Hu? MBL is available for Premiere for a long time already, just a hint.

What does "unsharp mask" mean? Is it a special filter in vegas or just a regular sharpening filter you used? It is so ... sharp! Its quiet seldom to see sharp footage from the mini and a small cam ... but it immediately turns on :D

Unsharp mask is a pretty standard technical word (I think). I know it from Photoshop and am used to using it on still images. Sony Vegas offers both options (I'm sure other software does the same). Wikipedia has this to say about unsharp mask:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsharp_masking

I used both unsharp mask and 'regular' sharpening in this video. The pros who do editing will say that that's not right, but I try not to listen to anybody other than myself :)

I liked the surface of the rock (granite, I think) and wanted to show the textures of it. I do feel that I have my Letus set-up pretty good when it comes to sharpness but no matter what, you always need a little sharpening in post - the more resolution, the more sharpness you need.

Something about adaptors and sharpness:

Optaining focus (with a camcorder) on a small screen (ground glass) inside an adaptor is not all that easy. Lenses (as in any camcorder) will focus well on near subjects as long as you are fully zoomed out. When you zoom in, you will notice that you will have to move farther away in order to still have focus on that subject.

My HG10 is about 70% zoomed-in in order to 'only' see the screen inside the adaptor (about 1 inch from the front of the lens). For this to work, the letus (and other adaptors) have achromats / macro lenses in front of the screen. If not, the camcorder wouldn't be able to focus on the screen. So, the first thing you need to do is to put the adaptor on the camcorder without a lens on the adaptor. Then you need to get good focus on the screen. The camcorder's autofocus will have a hard time doing this if you're not careful. After achieving focus, you turn the camcorder to manual focus and it will have to stay that way as long as the adaptor is on. Users will have to not touch the zoom button on the camcorder when in use (which sometimes can be tough). I believe some adaptor users have problems with focus on the GG rather than having trouble handling the lens's manual focus (the lens on the adaptor).

Hope that was remotely useful :)

Just realized that you have an adaptor too :) So, sorry if you already knew...

Hey, thanks for your comment. Wikipedia helped concerning unsharp mask. I'll immediately try it, if I got my Letus mini :D

Raw footage version now available: vimeo.com/1225769

I opened both in one screen and started simultanusly, now i'm sure MB is just to ad a visual feeling to your story. The raw footage is real and unspoiled, no overexposed flowers or funny colors. So it has all to do with waht you are going to use it for. Exept for the sharpness, I also experienced that the sharpness controle in Vegas is better on non sharpened even minus one sharpened footage! Do you agree?

Yes, I prefer a neutral setting in the camcorder. Generally, sharpening should be the last step in your production, not the first. Using the built-in sharpening of the camcorder is only recommended for people who don't do post production.

Yes, the mini (the lens) and MBL did all the work. Sony Vegas is 'just' one of the programs that are needed to run MBL.

Yea I was playing with MBL on my last video I submitted. I really like the "basic" filter! MBL is pretty sweet, but nothing beats the coolness of the mini! 35mm DOF is so awesome on a "Cheap" camera like the ones we have. Really wish I could afford one :(

Try the free version that Rico has linked to, below. It works very well in Vegas, only has presets (which are pretty good), and does take quite long to render. but it's FREE :)

Thank you so much really great tip!

Raw footage version now available: vimeo.com/1225769

See my comments above.

:) Yes, I've used that on a few of my last videos:

download.sonymediasoftware.com/current/extras/vegasmovielooks_hd.exe (right-click and choose 'save destination as'). After installation, it will show up in Sony Vegas under 'Video FX'.

It's very good for a free piece of software - rendering times are extremely slow, though.

there is always a catch with "free" isnt there hehe

I believe that MBL does have a sharpening function, but I didn't use it. 'Only' unsharp mask and sharpening in Vegas.

I'm on the 8 Pro now, not sure if it will work with platinum edition. You should ask them before you buy :) Their website isn't quite updated yet. Maybe even just download the 'full' trial and try it out (a big fat red cross will be in your footage).

I work with MBL on vegas platinum 8 and it works well.

The vignette is 100% from MBL. I used presets and just played around changing / adding a few things that I saw in the tutorial (link above).

I shot this in 50i (PAL) but the HG10 can do 25p. I'll have to play around with that in order to learn how big the difference is.

I don't do DVD's. All my footage is uploaded to the web.

I use Eugenia's settings for Vegas Pro. This video was rendered with a variable bitrate of 6-8mbps...

It's hard to be specific. I just started with some presets and took it from there. Mostly just changed some colors with the color wheel, added a grad filter and played with spot exposure.

The color wheel, grad filter and spot exposure I was referring to are not a part of Sony Vegas. Are you using the free plug-in I linked to above?
download.sonymediasoftware.com/current/extras/vegasmovielooks_hd.exe or the paying version from Red Giant Software: redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/magic-bullet-looks/ ?

The free version only has presets that you can turn up and down but not add to, while the paying version is the one I was referring to (sorry if that wasn't clear).

This tutorial will describe color wheel, grad filter and spot exposure: studiodaily.com/main/news/feed.rss/8216.html

Hey, you made it to the other side... :D

Don't look into the light - it will eat you up :)

An understanding bank adviser :) You don't believe the 'interest' they show me :D

Not in this video (which was handheld) but I do have the 'Rod Support' from Letus - the 45cm version. There are a few images of that setup at the end of this video: vimeo.com/1108248

Why? :) Are you going to go and throw some money their way? :)

There are cheaper alternatives and you might even be able to just built some sort of bracket yourself. I'm just not the handyman you seem to be :)

I was nervous too before I tried it but it seems to work just fine handheld. The camcorder is so light that if you just hold the Letus, the camcorder and lens will balance fine. The Letus itself has an awkward shape, so holding it as the only option is not recommended. I for one prefer mounting it to a tripod. The Letus rod support is very sturdy and seems like overkill for a camcorder with the size of a HG10 / HV20. However, if you plan to add an external screen or other heavy stuff, it is probably a good thing.

No, the new version released for Sony Vegas renders no slower than 'normal speed x4'.

Thank you. MBL seems to be available for FCP. redgiantsoftware.com/products/host-applications/apple-final-cut-pro/

cool thanks.

Hi Nicolás

I shot this in TV mode at 50i (I do use 25p also but not in this one). There were no filters on the camcorder - just the Letus and the Canon SLR lens. All my lenses do have high quality UV filters on but that's just for protection (no effect in those).

The HG10 is set to neutral colors, so no extra contrast or sharpening in the HG10 (in this video). How sharp a camcorder is with an adapter attached comes down to the right installation.

The only sharpening used in Vegas was 'unsharp mask' and 'sharpening'. Normally it's not recommended to use both at the same time - pros will tell you that this is 'over sharpened'. I have a tendency to do that :) I like it sharp...

Settings:
Unsharp mask - 0,350/0,080/0,000
Sharpening - 0,250

Magic bullet looks adds a lot of contrast and color as you will see if you watch the raw version of this video.

For rendering, I use Eugenia's settings for Vegas Pro / MP4 (H.264).

This (I believe) was rendered at a variable bit rate of 6-8mbps.

Hope that helps.

I'm in love with the Letus :) I guess it was out of my range as well (especially considering that shipping and duty fees made it almost twice as expensive for me), but I do like to sometimes 'go cracy' and buy something extraordinary. I'm already an SLR user, so the lenses can be used on my Canon 30D as well.

I'm sure I'd be happy about owning any of the alternatives as well, though. I made a page about the alternatives here:
vimeo.com/hg10/forumtopic:321

maybe that will give you some new info.

All the best, Rico...

I haven't worked with TMPGEnc, so I'm not sure what you want to do.

Maybe you can find something here:
vimeo.com/forum:Technical_Help