyone else, there’s the Panasonic Lumix G7. While I used the G7 to take a lot of photography, it’s not really something I would recommend. This is due to my experience with it’s mechanical shutter. My G7’s mechanical shutter was starting to get stuck so I changed it over to electronic shutter, which has negative image quality results, but the beginner will likely not notice.

The G7 doesn’t feature In-Body Image Stabilization. The lenses have Optical Image Stabilization, which is better than not having stabilization. If you plan on moving the camera or need more of a vlogger setup, then take a look at the Panasonic Lumix G85.

Panasonic G85

The Panasonic Lumix G85 is recommended here because of the quality, features, and low price-point. Reigning over the G7, this camera includes an upgraded electromagnetic shutter, removal of the anti-aliasing filter, and In-Body Image Stabilization. It’s worth every penny of the upgrade over the G7.

I’d recommend the G85 over the G7 any day. Check the links in this article for the prices. If you’re on a budget, you could even get the G85 with the two lens bundle and sell the second lens (keep the 12-60mm). Just a thought!

Panasonic GH5

If you already have video skills and want to go pro, then the Panasonic Lumix GH5 / GH5s would be the cameras for you. I’ve watched many videos on these cameras and the GH5 is currently on my watchlist.

Summary

Whether you’re making vlogs, short films, or family videos, these Panasonic cameras have you covered. Most of the videos on my YouTube channel were shot with these cameras. Check it out to learn more on what these cameras can do!

Ten Things I Learned About Photography

By 1 Comment

Subscribe

Hello readers! I provide knowledge on photography and video, to help ease your learning curve. Click the red button for more free content on my YouTube channel!

Buying my first camera was such an excitement-filled event. The last thing on my mind was how I was actually going to learn to use it. I figured I’d wing it since I didn’t have a mentor, adequate training or prior experience. I just knew photography was something I wanted to do.

Fast-forward a few years and I’ve grown as a photographer. I won “Photographer of the Year” in a local club and had photos featured on nationally-renowned websites.

Looking back at my journey, I compiled the top ten things I learned. Hopefully, this will make your journey a bit easier.

1. It’s an investment

Photography is an investment
Photography is an investment

Camera prices range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, but the expenses don’t stop there. I started with a $500 Panasonic Lumix G7 and figured that would be it. Then came lenses, tripods, accessories, etc.

Understand that photography is a hobby that requires various products. It’s not just the camera and lens, but much more than that. All these products cost money. There’s no need to dive head-on into purchasing all these products, but understand that your camera and lens is just the starting point and if you stick with this hobby, you’ll eventually need more gear.

Don’t worry as there’s a huge market for pre-owned lenses. There’s sites like KEH that sell pre-owned gear as well your local Craigslist and FB Marketplace.

2. Kit lenses limit you

Panasonic Lumix 12-60mm
Panasonic Lumix 12-60mm

Kit lenses refer to the beginner lenses bundled with cameras. They are given this name as it comes part of the camera kit. Typically they have higher f-numbers like f/3.5 which can limit you to well-lit environments.

The higher these numbers, the more light you will need on your subject, unless you’re going for the dark look. The lower the numbers, the less light you will need around your subject.

I recommend starting with a 35mm or 50mm (with low f/numbers, ex 50mm f/1.8) in addition to your kit lens. To get comfortable with these lenses, try shooting exclusively with them for several weeks.

You don’t need to dive into buying all the low-aperture lenses, but having at least one in your collection will give you a light advantage over the basic kit lenses.

3. Exposure is the main concept

Exposure Triangle

I still remember the first time I modified my camera dials to change the shutter speed, ISO and aperture. My mirrorless camera has an Electronic View Finder so I could see how these factors immediately affected the final image. It was at this moment that a light went on in my brain – because I finally understood exposure and why it was a big deal.

You see that modifying exposure means controlling the exact image you want. Each of these three factors affect the amount of light on the subject. Once you learn exposure and get confident using it, you will advance leaps and bounds.

4. It takes time

Time
It takes time

When I first got my camera, I couldn’t put it down. I took it everywhere with me. Family events, vacations, and even walks in the neighborhood.

The reality is that buying a camera won’t make you a good photographer. The pictures you take five years from now will hopefully look better than the pictures you take today. Photography is an art and it takes time to craft those skills.

I recommend you take your camera everywhere, learn ALL the settings and build your confidence with practice. Remember your camera doesn’t make the photos… it’s you and your skills you apply through your camera.

5. Technical skills help

Technical Skills
Technical Skills Help

Have you ever organized the files on your computer? Well get ready to put those skills into use. Photography doesn’t end at the shutter button. A lot of time and effort is spent after the photo is taken. This is where technical skills come in use. Whether you’re using Photoshop, ACDSee, Lightroom, etc, technical skills will make it easier for you to organize and edit your photography. There’s a lot of clicking, dragging, using menus, exporting and much more. Having technical skills will only take you further.

6. You’ll see things differently

You'll see things differently
You’ll see things differently

After learning exposure, I started looking around and noticing how light affected the environment. Today, even before I look through the viewfinder, I have a general idea if the light needs to be modified. This only happens through practice and experience.

I can see images and notice color temperature (white balance), where the light source was in an image, and much more. The more you work with your camera, the more you understand how lighting effects your image. Eventually this will improve your vision to a point where you’ll see things differently.

7. First, learn all the rules…

Learn all the rules
Learn all the rules

When I started photography, I had no clue there were repeating themes that were used to make a pleasing image. There’s many photography principles that help you do just that! I’ve listed several here and by no means is this a comprehensive list:

  1. Fill the frame
  2. Rule of thirds
  3. Composition
  4. Depth (3Gs: fore-ground, middle-ground, back-ground)
  5. Movement through shutter speed
  6. Depth-of-field

This is small list to get you started, but learning these will only improve your photography. First learn all the rules… and then break them!

8. Find your community

Find your community
Find your community

Learning photography doesn’t have to be something you do alone. I joined a local photography club and it really took me further. It allowed me to enter monthly competitions and having my images critiqued helped me improve.

I also joined many YouTube channels and bookmarked several popular photography sites like OutdoorPhotoAcademy by Jim Hamel.

The takeaway here is to find your community, talk about photography and learn from each other to go further.

9. Respect the craft

Respect
Respect

There’s a lot of arguments on the internet about sensor sizes, lenses, camera brands, mega pixels, etc. Winning an argument won’t make you a better photographer and you waste precious time that could be spent improving your skills.

Photographers spend years and months into their work. Respect the craft and the time others have put into it. If you’re asked to provide feedback, be respectful and constructive.

Every day, someone new picks up a camera with the intention of becoming a photographer. Keep your distance from those online arguments and cultivate an environment that’s friendly to the new photographer.

10. Make it fun!

Make it fun!
Make it fun!

Are you frustrated with your camera? Photo editor? Your skills? Then take a break from it and come back another time. Photography is meant to be fun – not frustrating!

If you’re photographing other people remember you’ll transfer your energy to your subjects. Be happy and you will get better poses from them.

Remember to enjoy the ride, have fun, and click away!

The best beginner camera

My favorite part of photography is how much there is to learn. I still remember the anxiety before purchasing my first camera. I must’ve spent at least three weeks researching it. While I went with the Panasonic Lumix G7, if I had to recommend a beginner camera now, I’d recommend the Panasonic Lumix GX85 along with the 25mm f/1.4, the 15mm f/1.7 and the 42.5 f/1.2 lenses.

While there are newer cameras, I believe this camera with two lenses is the best value camera in 2020. See the video below for more details.

My favorite camera

Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below and thank you for reading!