It's been several years, and there's no secret about Canon replacing the 5D Mark II. The big question on everyone's mind is when? I'm not a rumor guy, I myself rely on CanonRumors.com for that sort of stuff. But I just received a teeny weeny bit of news not mentioned elsewhere (from a reliable source) that the Canon 5D Mark III is definitely real and among us - closer than you think. One thing I can say is that while Canon has been releasing all their latest cameras with Swivel LCD screens, the 5D Mark III will not have this.
This is just my opinion, but my guess is that the Canon 5D represents a more robust professional line of camera. A swivel screen could cause more issues (fragile?). Most professional photographers require speed and don't shoot in 'Live View' mode. For professional video and filmmakers, there's no reason to add a swivel LCD since there are many existing solutions around using external monitoring sources like EVF or LCD monitors, should you require angles while shooting...
Ok, so Gini wasn't completely off his rocker selling what looked like unfinished versions of a Follow Focus. Now we're starting to see some finished versions of the new Gini DSLR Follow focus. Now in anodized black with Marking disc. Check out the stuff following the link (click here).
Looks like Gini is still looking to create more accessories outside of the standard Shoulder rig. Just recently introduced a full size (incomplete-like) Follow focus, and now there's the Gini Mini (rhymes). What's up with the unfinished look? Interesting how someone was just asking me about a super tiny FF to be used on a Sony NEX camera, and here we might have an option. Now you have an option to stay away from those beastly knobs on a Micro Four Thirds rig. No marking disc, no lens gears, no pointer included, and too bad he didn't add some knurl texture to the knob. You can find the new Gini Mini Follow Focus in his auctions (click here).
Here's a closer look at the inline version of the 'EVENT' DSLR rig from Express35. There is so many good things about this rig, but overall you'll find the price is the best part. Express35 stabilizers are made in the USA, and it's quality rivals many of the top local DSLR Stabilizer brands, and yet pricing competes with the cheapest of over seas rigs.
This particular EVENT rig is designed for EVF or LCD Monitor use by keeping the camera in line over the shoulder. You can also use this setup with cameras that have Flip out LCD screens. The contoured shoulder pad wraps behind the shoulder (doesn't sit on top), and the counterweight that sits low balances the rig out even more. With the dual rods on the counterweight, you can offset this if you feel you need to shift it over more to one side. I prefer to have the weight adjusted to sit lower. You can also just shoot without the counterweight, and still have plenty points of contact for stabilizing your camera.
Normally you'll see adjustable handles with some rigs, but those could have a tendency to reposition (slip) under weight. The Express35 XL HD handle is one solid piece which really adds to the whole stability of the rig. The 13" length and 4" offset design of the front handle makes it extremely comfortable to operate with less strain in your arm. There's a few optional pieces I suggest to really get this rig going. The optional top handle makes it easier for me to lift the rig on/off my shoulder or to hold the rig in a position for low shots. The optional tripod mount obviously makes it easier for you to get into tripod mode for some fluid panning (or just docking the rig). The 90 degree accessory rod clamp with stub makes it easy to attach or detach a 1/4-20 accessory. In this case i'm using a friction arm with Zacuto EVF with the rod clamp.
The only other item I'm looking to add is a second handle. It's not necessary to have a second handle for stabilization when shooting video on this rig, but the second handle will allow me to place the rig on the floor without falling over. If you decide to look into Express35 gear, make sure you put in a good word about this Cheesycam blog. To find out the exact pieces that come with the EVENT, and optional accessories, check out Express35.com.
Just for fun, I wanted to sport some basic Tees with association to DIYs and DSLRs. A friend started running through a few different ink and shirt color combinations to see which I like better. No shameless website plugs, just a simple design with the letters "DIY" and an image of a DSLR. No plans at the moment to actually offer these elsewhere - this is just a personal project. But if you so far like what you see, he's open to ideas...
Thanks to Adam for writing this in. The Canon 5D Mark II is currently on sale over at BestBuy. I just checked pricing over at Amazon, B&H, and a few other popular websites. Indeed it is a few hundred dollars cheaper. Not as cheap as a refurb unit (if you could ever catch it in stock), but it's been a little while since we've seen these 5D Mark IIs on sale.
Available in stores if you can find it (with tax) or grab it online (maybe no tax?) following the link (click here).
You might have caught this as it started yesterday. Canon's offering instant rebates on a variety of Lenses (and flashes), but if you go direct to Canon's website there's tax and hefty shipping fees involved. You can find the same rebate information over at B&H and for some this means saving big on sales tax. Nothing overly exciting, and it extends throughout September 3rd. Current Canon Lens and Flash rebate information can be found following the link (click here).
Thanks to Eugene for filling me in on this one. Yongnuo's latest YN5656EX / YN-565EX flash is showing some face internationally. Support for Canon's ETTL, this latest flash really targets the Canon 580EX II so closely that it can actually be triggered by a Canon Master (even Nikon commander). It's also compatible to be triggered by the Canon ST-E2. Even the LCD menu looks somewhat Canon'ish. If you're familiar with the Canon 580EX II (currently Canon's top of the line), the YN-565EX mimics many of the same features, but lands in at half the price. These are the features and the kind of flash that everyone has been waiting for from Yongnuo, and far exceeds what the YN560 was. We'll start to see more of these tricklin' in the next few weeks along with some reviews. Found online (click here).
Anyone catch the new Follow Focus from Gini? Single rod mount and just swings into position. It's made mostly of aluminum with an unfinished appearance (not a fan of that). I think if he offered this in black anodizing, it would get much more attention. Although the design overall looks good, the gearbox looks pretty similar to most basic Follow focus systems. Very similar to a Huco gearbox (could be?). Nevertheless those gearboxes have been fairly reliable in most of those FFs.
Price is outside of this world for Buy It Now, but that's always been Gini's approach. Usually he has these same high quality items in some type of inexpensive auction along with a rig. In fact there's a few auctions going on right now starting at just $1.00 US dollar, following the link (click here).
Gini Black Follow Focus with marking disc
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