Audio -- tame the beast

Audio -- another learning curve

Good Audio is a beast - and either it's there - or it isn't - so I've decided to get a handle on it.  But - I don't have any decent Mics -- other than my RODE Video Mic.  I always thought it was a bit huge - so I started some research for either dedicated for the Olympus LS-7 or iPhone.

I had the thought of a dedicated iPhone mic - and it seems RODE is the only one producing such -- http://www.rodemic.com/mics/smartlav

The RODE SmartLav -- from what I've seen, it seems to be "ok", yet I'm not convinced - hit the youtube's - some are good and some are bad.

So - instead of a dedicated device I decided to get a decent regular LAV -- from Giant Squid Audio http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-mono.html

He's a cottage business, but is off the charts for good bulletproof gear -- did I just say bulletproof -- oh, yeah... that's right -- his stereo lavs survived my tour in Baghdad.  But I digress... "they never got shot, for what it's worth"

This convinced me - ​

Then -- I decided to pull one of these - iphone mic adapter - no power needed... boom !  http://www.kvconnection.com/product-p/km-iphone-mic-ecm.htm

Why -- 'cuz I want to start pulling some good audio, either with iPhone or externally with my Oly LS-7 -- and then layering on video.

Now onward to homebrewaudio and to figure out Reaper.

Good Light or Good Form

A colleague asked me when do I usually go out to shoot - "When ever I can", I said.  There are times when I plan a shoot - or have an idea of what kind of look I want.  Other times the moments are serendipitous.

As seen from my most of my work, it is probably not too difficult to see how I am attracted to very, strong, rectilinear forms.  And that is sometimes satisfied thru harsh light and shadow - and I'm really fine with that as the form is what I'm after.    The above image was shot with an Olympus Zuiko 35mm f2.8 Shift - converted with a Leitax Nikon adapter.

This last weekend I shot the Triad Center - and because that area is so vertical and channeled - overhead sun worked out well.  Else - the contrast between the shadow would be too difficult to balance.

Cameras and Coffee

This last weekend I met up with a very good friend and with him was his new Olympus OM-D.  Upon comparing notes his research was exhausting.  He was on day 3.

Of course - I have to compare this to the Nex.  I know it has been done before and with a twist as this is non image dependent.  As we were both on the road and I didn't have a laptop to compare such.  But there is a lot out there regarding this camera and the sensor.

I feels great in the hand - because of the heft - it is just feels so well built - like a tank.  And I like that a lot.  That first impression of quality really goes far.  

Buttons and controls have a good feel - not snappy but responsive.  

Fit and finish is perfect.

The lens has push pull zoom function -- push and it's electronically controlled - pull and its barrel controlled.  I prefer barrel control.

Rear screen is OLED - who cares about that - it just looks great.

Electronic Viewfinder looks great also - better than NEX

Olympus must have a hell of an R&D facility because it sure seems they can come to market really quickly - this camera it seems to have come out of nowhere.

Holding the camera is awkward - to finger grip is way to go - any more than that and the other fingers start landing on buttons and pressing stuff.  Sometimes when that happens the only way to clear what you did is too cycle the power.

There are too many buttons on the back.  I understand Sony's reasoning to embed controls within wheels and scroll wheels etc.  It frees up real estate on the back panel.  And the Sony hand grip is about perfect.

Olympus tried to shrink an SLR body -- and it doesn't really work with out pushing a bunch of random buttons.

Autofocus is crazy fast - about instant - I didn't do any scientific low-light comparison but it was non comparable to the Nex.  I wish the Nex was this fast.

So - in the end there is no such thing as the perfect setup - and you shoot what you have to shoot.  For some that's a Brownie - others may have a D3s.  I have Nex and his is the OM-D.  You work with what you got - and in the end, the image does the speaking for you.

Get out and shoot.

OLYMPUS ZUIKO 35MM SHIFT f2.8 LENS

Here is a video review of the Olympus Zuiko Shift 35mm f2.8 lens.

Purchased used and converted to a Nikon Mount thru a Spanish company called Leitax.

I incorrectly pronounced their name with a "Z" - my appologies.