Loving Leica

Growing numbers of DPs now use HDSLRs—the most popular seem to be Canon’s EOS series—to solve specific shooting needs. Others are starting to embrace them in order to shoot entire feature films, enjoying the camera’s small size and price combined with great glass and 1080p HD output.

Now, cinematographers are chasing down lenses out of the mainstream, choosing one lens for the ‘creamy’ look it delivers, or another for its color rendition or other unique features.

Shane Hurlbut, A.S.C., does just that in a recent blog posting devoted to the highly regarded Leica R lenses. Since most HDSLRs inherently mount only to each manufacturer’s camera, Hurlbut goes into the rejiggering that must be done to fit them to a Canon EOS series, along with details on other modifications. You can find that info here.

Hurlbut recently finished shooting a feature shot mostly with the Canon 5D Mark II, claiming it will be the first HDSLR-shot full-length feature released by a major studio.

You can find Shane’s main tech website here.

He recommends this Leica R and Canon database for anyone wanting the tech details on mating the two.