Oscar nominated doc shot with Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D Mark II
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II was used to create The Tsunami and the Cherry Tree

The documentary, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom, which has been nominated for an Academy Award this week was shot using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR.

The short film was made by British born Lucy Walker, and documents the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in April 2011. It draws its name from the cherry blossom that is said to have inspired those in the hardest hit areas to rebuild.

It also features an original soundtrack by Moby, himself a keen photographer.

Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a prosumer level DSLR camera, it is the latest in a long-line of examples of DSLR technology being employed by professional film-makers.

Introduced to the market in 2008, the 5D Mark II is very popular among filmmakers. It features full HD video recording, and was the first Canon camera in the EOS line-up to record video, and was the first DSLR to feature full 1080p HD.

As it uses a full-frame sensor, it allows videos to be recorded with a very shallow depth of field, and of course, interchangeable lenses mean different effects can be achieved. However, it does have limitations, for instance, film clips can only be recorded up to 12 minutes in length at full HD.

It is widely rumoured that Canon could be about upgrade the camera, with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 6D or 5DX, in the next few weeks.

This is not the first time Lucy Walker has been nominated for an Oscar, her 2010 film Wasteland, was also nominated.

This year's Awards see The Tsunami and the Cherry Tree go up against four other documentary short films, with the winners announced on 26 February.

TOPICS
Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar. 

Latest in DSLRs
Nikon Df DSLR camera on a wooden surface by large window, with dusk light
Forget Fujifilm, I've retested 2013's Nikon Df DSLR and it's the ultimate retro camera for these 6 reasons
Monochrome image of a distant wind farm alongside a Canon DSLR camera in the hand with black background
You don't really need a new camera – a $200,000 photo prize was just won with this old Canon DSLR
Photographer holding the Nikon D800 DSLR camera up to their eye while leaning on a tree trunk surrounded by bluebells
I used my DSLR for the first time in years since switching to mirrorless – here are four things I learned
Two cameras sitting next to each other on a wooden table
If DSLR cameras are dead, why are they still so popular? Here are 5 reasons
Prouct photo of the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome with a 16-50mm f/2.8 attached
Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome review: one love
Canon EOS 4000D with 18-55mm lens attached on red background beside a lowest ever price text
This Canon beginner DSLR is so cheap right now it might even tempt you away from mirrorless
Latest in News
Two Android phones on a green and blue background showing Google Messages
Struggling with slow Google Messages photo transfers? Google says new update will make 'noticeable difference'
Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve dressed regally and on horseback in The Wheel of Time season 3
'There's a reason why we do it': The Wheel of Time showrunner responds to fans who are still upset over the Prime Video show's plot alterations
Google Pixel 9
Android 16 could bring an improved Samsung DeX-style desktop mode to more phones
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Nvidia could unleash RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs on PC gamers tomorrow, but there’s no sign of rumored RTX 5050 yet
AI writing
ChatGPT just wrote the most beautiful short story, and I wonder what I'm even doing here
Google Chrome dark mode
Google updates Chrome extension rules to ban affiliate link injection without user action or benefit