FiveSix ProductionsFIVESIX Productions

4K From the Clouds

We have upgraded our aerial photography capabilities and value by outfitting our DJI Inspire 1 with the latest in drone-mounted cameras. The Zenmuse X5 is a Micro 4/3, mirrorless camera that is capable of shooting up to 4K at frame rates of up to 30fps and 16MP still frames. The camera is equipped with the standard MFT interchangeable lens mount, which is great given the increasing number of lenses DJI is appearing to output. Finally, the camera's control functions, such as one-touch auto-focus, aperture, etc. are all wireless and controllable from your smart phone or tablet- or whatever you are using. Here's some spectacular specs.

All this is great, but I think that the key improvements are in the image quality, because, at the end of the day, that's what the end consumer is going to see. The X5 is capable of 12.8 stops of dynamic range, allowing for awesome clarity in a wide range of shadows and highlights. This increase in dynamic range is important for us here at FiveSix given the frequency in which we find ourselves shooting off and on throughout the day when the sun and ensuing shadows can really create a variety of headaches. The 4/3 sensor is eight times larger than that of the previous X3 which came standard on the Inspire 1 (compare to a GoPro), this provides extraordinary clarity, detail, and quality at ISOs from 100-25600 which is unmatched in the industry today. Check out the awesomeness right now with your eye balls!


FiveSix Video Production

Ping Pong Master vs Kuka Robot - Video Production Steals the Show

Just cause you can do it, doesn't mean you should.

The premise of matching a man vs machine is a compelling storyline, in just about any competition.  In the case of table tennis, this advertisement made the rounds seemingly to tease a future video of the game. We never got that, unfortunately.  Technically the video was sound.  The lighting was dramatic and interesting, the camera movement was smooth, the angles and framing were dynamic.  But even though they pulled everything off, it felt like a video production case of we got it so let's use it.

We have high speed frame rates, let's use it to show a dive from a low angle with sweat flying through the air.   (seen it before)

We have 4K, let's pan and scan a couple hits across the table.  (jarring, kind of annoying, rather see a wide shot)

We have a jib/crane, let's do a high angle really wide while he's running around.

It just felt like they were throwing video production elements in because they could, not because it helped the spot.  I think it could have turned out better without all the jazz.  The use of the rapid cutting and having every shot trying to speak to the dramatics of the situation, pulled us to focus more on the video production rather than the robot.  This is an ad after all and it felt like it.  After seeing the close up of Kuka on the ball twice for no particular reason and never seeing a 'real' point played, I think the ad made me feel like I was watching an ad, a quarter way through.  If I wasn't into the production side of things, I would have closed out.  If the ad did it's job, I should be talking how cool robotics is going to be for videographers as prices come down and we can get robots like that to create precision moves on our shoots that call for it.  Instead I'm saying, how cool for the production team that got to play with all their gear on a shoot that didn't call for it.  But I wrote about it so maybe it did it's job after all.

Basic point is, we're all guilty of this from time to time and it's always good to check yourself and make sure you're not using a piece of gear just because it's available or it's cool and you want to use it.  Gear is used to enhance the shot/piece, not create it.

Here's the Kuka robot video if you haven't seen it.