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For those just looking to support your basic DSLR setup, the 701HDV + Tripod over at B&H is a pretty sweet lightweight setup. Over at Amazon, this same setup runs you about $269. Sure the Amazon package comes with a useless monopod - not worth it. With the current rebates offered over at B&H you can get this very professional fluid head setup for around $184. Yeah, that's a pretty nice price you won't even find over at eBay. Olivia touched a bit on the 190XDB Aluminum tripod in the middle of this video (below).

Here's the kicker if you're reading this today (Sept 27th). With the Upcoming Rosh Hashanah, B&H will close tomorrow. So if you want to get your orders in, you've got until tomorrow morning for normal processing, otherwise you'll have to wait it out until Oct 2nd. OH WAIT! Here's another kicker. That rebate will expire before Oct 2nd To qualify your receipt should have an earlier date. Don't worry, you'll have until Oct 31st to send it in. I'd get on this one...

Upcoming Rosh Hashanah Closing B&H SuperStore and Offices will close Wednesday, September 28, at 1:00PM EDT through Sunday, October 2, at 10:00AM EDT.

The B&H SuperStore and offices will close at 1:00PM EDT on Wednesday, September 28, in observance of Rosh Hashanah and will reopen on Sunday, October 2 at 10:00AM EDT.
All Standard Shipping orders placed before Wednesday, September 28, at 7:00AM EDT and Rush Shipping orders placed before Wednesday, September 28, at 10:30AM EDT will be processed normally. Orders placed after the above times will be processed when we reopen on Sunday, October 2nd.
Online ordering will be unavailable from Wednesday, September 28, at 6:30PM EDT through Saturday, October 1, at 8:00PM EDT.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patronage.

Find it (click here).

701HDV-tripod-kit
find-price-button 701HDV Fluid Head 190XDB Aluminum Tripod Kit

Rebates also available for the larger 501HDV + Tripod kits (click here)

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There's been a few announcements of Sachtler's latest Ace fluid head + tripod, and it's finally available for pre-order. What's all the buzz about? Well Sachtler tripod systems normally run several thousands of dollars. In fact, just a pan bar alone for a Sachtler Fluid head could run you well over $300 dollars. So it's surprising that this new Sachtler Ace Tripod system is as affordable as Manfrotto gear. With all of the incredible shrinking video cameras, my guess is Sachtler will stay in this space and produce more affordable systems going forward. There's just too much they're missing out on by staying overly high end.

So what could hold back product sales? Well for one, Manfrotto's pretty much cornered the market in Quick Release adapters. Choosing a Sachtler over a Manfrotto 501HDV tripod system like these (click here) means you'll lose the ability to move from one rig to the next with ease. Oh and hopefully the bad rap that Litepanels is having won't affect the sales of this product, because Sachtler is also a Vitec ground brand. There's already several comments about banning Vitec products since that Litepanels announcement.

sachtler-tripod
find-price-button Sachtler ACE Fluid Head Tripod System

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edit ironing board 004edit ironing board 007

When you've got yourself a fairly long slider (usually over 4ft.), it will often require one very very heavy tripod, or two simple lightweight stands. There's also a few sliders that ALWAYS require two stands, like JuicedLink's latest DIY slider. Rod's DIY solution is to use a single ironing board that is quick to setup, can adjust to various heights, fold flat, and is dirt cheap. [Thanks Rod] Keep note that you'll probably require some level ground as each corner is not adjustable.

If you're concerned about aesthetics, another cheap solution that mimics the same folding and height adjustment features as an ironing board is a musicians keyboard stand (as found below).

Keyboard Stand
find-price-button Adjustable Height Folding Keyboard Stand

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Shared in the comments from YouTube member 3puncte, here's some 1080HD examples from the latest Canon SX40 HS. Still suffers from fast panning rolling shutter, but that 35x Zoom feature and Optical Image Stabilization is amazing stuff [Thanks Alex]. Some questions I have still - I can see the camera has manual exposure compensation, but can it do full manual shutter and aperture adjustments in video mode? Manual focus in video mode? Does this camera support live view output to an external monitor? Just curious, if anyone can answer those questions. I'd also love to start seeing some slow motion examples of that 240fps video in use too. Available in stock over at B&H Photo (click here), or via Amazon (click here)

Canon SX40IS
find-price-button Canon SX40IS 35x IS Zoom Digic 5 Processor

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ikelite-hx9v
Sony HX9V Ikelite Underwater Housing

The Sony HX9V is an amazing point and shoot HD video camera shooting 60fps even in full 1080HD. One thing I was looking forward to most this past summer was the ability to take it underwater. A bit late for my California Summer water activities, but still exciting news for other parts of the world where snorkeling, scuba, and maybe white water rafting activites never cease.

This little HX9v camera fits perfectly in situations (like underwater) where the manual controls are still accessible through mechanical buttons. You'll still be able to access all camera functions in the Ikelite Polycarbonate casing rated at a depth of 200' (feet). Other cameras moving towards touch screen controls would fail to use housings like this.

Unlike cheap plastic underwater camera bags, the Ikelite housing can also accept Ikelite Filters (for Color Correction). Would be a good housing to take the camera above sea level too in GoPro situations of dirt, mud, rain, sleet, and snow (albeit more expensive). Additional images of the Ikelite and specs all available following the link below.

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find-price-button Ikelite Sony HX9V Underwater Housing

sony-hx9-digital-camera
find-price-button Sony DSC-HX9 Digital Camera Full 1080 60p

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Swi-ViewSwi-View

Anyone catch the new CarrySpeed non-permanent NeoPrene swivel LCD mount to hold a View Finder? If you're not digging the Sticky Frame solutions, or the Quick Release Frame solution, then another option is this Swi-View. It slides in place over the LCD and held snug with a bit of velcro. Shown on a Canon 60D, but pretty much the same LCD as on the Canon T3i, so it should be compatible. Found via Amazon (click here) or via eBay (click here)

swi-view-lcdswi-view viewfinderScreen shot 2011-09-25 at 10.13.07 AM
find-price-button CarrySpeed Swi-View LCD ViewFinder Neoprene Adapter

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Canon SX40 IS

Earlier I mentioned that Canon was releasing two new point and shoot cameras (Canon S100 and Canon SX40 IS) with the latest Digic 5 processor. This new processor is said to be 6x faster and have 75% less noise with enhanced imagery. That means cleaner images in low light situations. If you want a smaller more pocketable camera, wait on the S100. If you want something closer to DSLR-like, the first to hit 'in stock' status is the Canon SX40 IS which has 35x optical Zoom (35mm Equiv) means it goes from 24mm wide-angle and extends to 840mm. Tons of Canon's creative filters and Canon's latest Intelligent Image Stabilization, Full HD video, and an option for shooting video at 240fps (lower resolution good slow motion). There's just too many features to list here, you can check out more information following the link. Available now (click here).

Canon SX40IS
find-price-button Canon SX40IS 35x IS Zoom Digic 5 Processor

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Wondlan Support

Wondlan's showing off some type of 'wearable support' (shown above) that can be used to unload the weight from camera stabilizers like the Wondlan Ares (Merlin-like). Seems like the same idea Glidecam has with their Body-Pod.

Glidecam Body Pod
find-price-button Glidecam Body Pod for Hand-Held Stabilizer

But unlike Glidecam's Body Pod, Wondlan shows how it can be used to support a shoulder rigs as well. In that case, it sort of reminds me of the Tiffen (Davis & Sanford) Steady Stick.

Tiffen Steady Stick
find-price-button SSProSI2 Pro Steady Stick

IMO, the price is too high for something that doesn't come with a professional padded belt and strap. The images and descriptions aren't very clear either on how it all connects together. From this end it just looks like an adjustable stick on a belt.

Wondlan wearable SupportWondlan-Wearable-Support
find-price-button Wondlan Wearable Support