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If you're looking to tackle a home made Wireless Follow Focus project, you might want to give VImeo member Phillip James a holla. For the past few months, he's been working with Arduino to design his own WFF, and seems to have worked out all the bugs. It definitely looks like all the parts are in the right places, and appears to be very precise in movement. Take note that one thing inexpensive WFF's are known for is the amount of noise it can generate. WFF's have a place and sound should always be captured seperately (like on real sets).

If you're not up to the task of a DIY the most inexpensive one to first hit the market was from Jag35. Although it worked pretty well, it's been polished up quite a bit lately. Pricing is unbelievably cheap if you've ever shopped around a for one. Prices are available following the link below.

jag35-wireless-follow-focus
find-price-button Jag35 Wireless Follow Focus system

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camera stabilizer

It's probably been a while since anyone's used something like this. Very overpriced compared to what's on the market today, a bit odd looking, but might give some DIY'ers ideas for a different take on a body mounted camera stabilizer. There's a few more images following the link here.

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Tool-Less-Hot-Shoe-Adapter

Pretty sweet little hot shoe adapters allow you to add extra accessory mounts to your DSLR rigs without tools. There's another version of this adapter that has a nice female insert if you're trying to mount in onto a male stud. (Excuse that last sentence if it sounded a bit mature).

The knob below allows you to tighten or loosen and relocate as you please without carrying a spare driver tool. There's slighty cheaper 'cold shoe' mounts available, but price is about average on this one and a cool addition to your DSLR Cages or Accessory Brackets.

Tool-Less-hot-shoe
find-price-button Tool Less Accessory Hot Shoe Mount

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Screen shot 2011-03-25 at 7.25.36 PM

Rob writes in and points out another cool iPhone, iPod, or iPad application that turns your Apple portable into a sweet little recording device. This time they've provided extra hardware in the form of a hand held microphone. iRig is the company behind the claim to be 'The first Handheld microphone for the iPhone', but they've been in business for a while pushing out iPhone hardware and applications for musicians (serious audiophiles). The iRig Microphone also includes a headphone out jack for real time monitoring (so you don't have to disconnect the microphone) and the included iRig Recorder application fine tunes the audio being captured.

iRig Microphone

Also compatible with their other applications VocaLive or Amplitube which give you unbelievable control over audio capture and processing.

iRig-Audio-Recorder

This iRig Microphone seems like a great little cheap tool for the mobile blogger or podcaster since you can also use Video from your device while capturing isolated audio from your subject. Front facing camera on the iPhone or iPad? Yeah would be pretty cool for Webcasters.

iRig-iPad-Microphone

They have another piece of hardware that's designed to take inputs from external instruments, so curious if you could just plug in any microphone (LAV mic?) and still have real time Headphone monitoring.

iRig-Mic
find-price-button iRig Microphone with Headphone Monitoring

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The IGUS linear guide rail has been one of the most popular off-the-shelf Rails used for DIY camera sliders. It's a solid build and fairly smooth slide and has been the foundation for other companies to 'rebrand' back into the Video market. One of the 'cons' of this slider is the lack of exact speed control when pushing or pulling manually. There's some friction with this type of slider which could be a good thing, but also could be a bad thing trying to control a very consistent move across the entire rail.

This time Vimeo member weelian soh attaches a basic DC high torque motor and a PWM controller (to control speed) from eBay to a DIY IGUS rail slider to achieve a consistent speed all the way across. A very nice DIY if you don't mind the amount of noise a DC motor can produce, and If you want to find out more, there's a ton of photos and information about his build following the link in the details here: https://vimeo.com/21491431

If you want to start building your own slider, IGUS has made it easy by providing a pretty much ready to go kit of rails and carrier. You'll just need to mount it to your tripod and drill a hole to add a fluid head.

IGUS-Dryling-Camera-Slider
find-price-button IGUS Slider and Carrier for DIY Camera Slider

• 26 Comments

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Screen shot 2011-03-25 at 1.20.08 AM

Earlier today I talked to someone at Canon's customer support about what conditions would a camera be considered as a refurb. First off, Canon will not repair a defective item and resell it. Cameras with issues are sent to the recycling plant. 'Refurbished' sold cameras most likely come from overstock, has been returned from a retailer, or may have had a damaged box (nobody wants to buy a camera with a bent box).

Technically not allowed to sell the same item as 'new' twice, they have to stamp it with the refurbished scarlet letter. Before any item is sold though, it goes through a complete 'new product standards' inspection to ensure it meets the same requirements as equipment sold as 'new' and packaged with all the standard items (software, manuals, cables, straps).

I decided to order a refurbished 5D Mark II when there was a pretty nice sale going on and while new retail versions are selling for about $2500+, I was able to grab this guy for $1799 (pre tax). Here's a little insight on what to expect from Canon's Refurbished store. The BOX is not the same OEM as you'd get from buying one as New.

Canon 5D Refurb

Canon 5D Mark II Refurb

Everything is well packed, and comes with brand new manuals, software CD's, straps, and cables.

5D Mark II Refurbished

2011-03-23 18.33.20

It's sold as refurbished, but still comes with Canon's 90 Day Warranty.

Canon 90 day refurbished warranty

canon 5d mark II refurbished

Inspecting the camera's body, it looks BRAND NEW and untouched. Menu was set to all default settings, no shutter actuations, and firmware had already been upgraded. I've had my other 5D Mark II since it first hit the internet (2 years ago), and have had no issues ever. Although this one is technically a refurbished item, it's Brand New as far as i'm concerned. With the discount on Refurbished items combined with periodic sales from Canon, I was able to grab this for several hundreds of dollars cheaper than even a used 1 year old Body found on eBay.

Glad I was able to grab the deal, these popular cameras and lenses sold out in a matter of hours once they announced a nice percentage off promo code. You can also check out their other items including printers and other Canon supplies here: https://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores

canon 5d mark II new refurbished

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240-led-dimmable-led-video-light

Fresh new LED Video light hits the market for on camera use. This one looks like a winner, and a first for color changing dimmable LED video lights at this price. Look closely and you'll see a familiar build similar to the makers of the popular 126 LED video light that changed everything. The Magenta (minus green) and clear diffuser filters look very similar to the latest 600, 900, and 1200 LED video lights also made by the same company as the 126 LED.

LED-dimmable-video-240-light

This time around they're throwing in a 240 LED Dimmable video light with Color Changing knobs. If you don't know how this works, check out this article: http://cheesycam.com/color-changing-variable-color-led-video-lights/

240-led-color-changing

The only other color changing for 'On Camera' use are the 312 LED Color Changing Dimmable Video Lights, which look damn good, but run more than twice this price. Of course for the lower price this new 240 LED Video light does not include the popular Sony or Panasonic camcorder batteries required to power, and also doesn't have a port for external power adapters.

240-led-sony-battery

Still don't think you're getting a deal on the price? Check out what looks to be the exact same LED video light found here.

For the price, the new Color Changing features, and coming from a company who's recently been releasing some of the most popular LED lights for the budget filmmaker, it sounds like a great buy. Unfortunately they are fairly new and limited supply at this time.

240-led-video-light
find-price-button Color Changing Dimmable LED Video Lights

[Update Update] Now Back Available Online:
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find-price-button 240 Dimmable Color Changing LED Video Light with Barndoors

barndoor-240
find-price-button 240 Dimmable Color Changing LED Video Light without Barndoors

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I've lost a few myself. Once that little guy is gone, you've rendered your tripod quick release plate pretty much useless. You can order these replacement screws through some of the big retailers for over $10 dollars, or you can check out eBay for some cheaper prices. Problem is you've got to wait weeks for that over seas shipping, so might be something small to keep handy. Call it Preventative Maintenance..

Screen shot 2011-03-24 at 9.36.11 AM
find-price-button 1/4 x 20 Replacement Screw for Quick Release Plates

[Update] This one would work out as well, but doesn't look like the standard 'slotted' screw head, where a quarter comes in handy. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/302185-REG/Wimberley_SW_100_Extra_Screw_1_4_20.html