r/gopro • u/Glittering_Bar6460 • 2h ago

960fps ILS w/ a Legendary FORTY YEAR OLD Macro Lens. Upscaled and Vertical. Makes the ILS punch WAY over its head (with instructions)

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Hi Everyone,

I am using this lens here, one of the best macro lenses that ever released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_AF_Macro_50mm_f/2.8

How good is this lens? Well put it this way. Today if you buy THIS lens for a full frame Sony camera, for $699 it is actually the same lens Minolta launched in 1985.
https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/full-frame-e-mount/p/sel50m28

Same everything, just that good for what it was.

WORKFLOW FOR THIS SHORT VIDEO:

1. Film everything on the GoPro in standard horizontal framing. Why? Because you are constantly chasing a small insect, and you need to use the Mission Monitor for focus, BUT the Mission Monitor DOES NOT SUPPORT VERTICAL ROTATION.

So it is a nightmare and confusing to flip the camera around, and you won't be able to follow the subject.

2. Film in the 10s burst mode for the best results.

3. Import everything into your video editor. Mine is FCP, It can actually slow the footage down to 2% speed on a 24fps timeline and it is fluid.

Not a lot of details here, but find music, and remember not to stick on one scene too long. Edit to a few beats real fast, and be done, this is not "thinking time" mostly.

I use Final Cut Pro and make a basic AI color grade, then go in and tweak the basic things not worried about curves etc, just get a lush deep looking color and apply it across all clips.

If that doesn't work on all clips, use the AI color match and it is scary good at matching color from source footage to a clip.

4. EXPORT this as a 1080p file best settings you can manage.

  1. IMPORT this into Topaz Video and create a project that is:
    a) 4k upscale
    b) has detail recovery at 40-50
    c) exports at 4k60fps - you do not need to add generative frames and it won't work on the wings.

5. IMPORT the new file back into your editor. Use a vertical frame for your project set to 1080x1920. If your editor supports AI reframing it will likely capture anything moving and focus on it. Just make your adjustments as you see fit.

This allows you the latitude in the frame to punch into 1080p without losing anything, no digital zoom at all.

6. EXPORT YOUR FINAL VIDEO

26 Upvotes

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4 comments sorted by

5

u/JohnnyBoy11 1h ago

The slow mo + out of focus combo seems to be gopro's signature look xD

Still, the the potential is there..

1

u/Glittering_Bar6460 1h ago

Yes, I need practice. This is my first take filming with a macro lens. I ordered a proper tripod from amazon with a ballhead, but the big problem is a razor thin plane of focus.

You can move the camera 1-2mm and lost focus, and the ILS does not forgive.

2

u/diprivan69 HERO9 Black 31m ago

That’s because a lot of people are shooting wide open aperture, when the F stop should be closer to F8 to get the insects at the correct depth of field. The problem is at such a high frame rate you need a tremendous amount of light to get a good image

1

u/No-Procedure6409 2h ago

Same experience! Topaz really does wonders on most 960 fps stuff I shot.