Two cameras, two directors, two great examples of interchangeable-lens video
posted Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 4:34 PM EDT
Over the last few years, there's been something of a revolution in the interchangeable-lens camera world. Since the Nikon D90 introduced photographers to the concept of shooting video with a camera primarily designed for still imaging, almost the entire industry has taken the idea onboard, and it's now the rare interchangeable-lens camera indeed that doesn't offer some form of video capture. Be that as it may, many photographers likely haven't yet taken full advantage of the video capabilities of their cameras. The features might be there, but not everyone is aware of them, and of the benefits they can bring to the table versus shooting with a standard camcorder.
One manufacturer working to change this is Pentax Ricoh, whose current SLRs and mirrorless cameras all now offer video capture. Over the last couple of years, Pentax has worked with several directors to create videos highlighting the video capabilities of its products, with the fruits of their work published on the official Pentax YouTube channel. Today, the company has announced the debut of two new videos for its 'Director’s Series', one of them accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video.
'Abroad' is a fifteen minute documentary short from director John Lynch, who visits Indonesia seeking the answer to the question, "When does a tourist become a traveler?" Shot entirely on the Pentax K-5 digital SLR with four of the company's DA and DA * series lenses, the film even seeks its answer underwater, with the K-5 mounted in a waterproof housing. It's an interesting insight not only into the K-5's abilities, but also into a region that was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and how the healing process is continuing.
'The Wedding Speech' by director Tony McNamara, meanwhile, was shot entirely with the Pentax K-01 compact system camera and Pentax lenses. This endearing short was filmed over four days, and beautifully demonstrates how a consumer pricetag doesn't preclude the ability to produce superb results in the hands of a talented team. A separate video offers insights from the crew on how the video was made.
To see both videos and the behind-the-scenes clip, visit the Pentax YouTube page.
Press Release
Pentax Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation Adds Two New Films To Its ‘Director’s Series’
Entire Collection of Films Shot on PENTAX DSLR and ILC Cameras
April 25, 2012— DENVER, CO—PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION (PENTAX), today announced the addition of two digital short-length films and a “Behind the Scenes” look to its ‘Director’s Series,’ a collection of short films shot by photographers and videographers using various models of PENTAX DSLR and Mirrorless ILCs (Interchangeable Lens Cameras).
The first film, Abroad, documents surf film director John Lynch as he travels throughout Indonesia. Shot using the K-5 as well as a variety of PENTAX lenses, the 15-minute film chronicles Lynch’s journey as he finds the answer to a nagging question: "When does a tourist become a traveler?" Working with a group of fellow travelers and locals to bring much-needed desks and school supplies to the tsunami-ravaged island of Sumatra, Lynch used the K-5 to brilliantly capture the metamorphosis of a tourist-turned-traveler as he develops a deep connection to the land and the local people he is helping. With its 1080p HD video capabilities and compact size for easy handling and shooting on the go, the K-5’s enhanced video capture features are evident throughout the film.
Also new to the ‘Director’s Series’ is The Wedding Speech, a digital short directed by Tony McNamara of Futuristic Films. Despite its brevity, The Wedding Speech delves into love, loss and the resilience of the human spirit—with a little guidance from some K-9 friends. Additionally, its “Behind the Scenes” counterpart joins the "Behind the Scenes” series, documenting the making of this film and the use of the PENTAX K-01 camera and a variety of PENTAX lenses. Optimized for capturing still and video images, the K-01’s full HD 1080p video capture with h.264 compression allows for increased video capture flexibility, making it a great tool for both photographers and videographers.
“DSLR and ILC cameras, with their lens versatility and compact size, are becoming the go-to device for video capture,” said John Carlson, senior manager of sales and marketing for PENTAX. “Many of PENTAX’s advanced camera features support photographers and videographers in their evolving digital imaging needs.”
Abroad, The Wedding Speech, and Behind the Scenes join several existing films in the ‘Director’s Series’, including The Letter and Uncle Jack. They can be viewed on the PENTAX YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/pentaxian1.
About PENTAX
PENTAX is a leader in the production of a variety of adventure ready digital cameras including weather-resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For more than 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of adventurous consumers and businesses. With new headquarters in Denver, Colorado, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is a subsidiary of PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. effective October 1, 2011. Additional details may be found here: www.pentaximaging.com/news
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