Monthly Archives: September 2011

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Canon SX40 IS

Earlier I mentioned that Canon was releasing two new point and shoot cameras (Canon S100 and Canon SX40 IS) with the latest Digic 5 processor. This new processor is said to be 6x faster and have 75% less noise with enhanced imagery. That means cleaner images in low light situations. If you want a smaller more pocketable camera, wait on the S100. If you want something closer to DSLR-like, the first to hit 'in stock' status is the Canon SX40 IS which has 35x optical Zoom (35mm Equiv) means it goes from 24mm wide-angle and extends to 840mm. Tons of Canon's creative filters and Canon's latest Intelligent Image Stabilization, Full HD video, and an option for shooting video at 240fps (lower resolution good slow motion). There's just too many features to list here, you can check out more information following the link. Available now (click here).

Canon SX40IS
find-price-button Canon SX40IS 35x IS Zoom Digic 5 Processor

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Wondlan Support

Wondlan's showing off some type of 'wearable support' (shown above) that can be used to unload the weight from camera stabilizers like the Wondlan Ares (Merlin-like). Seems like the same idea Glidecam has with their Body-Pod.

Glidecam Body Pod
find-price-button Glidecam Body Pod for Hand-Held Stabilizer

But unlike Glidecam's Body Pod, Wondlan shows how it can be used to support a shoulder rigs as well. In that case, it sort of reminds me of the Tiffen (Davis & Sanford) Steady Stick.

Tiffen Steady Stick
find-price-button SSProSI2 Pro Steady Stick

IMO, the price is too high for something that doesn't come with a professional padded belt and strap. The images and descriptions aren't very clear either on how it all connects together. From this end it just looks like an adjustable stick on a belt.

Wondlan wearable SupportWondlan-Wearable-Support
find-price-button Wondlan Wearable Support

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Tamron currently has some Mail-in rebates offered on pretty much all of their lenses. One particular lens that might be of interest is Tamron's 17-50mm F/2.8 with VC (image stabilization). A much cheaper alternative if you compare to the equivalent range of Canon's 17-55mm IS which runs just over $1100 dollars. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I don't think Nikon even offers a lens in this range, with this aperture, that has Image Stabilization. Extremely helpful for those who shoot mostly video to minimize that rolling shutter / jello effect (especially on some early Nikon DSLRs). You can find more Tamron lens rebate information following the link (click here)

tamron-17-50mm
find-price-button Tamron Lens Rebates Canon Nikon.

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Lee Morris of F-Stoppers picks up a NIkon battery grip, that turns out, it's really not a battery grip. For those on a budget we often choose aftermarket, but at least we know of our decision. Picking up a complete knock-off being marketed (and priced) as the real thing is bad news. Anyways, if you guys are looking for a grip on your D7000 watch out for those too-good-to-be-true Nikon branded ones, and if you're choosing the aftermarket brand for around 40 bucks, at least Lee says this one seemed to work pretty well (click here).

Nikon Battery Grip Aftermarket
find-price-button Neewer Vertical Battery Grip for Nikon D7000

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Screen shot 2011-09-23 at 11.56.37 AM

Alzo's latest Multi-Mount serves the same purpose to hold accessories like a DSLR cage, and at the same time provides a shock mount for your Microphones / Portable Recorders. Looks like there's no need to buy silly homemade shock mounts just for your Zoom H1 or a separate bracket to mount your JuicedLink DS214, this bracket does it all (and then some).

Screen shot 2011-09-23 at 11.56.51 AMzoom-h4n-h1-shock-mount

As a shock mount it can support thin shotgun microphones, as a Zoom H1 shock mount adapter, all the way up to the large Zoom H4n, and heck maybe even the Shure SM58 for handheld interviews. At the same time it provides (4) shoe mounts & (5) 1/4" holes for mounting other additional accessories like a small monitor, LED light, Juicedlink DS214, wireless mic receivers, etc. Now available via Amazon (click here).

alzo shockmount bracket
find-price-button ALZO DSLR Shock Multi-Mount Accessory Bracket

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The folding Fancier Mini Rig with quick release, shoulder pad, and counterweight I reviewed not long ago (found here) is now available to the UK following the link below. Best offers for £110 UK Pounds for anyone who mentions Cheesycam will be accepted and delivered free to UK.

Screen shot 2011-09-23 at 9.11.21 AM
find-price-button Fancier FTV-50 Folding Mini DSLR Rig UK Seller

For USA buyers, you can still find the Fancier mini rig via Amazon (click here).

Fancier (1 of 7)
find-price-button Fancier Folding FTV-50 DSLR Rig Counterweight

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tascam-adapter-ipad

Here's a little product sent in from Arni. Tascam's little iXZ adapter provides a Phantom Power XLR or 1/4" interface turning your iPhone, iPad, or even iPod touch into a portable recorder. The iXZ Phantom power is provided by a few AA batteries, and the unit has adjustable levels (gain), along with a headphone monitoring port on the backside.

Features:
* Switchable mic/line input
* Phantom power
* Gain control
* 1/8” headphone output
* XLR mic input
* High-impedence guitar input
* Mic input powered by two AA batteries
* Non-powered guitar input

tascam-ixz-adapterheadphone-line-out

Umm, is it just me or does that look like a fairly standard output plug? I guess this means it could be a cheap way to add XLR phantom power, adjustable pre-amp gain, and headphone monitoring to your DSLR camera (if you don't suffer from AGC). If it's not standard, Arni also points out an adapter that could get things back on track found here.

Available now, only through pre-order [Thanks Arni] (click here).

xlr-phantom-iphone
find-price-button Tascam iXZ Portable Audio Recorder

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This test is in reference to my eariler post (found here). So I charged up the Tekkeon overnight and setup this Timelapse test. The reason I used a Timelapse method was to determine if the light output would change during the duration of battery use. I locked the exposure on the camera to 1/25th F/4 and ISO 100 to see if the light output would dim towards the end. The big 900 LED light was set to full power.

It was interesting to see that the Tekkeon remained at a full 14 Volts during the entire test, and when the indicator was down to the last bar, the battery just shut off instantly. If there was a voltage drop during the test, the 900 LED light would start to dim (it didn't dim). Total run time in this test was about 1 hour 6 minutes (1:06). Keep in mind this is a larger 900 LED light on full. If performed at lower output, or for smaller lights like the 600 LED, or 312 LED at only 12 Volts, it would probably run for several hours.

tekkeon-3450i
find-price-button Tekkeon myPower All Plus Battery 5V-19V DC

600 LED 900 1200 Video Light Panel
find-price-button Dimmable LED Video Light Panels

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Zacuto's introduced a new CheeseStick bar for the Z-EVF that will allow more flexible mounting options. (surprised it wasn't named something like Z-heesestick?) Instead of using the lonely 1/4-20" thread below the Z-EVF, you'll now have a variety of mounting points along the top or the back (depending on how you install the cheesestick). Found below

zacuto-cheesestick
find-price-button Zacuto Z-EVF CheeseStick Mounting Bar

zacuto-EVF-300x151
find-price-button Zacuto EVF View Finder