Richard Lackey

29/05/2022

Here is the result of my first tests of the new Beastgrip Pro Series 1.33X Anamorphic Lens MK2. This is without a doubt the best smartphone anamorphic lens I've used to date. Sharp edge to edge and minimal to none (visible at least) chromatic aberration. Also you'll see here the results of the Dehancer film emulation plugin in DaVinci Resolve, using its own FiLMiC LOGv3 camera profile, which is excellent.

04/05/2022

5 years, 6 generations of iPhone camera tech, 45 videos about shooting professional quality video using iPhones, and how to achieve a high end polished look in post production despite all the limitations. It’s been an ongoing study exploring how to get the maximum output from the minimum input with the right tools and techniques.

Basically, the camera doesn’t matter as much as everyone thinks it does (as long as some minimums are met). A good camera minimizes the obstacles in your way to achieve your goals. It’s all about your creativity and vision, what you choose to put in your frame, how you shoot it, and how you make those pixels work for you in post.

Understand all your tools, own your image, be deliberate in your creative and technical choices and you can make magic with any camera.

12/12/2021

Working on a video again. Still tweaking my super 16mm emulation in DaVinci Resolve using FilmConvert Nitrate. I like the overscan look, even though it’s a bit gimmicky. Shot some great video at the Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival. Recorded in 10-bit FiLMiC LOGv3 on the iPhone 12 Pro Max using the Beastgrip Pro DOF Adapter Mk2, a 37mm MIR 1B lens and Polarpro VND.

10/11/2021

Somewhere in Cairo. Sometimes you have to look up.

14/08/2021

A pretty convincing super 16mm film look shot on iPhone with the Beastgrip DOF Mk2 adapter and my old Helios 44-2 lens. Working on an experiment that brings together a lot of the film emulation post processing for iPhone video that I’ve been working on for years. Thanks to FiLMiC Pro 10-bit LOGv3 on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and my LOGv3 to ARRI LogC transform plus FilmConvert Nitrate in DaVinci Resolve, and some scanned super 16mm frame (in motion) for the overscan look. Some slight jitter applied in Fusion completes the illusion. Super 8 looks awesome too.

01/07/2021

I’ve been using an innovative new filter system from Freewell for the past couple of months, the Freewell Versatile Magnetic VND filter, and now the embargo has lifted I can share my thoughts. I’ve never seen anything like this, as far as I’m aware it is a world first, and it actually works very well. Good job Freewell creating something new in a space where it seems there’s nothing new left to create.

The Freewell Versatile Magnetic Variable ND filter is one of the most interesting and innovative filtration systems I've seen. This all-in-one modular filter...

11/06/2021

A fun shoot day for an upcoming Fujifilm video with and lots of gear. Long day, but everything we need and more is in the can. 📷🎞🎬

22/05/2021

Here is a video in which I talk a lot about my three favorite sets of variable ND filters, how they work, why some are better than others, and how to mount them to smartphones.

Variable ND filters can be confusing for anyone new to videography or photography, especially for smartphones. In this video I take a look at my three favori...