• 22 Comments

•

Sony NEX shooters rejoiced when Metabones announced a Speed Booster adapter that offered a Full Frame look on the NEX cameras, but also increased the F-Stop of the lens attached. Check out the quick review from ProCinemaTools.com about the Metabones Speed Booster.

So how does this work? In short, it's similar to a Telephoto Extension adapter that multiplies your lenses focal length. The reason why it's able to perform this same technique in 'reverse', is because it is using a lens designed for Full Frame cams, but is directing the image to a much smaller sensor (like the NEX). The Metabones supports electronic functions like Image Stabilization and aperture can be controlled directly from the Sony NEX cameras buttons and dials, but price ranges from $450-$600 dollars (found here).

Recently another Speed Booster'ish Focal Reduction adapter has been released, but it offers no electronic communication. This one is designed for Nikon manual lenses with manual aperture controls to mount to your Sony NEX cameras (metabones does not currently offer Nikon to NEX). You can use this to achieve a Full Frame look from of your Rokinon (Nikon mount) lenses as well. At less than half the price of the Metabones, this adapter is being listed at $198 via eBay (click here)

Not MetaBones Focal Reducer Speed BoosterSpeed Booster Focal Reducer
find-price-button Focal Reducer Speed Booster Nikon to Sony NEX

When is someone going to make one for the BlackMagic or MicroFour Thirds?

• 14 Comments

•

Until you have it in your hands, it's hard to really grasp the concept of the Motorroid Universal Motorized Kit. Typically it is designed to motorize just about any Video Camera Slider on the market. Now, the more I use it, the more random ideas I have of how to incorporate it into simple dynamic camera movements.

DIY-Projects

Here's a couple of DIY projects (video below) using the Varavon Motorroid Kit in ways it was never intended to be used. Don't take the build quality on these DIY projects too seriously, it was something I whipped up in a matter of minutes to show proof of concept of what can be achieved.

The basic parts comprise of a strong motor and a pulley on the opposite side that can be attached with one bolt (or screw). When used with a cog belt, the system is strong enough to lift a good amount of weight completely vertically. For use with projects that don't need to pull heavy weights like my DIY Motorized Track Dolly or DIY Motorized Jib Crane, simple twine or rope will work just as well. I'm exaggerating with this large Jib, but don't forget about all those Carbon Fiber Mini Video Jibs (found here) which would be fun to motorize for travel projects.

Aviator Travel Jib Crane Mini
Read: Mini Travel Jib Article

Finally when the Time Lapse Control unit becomes available for this Motorroid kit, it will really open up some interesting possibilities for very smooth and consistent motion control projects. Even on my best day, I don't think I can perform a very slow Crane up movement for several minutes straight with one consistent speed.

Now i'm sure some of you will ask about the track dolly, so if you're looking for a Video Tripod Track Dolly, the only thing I can suggest is GO with the FAT WHEELS -not those thin roller blade type wheels.

Video-Tripod-Track-Dolly-Wheels

Typcially all the high end professional tripod track dolly systems always use the fat skate wheels NOT the thin rollerblade wheels, and there is a performance difference. Here's a link to a bunch of Video Tripod Track Dollies over on eBay (found here)

Tripod Track Dolly VideoVideo Tripod Track Dolly
find-price-button Video Tripod Track Dolly Caster Wheels

So what's next? Maybe pull a wheeled dolly (Pico Dolly) across the garage floor instead of laying down tracks, or pull a GoPro on a cable cam setup across the park (I may try this one). Hopefully this opens up some ideas for what these new tools can do to add interesting movement to your footage. You can find the Varavon Motorroid Kits following via eBay (click here)

Varavon-Motorroid-Kit-300x166
find-price-button Varavon Motorroid Universal Motorized Upgrade Kit

• 32 Comments

•

The Skyler MInicam is probably my most favorite little travel video stabilizer. It might look small, but for reference, I often fly a small Sony NEX, to a mid-sized GH3, and up to a large Canon 5D Mark III. The original Skyler Minicam stabilizer has typically been out of reach for many as it lists for over $450 dollars (found here on eBay)

Skyler Minicam
find-price-button Skyler MiniCam Video Camera Stabilizer

We've seen other products that share a similar design to the Skyler, but this new 2013 XCam version has an improved bearing gimbal that is said to be smoother and now offers the folding leg design making it easier to pack and travel. The top stage still offers a quick release plate and fine tuning knobs making it easier to find the center of balance. The new <XCam 2013 Mini video Stabilizer is offered at just $238 via eBay (click here)

XCam Mini StabilizerXcam stabilizer
find-price-button XCam 2013 FL Mini Hand Held Video Stabilizer

• 2 Comments

•

BMCC Camera Cage with Top HandleePhotoinc ePhoto Inc Video Cage BlackMagic Black Magic Cinema Camera

A new and more affordable video cage designed for the BlackMagic Design Cinema Camera or new BlackMagic Design Production 4K Camera is popping up. The accessory cage comes with a Top Handle that can be used directly on the BMCC or with a cage bracket frame providing dozens of mounting points. A 15mm rod adapter assembly can be mounted when using rail accessories such as a follow focus or Matte Box. This new BMCC video cage kit can be found via eBay (Click Here).

BlackMagic Cage Top Handle RigBlackMagic Top Handle RigePhotoinc ePhoto Inc Video Cage BlackMagic Black Magic Cinema Camera
find-price-button BlackMagic Design 4K Cinema Camera Top Handle Cage 15mm Rods

The new BMCC Accessory Cages with Top Handle and 15mm Rods can also be found via Amazon (click here)

BMCC Camera Cage with Top HandleePhotoinc ePhoto Inc Video Cage BlackMagic Black Magic Cinema Camera
find-price-button BlackMagic Design Cinema Camera 4K Video Cage Top Handle 15mm Rods

• 1 Comment

•

Meet the Cyber-shot™ HX50. The world's smallest and lightest camera with 30x optical zoom capability (24-720mm F/3.5-6.3), it features an advanced 20.4 MP “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor, Wi-Fi (for both transfer of images and remote control), along with GPS logging. Burst mode up to 10 frames per second, and should be available in May at a recommended price of $450. Preorders available now via Amazon (click here)

DSCHX50VBDSCHX50VB_2
find-price-button Cyber-shot Digital Camera HX50V

• 8 Comments

•

Here's an early look at what the highly anticipated Canon 5D Mark III firmware may have available. At NAB2013, Jeromy Young of Atomos shows the firmware sending a clean signal and new menu options and working with their Atomos Ninja-2 HDMI Recorder, but keep in mind that the final firmware could be much different. When Canon first announced that there will be a firmware upgrade, they stated it would be released in April (this month). Let's hope they can still make that deadline.

Canon 5D Mark III
find-price-button Canon 5D Mark III DSLR Video (Body)

atomos ninja 2 hdmi capture 5d mark III
find-price-button Atomos Ninja 2 HMDI Recorder

• 7 Comments

•

From on camera LED lights, to wireless Audio kits, and portable audio recorders, there's something in your bag of gear that will require AA / AAA batteries. Here's a couple of helpful AA / AAA battery charger reviews that touch on smart-chargers which work on an individual cell basis.

This first video from @HDSLRNOW (follow twitter here) showcases the La Crosse BC-700 (also available in BC-1000) Battery charger. Can charge NiCad and NiMH AA and AAA rechargeable batteries simultaneously, featuring 4 modes: charge, discharge, refresh, and test, 4 separate LCD displays for simultaneous readouts, and offers Overheat-detection to prevent over-charging.

La Crosse Charger
find-price-button La Crosse Technology BC-700 Alpha Power Battery Charger

The next battery charger review from Shuttertastic.com is almost double the price of the small La Crosse, but this Powerex Maha MH-C801D offers a large LCD display with Eight independent slots, Selectable soft and rapid charging speeds, Built-in battery deep-conditioning system, and works with a variety of popular rechargeable batteries.

Powerex-Maha-MH-C801D-1
find-price-button Powerex Maha MH-C801D Eight Cell 1-Hr PRO AA/AAA Charger

• 6 Comments

•

The online store that carries the Wieldy Vest Stabilizer system recently posted up a new crane / jib that uses a cable driven tilt head.

tilt head jib

This allows the operator to adjust the angle of the camera by tilting the angle of a Video Fluid Head (much like the Varavon Tilt Found Here). The total telescoped length is 10.5' (feet) but can be adjusted to operate shorter. Check it out from the eBay seller following the link (here).

tilt head jibportable crane tilt head
wire cable tilt head cranetilt head crane
find-price-button 10.5 Portable Telescoping Tilt Head Video Crane / Jib

• 19 Comments

•

The new Shure VP83 and VP83F are ultra-lightweight yet durable, with all-metal construction designed to Shure’s legendary quality standards. Additionally, both provide superior RF immunity and include highly directional supercardioid/ lobar polar patterns to reject unwanted off-axis audio. The VP83 also features easily-accessible controls, including a three-position gain switch to compensate for different recording environments and a low-cut filter switch to eliminate distracting background noise.

The VP83F with flash recording and playback functionality enables WAV file capture at 24 bit/48kHz sampling rate for direct-to-device recording and added audio redundancy. With a dedicated headphone audio output, the VP83F simplifies real-time monitoring and also offers an intuitive menu and controls for fast and easy control in almost any environment.

A83-FUR Windjammer® and A83-W Foam Windscreen accessories, exclusively developed with Rycote for the VP83 and VP83F LensHopper models, will also be available. Shure VP83 and VP83F will be available in summer 2013. Pricing TBD and will be available via B&H (click here).

shure-vp83vp83f
Shure VP83 / VP83F Shotgun Microphone Build In Digital Audio Recorder