Videography Gadgets

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Using aluminum broom sticks and some PVC T connectors, Vimeo member Jorge comes up with a simple $5.00 dollar slider solution. Inside the PVC T connectors is a bit of felt to reduce friction and allow some smoother slides. There is a bit of movement during some of the video footage, but I think that's from the cheaper Tripod head mounted to only one set of PVC T connectors. You might get better results using 4 connectors, a wider flat base plate, and a solid Tripod head. Of course, that might run up the bill to about $15.00 dollars. I might have to say this could have more potential than the $99 dollar slider....

The good fellas over at DVRebellion.com shows how it's done using four PVC T connectors on steel rods. Check out the video below.

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Moving focus from point A to point B perfectly is a trick. A follow focus system with marking disc will help you pinpoint that, but then the dollars start adding up. The old Hose Clamp with a Bolt trick is the dirt cheap way to move a lens, but never seemed like a perfect solution.

How about adding that idea to a rig with hard stops? Here's an interesting rig someone is selling online with a DIY take on getting perfect focus points dialed in for that shot. Not a bad price online either, but a pretty cool idea which i'm sure someone else out there will be able to work with. This throws in some new ideas for that DIY follow focus you've been working on, doesn't it?

Found here:
steadyfocus-rack-focus
find-price-button DSLR Rig with Follow Focus Hard Stops

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312-LED-Video-light

Thinking back not long ago LED video lights were outside the normal budget. Bigger and better designs plus affordable prices make LED video lights the new standard. I don't know anyone using anything else these days for portable on-camera lighting. These 312 Portable LED Video lights aren't very new. People have sent in links to this LED light but it wasn't something I was very interested in. There is however one version of this that's fairly new, which recently caught my attention again. So check carefully and don't get confused between them if you're shopping for one.

312-LED-Size
Relative Size on Camera

The first version of this LED video light comes in with 312 LEDs with Variable 'Color Temp'. If you've seen how this technology works, you'll basically be ending up with about 1/2 the light output. Here's an old article I posted about the larger color changing LEDs http://cheesycam.com/latest-led-color-changing-video-light/

dual-battery-use

battery-indicator

Although color changing features make for a great LED light, you'd be carrying around a fairly large form factor for just 1/2 the power. Not something I was interested in for this type of portable on camera video light. The latest version of this LED light is much more interesting. It seems as if they've removed the color changing feature and just added 312 bright 5400K LEDs.

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Above - Color Changing with two Dimmers

dimmable-312-LED
Above - Non-Color Changing with only Brightness Dimmer

Why is this more appealing to me now? Well for people like me looking to stack portable LED video lights like the Z96, this might be the better and cheaper route. If you purchased (3) Z96 LED lights at current price, you'd end up paying more, come in with less LEDs, and have to deal with more batteries and more pieces. The 312 LED video light is a good size to still be considered portable with very little pieces to muck around with. There are two versions of the 312 LED video light, but all come with 2 Batteries, Battery Charger, a diffusing panel, and hot shoe adapter. Not only a better deal on the total number of LED's compared to the Z96, but throw in the rechargeable batteries (looks like Sony) + charger, the price is looking pretty sweet. It's a very clean professional looking form factor with obvious dimmer knob(s) on the back and a nice battery meter to show you how much power you have left.

312-LED-Video-light
find-price-button 312 Dimmable (or Color Changing) LED Video Light, Batteries + Charger included

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If you haven't been keeping up, a few comments have already come in about the Polaroid Variable ND filters. Looks good, and at 1/3 price of relative Variable ND filters. Not every filter size is available, but the popular 72mm is back in stock. http://cheesycam.com/polaroid-new-variable-nd-filters/. Don't get this confused with a 'Circular Polarizer'. This is the 'Variable ND filter' which serves a different purpose in cutting out light. If you can't score the size you need through the Polaroid's, the Nature brand is still an excellent buy as well http://cheesycam.com/nature-fader-nd-variable-neutral-density-filters/

polaroid-nd-filter
find-price-button Polaroid Variable Neutral Density Filters

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Rode-VideoMic-Pro

rode-videomic-pro-shotgun

The Rode VideoMic is the most popular microphone in my bunch. When I needed something that would work well at CES in Vegas - worry free, I used the Rode VideoMic. Well Rode's got a 'new' VideoMic called the Rode VideoMic Pro. I don't think it's available for sale just yet, but it's been officially announced today. Definitely lots of enhancements in the exterior design, making it smaller and with a different shock mount design. They've made it easier to change a few settings with an exterior switch for high pass filter, and a seperate switch for -10dB , 0, and +20dB Levels. Want more? Check out the Microphone introduction here: https://www.rodemic.com/vmp/

I'd really love to check one of these out, and if you'd like to help (me), here's what you can do. Click here to send a Tweet to RodeMicrophones. Maybe a tweets could help hook a brotha up..

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Well they've been available for a while, and it seems like the shortage has been cleared up. More LED Video light panels are available again. Just noticed there are a few auctions thrown up starting at $0.01 US. Yeah that's a penny, but you need to account for the $20 dollar shipping. Never know what you can walk away with, if you're dying for an LED Video panel.

500-LED-Video-Lights
find-price-button 500 LED Video Light Panels

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what-is-it

Minimal, Functional, Versatile, Practical, completely original. I might be a bit distracted lately, not sure if anyone can tell. I've been busy testing out a new prototype I've been working on for several months (6 months ago). I just picked it up yesterday and only a handful of people know what i'm talking about. It's interesting to see their expressions when I show it off, and they all agree that it's going to change the way people think about.......umm...ok said too much. Sorry guys, just a few more tweaks to go and you'll see what it's all about.

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Ok, so the cheap slider I posted sold out in less than a day. Many jumped on the deal (including myself), and many waited to see if it was even worth the price. It's probably the cheapest roller bearing slider i've seen, but here's a few more teaser images to see if we've made the right decision. Personally, I think it was a killer deal. Will it be available again? Who knows....

adjustable-friction
Is this adjustable Friction?

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sliding-slider-sideways
optional-light-stand-mount
Optional Light Stand Mount

vertical-sliding
The 'Feet' can be combined to do Vertical Slides, or just use a Tripod to mount for Vertical Sliding

They do list it on their company website, but they're completely out of stock and not for the same price. As soon as I find it's been listed back on eBay, you'll find it right here. I sugggest you subscribe to my RSS and get notified as soon as I post something, or just keep checking back. Don't worry peeps, i'm on the ball, but these new pictures look good and show a bit more quality in the build than what the auction was showing. I think it was all worth it...