Other news, here's an item I just received. This is an aftermarket Timer (Timelapse Intervalomter) remote purchased from eBay for the Canon EOS 550D / T2i. I'll be doing a review on this item and also some battery tests with the OEM vs Aftermarket 550D / T2i batteries.
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LCD Timer Battery grips aren't new, but there are some new ones showing up on the market for the Canon 7D, Canon 5D Mark II, and Canon 550D / T2i, and even newer Nikon DSLR's also. The LCD in the battery grip provides settings for (Intervalomter) Time Lapse functions. It's quite handy to have the Timer Remote feature already in the camera, for those spontaneous timelapse moments. There does appear to be some limitations to the internal timer functions, but if you're spontaneous, I doub't you'll want to spend a few hours with your camera in one spot. Here's some additional specs:
These battery grips sure do look a lot 'fancier' than the the standard grip, and contains all the basic features of the regular grips, but there still might some limitations to the internal Timelapse (Intervalometer) features. If you want to dish out a few more dollars though, you can have something that stands out from the regular grips. Check out the line of LCD battery grips with built in Time Lapse Remote Function.
I spend a day working remotely from the office, and BAM! I get hit with a whole bunch of new packages to share with you readers. I wonder what's in the bags and boxes? You'll have to keep checking back to see what I got, but I can tell you that it's all DSLR related stuff. Stay tuned.
Cheesycam reader MJM just dropped a bomb on me. I've listed some information on the aftermarket battery grips and batteries on this blog before, but i've been hearing that the prices have gone up since. MJM sends a comment about a seller who's got the aftermarket grips as low as $65.95 just grip, or $89.95 which comes with 4 batteries too. That's a great deal right now especially with the demand still growing quickly on the 550D / T2i. I've done my usual (gut) inspection about the seller whos received 100% feedback and seems to push 100's of items daily. That's a tough job keeping eBay buyers happy, so this one looks totally legit. Grab 'em now while it's still decently priced for the 4 battery package.
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Another Bomb dropped was the Amazon grip with 2 batteries for approx $60 dollars + $4.99 shipping. Supposedly they might be shipping this guy out of New Jersey so the wait might be shorter. Check it out below.
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Just a few months ago, choosing a DSLR rig was limited to a few options. I've been trying to follow the different cheaper solutions available, and it seems like it's growing each week. Check out the complete line of DSLR's available on eBay.. The most popular overseas items would be the ones coming from Hong Kong and Korea. The Hong Kong rigs are still just Lego squared looking with some offensive color schemes. The Korean rigs known around the web as 'Gini Rigs', actually go by the name G-Cinema, have really improved on their black on black designs with attention to detail on every knob and clamp. Taking a look at the new line of G-Cinema rigs over on the auction site, list a whole new line of products, new DSLR rig configurations, cleaner designs, and now with lower prices for more parts. Similar DSLR configurations will run three times the price of a G-Cinema setup, so this is definitely the smart buy for the low budget guys who want that extra professional look. Check out the new lineup from G-Cinema DSLR Rigs.
[UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE] I received a Gini Rig and reviewed it here: http://cheesycam.com/the-gini-rig-arrives-from-korea
[Updated] Full Gini Rig Photo Gallery and Review
Comment from Reader:
Just picked up the G 1700S Cage model... offered $550 on Ebay, he accepted, and it made it to my door (SJ, California) in only 4 days. It's solid and the workmanship is great. Buying this model, I am able to have a number of different configurations. Why pay $3K for Zacuto??????
Most of you might remember Shane Hurlbut as the DP Christian Bale went Psycho on during the filming of Terminator Salvation. If you need a refresher, check out this YouTube clip for the audio meltdown. [that issue has since been resolved].
Shane Hurlbut - Director of Photographer talks a little bit about the seeing the footage from a Canon 5D Mark II for the very first time. Below are two other videos about a short film created completely with the Canon DSLR. You may have caught 'The Last Three Minutes' video online, but you may not have caught some of the Behind the Scenes footage. Check it out for a bit more appreciation of how these DSLR's are just game changers....
Here's the final piece titled 'The Last Three Minutes'
Running around to different locations on a shoot with a host is not as easy as it seems. If the host isn't nailing down lines, you're going to be reshooting much longer than expected. Teleprompters are a great way to keep your host engaged with the camera while still being able to memorize key parts of their pitch. Now that the iPad brings a bigger screen for use with exisiting software from ProPrompter (available on your iPhones too), they've created a nice lightweight sturdy setup specifically for the Apple iPad. Features also include remote sync, remote start / stop, speed up, slow down, and pause. Check out the video above from HandHeldHollywood.com demonstrating the use of the new ProPrompter for iPad.
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Seriously speaking, i'm the type of guy who'll try before he buys. Meaning, i'm going to try my own DIY teleprompter with my iPad. This seems like a really fun project to try and tackle. Anyone else up for the challenge?
Yo! Big ups to Waylon from Vimeo for cutting this video!! The 7th annual San Francisco Crawfish boil was fun and the Crawfish was off the hook. The weather was sunny and in the 90's at the Marina Green (lucky day).
While there, I got to meet up with the well known San Francisco Photographer JJ Casas. He was there taking out his lady for her birthday ( Happy B-Day Cher !). More coverage of the 7th Annual San Francisco Crawfish festival can be found on JJ's blog here: https://jcasasphotography.blogspot.com/2010/06/7th-annual-sf-crawfish-boil-and-my.html
We ran around picking up some footage for the guys who put this together every year using a Canon 5D Mark II + 24-105mm IS, Canon 7D + 24mm F/1.4, Zoom H4n, & Rode Video Mic. Each of the cameras rocked the Fader ND Filters to get our shutter speeds to a manageable level while allowing us to shoot with Depth of Field. I'm not the greatest video editor, so Waylon cut up a quick one for us with his FCP skills. There will be a full cut for the event owners later.
Fader ND Filters. Gotta Get these!
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My new lens was in Full Effect the Canon 24-105mm F/4 with IS for Video stabilization while running handheld.
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Unbelievable Canon 24mm F/1.4 Lens was on the Canon 7D
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Although you don't catch much of the audio for this cut, the Zoom H4n was on site with us too.
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the Rode VideoMic was attached to the Zoom H4n.
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This furry critter was used on the Rode VideoMic to block Wind. There wasn't much wind that day. HOT!
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The Canon 5D Mark II
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The Canon EOS 7D
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DSLRUniversity.com just posted a nice review showcasing the Think Tank Airport Security v2.0 rolling camera bag. If you're shopping for a new travel bag that will keep your gear organized, safe, and used for Carry On to an airliner, check out the review. I think I paid $500 for a Tamrac years ago, i'm so glad to see these prices coming down with much better quality too. You can find the prices for the Think Tank Airport Security v2.0 rolling Camera bag by clicking here.
You can find more information on DSLR Video Equipment reviews and tips at DSLRUniversity.com