Why Ikonoskop, two years after.

Why Ikonoskop, two years after.

It took me almost 2 years to appreciate the camera that I had in my hands since its purchase.

I came very close selling the camera due to the cinemaDNG files incompatibility in pre 8.02 Resolve color finishing software (many of you remember the magenta issue in crashed highlights).

BMCC came along and Black magic design finally started working on cinemaDNG format in depth (lucky us) because of the up coming release of the 2.5k cinema camera.

Then suddenly everything changed, cinemaDNG, the heart and soul of Ikonoskop’s
d-II (same format as Black magic’s camera) along with the amazing capabilities of RAW image process in post production, turned the Lilliput camera into a monster, a total metamorphosis!

Resolve V9.1 was released soon after and ACES color space (Academy Color Encoding Specification) did the trick, fast and reliable base to start working on, one-light dailies was easy and fast to create. Jesses Barkowski “how to” video explained everything you needed to know when working with the ACES helped a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B7DqtW7LB7g

Now back to the camera it’s self. 8 reasons not selling my camera ever again:

1. The viewfinder (no clumsy EVF add-ons) we are talking about the real thing.
2. A real hand held camera with No mambo jumbo accessories surrounding the camera body.
3. Only 2.440g with Zeiss mk3 lens, LMB3 matte box, battery and card.
4. Mount versatility, you can mount any 16mm vintage glass like c-mount lenses and of course high end glass like the Zeiss ultra 16 primes as well as the legendary canon 8-64mm zoom lens.
5. Global shutter.
6. Amazing skin tones.
7. 12bit RAW
8. The new 1.28 firmware, REC709 out, false color, complete data details on side monitor, stability and many more. (rec/stop trigger for devices like samurai/sound devices still missing).

Ikonokops Announcement
The d-II camera finally came into fruition and people started realizing the virtues of the camera. But the timing is bad. Ikonoskop announced the postponement of the production (temporarily I hope) and many potential buyers are now pushed back.

If you are looking to buy a used one I think is the right time to buy one…

Stay tuned for the next tutorial: setting color temperature in Davinci resolve using a color meter during principal photography.

IKONOSKOP - DAVINCI RESOLVE 8.2.1 BASIC TUTORIAL WORKFLOW

Ikonoskop basic tutorial using davinci resolve lite 8.2.1
magenta issue quick fix, dailies export to
fcp and round tripping for final grading.

IKONOSKOP - DAVINCI RESOLVE 8.2.1 BASIC TUTORIAL WORKFLOW from Decoy studios on Vimeo.

Why IKONOΣKOP

It’s been almost 2 years since the DSLR movement arose, large sensors, shallow depth of field, high ISO’s and many more but still, a photo camera.

I was one of the first filmmakers here in Greece that adapted the new trend. I sold

my Aaton camera and bought a Canon 5Dmk2, after a long period of research and

lens tests.

Now I believe the DSLR fashion is gone because big industry giants started manufacturing tools and cameras with down to earth prices. I’ll have to admit that Canon and Nikon shook the big giants and made them produce large sensor video  cameras in modest prices.

It’s time for me to move on and the question is what camera sould I buy next. Ok, let’s talk about prices, a decent Scarlet or C300 package comes to $19.000 with out the lenses. Both cameras could use a plethora of lenses from the astonishing Master primes to canon photography lenses. Investing your money into these cameras with a decent set of prime lenses (35mm Zeiss mk2’s or early Cook’s) we’re looking about $40.000 a lot of money for an independent filmmaker.

The question is what kind of lenses I would like to use from now on (Cine or photographic). The price drop on the Super 16mm lenses drove me to the Ikonoskop camera, so I started flirting with the a-cam dII for the past 4 months and when I finally found a set of Zeiss super speeds I ordered the camera. Using cine lenses on a digital camera like the Ikonoskop feel’s like shooting with my little Aaton.  RAW files and 12bit color, beautiful skin tones, good value for money and many more made me say yes to the a-cam.  

Final CUT PRO X Tutorials

For those who downloaded FCPX and need some help here are the best tutorials around. Watching the tutorials I can tell for sure that in a years time X will catch up its ancestor and become an industry work horse again. You can have a look here:

http://www.izzyvideo.com/final-cut-pro-x-tutorial/

Poll me X

FINAL CUT PRO X

I was going to buy a video converter from the app store and accidentally saw the most expected editing software for Mac the legendary Final cut X. 

For many years I was editing on avid but some people insisted to give FCP a go. I was very reluctant trying something new, I had crazy fears like my edit will go out of sync, the trimming mode is not as good as Avid's and I can name a hundred more. 

The main reason that I finally sat down and learned how to use FCP is because I hated Avid's update policy, every time that was an update you had to pay for it, Apple's update policy was different and a lot cheaper. 

Apple's new strategic plan to eliminate software piracy introduced the app store for Mac and reduced software prices in many occasions less than half price. For example the upcoming Lion OS costs less than €30 and Final cut X costs €239.99

I will definitely buy the new FC X and try it out. Looking forward importing directly from my 5D and play around. 

I will be posting my first impressions very soon! 

  

Technicolor cine style samples

By clicking on the videos below you can view samples using cinestyle patch
on your DSLR.