29Nov DIY Wireless HD Stream – Wireless Follow Focus Steadicam
Note: This is not the final rig i’ll be using. I’m just throwing parts together this morning to see how well the idea (in my head) works with all my budget parts. I’m using the Skier Rig (review found here) to hold everything together while I mock up the idea. The Skier rig is extremely compact and still allows 15mm rods which i’ll need for a follow focus. You might have noticed me on Twitter or posting information about Wireless FF systems. I’m still shopping.
Skier DSLR O-Rig with Top Handle Cage
I’m planning to shoot with a Steadicam setup and use a lens with a very shallow depth of field. Of course it will be impossible for me to keep a moving subject in focus while I walk, so I need to rely on someone else to pull focus for me. By using my Tekkeon battery packs, I can power up my Asus Wicast system to send an HD Video stream to another monitor. This is where someone will be pulling focus. I used the Zacuto EVF monitor on the camera so that the operator (me) can still frame a shot. I could have used any monitor as long as it has HDMI pass through to send a signal to the Asus Wicast Transmitter. Since the operator doesn’t need to be concerned with focus, even the new Swivi 5.6″ LCD (found here) would work perfectly for this. I can use the Swivi as a large screen to frame the shot, and use the HDMI pass through to send video back to the puller.
Swivi 5.6″ LCD with HDMI Pass Through
You don’t need a fancy 23″ LCD screen attached to the receiver, in fact we might be relying on a SmallHD DP4 with Peaking for the focus puller to keep that person mobile. I’ve tested quite a few battery packs with the Asus Wicast setup, and none has provided the run time like these Tekkeon battery packs (found here). They are handy because they can provide a variety of voltages to a number of different gadgets. I’m using 12V to my LED monitor, and 5V to the Asus system. These are the same batteries i’m using on the Portable LED light kit I threw together. See how much more handier these things are than your standard V-Mounts?
Now the Asus WiCast has been discontinued, but HP has a Wireless solution that might work and is about half the price of the Asus. It’s advertised to stream from an HDMI port on a laptop, and looks like you can power it through a simple USB battery (or just 5V DC). From what I can tell it should work because all you need is HDMI, but I haven’t tested this one. It’s currently on sale over at Amazon (click here).
HP Wireless HD Streaming Video
Now each time I show off a new use for these Tekkeon Battery Packs, they seem to sell out pretty quick. I’ve just shown you two new solutions on powering up a large LED Monitor, and powering up HD Streaming Devices. I’m pretty sure this will catch some attention. You can find them available now over at B&H (click here).
Tekkeon MyPower All Battery for Asus WiCast HD Streaming
November 29th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Wow the abscence of latency really impress me .
Did you did any test about the range ? Does it cut dratiscly on some noise appears before dropping . I’m thinking about this system for streaming camera on giant screens during live shows.
November 29th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
@Homing – Should be good to about 30ft I think is what they say. The guys from BlackBird Stabilizers had this Asus setup at NAB2011 and were walking around with their stabilizers shooting out to the Big Screen in the conference. Not sure where the receiver was set up, but it was pretty cool.
November 29th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Really cool and I would think about invest in to this but I have a t2I so it would just be a SD output while recording and would be no good for focus pulling would it? Tempted to upgrade to the 7D just for that HD output.
November 29th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@Austin – People are pulling focus on SD everyday. It’s the only thing the Canon 5D Mark II outputs during recording, and they are making Hollywood movies with it. Just have to have the right monitor and peaking features will be helpful too.
November 29th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
awesome setup emm
November 29th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
I was a camera assistant for many years and pulling focus off of a monitor (regardless of whether its HD or not) is a bad idea – There’s a delayed reaction time and you’re risking a ton of “focus buzzes” (when focus drifts in and out).
The pros do it by eye by standing right beside the camera or at least on the same axis as the film plane. A good focus puller adjusts the focus based on the distance between the film plane and the subject. The human eye is very good at judging distances, you’d be surprised. I used to be able to get within 2″ of any distance between 2′ and 15′. I would never risk my job by standing off to one side putting my faith (and my livelihood!) in a monitor no matter what resolution it was.
November 29th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@Neil – Thanks for the tip Neil, but i’m not putting my livelihood on such a budget rig. If I were shooting big budget deals for clients, I think i’d rather hire someone to do the job with the right tools. This is merely a very good DIY setup and i’m not experiencing any latency with my HD stream. We’re also going to send the video to a SmallHD DP4 which has focus peaking to better keep things tight. Regardless of resolution on the monitor, those little lines really help out in a pinch. Again, this is all budget stuff for my projects, but obviously Hollywood guys would never do something like this. I’ll show another example soon and hopefully it will all pan out in the end.
November 29th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Cool rig and awesome page.
Just have one question – What stabilizer are you planning to use with this rig?
November 29th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@Steph – I could use my Glidecam / Steadicam hybrid or the Konova Stabilizer. The batteries and Asus can sit on the lower sled as a counterweight.
November 29th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@Neil ~ it seems you are comparing an apple to an orange, or at least analog filmmaking to today’s digital HDSLR video equipment.
We all know Hollywood film camera focus pulls were done based on linear distance measurements. But in digital filmmaking, we have focus peaking, made-for-digital-photography non-latency monitors. We also have FF units with marking points to further ensure correct focus.
Plus, we have immediate playback to verify correct focus.
So I would rather trust today’s instant digital technology, than yesteryear’s delays of film processing dailies just to see if the focus puller did his job.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
@Emm, Ultra cool, but there is one more Asus Wicast left in the world, seems pricy but here ya go!
http://tinyurl.com/cjgrmks
November 29th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@Darryl – Yeah I saw that, and it’s definitely very expensive compared to the HP.
November 29th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Here’s a review for the HP Wireless HD Transmitter
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/wifi/hp-wireless-tv-connect.aspx
November 29th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@Joel – If I have to playback my footage for every shot to see if you’ve done the job I’ve hired you to do… well… Sorry bud but I’m not hiring you! LOL
All kidding aside, like so many things in the camera world, there’s no technological substitute for organic, creative and in the moment finesse. Focus pulling is an art unto itself, something you ultimately have to “feel”, kinda like The Force.
It’s great having technology available now that helps ensure sharp focus in every second of every take but it can only do so much. At the end of the day (much like using a steadicam) it comes down to gut instinct and takes years to develop. You know what they say, 10,000 hours of practice before you get to be a master at something.
November 30th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
What kind of LED monitor is that?
November 30th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Emm, I’m looking into the newer Wireless HDMI on a Stick.
http://hothardware.com/News/Amimons-WHDI-Stick-Brings-HD-Streaming-To-Laptops-USB-Port/
Amimon is the company that makes the chips inside. Newer models can go 100 feet to receiver
December 1st, 2011 at 7:40 am
@ Joel,
Sorry but thats totally not true.
Pulling focus of a screen, wether its digital cinema, hdslr-stuff, or real film is a bad idea.
You cannot judge distance on 2 dimesional monitor, that’s not hard to understand, right?
all that aside, this is amazing, for a wide variety of uses!
December 1st, 2011 at 9:14 am
@Amy Barrett – That does look pretty cool. The DSLRs have a miniHDMI so it will need to step down the size (maybe with an adapter). It also uses USB for power, so maybe an even smaller battery pack than what I use could work.
December 1st, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@ Jurgen ~ read my post again …. I also said in digital filmmaking we still use FF units with marking points (as has been used in analog cinema). The monitor is just another tool to VERIFY focus – which is an advantage over traditional filmmakers, as is our instant digital playback.
That’s not hard to understand, is it?
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:30 am
@ Joel / HDSLR gear – Have you been on an analogue film set? Or maybe seen some behind the scenes footage of a Hollywood feature (or even a low budget indie short). Just because there is a follow focus unit with marks on it and just because its analogue etc. does not mean there is no monitor. Google video taps. They connect to the analogue viewfinder of the 35mm or 16mm and provide a video feed to an onboard monitor. They have been doing this for many many years. I love DSLRs as much as traditional film cameras but sometimes you need to get off your high horse, educate yourself and show some humility – there are people here who have been making movies for decades. You might learn something from them.
Jurgen, thank you for understanding my point
December 3rd, 2011 at 12:08 pm
@Christian – It’s an AOC found here: AOC LED IPS Monitor
December 4th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Emm, just a curiosity I know you stated that the Asus WiCast is discontinued and you said it was pricey compared to the HP wireless. I just recently went by a local computer store and seen they have two Asus Wicast units for $100. For that price i would definitely not mind at all buying it lol.
December 13th, 2011 at 8:48 am
I actually got lucky and found probably the last one in Georgia for $119.00!
January 19th, 2012 at 5:48 am
Hi, could you please tell me how long that battery lasts hooked up to that monitor?
January 26th, 2012 at 11:30 am
Emm: Just a quick note regarding the HP Tv connect. The Transmitter does not have a power outlet. It only has an HDMI and a USB. The usb is intended to provide power to the trasmitter. This could be a problem i think?
Would the USB port on a DSLR power a device? If not what adapters or workarounds could be used for this problem.
TK
January 26th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@TK – Some battery packs have USB power out like my Tekkeon pack.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Thanks Emm: 1 last thing. It says that the Max transmisino distance is 10meters for the Wicast (Line of Site) Do you know if this is actually true? Or can it operate from a greater distance. Also since it says line of site can you operate the device from different rooms?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@Homing – It doesn’t require line of sight, and the distance isn’t crazy far. I’ve only been testing within 10000 sq. Ft. Room.
January 27th, 2012 at 5:41 am
Hey Guys: I just found out that ASUS has a direct replacement for the WICAST and its called the ASUS WAVI (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-WAVI-2-Way-Wireless-USB-Full-HD-Streaming-PC-TV-/180705785656
)
It boasts 25 meter range (From Wicast 10meters) and also 2 extra USB ports with a Wireless Function meaning you can plug in a keyboard and mouse in order to control the host computer from a distance as well.
It is a little pricer at around 315$ so the HP still may be a better bet but i’d still like to see someone unbox and review the WAVI before i make my decision.
March 20th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Hey Emm. I managed to get one of the Asus Wicast for my rig. I’m wondering, how are you attaching the Asus transmitter to your rig? I thought about just gaff taping it to the Tekkeon battery pack which will attach to the rails using the CPM bracket, but it looks like in the video you might have modified the casing of the Asus transmitter with a hotshoe adapter. Can you tell me how you did this? Thanks! Keep up the great gear reviews.
March 20th, 2012 at 11:23 am
@Derick – Yes, I hard mounted a hotshoe adapter under the transmitter using Epoxy putty.