Two cameras, two directors, two great examples of interchangeable-lens video
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.