Incessantly stalling video.
Video too dark on the camera and so cannot see what is being to what and exactly how. If he wasn’t explaining it as he was doing it, this video would be entirely worthless.
Lastly, he apologizes for not having the “entire kit” and so cannot show you exactly how this or that goes on, etc. “This doesn’t appear to have side flags.” Either it does or doesn’t and I guess only the manufacturer knows for sure…
If this is a commercial designed to get me to buy this device it has failed and the stuttering has aggravated me.
I cannot understand why people in the pro video business cannot produce something like this on a considerably more pro level.
Posted by wsmith on 01/28 at 11:21 AM
Firstly, this review is not a commercial. FreshDV does independent, unbiased reviews on products that we actually use on a daily basis in real production.
I’ve tested the video player a number of times, and the video consistently plays for me without a single stall. In fact, it’s fully queued by the time the video reaches the 3-minute mark. I can only assume your issues are related to the speed of your internet access or it’s path to my host. But it’s probably easier to just dash off a snarky comment instead. I’m certainly not above it.
As this was shot on a dark background, I was careful to move slowly, explain things thoroughly and make sure product details show up in the video. Like this: http://twitpic.com/10882s I’ve also included a number of high-quality still images in this article for further perusal. If you can’t tell what’s going on in the video after watching for 10-minutes, then I’d suggest you get your computer monitor or eyes checked. Alternatively, you could just continue to assume it’s someone else’s problem. Your call.
There is and was no apology for not having an entire kit. Genus provided me with a loaner MB kit that also had an optional set of lightweight rods not designed for DSLR cameras or the full handheld rig that I was using. As this is a mattebox review, and not a rod system review, I saw no need to source a different set of rods. My rod system accommodated the mattebox just fine.
The reason I stated “there doesn’t appear to be side flags” is just that…there doesn’t appear to be a side flags option. We’ve stated things definitively in past reviews when it appeared there was no such option, and inevitably some genius commenter like yourself (yes, sarcasm) lambasts us for not being aware of such and such obscure side flags option, buried deep in an obscure catalog. I didn’t have a direct line to the manufacturer when I was making this video, so I put it in terms that I know are accurate. There doesn’t appear to be a side flags option. As a side note, side flags on this type of lightweight kit are a small feature to not include. Were it a larger unit designed for larger cameras, I’d know with more certainty about such an option. But since you have such high standards for accuracy, I invite you to dig around the Genus website and report back with your findings on the presence or abscence of a side flags option. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
As to why people in the pro video business cannot produce content that meets your exceptionally high standards (which are ironically in a direct inverse relationship to your own artistdomain.net website design standards), there is a very good reason for that. I’m a working professional. I don’t make product reviews like this because it pays my bills. It doesn’t. I make these reviews because I’m passionate about the gear I use, and because I believe that it’s essential to share information that helps other video professionals.
I look forward to your next installment of corrections,
Matt Jeppsen
FreshDV
Posted by Matt Jeppsen on 01/28 at 06:45 PM
Matt,
Man are you defensive! Maybe if you produced ads that were more professionally done, somebody might pay you.
Selling advertising is what FreshDV aspires to does it not?
I watched on a 24” Benq monitor and, yes, sorry to say, on my monitor the device was poorly lighted.
Your net speed may have been fine for you but my 3Mbps DSL was not.
Maybe I’d have been less damning of your whole production were it not for the stalling. Or, if internet video is a problem just give me a written review and some well lighted pictures and I won’t get aggravated.
Sorry!
Posted by wsmith on 01/28 at 07:58 PM
EDIT: I’ve got better things to do than argue with random internet commenters. I’ll close my part of this discussion with this:
“Selling advertising is what FreshDV aspires to does it not?”
Incorrect. Our only goal is to produce relevant, useful content for filmmakers and creatives. That’s why people like what we do and we’ve managed to build an audience over the past 5 years. Advertising from our kind sponsors pays the costs of running a busy website and makes special projects possible, like the past three years of extensive NAB video coverage.
Thanks for the feedback,
Matt Jeppsen
FreshDV
Posted by Matt Jeppsen on 01/28 at 08:15 PM
Matt, no need to respond but you should know that your video is a whopping 1334Kbps!
Assuming any congestion at all and a 1.5Mbps connection is probably going to choke.
Posted by wsmith on 01/28 at 09:27 PM
As we push to deliver higher-quality content, the bitrates must go up. Most of the hq Vimeo streams I watch on a daily basis are delivered at bitrates in excess of 1400 Kbps.
Matt Jeppsen
FreshDV
Posted by Matt Jeppsen on 01/28 at 10:23 PM
Fine for you.
Do you really see a need to out-do yourself on the quality even when knowing that it’ll choke the connections of a lot of potential viewers. Or do you just not care about them?
I’m less impressed with the stunning high def quality and more concerned with the content (and brightness of course). You could bring that datarate way down and still have very good PQ if you wanted to.
Don’t just take my word for it but 1334kbps is huge overkill for this application and risks disgruntling lots of potential viewers. This isn’t a Hollywood movie trailer for Avatar.
Sorry but I do have a need to access reviews, be they written or video. Just as long as I can access them.
Posted by wsmith on 01/28 at 11:00 PM
I’ve known Matt for about two years… and really appreciate what the guys at FreshDV do for us. Philip Bloom, Tom Guilmette, Paul Joy, and a few others provide us with free information on their blogs! Most of these reviews include videos and sample footage. It takes a lot to arrange shipping/receiving items to review… and to provide a detailed thorough assessment of various items.
If you have a problem with a datarate of the video or the content within said video, tell me how you’re going to get the information you need. You’d either have to spend $500+ going to a decent quality tradeshow like CineGear or NAB… or you’d have to risk going to a show room like B&H;or Abel. Most of these show rooms don’t even carry products like Genus on the floor…
So in short… stop spending all your time complaining and get out there and shoot!
——-
@wsmith… just because the Canon XL2 doesn’t make as nice an image as the Canon 5D/7D/EX-1/3… doesn’t mean you have to complain and be jealous! ;D
Posted by jstunzi on 01/31 at 10:53 PM
Jstunzi and others who may comment on this thread,
Just consider my comments to FreshDV as constructive criticism and feedback. Personally I think they need it and I don’t have even the sightest problem giving it. I want the commercials produced by FreshDV and anyone else showing me products - as long as they actually show the product. As I said, just give me a well written review rather than poor and stuttering video. So I don’t need a tradeshow to effectively learn about new products.
Re the XL2: I have no need for jealousy. My site’s picture was 10 years and 2 camera changes ago (having that particular tenor’s picture there drives good sales). You keep your Canon DSLR. I’m sure it’s good enough for you.
Posted by wsmith on 02/01 at 07:29 AM
I have no problem playing the video, but I agree: the lighting sucks dead monkeys. You CANNOT see the camera rig. You can’t expect to light flesh and black metal with the same light. If you would add a special on the camera rig, everything would be fine. Most of the camera is in shadow, and you have exceeded the recording medium’s contrast ratio.
In production school, doesn’t lighting come before matteboxes?
Jerry Slick
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 05/28 at 12:07 PM
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