Video Accessories
Even the most attentive creator can miss a mistake when reviewing footage on a tiny LCD screen, which is why an external camera screen (also known as an on camera monitor) is such a vital addition to any serious creator's gear pack. These screens come in many forms and are increasingly decked out with luxe features to make shooting more enjoyable. If you are in the market for an external camera screen, we have compiled some helpful information to keep in mind
Over time, you are going to acquire a variety of specialty tools and gear to help you accomplish your shoots and to make your production life easier. However, for those of you who are just starting out, or even if you’ve already assembled a bag, what follows are a few items which, over the years, I’ve found to be invaluable. However, before I start, I’d like to suggest a few things that are essential for productions in general, even if they aren’t part of your on-set bag. A spare set of car keys, when driving to a shoot, a spare pair of socks
by Justin Dise ·Posted
While the latest cameras, lenses, and 4K recorders catch most of the headlines, any video shooter knows that the greatest camera rig in the universe won't do you any good if you can't keep it powered. With each electronic component you add, the more batteries and chargers you'll need in your gear bag and the harder it is to keep all your gear powered during a long day of shooting. Wouldn't it be great if you could power your camera, monitor/recorder, and even charge your smartphone all from the same power source? Well, now you can, thanks to
In the following video, Mia McCormick, from Kelby One Media, takes a quick look at two new battery chargers from Anton Bauer: the Performance Dual V-Mount Charger and LP4 Quad Gold-Mount Charger. Both chargers are multi-chemistry compatible and designed to charge batteries simultaneously, quickly, and efficiently.
In the following video, Mia McCormick, from Kelby One Media, discusses the Syrp Genie Motion-Control System and Magic Carpet Slider, showing how they can be used together to deliver memorable time-lapse and real-time video. McCormick highlights the intuitive controls, preset modes, and operation of the Genie, which creates
by Peter Ward_1 ·Posted
What makes a great shot? Is it the lighting? The camera angle? The mise en scène? Is there even a formula? Who can compare the gritty naturalism of much postmodern cinematography with the deliberate, expansive visuals of classic Hollywood? I can, I hope, show you many of the tools that have the potential to make great shots possible.
Tripod
I can already hear yawns in the audience. The humble tripod!? Yet, if there is one piece of camera support every DP,
Imagine back if you will, exactly two long years ago, mid-January, 2013. Just weeks before the Superdome blacked-out during the “Big Game,” the mirrorless camera world made an equally memorable step forward with the introduction of the Speed Booster, from Metabones. Based on the terrific success of this line of adapters, we arrive today, announcing the release of a new group of Metabones products including three new Speed Booster ULTRAs, a new Speed
Whether you just started out in video production, or if you've been shooting for a while, this article will introduce you to some useful accessories that might come in handy one day, or possibly become something you use on every shoot.
First up is the budget-friendly Zeiss Jumbo Microfiber Cloth. The key word here is "jumbo." It's far larger than many of the cloths out there, which makes it suitable not only for cleaning the delicate
by Justin Dise ·Posted
On the surface, Convergent Design’s Odyssey7 is a high-quality, 7.7" 1280 x 800 OLED monitor with a touchscreen interface that delivers true blacks, accurate colors, and comes packed with a full set of professional monitoring features, including waveform, histogram, false color, and focus assist, just to name a few. It also has built-in Rec.709 display LUTs for popular
I recently had the opportunity to test the Beachtek DXA-POCKET audio adapter and the Beachtek BRM-1 Baseplate, and I found a lot to like. The DXA-POCKET gives you manual level control with visual level indicators over two mono or one stereo 1/8" inputs. Although I was surprised that it
In the following video, Larry Becker, from Kelby One, takes a look at the iUSBportCAMERA2 from Hyper++Drive, a compact device that adds or expands the Wi-Fi remote control functions of your Nikon or Canon DSLR camera. The video explores the controls and features of the device, including its compact size, LCD screen, and dual USB 2.0 ports. Becker guides you through the set-up processes and how to connect to and
by Justin Dise ·Posted
One of the unsung heroes of the film industry is the focus puller. It doesn't matter how great the camera movement, lighting, or acting is if the image on the screen is out of focus. Traditionally, the focus puller, or 1st Assistant Camera (AC), operates on the side of the camera, using a follow focus to mark spots and "pull focus" to follow the action/subject. In many cases it isn't too difficult for the camera assistant to move along with the camera, but when the director calls for complex shots on jibs, dollies, stabilizers, or motorized
One of the more often overlooked production steps, especially in the digital age, is proper slating technique. It is easy to understand why: banging a slate seems to belong to a bygone era, something relevant only to productions shooting on film, and in today’s rapid-fire production environment with directors rolling endlessly on multiple takes or wanting to shoot without alerting the actors that they are being recorded, slating has become something seen as more of a hindrance than a help.
"The primary purpose of slating is to identify
by Justin Dise ·Posted
There is a plethora of apps out there, geared toward cinematographers. While many are useful, I’ve decided to share the four apps to which I find myself returning regularly. They have earned a place in my digital tool kit and, in my eyes, are must-haves for any DP or camera assistant.
Sun Seeker
Cinematographers always have an eye on the sun, and want to know where it will be at every hour during a shoot. When will the sunlight come through that window? How will I have to move the actor to keep a consistent backlight when shooting
by Peter Ward_1 ·Posted
The holiday season is upon us and snow is already falling in the mountains... at least the Sierras. If you're a GoPro owner, or seeking gifts for one, now is a great time to think about winterizing your camera. Scrolling through the hundreds of GoPro and third-party HERO action-camera mounts and accessories inspired me to put together an article covering some of the less obvious—but equally useful—options that are out there that will makes sense