More Canon 5D Mark III (Body Only) cameras become available via B&H. This time you don’t have to buy the kit with the lens. Check it out following the link (click here).

Canon 5D Mark III (Body Only)

GoPro has opened up pre-orders for their new Flat Lens Dive Housing. You can find more information at their website. http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/dive-housing/

Lens Gear Rings are a necessity with your Follow Focus, but it’s been an issue for me when i’m loaning or renting out my FFs. I like the low profile zip tie gears because they can stay on your lens and take up minimal space, but if someone wants to borrow your Follow Focus, you really can’t just reuse those zip gears. Another problem with low profile zip gears is when your follow focus can’t reach the lens (small lens or battery grip attached).

That’s where the style of these Cinematics Lens Gear Rings come in handy. With 6 different fixed sizes, these gear rings should cover just about any lens in a shooter’s kit, and for smaller lenses it will increase the diameter to reach your follow focus.

There’s a number of companies making the same style in cheaper materials, but Cinematics has great quality in their products. They are standard 0.8 Mod to fit just about every common DSLR follow focus system on the market, and have these available in Black, Red, and Blue. Can be purchased in a bundle or purchased individually for about $11 dollars each shipped. Check them out following the link to eBay (click here).

Cinematics Lens Gear Rings for Follow Focus Systems

Here’s an alternative seller who carries some of these Lens Gears, but (at the time of writing) does not have all the colors available (click here).

Cinematics Lens Gears for Follow Focus

Here’s a helpful video showing some balancing techniques with the Opteka SteadyVid Pro camera stabilizer from YouTube member videotestground. Looks like he’s able to get it dialed in pretty good. Just want to remind people that these stabilizers won’t make you a perfect operator overnight. That comes from knowing what to look for when balancing, and months of practice practice practice. [Thanks Vedran].

You can find the Opteka SteadyVid Pro via Amazon (click here).

Opteka SteadyVid PRO Video Stabilizer- via Amazon

And for International shipping, it can also eBay (click here)

Opteka SteadyVid PRO Video Stabilizer- via eBay

Gini is still adding more RED Scarlet cages and misc parts to the lineup. This time what he calls Apple, possibly for its greenish color? Let’s hope once the BlackMagic Cinema camera comes out, we’ll see something for that too, because that camera really needs it.

Gini Apple RED Scarlet Cage

Just yesterday, I was chatting with a buddy looking for a Canon 5D Mark III (wattup Joe P.). Unfortunately there’s a decent waiting list for the Body Only, but from time to time you’ll catch the Canon 5D Mark III + 24-105mm F/4L kits available. Yes it’s a bit extra, but if you don’t already have this lens, it’s truly a great addition. I know some guys really need the 5DM3 for some upcoming projects, and rentals are booked for months out.

We brought ONLY the Canon 24-105mm F/4L IS to NAB2012 because of it’s wide to zoom coverage with Image Stabilization. B&H announced there’s a few of these kits back in stock today, and if you don’t need the lens, you can always try to sell it via eBay and discount your 5DM3 purchase. There’s also some Canon Double Rebates going on right now, but I don’t think it could apply to this 5DM3 Kit. Check out the kits following the link (click here).

Canon 5D Mark III + 24-105mm F/4L Kit

Oh and if you didn’t catch it, there’s also a ONE DAY SALE on Sandisk media, ends tomorrow night.

Sandisk One Day Sale – via B&H

I purchased a few Vinyl covered Scuba Dive weights to be used as a DIY counterweight on a Gini Rig (seen here), and also ended up also using them for the DIY Crane (seen here). It’s much more expensive than basic round Gym weights, but they are smaller and have a much better aesthetic appeal when mounted to a rig. I did of course have to drill through the Dive weight to mount a 15mm clamp, so there’s a little DIY involved with that.

Vinyl Coated Lead Diving Scuba Belt Weights

Another option for a counter weight solution is the Opteka 4lb brick. Originally designed to work with one the Opteka CXS Shoulder Rigs, I have other plans for it.

[View with PicLens]

It comes with a solid metal bracket, has several through holes, a slotted center, and quite a few 1/4×20 threaded ports to make mounting the brick to your project much simpler. I’m not a fan of the spray painted logo, but it’s easy to sand off for the complete flat black finish. I have two here that can be stacked together for one of my larger Jibs. (click here to find the Opteka Weight via eBay).

Opteka 4lb Brick Counterweight

Varavon has released a new product called the VaraCrane which is a solid bar designed to mount a fluid head on one side and a counterweight on the opposite end. Throughout the VaraCrane are 1/4-20 and 3/8 threads for various mounting points or to reposition the counterweight or fluid head.

They also show examples of how the VaraCrane can be used to extend travel distance when combined with the new Slidecam S video slider. Adding wheels to the VaraCrane turns it into what they are calling a Dolly Cart. Hmm.. Both are available now, but let’s leave this open for comments and what do you guys think about the new products? Find the new products via eBay (click here).

Varavon VaraCrane Jib and Dolly Cart

Just FYI, that Adobe Photoshop CS6 is officially available for $699 and Photoshop Extended CS6 for $999 following the link via B&H (found here).

Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Extended for MAC and Windows

Another video camera stabilizer with what looks like the same free range U-Joint type design as the Opteka SteadyVid Pro. While the Opteka SteadyVid PRO can run you about $180 dollars (seen here), the Kamerar does not have an adjustable arch or fine tuning knobs – part of the reason why it’s under $90 bucks (found here).

[View with PicLens]

For adjustments, the Camera fore/aft balance is adjusted through the slotted stage, the Gimbal can also be repositioned fore/aft along the lower stage depending where your camera sits. Side to side balance is compensated with the swinging counterweight, and can be lowered to support a heavier payload. You’ll probably find this sold under various brand names eventually, but for now you can see more photos and information about the Kamerar stabilizer following the link via eBay (click here).

Kamerar U-Joint Video Camera Steady Cam Stabilizer