A Viltrox speed booster killed another one of my cameras (my Panasonic G85) and now I’m out of “REAL” cameras (I only have my FZ1000 and 3 GoPros left). Previously, I published a YouTube video about how the “Canon-mount” version (the EF-M2ii) k

WHY My LUTs Don’t Do Much (My SETTINGS Do)

Jun 9th, 2023 19m 54s

My CUSTOM SETTINGS are way more important than my LUTs, but would you use my LUTs at all if they aren’t that important? Well, the reason is I’m focused on perfecting my custom, in-camera (SOOC) settings so you don’t need a LUT!

Both Full Frame AND Micro Four Thirds?

Jun 3rd, 2023 19m 36s

If full frame camera prices come down (to an "affordable" level) you might ask "Do we even NEED Micro Four Thirds any more?" In this episode I'll cover the reasons I think it's good to keep BOTH systems (if you have full frame already, the cost

Why AI Blog Post Creation Is Bad

Apr 29th, 2023 22m 14s

The biggest complaint I have about AI-created blogs, is the content wasn't written by people who actually tested the camera gear they're talking about. This may be why those top 10 lists always seem so FAKE, and don't really help you understand

Will Adobe Podcast Kill EQ Forever?

Mar 13th, 2023 29m 45s

AI for AUDIO is here, and so far I don't like it. If you've ever taken pictures with a "smart" phone that uses AI to (automatically) processes the image, and you don't have any control over how much SHARPNESS, CONTRAST, COLOR it adds, then you

Rode VideoMicro & Zoom F2 “CLOSE” (Comica Dual Lav)

Feb 7th, 2023 20m 10s

The way I'm using this mic is a bit different than it was designed. I'm plugging it into the Comica CVM-D03 Dual Lavalier booster pack (which was designed to provide plug-in power for 2 Comica lavalier mics) and it actually works to power AND b

Comica CVM-VM20 & Zoom F2 “CLOSE”

Feb 1st, 2023 14m 21s

It is really interesting how this mic works with the Zoom F2 32-bit float recorder, at this "CLOSE" proximity: It doesn't need much MIC. GAIN (a setting of "1") and what's amazing about this 32-bit float file (from the Zoom F2) is that it actua

Comica CVM-VM20 & Zoom F1 “CLOSE”

Jan 27th, 2023 23m 8s

Wow...I'm really learning that you can't pre-judge any microphone-audio recorder combination (similar to how I learned that about lenses and sensors). For instance, when testing this mic on OTHER audio recorders, using the MIC. LOWCUT (either t

Comica CVM-VM20 & Zoom H1n “CLOSE”

Jan 25th, 2023 18m 3s

The most important discovery about this microphone-audio recorder combination (specific to this "CLOSE" proximity) is that it sounds much better with the audio recorder's LOW CUT filter ON (set to 160Hz)! This is one of those things I wouldn't

Comica CVM-VM20 & Zoom H1 “CLOSE”

Jan 24th, 2023 13m 40s

The first thing I always mention when giving settings recommendations for the Zoom H1, is the BEST REC. LEVEL you can be at is 37 (not less...36 sounds WAY worse). Then, if you need to go up from there, it sounds pretty good up to 50, and then

Budget Filmmaking AUDIO can be EASY

Dec 4th, 2022 29m 28s

If you've tried my "Lens-sensor specific" CAMERA settings, you know how easy getting a good-looking cinematic image can be, yet getting good AUDIO has been a chore, until I recently created a database (along with a system I call my "5 Proximiti

Budget Filmmaking AUDIO (PART 2)

Nov 19th, 2022 30m 22s

This is an introduction to the kit I use for capturing "REAL" on-location "synchronous" audio for budget filmmaking (or YouTube, other low-budget video production). The new AUDIO section on my website is here: https://www.silverlightphotoco.com

“Synchronous Sound” (Location Audio)

Nov 11th, 2022 23m 43s

Could recording natural sound on location be easy? We talk about an idea that not only makes it WAY easier to capture “REAL” location audio, but that serves as a backup for "talking head" (and even as a podcast) audio! The new AUDIO section on

Budget Filmmaking AUDIO?

Oct 22nd, 2022 26m 21s

I'm shifting my focus (from lens testing, pun intended) to working on a budget filmmaking audio method that includes both microphone-specific EQ files, plus settings which are based on my super easy "5 proximities" technique...see my website fo

How My KIT PLANS Reduce Stress

Sep 12th, 2022 24m 34s

I'm revisiting the question of how being organized can affect creativity, but this time I have a new solution: a portable, affordable and common kit list. (When I tried to get organized before, it failed...but this time it's working.

Always Shoot With (At Least) 2 Cameras

Sep 4th, 2022 28m 49s

I think of all of the things I've learned about (budget) filmmaking production, my #1 tip is to shoot with multiple cameras (simultaneously). So, I'm going to go into detail about a few ways I currently do this.

Lens-Sensor Settings WEBSITE Update

Jul 11th, 2022 12m 2s

My lens-sensor specific camera settings are now available on my website (in addition to my LUTs). The goal of my settings is to create a more realistic (and cinematic) look from every lens-sensor combination I have (including the Panasonic GH4,

TILT/SHIFT for Micro Four Thirds?

Jun 20th, 2022 32m 4s

There aren't any shift (i.e. "perspective control") lenses available for Micro Four Thirds (at this time) but I've been using a shift ADAPTER (which means I can use almost any Nikon mount lens (including the Tokina 11-16 zoom lens) and I've bee

Is More Dynamic Range the Answer?

Jun 14th, 2022 28m 49s

Will having a camera with more dynamic range create an image that is more realistic (with Ansel Adams type details in the highlights and shadows)? Not if a lens delivers even greater contrast and/or sharpness than the sensor can handle! We star

Are Canon EF Lenses Worth Adapting?

May 25th, 2022 28m 15s

While there are a lot of good Canon EF lenses out there, I'm having second thoughts about recommending them for use with Micro Four Thirds (especially for my "budget" filmmaking method).

QPACE Budget Filmmaking Kit

May 24th, 2022 23m 26s

The #1 thing to understand about all of my kit recommendations is that they're focused on helping the budget-conscious, but there are actually 5 things I make sure each item of my kit conforms to, and I call them "Q-P-A-C-E"...

Is Your Lens TOO Sharp & Contrasty?

May 17th, 2022 30m 43s

When I was growing up, I read a lot of lens reviews in photography magazines, and sharpness and contrast were always referred to as a positive. However, when I started testing all of my lenses to create "lens-sensor LUTs" (and camera settings r

Physical & Digital Workflows COLLIDE

Apr 24th, 2022 30m 56s

Can you improve your small business workflow? It all begins with defining what you do, and who does it…and we’ll talk about the differences between physical and digital workflows, but always know that bottlenecks can be in either.

"Lens-Sensor" Camera Settings (PART 2)

Apr 21st, 2022 30m 49s

I talk more about why, I think, every lens needs its own custom settings, and a few related issues.

Mini Courses for Budget Filmmaking???

Feb 20th, 2022 21m 32s

I've talked about my "Filmmaker's Playbook" for a while, but now I found a way to start making progress on it...by creating the pieces, before assembling the puzzle.--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podca