MUSIC, MOVIE, AND COMEDY

keep yourself happy always with Nigeria Entertainments styles.
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Cancer patient Debbie Osarere Idiagbonya has died

Debbie has finally lost her battle with cancer. She passed away today April 1st, 2016 after years of battling breast cancer, liver cancer and just last year, bone cancer. I met her in DC in 2012 and she had such an amazing spirit and her attitude to life was incredible. I truly believed she would beat cancer but I guess God has other plans for her! Sleep well, Debbie! You fought like a champion!    "linda"

Nigerian officials snub US-led anti-corruption groups

Nigerian officials snub US-led anti-corruption groups

April 1, 2016Ladi Olorunyomi

Nigerian officials rose from the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting on Wednesday without committing the Buhari administration to a key demand of their American counterparts, membership of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Partnership on Illicit Finance (PIF), two anti-corruption initiatives promoted by the United States government.

Launched in 2011 and 2014 respectively, OGP and PIF are multilateral initiatives that require policy and technology-backed anti-corruption framework in member countries.

OGP signatory governments are required to develop action plans that elaborate their commitment to defined standards of government integrity, citizen participation, corporate accountability, public safety and effective management of public resources, all of which are to be overseen and verified by a multi-stakeholder international steering committee of governments and leading civil society representatives.

PIF is an outcome of the historic U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit which was attended by Nigeria and 50 other countries.

It requires member nations to develop action plans to stem cross-border corruption-related financial flow which they can execute in conjunction with the United States. Nigeria currently ranks 10 on the global index of countries with high illicit financial flow.

American officials were vocal about their desire to see Nigeria join OGP and PIF preparatory to the BNC meeting.

Speaking on U.S.-Nigeria partnership at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) two days before the meeting, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs, praised President Buhari’s “strong position on fighting corruption”.

She pledged U.S. support for law enforcement and judicial investigation and prosecution of “complex corruption cases” and called on Nigeria to “join the growing global community that is using OGP and PIF to strengthen transparency, accountability, and good governance”.

Nigerian delegation to the BNC, led by Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, did not elaborate on their objection to membership of the OGP and PIF. The 19-paragraph communique issued at the end of the meeting stated that the “BNC discussed the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Partnership on Illicit Finance (PIF)” and that the U.S. delegation talked about the “potential benefits to Nigeria of membership in these two initiatives”.

The communique states that “the Nigerian side agreed to respond to the outstanding invitations to join in due course”.

Nigerian officials are not strangers to OGP requirements, in fact, they were discussed at the 2012 BNC meeting which, like this year’s, was held in Washington DC.

The fourth paragraph of the communique from that meeting, which was signed by delegates from both countries, affirmed their commitment to transparency and accountability at all tiers of government, in pursuit of which “Nigeria intends to widen its budgetary transparency efforts to include public asset declarations by parliamentarians and other senior public officials”.

Nigerian delegation to that meeting was led by Olugbenga Ashiru, then minister of foreign affairs, it included four state governors and officials from four ministries and six agencies.

They were roundly condemned by the Jonathan administration for acceding to the clause on asset declaration. President Goodluck Jonathan refused to publicly declare his assets throughout his stay in office.

After the communique from the 2012 BNC became public, he dismissed calls for asset declaration on a prime time public television program, saying that there is no legal requirement for him to do so.

The U.S. delegation to this year’s BNC obviously expected that their Nigerian counterparts would have no objection to joining the two anti-corruption initiatives since President Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajo have already declared their assets.

Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield noted that President Buhari is following through on his anti-corruption promises including implementation of Treasury Single Account, elimination of ghost workers from civil service payroll and taking steps to ensure that no one is “immune from prosecution – not officials from past administrations, not officials from his own”.

Many of Nigeria’s allies have joined the two organizations. Members of OGP grew from six founding countries to 69 in less than five years, they include Ghana and Liberia in West Africa, as well as Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia. PIF members include Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mauritius, Liberia, Niger, and Senegal.

Chibok Girls ‘Abduction’ Stage-Managed To Oust Jonathan – Fayose

Chibok Girls ‘Abduction’ Stage-Managed To Oust Jonathan – Fayose

daniel 2 days ago

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Wednesday declared the alleged abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from their hostels by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State almost two years ago, as a hoax.

The governor in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the alleged abduction was a political tool deployed to stir public sentiments against the Goodluck Jonathan administration ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Mr. Fayose’s comments came on the heels of the confirmation by the Nigerian government that one of the would-be female suicide bombers arrested in northern Cameroon last week and who claimed to be one of the abducted schoolgirls, is not from Chibok.

“Today, many opposition leaders are underground. I don’t think any of these girls is missing; it is a political strategy.

Who is fooling who? If you wanted to use it to remove some people, you have succeeded already”, Fayose said while declaring open a two-day workshop on “Political Aspirants Capacity Enhancement” organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative.

The workshop was organised for women from Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states.

“I don’t know if there are missing girls but no indication has shown that. It is a political strategy, because I don’t think any girl is missing. If they are missing, let them find them”, the governor added.

He also mocked the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group, saying some of its leaders are using the movement to seek political appointments.

The Ekiti governor further lamented that human rights groups had gone silent since President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, saying “I’m concerned about the activities of human rights groups. Today the government of the day is obeying court order of their choice, while human rights are not respected”.

“We must talk about government providing cover for criminals. You are now using that person to harass innocent person. You will never have peace when you hide justice”, he added.

According to Fayose, “Police came into town yesterday (Tuesday) to arrest political opponents. If you like, demonise me, I will demonise you. I don’t need the police and the SSS (Department of State Services) to walk in my state. It is when you are not popular that you walk with police.

“Any government that rises against me, that government will come down. I’m Peter the rock. By engaging me, you make me more popular and relevant and then court sympathy. I’m one person that is going places. That is why all these challenges are against me”, he stated.

The governor also advised women seeking elective offices to be loyal to their husbands.

Earlier, the President of the initiative and human rights campaigner, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the objective of the workshop was to enhance women political participation and their inclusion in decision making process by promoting female political aspirants and appointees.

According to Okei-Odumakin, the workshop was organized to encourage a more massive political mobilisation of women.

She also lamented that Nigerian women had not fully involved themselves in politics, despite the constitutional provisions giving them rights to political participation.

This war will not stop – Boko Haram says in new video

This war will not stop – Boko Haram says in new video

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on April 1, 2016

Barely a week after its leader, Abubakar Shekau appeared in a video looking subdued as he insinuated that the end has come for him, the Boko Haram sect on Friday released another recording where it foreclosed cessation of hostilities.

In a video clip posted on YouTube, Boko Haram maintained it was a potent fighting force as its fighters posed with AK-47s in front of Toyota Hilux pick-up trucks and a lorry mounted with a military cannon.

The video was markedly of better quality than the last one released by Shekau, and included Arabic subtitles with nine masked Boko Haram fighters standing on sandy ground in an unidentified desert location. A masked man wearing camouflage said, reading a prepared script in Hausa, “You should know that there is no truce, there are no negotiations, there is no surrender.

“This war between us will not stop,” the character said.

Nigerians are suffering, Buhari must stop needless foreign trips –Fayose

Nigerians are suffering, Buhari must stop needless foreign trips –Fayose

— 2nd April 2016

BY WOLE BALOGUN, ADO EKITI

EKITI State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has called on well-meaning Nigeri­ans to prevail on President Mohammadu Buhari to stop his needless foreign trips, describing the president’s trip to the United States of America on Wednesday for the 4th Nuclear Security Summit, while Nigerians are suffering at home as, “joke of the year.”

The governor said, “it re­mains a mystery what Presi­dent Buhari that met power generation at 6,000MW and could not manage it such that power generation crumbled to 0MW yester­day, will contribute to the Nuclear Energy Summit in America.”

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Pub­lic Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said, “it is shameful that while Presi­dent Buhari was far away in the United States of Ameri­ca, attending a summit that does not have any bearing on Nigeria and its people, an unprecedented happened – power generation stopped completely for over three hours!”

He said the sufferings of Nigerians deserved the at­tention of the president in­stead of junketing around the world, wasting the country’s scarce foreign ex­change.

The governor alleged that over $50 million must have been spent on the president’s frequent foreign trips, adding that Nigerians should ask President Bu­hari whether his trip to the United States of America to attend Nuclear Energy Summit will bring the lin­gering fuel scarcity being experienced in the country to an end.

Chief of Naval Staff tasks officers on physical, mental fitness

— 2nd April 2016

Chief of Naval Staff tasks officers on physical, mental fitness

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, on Saturday urged naval personnel to keep fit always for optimal performance in their duties.

He gave the advice at the first quarter routine march for Nigerian Navy personnel in Abuja.

Ibas, who was represented by Rear Admiral James Oluwale, Group Managing Director, Navy Holdings Limited, said that the march was imperative to ensure effective and efficient service delivery by the navy.

“The turnout is very impressive and our performance is excellent. I am very convinced that we are all feeling very good.

“The objective of the march has been achieved; we have all sweated very well, and this has added value to our health,’’ he said.

Ibas said that the routine march was a way of re-energising the officers and also getting them together to socialise.

He advised that the exercise should be sustained, adding that those on essential duty who could not participate should make themselves available next time.

According to him, as military personnel, one must be fit enough to be able to do his job effectively. (NAN)

CAMERA LENSES. Read what professionals said about lens

5 best lenses for shooting video with a Canon DSLR (with video examples)

Shooting video with a Canon DSLR camera? Here's 5 lenses that work great for shooting video. Plus sample footage.

By Clinton Stark -

05.19.2014

Have EOS, will travel. Canon 70D with 18-135mm STM kit lens, ready for some run-n-gun. Here's my 5 favorite lens for shooting Canon DSLR video.

Thinking about taking the dive into video with your Canon DSLR? Here’s 5 lenses worth a look.
I’ve been shooting video for eight years. First using a good ‘ol Canon Vixia camcorder; then in 2010 everything changed when I bought the EOS Rebel T2i and entered the world of DSLR video. I never looked back, eventually moving to a EOS 60D and then last year to the brilliant auto-focus equipped 70D (seen in photo above).
Lenses can be confusing. There are many choices. Lots of types (telephoto, prime, macro, fisheye). And a seemingly endless array of manufacturers (Canon, Tamron, Sigma, Zeiss, etc.). One thing I’ve learned: a lens made primarily for taking photos may not necessarily be the best for video.
Image Stabilization

A quick tip: If you’re getting into DSLR video for the first time I highly recommend you look for a lens with image stabilization. On Canon lenses that feature is usually denoted with “IS” in the model name. Without lens stabilization you’ll get what’s called “micro-jiggles” when shooting handheld. You can use a tripod or some form of rig to correct that issue, but if you’re like me, you’re doing run-n-gun and shooting documentary style… which leads me to this point…
“Best” ?
Declaring these particular lenses as “best” for DSLR video is a bit of a misnomer. Let me admit that right up front! There is no best really. It depends on how you’re planning to use the camera.
First establish up front what style of video you’ll be filming.
A narrative feature will have a script and storyboard. Scenes will be carefully constructed, blocked, lit. In this situation, prime lenses (those with fixed focal lengths) are usually the best as they offer the sharpest quality image. On the other hand if you’re shooting a documentary you may not necessarily know where your subject is going to move, so a stabilized telephoto may work best.
For Stark Insider, we shoot food & wine, backstage theater, and sit-down interview videos. Again, mostly run-n-gun. I don’t have time to set-up scenes. We are often, if not always, time constrained. That means a flexible lens that works well in a variety of situations (also, I usually don’t have the luxury of being able to change lenses on the go, so I usually need a do-it-all).
Invest in Quality Glass When You Can
Some of the best lenses on the market, such as the “L” series from Canon, can cost thousands of dollars. Are they worth it?
Yes and no.
Keep in mind a good lens can last a lifetime. Invest in quality once, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for decades to come, moving it from one Canon body (or EF mount camera) to the next. That doesn’t mean that you need to spend a fortune mind you. All of the lenses I use listed below are under $1,000 – and, yet, the results can be perfectly acceptable, even at times amazing. Again, it comes down to goals. If you’re planning to project 4K at a movie theater, well then you’re probably already renting Cine Primes or something like that. On the other hand if you’re like me you’re primarily delivering at 1080p for the web, and don’t necessarily need a $25,000 lens to get decent results and viewers watching.
In the End the Storytelling Matters Most!
I admit it. I get caught up too in the hoopla. Panasonic GH4! Blackmagic! Digital Bolex! Wow! Wow! Wow!
Search YouTube and you’ll find endless comparos for cameras and lenses. Cats. Flowers. Buildings. How great it is to test new gear, or, better still, watch someone else test new gear? Gonzo!
I love all that stuff… but my advice is not to get too fixated with all the infatuating minutia. Get out there and shoot! Practice. Learn from your mistakes. Refine your style. Instead of searching for the latest comparison watch some tutorials on composition, editing, and using the camera to create a visual narrative. I’m not quite there yet, really. I cringe at my early work, and I cringe often at my recent work – so many mistakes. Just keep in mind a lens, a camera… or any piece of gear for that matter, will only get you so far. A great idea with plenty of creative spark could turn out beautifully when shot on just, say, an iPad or iPhone. After all, compelling storytelling is about grabbing our attention, stoking our imagination, and then engaging a variety of human emotion. No lens alone, no matter how sharp, can do that. That’s our job, as visual storytellers.
Okay, then, onto the gear! I’ve listed these in the order that I’d recommend to someone building out a collection of lenses from scratch. If you had all these in your bag I dare say I think you’d be well equipped for just about anything (Zombie apocalypse excluded).

5 Best Lenses for Shooting Video with a Canon DSLR

1. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

A great all-rounder. New to video, and want to buy just one lens to get started? This is the one. Canon introduced auto-focus for DSLR last year with the revolutionary 70D. Called “dual pixel” you can touch the LCD of the 70D and the camera will automatically focus on a subject, even as it moves – just like a camcorder. It works brilliantly. This lens which Canon introduced in 2013 features STM (Stepper Motor) which means it focuses with minimal to no noise. That’s great, because with this lens you don’t have to worry about the camera’s microphone picking up unwanted sounds. I’ve been shooting most recent Stark Insider videos using this one, and it’s never let me down. $540 on Amazon (or pick it up for a discount as part of a 70D camera bundle)
Most of this video “Wrong’s What I Do Best” was shot using the 18-135mm (for a couple of the shots of San Francisco I used the Sigma mentioned below).
VIDEO EXAMPLE: Canon 18-135mm STM Lens
Wrong’s What I Do Best – San Francisco Art Institute from Stark Insider on Vimeo.

2. The “Nifty Fifty” – Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon makes 3 50mm lenses. I like the cheapest the best. At only $110 this is an amazing deal. For that you get quality glass that belies its price that works wonders in low light thanks to its speed (1.8). IS is absent so you’ll need a (very) steady hand or (preferred) a rig. Still, I’ve managed to capture filmic like footage handheld with this beauty. Thanks to it glorious bokeh (the unfocused area of the frame) you might just be blown away by the results. Only $110, the craziest lens deal of all time.

3. Rokinon Cine 85mm t/1.5 De-Clicked Aperture

If you have the first two lenses I mention above you’re off to a good start. Want to get fancier without breaking the bank? Try this Rokinon. It’s a “Cine” lens which in this case means the aperture has been “de-clicked” – so instead of adjusting the f-stop using the camera controls, you’ll adjust it by rotating the ring on the lens. Obviously don’t buy this lens first, it takes practice. Everything is manual. So it’s not ideal for run-n-gun. I still carry it with me when I have a few extra minutes, especially at night. I can dial in a cinematic scene and the results are often spectacular. Keep in mind most Canon DSLRs feature a APS-C sensor, meaning they are not full frame (like the Canon 5D Mk III). The crop-factor is about 1.6x. Meaning this lens will in fact result in a shot that is more like ~ 130mm. I like this one for filming people from a distance. Again, that filmic look! Lists for $399, but priced extremely well at about $330 on Amazon.

4. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM L

Sigma set the camera world ablaze with this new lens. All you could hear anyone talk about in 2013, especially those into DSLR video, was that new Sigma lens… and its incredible sharpness and overall performance (rivaling that of glass costing two- to three-times as much). Many even suggest that because this lens is so good that it is in essence three primes in one: 18, 24, and 35mm. In fact that’s exactly how I treat it. With the above mentioned three lenses I’m covered for image stabilized zoom from 18-105mm, have a sharp 50mm, and cinema 85mm for artistic stuff. This Sigma give me wider angles and superb low-light performance (F1.8). An instant classic. $799 on Amazon (don’t look for discounts on this one quite yet!), but goes in and of stock because of the off the charts demand.
Again, no image stabilization. Keep that in mind.
Still, I shot this artsy (okay, quirky) “Napa Gras” video on it handheld, using modest warp stabilizer here and there in Premiere CC.
VIDEO EXAMPLE: Sigma 18-35mm Art Lens
Napa Gras: ‘A Sensory Odyssey’ at Raymond Vineyards (Premiere Napa Valley) from Stark Insider on Vimeo.

5. Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens

This is a new lens that comes out this summer. I have not tested it. But I’m adding it to the list because it’s (a) only $300; (b) features STM meaning it will focus without noise and pairs well with Canon camera bodies such as the 70D and T4i/T5i; and (c) should give nice wide angle shots, especially for outdoors. It has IS so it should be suitable for handheld work. It’s not a fast lens (f4.5-5.6) so I’d avoid low light shoots. Note: wait for the reviews on this one just to be sure before you buy. $299 on Amazon.

5 Lenses to Rule the World

… and scene!
With these 5 lenses in your bag, you’re pretty much set for anything (invasion of Godzilla excluded). The 18-105mm with STM is a perfect all-rounder, ready for just about any occasion, easy to use and almost silent. It’s on my 70D about 90% of the time. If I want to get some filmic looks I’ll swap it out for the Canon 50mm or (if I have extra time) the Rokinon 85mm. In low light I’ll switch to the amazing Sigma 18-35mm and zoom… using my feet! Finally for wide angles I’d use the new Canon 10-18mm STM – I could see this coming in handy, say, for sweeping shots of Napa, San Francisco and in and around Silicon Valley where Stark Insider is based.

What about L Glass?

I didn’t recommend any of Canon’s premium L glass. Am I crazy? Well, okay, you might have a point. If you have the budget I’d consider swapping out my #1 lens with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L. It’s a professional staple. With a pro price to match: $2,300. Is it worth it? If you’re just getting started with video I’d say probably not – there’s too much to learn first, and besides you can get great results from the lenses I mention above. If you’re a pro, then you likely already own this lens (or rent it). It’s a classic. Phenomenal performance. Again, remember, “best lenses” is a very subjective matter!

Parting Thought: The Beauty of the EF Mount

All of these lenses I’m recommending above use Canon’s EF mount. I love it. Among videographers and filmmakers the EF mount has become an industry standard (much like PL for high end work). That means if you decide to take the leap and invest in a so-called cinema camera body, such as the lovely (albeit quirky) Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF or superb Canon EOS Cinema series (C100/300/500), you’ll be able to  use all your existing Canon glass. Bellissimo!

Clint’s 5 best lenses for shooting video with a Canon DSLR:

1. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM $540
2. The “Nifty Fifty” – Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II $110 (a crazy bargain)
3. Rokinon Cine 85mm t/1.5 De-Clicked Aperture $330 or less
4. Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM L $799 (amazing lens, used by filmmakers, but keep in mind no image stabilization)
5. Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens $299 (handy for wide angles, establishing shots)

Have fun shooting video with your DSLR!

Digital SLR cameras explained: 10 things every new photographer must know

Digital SLR cameras are the preferred tool of most professional photographers and they’ve been the first choice of camera for enthusiast photographers for decades, but what is a digital SLR, how do they work and why are they so popular? Our head of testing, Angela Nicholson explains all you need to know.

Digital SLR cameras explained: 1. Why Single Lens Reflex?

The name single lens reflex camera seems rather odd today, but there was a time when twin lens reflex (TLR) cameras were very popular – there are still one or two models on sale today.
The two lenses of an TLR have the same focal length and their focusing mechanisms are linked, but they are used for two different tasks.
The ‘viewing lens’ is used for focusing while the photographer looks in the waist-level viewfinder, while the ‘taking lens’ sits in front of the film, ready for exposure in a separate chamber.
The word ‘reflex’ in the name stems from the fact that TLR and SLR cameras have a reflex mirror, essentially a mirror at 45 degrees, that reflects light from the lens into the viewfinder.
In a TLR the mirror is fixed and the scene is visible in the viewfinder throughout the exposure.
In a digital SLR camera, however, the mirror flips up during exposure to allow the light to reach the film or sensor, this blanks out the viewfinder for the duration of the exposure.

SEE MORE: 10 ways to maintain the health of your new camera

Digital SLR cameras explained: 2. The viewfinder is optical

Digital SLR cameras have an optical viewfinder that receives light from the same lens as is used to capture the image.
When the mirror is down, the light exiting the lens is reflected up into a pentaprism (or pentamirror) which bounces the light around to produce an image on the viewfinder screen that is the right way round.
This enables SLRs to be smaller than TLRs and solved the problem of parallax error encountered with rangefinder cameras – they don’t see the scene through the lens.
Modern digital SLR viewfinders are generally bright and pleasant to use, but unlike the electronic viewfinders found in many compact system cameras, they can’t show the impact of camera settings.
The reflex mirror lifts just before an exposure to allow light to reach the sensor, this causes the viewfinder to go black during exposure.

SEE MORE: Download our 26 most popular photography cheat sheets

Digital SLR cameras explained: 3. Exposure is controlled by shutter speed, aperture and sensitivity

There are three means of controlling exposure with a digital SLR camera: shutter speed (exposure time) aperture and sensitivity, often called The Exposure Triangle.
While shutter speed and aperture size control the amount of light that reaches the sensor, the camera actually has a base sensitivity that remains constant.
Other sensitivity settings are created by applying gain (amplification) to the image signal (more on this later) to replicate the effect of a more sensitive medium.

SEE MORE: 10 common exposure problems every photographer faces (and how to avoid them)

Digital SLR cameras explained: 4. Most offer a collection of exposure modes

Most modern SLRs offer a wide range of exposure modes from fully manual to fully automatic with semi automatic options such as aperture priority and shutter priority mode in between.
There is also usually a collection of scene modes in which the camera selects exposure and processing settings that suit that particular type of scene.
These scene modes may be selected by the photographer, but many cameras now offer a mode in which the camera detects the type of scene before it and then sets appropriate exposure and processing settings.
In aperture priority mode the photographer sets the aperture to control depth of field and the camera sets a shutter speed that will produce a good exposure.

SEE MORE: 5 digital camera features no photographer should be without

Conversely, in shutter priority mode the photographer sets the shutter speed to freeze or blur movement as they wish, and the camera sets an appropriate aperture. In manual mode the photographer has complete control over shutter speed and aperture.
Many digital SLR cameras now have the option to set sensitivity automatically. If this mode is selected when shooting in manual exposure mode, the photographer still sets the shutter speed and aperture, but the camera determines the overall exposure by varying sensitivity as it calculates is necessary from shot to shot.

SEE MORE
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Digital SLR cameras explained: 5. The sensor produces an electrical signal

When the reflex mirror is lifted and the shutter opened, the sensor is exposed to light enabling an image to be recorded.
The sensor is covered with photo receptors, often referred to as pixels, each of which has a micro lens over it to direct the light downwards.

SEE MORE
Camera sensor sizes explained – what you need to know about Four Thirds, 1/1.7, full-frame and APS-C format

In most cases the sensor has a Bayer pattern filter array over it, this enables the camera to interpret colours even though each receptor actually only detects luminance (brightness).
This red, green, green, blue (RGGB) filter has two green filters for every red or blue filter to reflect the dominance that green has in our vision.
Light falling on the sensor generates an electronic signal. The brighter the light, the stronger the signal. This electronic signal is then converted into a digital signal which can be processed into a digital image.
READ MORE
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5 Reasons why we consider mirrorless Cameras

FILMMAKING

Thinking about buying a new DSLR camera for video projects? Think again. Here are five reasons why videographers may want to avoid DSLRs.

Top image via Shutterstock

Over the last few years, DSLRs have slowly become overshadowed by their mirrorless camera counterparts. While professional photographers may disagree, mirrorless cameras have many advantages over DSLRs that make them great choices for indie filmmakers and video professionals. Don’t believe me? Here are a few reasons why you should not buy a DSLR next time you purchase a camera for video production.

1. DSLRs Are Overpriced

Image via Android Authority

DSLR cameras are incredibly overpriced. Dollar for dollar, you’re going to spend almost double on a DSLR camera compared to a mirrorless camera. This is usually becauseDSLR cameras come from tried-and-true photography camera manufacturers likeCanon and Nikon, whereas mirrorless cameras tend to come from companies that are not quite as accepted in the pro photography community, like Panasonic and Sony.

As an example, you can purchase a brand new Panasonic GH4 for about $1,200 online. A GH4 will have 4k recording capabilities and give you the ability to shoot multiple recording formats. However, the comparable Canon 5D Mark III goes for about $2,200 and can’t record video in 4K. While the 5D Mark III is good for photography, it has to be hacked with Magic Lantern in order to access its full video functionalities. This inevitably leads to annoyances on set and in the editing bay.

2. DSLRs Are Bulky

Image via Photography Concentrate

When it comes to filmmaking, camera size doesn’t typically matter. At the end of the day, it comes down to the quality of footage you’re getting. However, there’s something to be said about shooting on a highly portable camera, especially at weddings and other live events. If you’re going to be shooting all day on a shoulder rig, Glidecam, or Steadicam, you probably don’t want to be using a gigantic camera like the URSA mini or even a larger DSLR.

This is where mirrorless cameras come into play. Because mirrorless cameras don’t have a mirror-box mechanism, they’re smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts.  This will make it much easier on your arms if you’re shooting for long periods of time.

3. Mirrorless Cameras Are More Revolutionary

Image via B&H

There was a time when DSLR cameras were at the cutting edge of camera technology — but that’s no longer the case. Mirrorless camera manufacturers are capable of updating their cameras much quicker than DSLR camera manufacturers.

Just look at the Sony a7S series of cameras. In a little over a year, Sony was able to create the a7S, a truly revolutionary low-light camera, and create a second version that added 4k recording and increased frame rates. Canon and Nikon, on the other hand, have been very slow to update their cameras. For example, the Canon 5D Mark III hasn’t been updated in over four years.

4. Mirrorless Cameras Are Faster

Image via Shutterstock

The interface on mirrorless cameras tends to be much faster to use than the interface found on DSLRs. In general, whenever you want to shoot on a mirrorless camera, you can be up and running in just a matter of seconds. However, to go from powering up to recording video on a DSLR, it’s typically going to take you longer. While this isn’t that big of a deal when shooting a narrative film, it could be the difference between getting that perfect shot or missing it completely when shooting a documentary.

5. DSLRs FORCE You to Watch Video on an LCD Screen

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By their very nature, DSLR cameras will not allow you to look through the viewfinder when recording video. This is because the mirror-box mechanism of a DSLR has to lift up and block the viewfinder from seeing what’s coming through the lens. This probably doesn’t make much of a difference if you’re shooting indoors — but on a sunny day, you might have a difficult time seeing what’s on your screen. This is where mirrorless cameras begin to shine.

On a mirrorless camera, you can simply look through the viewfinder or the LCD screen.DSLRs, on the other hand, only show you what’s coming through your lens when looking through the viewfinder, and not what’s hitting the camera sensor. This is usually a bigger deal when shooting photography, but if you read this blog, chances are you probably shoot a little photography as well.