What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas

- Shot on the way for "O" show (去看O show路上拍的-O show是在Bellagio飯店）

Just come back from Vegas. Had lots of fun and tons of footages needed to manage. 

Vegas really impressed me a lot, especially I'm from a country where gambling is illegal. However, When you stand at the earth of "Sin City" and watch those magnificent buildings, beautiful lights and signs of different casinos and exciting people with wine on their hands, you can't argue that's really a sin city, a city built by money!!

Manfrotto 701 unboxing

今兒個起床沒事做～就幫自己的新腳架拍拍照～
順便玩一下雲台(tripod head)的流暢度
原本打算要放上測試的影片
但是突然發現記憶卡速度有點慢會影響影片存取
果然還是要class 10的！
怕畫面結果會影響這顆雲台的效果
所以就沒放上來

總之 各位萬聖節快樂 Vegas 我來了！！

Red Door Cafe - Let's start a food discovery in SF

- Red Door Cafe




Things get easier when you have a DSLR with HD filming feature, especially when you accidentally stepped into a unfamiliar restaurant or cafe shop but somehow there is some thing drawn you into.


Having filmed for school and clients with the lovely 60D for a while, I've decided starting recording some
special and interesting moments while being in U.S. Something's like a video diary--"SF hanging out diary". 

My first customized video is released

Finally, It's released !!! I'm so excited now.
This is my first customized video I worked with amazing artists and "The Indulgence Lounge".
The video is for the event hosted by The Indulgence Lounge on Nov. 5th.

For the video I used my new canon 60D and 50mm 1.8f lens.
Check out the video and enjoy it. BTW~Plz watch in HD!



Also, you can like The Indulgence Lounge on FB

More space and Faster speed

As HD DSLR filming is getting popular, we need more disk space for these space eaters. Of course, the speed of your external hard drive is also a crucial  point of restoring or transferring those Big size footages you shot.

Alright, for Apple users they have fireware 800, up to 70mb/s. It not that bad for them to concern about loading footages so far. However, for PC users, things are getting critical.

But no worry now~USB 3.0 is coming out; theoretically, it's 10 time faster than USB2.0. LaCie just release 3TB drives with USB3.0 now!!! Yeah.....Wait! What if I don't have USB3.0 port in my laptop???
OMG~upgrading would never stop....I can picture the smile on Bestbuy staffs..lol

A small video form my project clips

As I mentioned before, I was struggling between Canon 60D and nikon D7000. Finally, I had Canon 60D for my new toy and shot my first project by myself with it. Equipped with Canon 50mm 1.8 lens, the picture quality was really sharp and warm. Also, flip screen is such a big plus!


Canon 60D has more verities of video formats, which is more useful for me. But the only concern for me is that Canon 60D still have AGC( Auto Gain Control ) problem, even though there is a manual audio control....Sad...I just bought Rode videomic for audio recording, but with AGC in Canon 60D...Rode is kinda no function now, unless canon release new updated firmware to allow AGC be turned off...Of course I don't want to spend $299~399 for Juicedlink or Zoom H4n.  I'm not a deep-pocket student....


Anyway,
I shot the footages in low light condition by setting
ISO: 500
Shutter speed: 1/50
Aperture: 1.8


Canon 60D_Test_1 from happlmax on Vimeo.

Please feel free to leave some feedback

Time for No more different size batteries

-a printer like cross media station                                                                 from engadget


When I were surfing engadget last night, I found an interesting and exciting thing is that: Canon just released the new prototype of Cross Media Station. This one can allow you (I mean owners of Canon products, which happened to be ME!!)to charge cameras and transfer pics, videos wireless. So no worry about how to organize batteries, different cables and chargers as you have more and more devices coming. That's fabulous! No more chaos in the house. 


But the prototype is still too big for me...You are not going to bring a printer while traveling, right! So...If it can cooperate with apple to develop a new version of ipad which can have similar function...That will be heaven there!!


Check out the video,then you will get a little idea about this interesting product.( I think the video was shoot from Canon expo...)

A assignment for online class

I shot this small video while waiting in line for Dim Sum for my online class to practice how to deal with HD video in different compression format. The original video is 1280 x 720, then I reduced it by 320 x 180 with H264 codec.

I used MEPG Streamclip to convert my video to 320 x 180. I recommend this program a lot because it's helpful for resizing your videos. You can keep the same dimension but with smaller size by choosing the quality. Also there are lots of different compression format you can choose. I always edit with FCP then   resize my files by using MEPG Streamclip before upload videos to youtube.

3D shooting now is accessible

picture form dpreview


Remember I mentioned the latest DSLR-Panasonic GH2 can shoot in 3D, right? This is the lens she is going to work with!!! It's also compatible with G2 ( filmware ver 1.1) as well.

I'm not familiar with 3D technology. according to Panasonic JP official website, basically they solved the time lag as shooting 3D by using right and left lens to capture images and projecting to different places of the sensor. Then the sensor will combine two images shot simultaneously to one. It's really hard to understand....lol

Here is the pictures form Panasonic JP website

This is the look of GH2 with 3D lens.

More infos please visit
http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/g2/index.html
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1009/10092123panasoniclenses.asp

New in town~Panasonic DMC-GH2



This fall will be the most exciting moment for DSLR film makers. Two days ago Panasonic announced the new micro four third camera- GH2. Compare to GH1, which is already a popular camera in DSLR filmmaking. GH2 has more improvements. It features world’s fastest AF (only 0.1 second) and Full HD 1080i(50/60p, GH1 only 25/24p) with up to 24Mbps recording rate, which makes more overwhelming image quality and smooth recording. Also, It’s the world’s first camera can shoot in 3D with 3D lens. And it’s continuous shoot can up to 5fps (GH1 is 3.5fps). The features GH2 has will raise more debates about which camera is the best DSLR in video recording. I think the image capture ability that GH2 has is really capable of threatening the lead Canon 5D II has. I can‘t wait to see how GH2 test videos will turn out.    

GH2 quick feature preview

1.      18 M sensor

2.      Touch screen

3.      Full HD 1080i(50/60p), 24Mbps AVCHD recording.

4.      3D shooting capability

5.      World’s fastest AF (only 0.1 second)

6.      23 points AF, ISO range up to 12800

7.      Support SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card

8.      Built-in Stereo and Socket for external mic

9.      Only 394g   

More infos
http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gh2/index.html

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonicdmcgh2/

Introduction video

How to have a stunning video or pictures economically

Remember Chase Jarvis, I mentioned his test shoot of Nikon D7000 before. For film beginners, this video filmed by him would be a good reference to save you pocket and teach you how to have a tasty photo or video as well. Personally, I think this video is more like a "Sandisk" commercial, sponsored by Sandisk, totally!!....Anyway, there are still some good thoughts I can take advantage of it. Also, as the DSLR filming is getting popular, any thing related to DSLR filming could be a market beneath it, even a sand bag!!! A $150 sand bag can create more angles of filming, I guess some people will take it as a money worthy investment. Will you?

A new coming from Nikon D7000

by dppreview.com



It has beeb a long while that Nikon fans waiting for D7000, and now it's here. With 39 points AF and 1080p HD movie with AF all time, Nikon D7000 is expected to be the best replacement of D90. Also, It's ready to join the battle field against Canon 60D and Sony A55.Now you can pre-order at Amazon etc. Personally, 39 points AF, ISO 6400 and 6 frames/ sec...those feature are strong to beat Canon 60D. However, before you have those cameras in hand, it's still hard to say which one is better. Anyway, I think D7000 brings a happy result  for those fans rumor and wait for a long time. Pocket, ouch! 


More information: http://www.dpreview.com/news/1009/10091515nikond7000.asp
                            http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25468/D7000.html
Also Chase Jarvis,a profession photographer already did some experimental shoots, check out!!
  Test video
  Photography

After two years, Lehman are coming back, or I should say they never really fall down.  And I believe the way make they coming back is still the same way they pull world's economy down. Maybe trying to being fortune and living around central park, you need to step others' bodies. This remind me there is a saying in my country " It won't never be my kid's turn" which means always others die first. Are you ready for next recession?

As a beginner of After Effect, I always surf online looking for free tutorials. And I have followed a great website-Video Copilot since last semester. Not just because there are lots of cool effects and tutorials but those are all free also. Moreover, the tutorials are all videos that you can keep replay it till you get it, just like there is a instructor right beside you.

Here is my work today, I just followed the orders and not quite changed anything. 

By the way, I just got a new prime lens for my canon 500D. I did a test shoot this afternoon and it turned out quite well. Check out ! 

Bruning Koran~ridiculous

We know that U.S. government has been putting lots of resource and troops in Middle East and Afghanistan to destroy terrorism and bring peace and freedom to the people in those areas. Put the real purposes of attacking Iraq and Afghanistan aside, we should know it has been at least 7 years after Iraq and Afghanistan war broke out. During the period, numerous innocent local people and U.S. soldiers died for the suicide bombers or terrorist attacks caused by anti-America sentiment. In Muslim world, Koran is seen as the core of their culture. If Pastor Terry Jones really burned Koran on Sep 11th, it would definitely raise more Muslim against American, break the effort U.S. spent to maintain peace in Middle East and Afghanistan for a long time and put more people and U.S. troops in danger. By Pastor’s action, the blood from those sacrificed American soldiers will be nothing and meaningless. Eventhough I'm not american, but I still feel sad if there are some people going to lose thier precious lives just because of someone's stupid mind of burning Koran. God bless the world.