Monthly Archives: February 2011

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Question in the comments area about these two new CREE LED Video lights. These LED video lights are fairly new, i've only been pointed to them a few times in the last few weeks. They claim to have housed 4 CREE Q5 High power LED's into an aluminum housing (which supposedly helps dissipate heat). CREE is a US company that makes the best LED's in the world and is carefully color balanced to exact specs. This LED video light comes with a rechargeable 7.2V Sony style battery + battery charger + LED light + cigarette lighter adapter for charging.

There are two different models of these CREE LED Video Lights. First model is called the VS800. Two of the LEDs are 3200K and with a single switch you're running tungsten. Two more LEDs are 5600K so you can toggle to Daylight. Turn ALL FOUR of the LEDs on, and you have mixed lighting around 4500K.

The second model is called the VS1400. This version uses all 4 CREE LEDs in 5600K, but still has two switches for half power and full power. The light is rated at 16W (could be 4W x 4 LEDs). Burn time is a really short 45 minutes on a single battery, and the beam angle (area of coverage) drops down to a narrow 60 degrees. Anybody use these things or have seen them in person?

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find-price-button CREE LED Video Lights VS800 + VS1400

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Austin Wilson from DVRebellion puts the $30 dollar shoulder support 'offset' piece to a weight test. I've seen this piece crack twice on items I have, and it seemed to break in the same place. Have they fixed a possible mold issue? Not sure, but i'm personally not taking that chance. I'm pretty happy with the Express35 RigX setup on the main shoulder support and toss out the offset. Either way, it's a good test he's put it through that still shows the main shoulder support is extremely sturdy. [Thanks Austin]

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find-price-button Cheap Shoulder Support for Video Camera

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LED-Flood-Light

Odd color or not, people are finding the cheap UFO camping lights pretty useful. You can't beat $5 dollars shipped I guess. So remember the idea of using Halogen shop lights from here? http://cheesycam.com/diy-halogen-shop-light-mod/

Here's another one that might get the hamster wheels in your heads spinning. Cheesycam reader Pawel writes in and links me to some inexpensive outdoor high power LED flood lights. These LED flood lights are designed to take abuse with a weatherproof housing and come with a positionable mounting bracket. The bracket should make it real easy to mount to a traditional light stand. Available in 10W [might be too little] - all they way up to more than 100W, there's plenty of light power to go around. These are commonly used to light up parking lots, street lamps, and buildings. I'm finding that the higher power lights go to a more bluish temp, while the lower 10-20W LED Flood lights are a warmer tone around 3200-3500K (about Tungsten). Around 65W is said to have a 5600K color temp.

LED flood light

A further search even shows that these lights are available in both AC power and 12V DC and some listings show a 160 degree beam angle. That's pretty wide. 12V DC would be pretty nice to run right off battery power at remote locations. Keep in mind that these high power LEDs will still generate a little bit of heat, but nothing compared to what Halogens would be putting out. I'm in on this idea and maybe i'll check my local hardware stores to see if they have any on hand. Oh and if you're the colorful type, somewhere i've also seen that they make color changing versions.. Another idea for color changing backgrounds..
[Thanks Pawel]

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find-price-button High Power Outdoor LED Flood Lighting

Some additional search results for High Power LED Lighting below:

LED flood light
High Power LED Outdoor Flood Lighting

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I get so many comments about Magic Lantern, and the lack of posts on here. I figured the whole world already knows about it and every DSLR blog is talking about it too, so why be redundant? Ok fine, here's one for you, so you can stop asking me to post something.Vimeo member Dave Knop gives a tour about the latest Magic Lantern firmware. New Color features help you get an idea on exposure and also what's in focus. You can find out more about Magic Lantern here: https://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/550D

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Here's a cool little Ad shot for Cinevate's new DSLR rig. Most DSLR rigs are built around a foundation of rails, but Cinevate's new 'Simplis' takes a different approach to where the rig starts from a custom Quick Release Base plate. The Quick Release base plate is Manfrotto compatible and has several 1/4 x 20 threaded holes to mount anything from handles, to shoulder stock, to monitor arms, and more. The text below is taken from their Vimeo page.

Introducing the Proteus Simplis DSLR Rig. This rig embodies simplicity and scaleability. At it's core it is the foundation for countless, customized DSLR rig configurations.

It is the DSLR rig that covers the complete spectrum of shooting styles and skill levels.

For more info visit cinevate.com/​simplis

This piece was shot/edited by our good friends at Imaginarium Studio. imaginariumvideo.com

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visit-button Cinevate Simplis DSLR Rig Video

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JuicedLink DIY brackets

If you haven't been keeping up with JuicedLink.com, you might have missed the availability of a new line of accessory brackets. Yeah I know right? Juicedlink best known for some kick-ass audio gear, has a new small line of Camera Brackets. The DIY line of brackets are pretty straight forward where functionality comes first and well ....let just say everything else isn't as important.

Targeted to the budget minded who just need a good solid way of mounting the ever growing accessories such as microphones, LED lights, portable audio recorders, LCD Monitors, portable audio amps, wireless receivers, whosamawidgets, thingyamajingies, and even support for whatchamacallits. The DIY brackets take on some familiar shapes from straight, L bracket, and cage like with multiple alternating 3/8-16 & 1/4-20 unthreaded holes. It's also finished off with black anodizing to blend in with your gear. You can find the new brackets with photo galleries over at the JuicedLink.com website. (Can you mount rails? Yup, there's an image on the site).

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visit-button JuicedLink DIY Accessory Brackets for Cameras

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Not long ago I showed off a sweet little DIY Teleprompter that was shipped over to me from Tompter.com. As promised Tom himself put together this video tutorial on how to make your very own. It requires some cut acrylic, special reflective tint, blow torch, velcro, and nylon laundry bag for the hood/shade. If you're feeling that it's a bit over your head, you can always get one from Tompter through his store. Pretty sweet and very effective DIY Teleprompter.

[Thanks Tom]

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find-price-button DIY Teleprompter Kit w/ LCD Screen, Stand, Prompter – Tompter

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Remember this article: http://cheesycam.com/48-led-ufo-camping-ring-light/? Vimeo member RAYPERENIA throws up a 48 LED Camping light video sample and it looks pretty good. Not quite the bluish output I thought it might have, and it actually looks pretty good. Total light output looks strong for a $5 dollar light and the area of coverage looks pretty good too. I asked Ray what white balance setting he had, so hopefully we'll hear back. [Thanks Ray]

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find-price-button 48 LED UFO Camping Lights