S21FOLGORE's MICRO short film thread

[S21FOLGORE]

Legendary Canon FD80mm F1.2 “L” lens image samples (including rack focus) and improvised short films






I opted to go showing what kind of image you can create with this lens,

rather than showing the lens itself and talking about the specs and history.


First short film (just about 60 second) is “one-cut, one location, one lens” style. This lens is PERFECT for this type of filmmaking, in my very biased and personal opinion.

2nd short film was shot at my motorcycle garage, on the way back home right after purchasing this lens.

It is multi-cut film, but shot on one lens, in one location.


Both of them were totally improvised, shot with minimal amount of gear, just by myself, and, most importantly, IMAGINATION.


As you can most probably tell, I’m a big, BIG fan of film noir, 1950s and 60s PI stories. (Okay, Raymond Chandler’s stories were technically late 1940s, so let’s include 40s, too.)


I’m really happy with this purchase.


[Note]

The camera is Fuji X-T4, all my FD lenses are used with Metabones Speed Booster. (So 80mm is an 80mm, not 80 x 1.5.)

In both films, no lights were used, other than candle light.

It’s all done by carefully placing myself (subject) and camera, thinking which way the light is coming from.



[Back story]


DSCF2536 by T K, on Flickr


So, I’ve been trying NOT to buy things I don’t really need for my day to day life.

And, to be honest, I’ve been doing pretty good.

(After March 31st, I’ve spent a whole lot less than befor…)


“Create, rather than consume”, someone on Youtube said that.

I don’t remember who it was… (could be Peter McKinnon, but not sure…)


But this one, I couldn’t resist.

The last day of my “2-month time off”, I was drinking my first cup of coffee in the morning, while casually browsing through Craigslist ads.

And, I saw the title,

“Canon FD 80mm F1.2 L $695”


That particular ad was from Seawood photo in San Rafael, which is “kind of” my go to camera store. (Have been their customer for roughly 20 years or so…)

Five out of six FD lenses I own, I purchased from them, over the period of long time. (I’m not a vintage lens collector, I’m a vintage lens shooter, so normally don’t actively look for some particular lenses on eBay, etc.)

I did some still photo test, too.  I'll post it on photography thread.

[S21FOLGORE]

How to switch between Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto, quickly and seamlessly(without swapping the plate)



How I use one camera for both still photos and videos, on multiple tripods, without swapping mounting plates every time I change tripod.

Basically, I just mounted Small Rig 2280 Arca-Swiss quick release clamp on Manfrotto place (Genuine Manfrotto plate), with universal cheese plate in between.

Somethings are so obvious when I look back, but didn't (couldn't) really see when I started this small project were ...

Some quick release clamps, such as SIURI QC-38, the "drop-in, lever lock" type clamps, are only compatible with provided Arca-Swiss plate.


This clamp looks nice in the photos, feels and works nice in your hand, but ...

It'll work ONLY with this plate. (That comes with the clamp.)


It is adjustable, but the range of adjustment is so narrow.
I tired Peak Design, Small Rig, Neewer, K&F, and some unknown plates.
Non of them would fit.

So I returned it.

Bought Small Rig 2280. Not the most elegant looking clamp, but it does what it needs to do.



Mounted on Manfrotto plate that came with 501HDV head.
Only to realize, when tighten down the mounting screw, the clamp jaw will not move freely.
Found cheese plate in the parts box, sandwiched it in between.

Talking about "Manfrotto" plates, I found that...

Anything that comes from Manfrotto will fit onto their head AND other brands' "compatible heads".

The plates that come with "other brands' Manfrotto compatible head" WILL NOT always work on Manfrotto head.

[S21FOLGORE]

Fuji X-H2 & Vintage Canon FD85mmf1.2L test short film] "The Outsider"



Totally unscripted.
 It just happened while testing the camera and the lens.

Shot on Fuji X-H2 (Yes, H2. NOT H2S.) with vintage Canon FD85mm f1.2 L lens.
(And the camera is on also vintage Manfrotto 055XB PRO legs + 501HDV head.)

 Shot in F-Log2

And because of that (shooting in F-Log2), I had to have VND PLUS 6-stop fixed # ND most of the time while shooting the video.

 The camera is new to me. I purchased this as my "Photography camera".
But when I saw this bunch of goats on the hill, I had to shoot some videos.
Overall, I'm very happy with the camera.
If you are particularly interested in X-H2 (over X-H2S), look at the part the camera is panning. Can you tell the rolling shutter effect?
To me personally, this is perfectly fine.
(I really don't move the camera most of the time, actually. Let alone doing whip pan like "Whiplash", "La La Land".)

[S21FOLGORE]

So, I regularly watch Luc Forsyth channel.
This film was mentioned in many of his previous videos, and it finally came out.


HIGHLINE (Short documentary film by Luc Forsyth)



    Shot on very tight schedule, with very minimal gears and crew.
    The reason I love his channel.
    It's not about gear talk for its own sake.
    It's all about the story.

[S21FOLGORE]

Weihrauch HW45 Bronze Star(.22) Detailed log#1, unbox (sort of), grip, and holsters



[Disclaimer] There are NO firearms in the video!
Just got a brand new HW45 Bronze Star in .22, from AOA(Airguns Of Arizona).
 (Sort of) unbox. The secret about the “grip”. The holsters.
A little bit of sight-in sequence.

The kick(recoil) seems like just about the same as .177.
Maybe, just a little bit more.

Fairly accurate right out of the box.

Overall, I’m really happy with the purchase.

Will make more videos about this HW45 Bronze Star (.22), as well as Beeman P1 I purchased last year(.177), regardless the view count.
(I don’t care if the video gets viewed of not. I’m not a slave to Youtube algorithm.)

Links to the videos mentioned in this video

[S21FOLGORE]

Best fanny pack for Fuji X100V (I hate camera bags)



I also hate EDC videos, and so-called “cross body sling style” wear of fanny pack.
It’s a coward way. I really don’t think it (cross-body sling style) is more functional than normal way.

Call it a man purse if you want.
This is as manly as it can get.
It holds full size 1911 or Glock, with room for two extra magazines.
Or, Fuji X100V with square lens hood and a few extra batteries, with quick deploy capability.

[S21FOLGORE]

Recreating “Blade Runner (1980)” scene, on ultra low budget




Disclaimer:
In compliance with the Code of Best Practices
in Fair Use for Online Videos,
 this video comments on,
and shows copyrighted material for educational
and research purposes.


I made this about a year ago. But I took it down for copyright reason.
Warner-Tamerlane Publ Co. owns the copyright to Vangelis's Blade Runner music.
And they are really AGGRESSIVE.
“Fair use of copyrighted material” disclaimer won’t help.
Even though the music is so faint, it’s almost inaudible, the video still gets blocked.

I removed the original sound, and put different music.
See how it works.

[S21FOLGORE]

Pro Sushi Chef’s life “The Dark Knight”




(Kind of) really short, 3-minute documentary, if you will.
Shot on GoPro Hero10 and 1st Gen. Sony ZV1, at work.
(The reason? I knew there would be no time to operate the cameras.
All I could do was to set the camera where they don’t interfere with other workers, and just keep it running until either the battery dies or SD card get full.)

It was a real nightmare to bring the colors closer to each other.
(They are still off, but, in the original footages, they were WAY off.)

Usually I’m all alone, filming myself without anybody around me.
So, this was totally different. NO control over anything, at all.


So, I decided to be “The Dark Knight”.
Even though, I was fully aware of all the disadvantages of this outfit.

I can’t see well.
The cowl cuts down the peripheral view.

I can’t hear well.
Tight fit cowl is completely covering my ears.

I can’t turn my head well.
Because the cowl is attached to the neck piece.

And the cape…
It gets snagged on the corner of the cutting board,
it gets trapped between the refrigerators door.
Still, I managed to work throughout the night wearing them.

Also, to be looking proper BATMAN, you actually need face paint, to make around your eyes black.
I know I have the face paint somewhere, but couldn’t find it.


With all these negatives…
Why “The Dark Knight”, then?

Because I like the characters that live in the shadow.
Dark, complexed internals.

It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do, that’s what defines me.

[S21FOLGORE]

Midnight Sushi Chef - Surreal Short Film



(You can’t live… like a character in the film)

[Description]
Shot entirely in one location (in my kitchen), with one lens (vintage Canon FD85mmf1.2L), one camera (Fuji X-H2).
Using only Aputure MC and MT pro as the light sources.
Why was it possible?
Because,...
I shot with 1/13 shutter speed (24fps), at f1.2 (except for the last scene.) plus I’m using Metabones speedbooster.

[S21FOLGORE]

Switch Blade, California Legal [Short Film]



Shot while eating breakfast. Experimental short film.
A knife fanatic, a pro chef, an artist,…and a caped crusader…

(I just uploaded. STD and 4K versions are completed. HD version takes 50 more minutes. I’m off to work now. If you have to watch HD version, wait a little while.)