Photography Gadgets

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The Canon EOS 5D mark II changed everything about HD Video as we know it. It's a legend in it's own right, and there will be a time when Canon calls for it's End Of Life. That will be a sad sad day.. This might not be something new for many of you, but these little nostalgic USB drives won't be around forever. Who knows if they will one day be a collectors item worth ten times the price it's going to rape you for today. Can someone say 'Antique Road Show' in possibly 20 years? You can find the Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 4GB USB Drives by clicking here.

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This video is great for several reasons. First, it's coming from someone who's fairly new to shooting video on DSLR's. Secondly, it's coming from a 550D / T2i and the footage is amazing. Third, it's using all Nikon lenses with a Canon adapter, which goes to show, even with other lenses you can capture great footage. Great job on shooting this video Larry!

Little League Team: Canyon Creek Royals
Location: Alamo, CA
Music Credit: " A New Game"
Featuring: Julian Reyes

Shot with a Canon T2i w/ Nikon 85mm, 180mm & 16mm Fisheye.

If you're looking to adapt some Nikon lenses over to some Canon Bodies, you can find an adapter here.
canon-nikon-adapter-ring
find-price-button Cinevate Canon EOS to Nikon Adapter Ring

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The 85mm F/1.2 is a beast and rated as one of the best Portrait lenses that Canon has to offer. It's also a very expensive lens that's not super versatile. You can't shoot macro, in fact the minimum focal distance is a few miles away (i'm joking). So unless Portraits are all you ever do in life, most people won't invest into that type of gear.

I've been following a company called Borrow Lenses for quite some time but never had the nerve to test out the service. Basically you place an order on line and they ship you the gear. Don't let the name fool you. It's not all Lenses. They've got RedRock Micro shoulder rigs, follow focus systems, full camera bodies, light meters, tripods, filters, Memory Cards, Lighting. Brands include Canon, Sony, Nikon, and more. The above video was shot by someone in New York! These guys get around in renting professional equipment for both Photography and Video.

I've had the chance to work with many professionals in the field lately and they all seem to be doing business with Borrow Lenses with absolutely no problems. Located in San Mateo you can even drop by their office for pickup and drop off. They even have a YELP review page. So the next time i'm thinking of dropping 2K on a lens, maybe i'll think about just renting it for about $34 dollars for a weekend. Click here to check out Borrow Lenses.

Click image to visit Borrow Lenses
borrowlenses.com rent lens mail order internet

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calumet portacube product photography

I posted about my product Photography cocoon not too long ago, but these cubes are much more portable than a cocoon design. In fact, they fold flat so traveling with them is a breeze. If you're not on the Calumet mailing list, I just got this in my email. PortaCubes are now on sale with savings of up to $21.00 dollars off normal retail price (or 30%). Three different versions of the PortaCube is based on size, starting as little as $22.00 dollars for the 16 x 16 version. These are an exclusive item from Calumet, but you can grab them through Amazon below. Have fun with those product shots.

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Ebay reports this is one of the top sellers for the Camera category as of today. This eBay seller with over 48,000 feedbacks and 100% user feedback on sales. This 32 GB SDHC card 'Class 6' (yes Class 6), perfect for the T2i or 550D seems to be too good to be true for just $85 bucks. But as an eBay seller with that track record, it might be worth a buy for those long gigs that go on for hours and hours and hours.....

Check out this 32GB SDHC card for the 550D or T2i. Too Good to be True?

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Strobist Cheesycam

Above, photo taken in Brentwood, testing out some new gear in full sunlight. The sun's back out in the Bay Area and it's looking great to get back into Photography. You just can't beat that backlighting and rim lights the sun provides on your subjects. High speed flash photography is lots of fun and helps achieve more balance in your exposure when shooting on a bright sunny day. Of course it helps to get the right setup with your Flashes to make sure you're still controlling the light being thrown.

Strobies studio kit is a cheap way to get into a variety of different flash diffusers and light modifiers. Sure it looks odd when you have the flash mounted 'ON' your camera, but if you start doing Remote Trigger 'Off' camera flash photography with Strobies, you're going to get some fantastic images.

In fact you can get into a small beauty dish, softbox, grids, barndoors, globes, and snoots for around $150 dollars. Check out the kit from Amazon (widget above) or click on this Link Here to check out other Strobie accessories for your photography needs.


Click Images

Other notable diffusers for your Speedlite Flashes are from the Gary Fong lineup. You'll see this as standard issue for Wedding Photographers.
The Power Snoot

  • Increases directional light output by 3 times
  • Narrows the light output which can be used as a hair light, spot light, or any subject that needs a concentrated light source
  • Universal mounting system that fits most strobes currently in the market
  • Concentration of the light increases the effective distance of the strobe being used

    • The Gary Fong LightSphere

    This is a flexible, Opaque Vinyl diffuser with an internal snap on dome. Designed to fit a select group of flashes (see list of flashes below) The inside of the Lightsphere is completely textured to make the light dispersion even more "soft" than it would be otherwise! The new cloud colored Lightsphere provides the warmest softest light possible from your on-camera flash Studio quality light, that you can carry in your gear bag, makes the Cloud Lightsphere the perfect diffuser for portrait photographers and wedding photojournalists. This soft flattering light is the same light you are accustomed to finding in your studio when using a softbox, Calumet panel or large umbrella. If you shoot outside of your studio - you will love the NEW Cloud Lightsphere. The inverted dome allows you to softly diffuseyou will love the NEW Cloud soft source without creating flare on the front of your lens. The inverted dome allows you to softly diffuse direct light with a large, soft source without creating flare on the front of your lens. The C4 Lightsphere II fits the following flashes Canon 580EX & 430EZ Sony HVL-F32X Vivitar 730AF

    The Gary Fong LightSphere - Collapsible

    Gary Fong introduces the Lightsphere Collapsible, the new evolution of the famed Lightsphere series of diffusers! The Lightsphere Collapsible is made from soft vinyl making this Lightsphere flexible yet durable. The Lightsphere Collapsible boasts the first mounting system of its kind. It utilizes patent pending sizing ribs to provide an equally tight fit to several sizes of flashes without the need for straps or bands and collapses down to a 1 1/2 inch thick ring allowing for easy storage. The Inverted Dome, which works with all exisiting accessories, is included with the purchase. The light output is equivalent to a half cloud.

    Additional Gary Fong Flash Diffusers and Accessories can be found by Clicking on this Link.

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    Not too happy with the Fluid Head that comes attached with this $99.00 dollar slider from IndiSystems, but the rail and carrier work pretty well. It looks thicker than other Camera Slider rails out there, but it's actually hollow and very lightweight. This 2 foot version of a silder is easier for my type of workflow compared to the 4 ft. slider I show in this video. This $99 dollar video camera slider mounts well directly to the Tripod or to a Quick release plate.

    I had to drill out the old fluid head mount (plastic) and make room for a 1/4 x 20 flat headed screw. I wanted to keep it at 1/4 x 20 so I still have the option of mounting a camera directly to the carrier plate. In order to mount the Bogen 701HDV Fluid head, 1/4 to 3/8 adapter like this one. I don't do a whole bunch of sliding, but now maybe I will since this is a lighter and smaller version compared to the other Igus Rail. This is the mini slider from https://indisystem.com/products/indislider_mini

    You can also get the same slider for a bit more here:

    Did I mention I got my new 100mm Macro IS USM lens in also?? It's awesome...Here's a few samples below I took outside in the parking lot.
    100mm Macro IS USM Canon Lens

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    It's crazy crazy crazy. I'm getting a ton of questions and comments about these LED Video lights. Seems that the old links that I have to these lights are ALL SOLD OUT!. I've purchased 3 of these myself and i'm lovin' it. I've even started to make Barn Doors, Snoots, Grids, and other Diffusers for them. I'm using them as a Continuous Lighting Kit for interviews, and since they are hot-shoe mountable, i've even used them with my Photography Umbrella Brackets. I was able to locate another USA seller for these lights, but who knows how much longer they'll last. Click the link Below.

    Update!! You Can Find the Popular 126 LED DSLR Video Light Kit Here!!