If you need to store hours of video from a long days shoot, there is a great deal for a 64GB Sandisk SDXC card today for under $49 dollars (limited quantity). You can see how the price compares against the other top brands following the link (click here)
Sandisk 64GB SDXC Media
Canon recently discontinued the 70-200mm F/2.8 IS lens and now only offers the ‘IS II’ for $2500 dollars! If you’re using an APS-C sensor camera like the T2i, T3i, 60D, or 7D and wanted to stay in this range, you would need something around a 50-150mm lens because of the crop factor. That’s the reason why Sigma has released this new 50-150mm F/2.8 lens with Optical Stabilization for just $1099.
It’s a great option for people who have had their eyes on Canon’s 70-200mm F/2.8 IS, but could not afford such a lens. With a wide focal range, fast constant aperture, and combined with Sigma’s Image Stabilization, this will be a very popular lens. It will be available for a few cameras (will not work on Full Frame), but so far only the Nikon and Canon versions are available now (click here).
Sigma 50-150mm F/2.8 lens with Optical Image Stabilization
Even if some of us (raises hand) cannot afford most of the sexy, innovative gear that Zacuto is world famous for, it sure is nice to see it all! At NAB this year I enjoyed getting a preview of what they’ve been working tirelessly on for 2012 along with having the opportunity to interview some of the talent behind the brand. My friend Eddie from Schneider Productions was walking the NAB floor with a Zacuto Scorpion rig and shot the video featured above. Great work as always, Eddie! Thanks for sharing with us.
For more info on Zacuto and their products, check out their website Zacuto.com.
Artificial lights including LED lights can sometimes create a color cast. We recently got the larger 1200 LED video light panel
We use the Tekkeon batteries to power our 600
All three of these LED lights have the same housing with a U bracket design (yolk) and dimmer switch.
600 LED Video Light Panel with V-Mount
While I was at NAB2012 this year, I got to meet OTech reader @wcpreston. He asked me about hard shell carrying cases that could hold and transport loads of 50lbs+ for air travel. I poked around various online sites and found the usual suspects, Pelican, Vanguard, Nanuk, but all in their largest forms were well over the $300 price point. I’m all about inexpensive alternatives and it’s very likely that they’re out there, you just have to find them.
One item we use to transport gear is a large rolling Toolbox. On Amazon, this 50 Gallon Stanley Storage Mobile Chest can be purchased for under $115 with free shipping. Aside from being durable and able to secure with TSA approved locks, these bins can hold the mother load of your gear. Buying foam padding that is modular and easily shaped with incisions can create custom areas to keep your equipment from moving around or being damaged from impact. We use these large rolling toolboxes as a theft deterrent when we need to leave a lot of gear lying around at a busy event or gig. Sometimes you can’t stand next to your equipment, so we’ll throw all our items inside and use a bike cable lock to tether it down under a table.
We’ve all experienced this situation before: while shooting video with a field monitor, the HDMI cable falls out of the camera’s port- fffff! SmallHD has created a solution to this annoying problem: the 5D MKII Port Protector. This item is NOT available for order until May 15th, but I was able to score one at NAB 2012 last week (thanks, smallHD). This item ships with a 1.5ft Male-Male, Mini-HDMI to Standard HDMI cable and is priced at 49 bucks.
Here are some quick specs from smallHD:
Specifically designed for Canon 5D Mark II
Fast Installation
Does not require use of 5D’s ¼-20 mounting point (unlike all other protectors)
Does not block other ports on 5D
Incredibly light weight < 1oz
Protects HDMI port from every angle (left, right, up, down, in & out)
Protects from bumps/knocks on the connector
Protects from harsh cable tugs
Locks HDMI cable in place (Keeps monitor from losing signal)
Designed specifically for use with SmallHD mini-HDMI cable (INCLUDED)
SmallHD mini-HDMI cable: Compare at $30 from other competitors.
varavon slidecam s from varavon on Vimeo.
Varavon’s newest slider, the Slidecam S, is now available for preorder on their website (click here) for a shipping date of May 7. For those who preorder this slider, there is an additional early bird discount. With 8 different versions of this slider, Varavon does a really great job of showing comparison specs on their site for each selection.
varavon Vara Crane. from varavon on Vimeo.
The Vara Crane is also a new piece from Varavon that has multiple functions and is also available for preorder with an additional discount upon early purchase. Not only can the Vara Crane act as a crane, it can also be used in conjunction with the slider as an arm to extend the slider’s reach, as a camera stabilizer OR as a cart dolly. The video above gives you some creative ideas for use of this product. You can find both of these items on Varavon’s website Vifocam.com.
Air Box Lights aims to improve your favorite on-camera LED light with their blow up softbox. The Air Box Light is a lightweight Litepanel LED light diffuser that inflates in one breath. This LED softbox is dramatically softer than a raw Litepanel with 300% more surface area. On-camera lighting can be soft and flattering with this accessory. For more on this product, check out their website: airboxlights.com.
San Francisco is full of familiar and odd noise alike. It’s a symphony of sounds and for this, we saw it perfect for testing out Rode’s new Stereo VideoMic Pro. This new addition to the Rode family of mics is suited to capture a wide stereo image with natural depth. This microphone is designed to cut out the noise generated by air conditioning, traffic and other undesirable low frequency interference. The dead kitten (meow) that we’re using on this Rode aids in reducing unwanted wind noise as well. You get to hear the results of this in the audio from the test.
A -10dB PAD allows the user to reduce the sensitivity of the microphone, making it suitable for recording loud sound sources such as live music or at sporting events. Like the VideoMic Pro, the Stereo VideoMic Pro features a +20dB level boost specifically designed to provide a higher quality signal with DSLR cameras. When activated, the typically low quality camera preamp level can be reduced, resulting in a lower noise floor and much clearer recording.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 + Adobe Premiere Elements 10 are both 50% off for the next 24 hours on B&H. This means that Photoshop is going for a final price of under $50 and Premiere for under $70. Again, this is only a 24 hour sale on B&H so if you were thinking of getting either of these, now is the time to save 50% of the purchase!
B&H now has Adobe’s newest version of After Effects, CS6, available for preorder.
Here is what’s NEW for CS6:
Global Performance Cache
Create more in less time, even in high-resolution projects. This revolution “under the hood” makes After Effects fast and responsive by taking full advantage of the 64-bit power in your computer’s hardware.
3D Camera Tracker
Track 3D elements with complete control over depth of field, shadows, and reflections. Automatically analyze and place 3D track points onto 2D footage in the background while you work.
Ray-Traced, Extruded Text & Shapes
Extrude fully ray-traced text and shapes natively and take full advantage of reflections, environment maps, and more.
Variable Mask Feathering
Create a separate set of splines to precisely control mask feathering. Get the exact shape you want with the proper degree of softness at any point along the mask edge, resulting in a big boost to creative flexibility
Integration with Adobe Illustrator
Instantly convert Illustrator vector art (AI and EPS format) into shape layers. Easily animate vector art in 2D or extrude to 3D.
Rolling Shutter Repair
Remove rolling shutter artifacts such as skew and wobble without forcing stabilization, using an improved version of technology originally introduced with Warp Stabilizer.
New & Updated Effects
Enhance your creativity with 90 new and updated built-in effects, including the complete 16- and 32-bit CycoreFX HD suite (included – English only).
Avid AAF & FCP 7 XML File Import with Pro Import AE
Import and work with files created in Apple Final Cut Pro 7 or earlier versions, as well as Avid Media Composer and Symphony, letting you integrate After Effects with professional production workflows.
Mocha for After Effects CS6
Launch mocha for After Effects CS6 (included – English only) directly within After Effects CS6.
We literally cycle through a few dozen of these Transcend 32GB compact flash cards through the studio. Solid cards and have been very reliable for us. I don’t recommend you try to buy these cards from no-name retailers, as there are so many counterfeits out there. So you’re best bet is places like B&H. Until this weekend, you can find them on sale at (click here).
Transcend 32GB Compact Flash Media
At NAB 2012, Mark from Prompter People gives me a look at the teleprompters they have available for iPad users. These can be controlled with a remote or with an iPhone or iPod Touch using the free compatible app, iCue. These smaller teleprompters are a cheaper solution for DSLR shooters who need a teleprompting option. Propmpter People have a variety of teleprompters that you can check out at prompterpeople.com.
Mark from Flolight shows me the Microbeam Series LED Lights at NAB 2012. Mark runs over the temperature options, intensity, power and availability. These LED lights can be run on either AC or DC power (which means these can be run on a portable battery pack) and come in a variety of sizes. You can check out all of their lighting options on Flowlight.com where they have LEDs and Fluorescents.
Right now on eBay, Panasonic’s Lumix G 14mm f/2.5 lens is going for around $160! This is about half the price of what other retailers are selling the exact same lens for. This wide (75º angle of view) lens is compatible with Lumix G Micro 4/3 cameras. Huge thanks to OTech reader, Martin, for giving me the heads up about these prices.
Quick Specs
Lightest Single Focal Length Lens
28mm Wide Angle (35mm Camera Equivalent)
Fast, Bright F2.5 Maximum Aperture
3 Aspherical Lenses for Superb Quality
High-Speed, Silent Contrast AF
Circular Aperture Diaphragm
Multi-Coated Lens Elements
Durable Metal Mount
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