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drobo-4bay

Let's face it, i'm pretty sure you guys aren't burning quite as many DVD's as you were in the past. Once you move onto DSLR video, you're not going to try and backup 16 or 32GB of data onto DVD media. Even Blu-Ray is still overpriced and slow to read / write. The new workflow is hard drive storage. In fact, when i'm offloading data from my set to hand over to the editor, it's all on external drives. We're not dealing in disc media. The problems with hard drives (and I know, I work on computers all day) they will FAIL. Yes..be it traditional, or solid state drives, don't count on putting all of your eggs in one basket. There are many problems that WILL occur with storing all of your data in one drive.

Buying 2 hard drives to 'Mirror' the data is a great cheap solution, but a very slow process and never quite up to sync in real time. So now we're talking about Storage Units, cases that support drive bays, raid, mirroring, striping, however people want to explain it to you. The basic principle is that with a Storage Unit that can house several hard drives at one time, you can increase your total storage capacity in a single 'Drive Letter' and at the same time mirror your data across several different drives in case of failure. Just a few years ago units like these were only for Enterprise use and cost thousand of dollars. Now that technology has become cheaper, hard drives can contain more storage, these units are now being put up in homes. Especially with the craze of HD video files, it's just a smart choice to start looking into these units.

The most popular units that were targeted to the home were made by Drobo. They've been out for quite a while, but I could never find myself spending so much money on something. Now that prices have dropped incredibly for Drobo Storage units, hard drive capacities are huge, I think it's time I add this to my current workflow. Just remember when choosing a storage unit like Drobo, find one that can support the correct file system (i.e. NTFS) for your files that are larger than 4GB. B&H has a $100 dollar instant rebate on this unit (at this time of writing). Note: This unit may not support NTFS file format. Please check before you buy. If it doesn't, it would still be great for Photographers though!

drobo-4tb

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spidertraxdolly-for-sale

Sorry for the delay. The SpiderTrax Dolly was already announced to accept orders, but we only announced it to those who filled out the original form. Today i'm announcing that you can order the dolly (no fluid heads available at this time), only if you are a US resident within the 48 continental states, and payment accepted is Paypal only.

There is only one option available at this time, and it is the complete base kit which includes solid AL base plate, 2 solid AL axles, 4 wheels, 4 red bearings, 2 clamp knobs, 1/4" screw with 3/8" step up adapter to mount either your camera or a fluid head directly to the base.. The wheels will already come preassembled, so setup is simply just placing the axles on the base (5 seconds you're ready to go).

There are a limited amount of orders left, and you can grab it over at https://www.PhotographyAndCinema.com.

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Palo Alto translated can mean 'tall stick'. This special adapter was designed for the niche market of Painters Pole Photography, as seen in this article.

I was unable to locate an affordable solution to adapt my Photography Camera to a simple Painters pole. Using painter poles allow for huge savings, but current available adapters are few and expensive. The new custom made Palo Alto by PhotographyandCinema.com will make these more affordable for Painter Pole enthusiasts.

Shot with Palo Alto

Here's the exact same Pole i'm using, it's awesome.
Shureline Painters Pole
find-price-button Shur-Line Easy Reach Extension Pole

There are many painter poles that extend further than 10' Feet. Custom machined from steel, this adapter will mount on any standard painter type pole allowing you to bring your camera to new heights. This video was a sample taken by Dion Wong @ DionWong.com. Photos were taken with a Canon 5D Mark II using a Shure-line 10' painter pole, video was taken using a Canon SX210 IS point and shoot (mounted on the same Shure-line Painter Pole). This adapter is now available on a new website at https://PhotographyAndCinema.com

up-high-palo-alto
click image for larger version

palo-alto

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The LCDVF 3/2... from Terry Gray on Vimeo.

Ok, Terry over at LocalTVHero.com beat me to the punch in getting a quick review out on the LCDVF 3:2 for the Canon 550D / T2i. (I need to up my game). Mine may have already arrived, I just haven't been home to check the mail. It's ok though, he did a great job, much better than a review I was going to do. I realize this might seem very similar in steps to mount the original LCDVF, and for current owners nothing new to see, but this post is for those who have yet to pull the trigger on a loupe. If you don't have one, get one. Once you start using it outdoors on a bright sunny day, or need to focus on that 1.4 aperture, you'll never be without one. Remember that these are perfect for photographers also, as you get a clear image of what your photo looks like when it's very bright outdoors. Thanks Terry, great job on the video.

The Hoodman Cinema Kit
hoodman-loupe
click image
By the way, I checked out the Hoodman loupe on a Canon T2i and it fits nicely being able to see the entire LCD screen with excellent magnification. The only problem you'll run into is mounting options. Hoodman now has a 'crane' for their loupe to attach to the Hotshoe. This seems to work great for many cameras, but doesn't quite nail the fit for the T2i. Something you guys might want to look into in case your ever at a store that carries it. Of course, it's a seperate cost for this item. Prices and availability through this link.

The Hoodman Crane for LCD Loupe
hoodman-crane
click image

Update: You can now buy the LCDVF 3/2 from BHPHOTOVIDEO.com.
Grab yourself the LCDVF 3/2 from BHPHOTOVIDEO.com

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proaim-camera-clamp-magic-arm
click image

Camera clamps like these are great tools to have around. This is especially handy for the discreet shooter. For budget film makers looking to shoot guerilla style in the streets without a permit, these clamps can help get your DSLR video camera setup for a very steady shot. Imagine being in a public location where tripods are completely prohibited. Using a Camera Clamp, lock that camera down onto railing, a restaurant chair, a table top, or even a stop sign post. It's already an advantage using DSLR's to shoot on location since many people still associate them with Still Photography Cameras. They won't even know they just might be extras on your next video project. Check out the Camera Clamp available via eBay.

Check this link for a full list of Camera Clamps available via eBay.

[thanks for sharing via ShadowmindProductions.com]

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sandisk-passion-contest

SanDisk Capture the Passion Contest Series: Summer SportsSanDisk Capture the Passion Contest Series: Summer Sports
You could win $1,000 (USD) and a SanDisk Ultra® SDHC™ Card for your photo or video!
Four winners will be chosen!

The Contest
On-field action. Sideline celebrations. Show us your digital camera skills this summer!
We're looking for entries that best capture the spirit and passion of Summer Sports in the action of play or the celebration of fans. So bring it on! Show us a home run blast after your child's all-or-nothing swing in little league. The in-your-face antics of a friend's volleyball spike. How about the greatest wakeboarding performance the world has never seen? We want it all. Whatever you choose to shoot, style counts-so be bold, be creative, and show us what you've got for an opportunity to win $1,000 (USD) and a SanDisk Ultra® SDHC™ Card!

The Winners
There will be 2 video and 2 photo winners, split evenly under the Play and Celebration categories. All entries will be reviewed by fan voters and judged by a SanDisk panel of professional photographers. Can you make the cut? Good luck!

Restrictions apply and eligibility is limited. Entry deadline is 8/23/10 at 5 pm PT. Winners will be announced on or about 9/13/10. For more details please read the Official Contest Rules.

Meet the SanDisk Extreme Team of Judges
A professional team of world-class photographers will be reviewing your work. Learn more about the panel of judges you'll want to impress. Get more information here: https://passion.sandisk.com/summersports/

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glass-screen-protector-550d

Reader Jeff M. wanted to share this Glass LCD screen protector. I'm a fan of LCD screen protectors, but trimming those flimsy plastic ones to size, and getting all the air bubbles out is a pain. They definitely help prevent small light scuffs, but if you're looking for a screen protector that can take more abuse, check out the Glass models available. Glass LCD Screen Protectors are available for a variety of Canon (including 550D), Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, and more.

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Really bad Mockup (fake image below)
Remote-LCD-LCDVF-viewfinder

There's been speculation and alot of hype from different Loupe makers about changing the way we currently 'view' through DSLR's. One statement from a well known company (I won't quote completely), mentioned something kinda like:

'Right now you hold the camera up to your eye, that's going to change'.

I've seen many different types of Remote 'Live View' Viewfinders on the market and it's starting to make sense that new LCD loupes could start using this screen instead of the one directly mounted on the DSLR. These DSLR's aren't outputting true HD, so a decent tiny 3-4" remote monitor with a magnified LCD Z-Finder loupe attached would be a pretty cool focusing device. I'm imagining a new type of DSLR shoulder rig where the camera sits normally down the center (not offset), and the remote LCD Viewfinder is positioned through a flexible adjustable arm (much like the ones to hold monitors today). This would provide alot of flexibility when doing low shots, high shots, or any other random type shot while still displaying live view through a remote 3" LCD with a Z-Finder magnified LCD view finder attached. This would be great for a remote Focus Puller too.

We got any fancy Photoshop users out there who care to start mocking up what this could look like? Better yet, If you're planning on some forward thinking and want to beat the other guys to the punch, check out the options already available below to mount your existing LCD Viewfinder Loupe.

A popular Remote LCD that's been out for a while
remote-lcd-viewfinder

How about this one? This one attaches to the EyePiece and acts like an angled viewfinder.
new-lcd-viewfinder-dslr-loupe

This Seculine Remote LCD would be a perfect idea to mount a magnified LCD loupe to it.
remote-lcd-viewing

So basically the idea is to mount your DSLR on shoulder rig, but only relocate one of these Remote LCD's to the proper position. No need to relocate the entire DSLR video camera.

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Ok, another product that's not out on YouTube or Vimeo. Nobody's got reviews on these items, why not? They just make sooo much sense. Lighting has always been an issue whenever we traveled. Halogen bulbs can break by the time your plane lands, and you're pretty much stuck. Hot bulbs are always uncomfortable to work with. Breaking down hot bulbs is a pain in the a$$. So of course the only real option is LED lighting. You've seen these panels before i'm sure, but here's the only video I know that shows what they look like.

You gotta love how fast products are duplicated and how fast pricing comes down with technology. These video light panels normally run from $800 dollars on up from other manufacturers. The LitePanels 1x1 is a great light, but that runs well over $1,800 dollars +. Totally not in my budget. Now this company on Amazon sells these video lights starting as low as $200.00 dollars. That I can afford. The closest thing on the market to these types of lights are those made by FloLight, which run a little more than twice the price.

FloLight 1000 LED Panel (Twice the Price)

After researching different models of this type of LED light panel, I settled for the lights from the Amazon links below since the seller is using Amazon fullfillment services for two of the items. This means these items are sitting in the Amazon warehouse for super fast shipping. The latest model with the Dimmer is coming directly from the retailer, possibly because it's a new product that just hit the Internet recently. Ok let's show some lights::

500 LED Video Light (no Dimmer) 500 LED Video Light (with Dimmer) - I like this one. 1000 LED Video Light Panel (no dimmer option)

I was able to locate this listing. This might be a mistake, but it looks to be the exact same 500 LED light (no dimmer), but this listing comes with a LightStand. Saving you at least an extra $20 bucks.

Wait, they just snuck in another combo deal - more savings. This one shaves a few bucks for buying two + they added light stands.

This is another LED Video light panel (below) that uses a different type of LED. The design on this LED I believe allows for a further 'throw' if your subject is further away.

56x 1watt LED