Old Grandpa Jenkins, perched on the wicker-throne of his porch in Lensville, tipped his hat lower against the evening sun. Bessie, his golden dog, rested her head on his lap. Her fur shimmered as if flecked with fragments of the sun itself, and her brown eyes held the wisdom of the ages. "Well now," Grandpa Jenkins started, a glass of ice-cold lemonade glistening in his hand. "Have you ever heard the tale of Nature Nick and his obsession with the copperheads of MountEagle Mountain?" His eyes twinkled, hinting at a story brimming with equal parts hilarity and profundity. You see, Nature Nick was not your average chap. An enigmatic figure from the 80s, he worked in the nature center of a local Boy Scout camp, but had a peculiar pastime: capturing and caging copperhead snakes. You might even call him a 'snake whisperer,' but that wouldn't quite encompass the full magnitude of his peculiarity. One day, Nature Nick decided to take the boys on a ghost hike. A night walk so called, because it led through the forest, thick as a bowl of Grandpa's gumbo, to an abandoned graveyard. It was one of those places where the whispers of the past hung heavy in the air, the stones etched with names forgotten by time. Nick loved to weave tales of horror, his eyes wide and wild, his hands gesticulating in the moonlight like spectral claws. Then, at the peak of the story, he'd scream bloody murder and run off, leaving the poor boys to find their way back without any flashlights. "Now, hold that thought," said Grandpa Jenkins, scratching Bessie behind her ears. The golden dog sighed with contentment, her tail making gentle swishing sounds against the worn wooden floorboards of the porch. It was a peaceful image, starkly contrasting the thrilling tale that was unfolding. One particular night, as Nature Nick followed his usual routine, something unexpected happened. Amidst the cacophony of terrified cries and rustling leaves, a man named Dave, one of the scoutmasters, broke his ankle. The woods swallowed up the echoes of his pain, plunging the boys into a fear far more profound than any ghost story. The next part of the tale, well, that requires some scientific explanation. You see, the world we experience is but a smorgasbord of light and shadow, a dance of photons interweaving with the material fabric of reality. When light passes through a medium, like water or glass, its speed changes, a phenomenon known as refraction. And, when this refracted light hits our retinas, the brain paints an image for us to perceive. However, the amount of light and the angle it hits our eyes can sometimes distort or intensify the image. A Variable Neutral Density Filter, like the one Grandpa Jenkins pointed out in his videography gear, is used to control this intensity. It's a magical bit of technology, the key to manipulating how we perceive reality. Just as Grandpa Jenkins adjusts the filter on his camera, Nature Nick adjusted the filter on the boys' perception that fateful night. He saturated their environment with fear, intensifying the darkness and creating an image of the woods far more terrifying than its reality. But here's where it gets interesting. That night, Dave, despite his broken ankle, became the 'Variable Neutral Density Filter' for those boys. He controlled the intensity of their fear, moderating it with courage and guidance. They stumbled and fumbled, but under Dave's direction, they found their way back to the safety of the camp, their perception of the forest forever altered. Grandpa Jenkins leaned back, his story finished, the sunset casting long shadows over Lensville. Bessie gave a small woof of approval, her gaze steady on the fading light. Every tale told from that porch was another layer of varnish on the rocking chair, another stroke on the ever-evolving canvas of their shared lives. "You see, sometimes life will toss us into the dark," said Grandpa Jenkins, looking down at Bessie. "But if we adjust our filters, if we brave the fear, we might just find our way back to the light."
When I was looking at buying my first real camera I didn't know what to look at until I stumbled across your channel. I narrowed it down to the a6400 and the zv-e10 and I eventually settled on the zv-e10 as it fit my needs better. Since then I have subscribed to your channel and I watch every video you put out. Thanks so much for such great information. Always to the point.
Great job on the video Mark! Thanks for making it. I think ND Filters are something I never understood until I actually got one on my camera and played with it. Now I'm hooked. I bought the cheapest 55mm ProMaster filter I could find to try it out, spent a morning taking pictures in the garden in full Vegas sun, and when I looked at the pictures on the computer I immediately ordered step-up rings for all of my CCTV lenses and even one for my GoPro cage. Now every lens in my kit has a 55mm thread. Once I did that, I realized that now I only needed one size of lens cap as well, so that's lovely.
ND Filters are pretty much essential for me. I don’t record a lot of videos, but i do take a lot of pictures outside. Without an ND Filter, using big aperture for portraits is just impossible under the intense sunlight in brazil. I also have some from KF concept. I love their products. Also, in case you missed Mark, Ulanzi now sells their own Sony Fw50 batteries, and many other models of batteries 👀
Great timing. Thanks Mark! I just purchased some Peter McKinnon ND filters with some step up rings, but need to purchase one for my 49mm thread. I was looking at these or the moment filters. Thanks for the demonstration.
Thanks for the breakdown, Mark! As a newbie, this was super helpful. I shoot outside a lot so I'm going to pick up a filter right away. Also, thanks for taking the channel international 😄 enjoy your vacation!
Yup it doesn't matter how often you shower Greetings from Guangdong, we have steam-bath weather here too these days. Careful with the condensation and AC. I sacrifice motion blur😅
I just bought the 40.5mm filter with your link for my ZV-E10 kit lens. I'll just start playing with this while I'm learning. And when I'm ready get the Freewell set for my Sigma 16 and my Sony 18-105! I leave you to apply more Zinc Oxide ☀️
My VND sits on a Rapid Filter System. So when I go inside I don't have to unscrew it and put it in a pocket or case but instead just flip it up and go on with my business 👍🏻
I used to use K&F ND filters, but I came across the "X" shading a little too often. Now, I use the Revoring step up ring. It's a spring loaded step up ring, where you twist it to fit the lens filter size of your lens. The one I have works with lenses with a 49mm to 62mm filter size. And the mount is for 67mm filters. I have two 67mm Freewell variable NDs, the 2-5 and 6-9. I never get any vignetting or X shading. For me the Freewells are just as good as the Peter McKinnons at half the price. ND filters FTW!
Thought you were kidding about being in Africa in the last 2 videos, I was thinking it was a great way to add depth to the story lol. Living in Florida a ND filter is a must but a lot of times I'm lazy to keep shifting them around so I use my ZV1 a lot outside with its built in nd for general shooting. Thanks For the new Exotic content.
I think it's pretty important to add that ND filters are for the most part a video (not photo!) equipment. Yes you can't get an f1.8 shot while recording at 1/50 in that environment. But if you are just looking to take pictures for a trip then I'd say the ND is not needed.
ND filters are often used in photography for long exposures and can also be helpful when you want a certain look at a certain shutter speed - so most photographers carry them. A 10 stop ND is very popular for extra long exposures
I visited Côte d’Ivoire 5 years ago when I first got into photography and videography. I think I visited that same crocodile zoo, and yeah I took an insane amount of showers 😂😅😅 great videos !
I bought the Hoya filter set with ND 8. Very nice set at a great price. The variable nd would have been more unable but I get by with the 8 and up shutter speed if I need more. I don't see any diference with motion blur etc as im on the zve10 and try never to move at all. 😂
Another great video! Been meaning to ask…have you done a video on how to setup the ZV-1 for the Leeming LUT? I have a ZV-1 and you convinced me that’s the way to go. Thank you Mark! 👍
Can you (if you haven’t already) make a video about what ISO and shutter speeds are best for indoor talking head videos with the ZV-E10. I worry about using too high of an ISO and to slow of a shutter speed.
I mention it in a few vids - but shutter speed at 1/50 if shooting 24fps. ISO as low as you can go. ISO 100 in standard profiles and 125 in HLG3. If your image is too dark - adjust the aperture to its lowest - if still too dark - add lights!!
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis thank God! I can't take another boring class. I'm going thru a 30 Days to Online Security challenge before I start my channel and it's mind-numbing. I also can't drink any applejuice because I have to retain the information 😫
Great video, have you seen my ND Filter Video / Review in Mallroca on my channel? I tested the K&F True Color, for 100 bucks not bad, only drawback 1-5 stops are definitly not enough for bright sunlight. In the shades it is ok. 1/50 outside midsun time, no way. Also tested it with and without and did a detailled comparison. Anyways, thanks for this awesome video and enjoy your trip with your family 🙏👍
@@ramblr5900 a 3.5 or a 2.5 jack can work as both a line in or line out Most cameras have a line in ( audio jack ) and usually only high end ones have line out ( headphones jack ) , some very basic or niche lineups discard the audio jack altogether like the gx85 or m200 So the a6400 doesnt have a headphone jack which could be useful to monitor sounds that are being recorded into the camera with either the internal mic or an external wired/wireless mic ( such as Rode's NTG or Rode's Wireless Go Lineup ) But some mic does offer a line out that can be used as an alternative like the Rode Wireless does bottom line , headphones jack are usefull when you actually need it , not really needed for when you have external recorders and or you have time to set up peaking levels - nobody vlogs while monitoring their audio , not one that i know of anyway
@@KNAPPAID thank you for such detail reply. Do you think my best bet is to wait for the new upgraded camera bodies to the a6000 or a6400 in 2024? the micro usb seems so 2019 and the flip up LCD.
@@ramblr5900 its only dated when you compare it I personally never use the flip up unless i have to , and the micro usb too The a6400 is solid , the a6000 less so due to the lack of video chops - if you dont do video work , a6000 works fine , if not , bar minimum is a6300 or a6100 ( without slog ) I wouldnt hold my breath for the a6700 since its going to be priced as such ( above a6600 ) If you need a similar option , canon R10 offers a 4k60 option - the only option that i see is clearly needed in the a6k lineup - no log profile tho
Nicely done; especially given likely jet lag! BTW Thought the 11mm on the ZV E1 looked good! ‘It doesn’t matter how many times you shower, you stay wet and never dry’….now are you talking about where you are or Toronto in the summer?
Hi Mark, Great videos!! can you recommend a great value/performance "circular polarizing variable ND filters"? is it better to get separate VND and Variable polarizer? Appriciate your help!!
It’s definitely useable outside - this is what Sony keeps saying - and they’re right. The problem only comes in when you have no airflow in a studio environments. But outside, especially with a breeze - the camera can handle anything. But of course it’s always good to know which situations it will struggle in.
@mark bennett's camera crisis I see you used the 11mm f1.8, had you considered the 15mm 1.4f G? Whats the pros and cons of each? I only have the budget to buy on lens.
Interesting, my KF nd filter on sigma 16mm f1.4 + ZV e10 makes my image not as sharp as without. And it creates a crazy X shadow on the image if it’s very bright outside. Definitely not recommending this ND filter tbh
First in! You don't appear to be sweating, are you sure its that hot? Ive had 3 VND's in my amazon cart for a week, haven't been able to decide. Timely video
Mark, I love your videos. Love from Scotland my brother. I need your help. I want to buy the ZV-E10. Should i hold off an wait for the mark ii version or buy the first one?
I have no idea really when they'll update the camera - but Sony usually waits at least 3 years (usually 4) to update a camera. So I can't see the ZV-E10 being updated for at least a year
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis Thank you Mark, I will go ahead and get that ZV-10 thanks to your brilliant videos. I like the idea of taking a camera that isn't the best but really good and seeing what is possible with it. Thank you Mark for the help
Great video, Mark! I’m so confused what lens should I get for ZV e10. I want a lens for my everyday use (portrait, street, food, fashion)! Between Tamron 17-70 mm f2.8, sigma 18-50mm f2.8, and sigma 56mm f1.8 which one would you recommend based on my preference?
Sometimes closing the aperture down a lot is not enough in bright conditions. And even if it is, you will lose that nice separation and blurry background
Hi Mark, I love the content that you’ve been putting out. I am looking to try a little bit of everything with photography and videography. The photography would be of cycling and running, so is there a camera under $1000 that can produce high quality images and videos? Does a poor rolling shutter affect panning images? (Can panning be done with the zv e10?) Thanks!
Yes poor rolling shutter will affect panning images, but you will only see it when shooting electronic shutter (silent mode). If you shoot with mechanical shutter in the zv-e10 you’ll be fine.
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis another question about the zv e10 - how fast does the pan need to be when taking a video for the rolling shutter to ruin the quality? Would cross country runners or track runners too fast of a pan? Are there any alternative cameras that would be better off in this situation?
What is the specific name of the filter from the video? Because K&F has several in the nano series. And which one would you recommend for use with the Sony ZV-E10 and Sigma 16mm for dynamic video in natural light. I would be very grateful for your answer.
I bought a variable ND from K&F for my small filter threads of 56mm to do long exposures. I have found that the white dots on the ND filter don't really translate to 1 Stop of Light, so I can't use a long exposure chart to set my ND filter. How do you go about setting your ND filter if you can't depend on the dots? Do you just trust the camera's EV value or zebra's in that case?
yes you can get one that goes right to the bigger filter instead of a stand of filters. It can look a little ridiculous attaching an 82mm filter to a small 55mm lens - but it works. Here is an example. amzn.to/3Wq8UZp
@@MarkBennettCameraCrisis woow cool, thank you for your answer!! :) Man, you are just amazing, I watch every video. I love your channel, your videos, your kindness, positivity and generosity... I hope life gives you back what you give and share with us🤗
Hi Mark, when I use the link I come to a Webseite where there are listed many different vnds mostly 1-9 stops. I think it's because the doesn't work in germany than it should, I don't know. Do you have the "name" of it?
It is literally the title of the video. And I’m POINTING to it in the thumbnail. There is zero misleading about it - and I use the camera in the video AND talked about it. AND every video on the channel lately is about the ZV-E1. Please do not watch the previous vids on the camera or the future other videos on the camera that are free of charge if this is your attitude. Some people.
Interesting, my KF nd filter on sigma 16mm f1.4 + ZV e10 makes my image not as sharp as without. And it creates a crazy X shadow on the image if it’s very bright outside. Definitely not recommending this ND filter tbh