Dead Leaf Mantis molt (photos & video)

[Precarious]

You have a nice camera. A good artist's eye, too.

I need to be able to take close-up photos and videos as crisp and clear as this. What kind of camera do you have?

The video is incredible, especially with the editing, it's professional. Also, a beautiful mantid. I want to have a Deroplatys truncate some day, as well. I plan to own each species while my interest in this hobby lasts (I feel it will be lifelong, like a goal of mine to get as many different species as possible).

Thanks.

Still camera is Canon T2i. Just a mid-grade camera with good lenses (Macro EF 100mm, MP-E 65mm).

Camcorder is Canon HFS200. Again, just mid-grade consumer model - with a $20 magnifying filter.

Editing and correction in Sony Vegas Pro 10 with a few choice plugins.

All self-tought, by the way. So if you want it bad enough you can make it happen. And just as a heads up, you will never get the quality of these images and video direct from a camera - no matter how much you spend. You really need to learn how to use Photoshop and video tools to get the most from your material. Equipment can never make up for lack of skills.

 

[MantidBro]

Thanks.

Still camera is Canon T2i. Just a mid-grade camera with good lenses (Macro EF 100mm, MP-E 65mm).

Camcorder is Canon HFS200. Again, just mid-grade consumer model - with a $20 magnifying filter.

Editing and correction in Sony Vegas Pro 10 with a few choice plugins.

All self-tought, by the way. So if you want it bad enough you can make it happen. And just as a heads up, you will never get the quality of these images and video direct from a camera - no matter how much you spend. You really need to learn how to use Photoshop and video tools to get the most from your material. Equipment can never make up for lack of skills.

So you're saying it's more about the editor you use than the camera? My own camera might suffice, then, if I download Vegas Pro 10. Good work especially for being self-taught. And I agree, equipment can't make up for lack of skill. I didn't have a video editor though, never even considered it for some reason, so I think with my skill plus that program my videos might turn out better. I guess we'll have to see! Thanks again.

 

[Precarious]

So you're saying it's more about the editor you use than the camera?

Not at all. They're equally important. The better the raw material you start with the better potential quality of the final product.

Initially I was terrible with the cameras but I'd been working in Photoshop for 20 years so I could put a lot of work into making them presentable. That was a few years ago. Now that I'm able to take good clean photos I don't have to put as much work into polishing them, but those final tweaks still make all the difference in the world.

I guess what I was saying is no matter how technically skilled you are at capturing photos or video you will never end up with a finished product coming right off the camera. It may look good but it can always look better, so learn how to do that and you'll be in good shape.

 

[MantidBro]

Not at all. They're equally important. The better the raw material you start with the better potential quality of the final product.

Initially I was terrible with the cameras but I'd been working in Photoshop for 20 years so I could put a lot of work into making them presentable. That was a few years ago. Now that I'm able to take good clean photos I don't have to put as much work into polishing them, but those final tweaks still make all the difference in the world.

I guess what I was saying is no matter how technically skilled you are at capturing photos or video you will never end up with a finished product coming right off the camera. It may look good but it can always look better, so learn how to do that and you'll be in good shape.

Oh I see what you mean. Wow, you used Photoshop for 20 years? That's a long time.

Well I couldn't download the Vegas Pro 10 so I'll try something else, but I'm sure anything I use will be a step-up considering I've never used a video editor before.

 

[Precarious]

Oh I see what you mean. Wow, you used Photoshop for 20 years? That's a long time.

Well I couldn't download the Vegas Pro 10 so I'll try something else, but I'm sure anything I use will be a step-up considering I've never used a video editor before.

Yeah, I've been involved in digital imaging for a long time. It's really come in handy in so many ways. Just gives you a feel for what things should look like and how to make them look that way. Carries over into video as still and video share much of the same terminology.

I chose Vegas because it's set up very similar to Sony Acid which I used to use for music production. That made it much easier to learn. Overall it's pretty simple to learn in comparison to something like the Adobe Premier. Eventually I need to set up a 64 bit machine and learn Premier now that I have some experience and I'm reaching the limits of Vegas.

 

[MantidBro]

Yeah, I've been involved in digital imaging for a long time. It's really come in handy in so many ways. Just gives you a feel for what things should look like and how to make them look that way. Carries over into video as still and video share much of the same terminology.

I chose Vegas because it's set up very similar to Sony Acid which I used to use for music production. That made it much easier to learn. Overall it's pretty simple to learn in comparison to something like the Adobe Premier. Eventually I need to set up a 64 bit machine and learn Premier now that I have some experience and I'm reaching the limits of Vegas.

Nice. I'm sure it has come in handy.

Oh you're reaching the limits of Vegas? Too bad. Good luck learning how to use Premier.