dslr video

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Not sure how many of you are already working with the Panasonic GH3 Camera, but I enjoyed working with this camera so much I ended up with a second one just a few weeks after. I was never a big MFT shooter, until I started working with the GH3. For the price, It's hard to beat the features for both a serious high quality Stills and ILC Video camera.

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First and foremost, it's small, and lightweight, so it's been our exclusive camera for event coverage. Unlike the GH2, this camera was redesigned with a Magnesium Alloy Frame along with Dust and Splash Proof seals. Very clean at high ISO does excellent in low lighting situations.

Panasonic GH3 Awards

SDHC allows me to work with cheaper media, shoots in AVCHD when I want high quality compressed footage, or up to 72Mbps [All-Intra] MOV for high quality footage to grade in post. Built in Wi-Fi to control with your iPhone, built in Intervalometer (Time Lapse), HDMI output full 1080 without hijacking the LCD display, full 1080p 60fps (for slo-mo), articulating LCD, fast auto focus (full time AF available in video mode too), not to mention the ability to adapt pretty much any lens on the market. There's a great product page showcasing some highlight features of the GH3 (found here).

There's a hundred more reasons why it's a great camera for the price, and today several retailers are discounting the Panasonic GH3 $200 Off. Some retailers may bundle additional items for better value. Check out the limited time discounts available (below).

find-price-button Panasonic DMC-GH3 Camera Body - via B&H

find-price-button Panasonic DMC-GH3 Camera Body - via Adorama

find-price-button Panasonic DMC-GH3 Camera Body - via Amazon

find-price-button Panasonic DMC-GH3 Camera Body (Bundle) - Samys eBay

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Discounts available for the GoPro Combat Cage and Zip Tie Lens Gears available at WideOpenCamera.com. A cage on a little GoPro might sound funny, but it adds several mounting points when working on something like a Car or Motorcycle Mount to prevent weird jello footage (GoPro is pretty bad at this).

The Zip Tie gears are still by far the best low profile lens gears on the market if you plan to use your lenses with a Follow Focus system. They can be cut down to fit any lens and reused with simple zip ties. For more information about these products, check out the product page.

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Varavon has a small line of Loupe EX view finders for cameras with swing out LCD screens. They have been available for cameras such as the GH1/GH2, or cameras with a 3.2" swing out LCD such as the Canon 60D, T3i, T4i, etc.

Here's a look at the latest Varavon Loupe EX specifically for the GH3 camera. This loupe bracket design allows you to take advantage of articulating LCD screens when positioning up or down while safely preventing any damage to the hinge. More information about Varavon's Loupe EX View Finders can be found at via eBay (here)

Loupe EX View Finder
find-price-button Varavon Loupe EX View Finder Articulating LCD Screens

FOR USA customers, some versions of the Varavon Loupe EX view finders can be found via B&H (here).

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find-price-button Varavon Loupe EX View Finders - via B&H

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Last year there was an interesting article on how Time Magazine asked 5 photographers to cover the effects of Hurricane Sandy sharing it immediately on Instagram. The goal was to get the photos out to the public as quickly as possible. There are real benefits to instant sharing, but today's SmartPhones are still very limited and lack a decent zoom lens or manual exposure settings.

Long before Hurricane Sandy, Samsung was already on track and was the first to release an samsung_galaxycam_4 Android based Hybrid Galaxy Camera with an Image Stabilized 21x zoom, and the option to subscribe to a mobile cellular plan (although you can't make calls on it) for instant sharing. This probably could have come in handy for that particular Time Magazine project.


Samsung Galaxy Camera Review - GearAddix.com

Without a mobile data plan, the samsung_galaxycam_4 Samsung Galaxy Camera can connect to any Wi-Fi network. Shoot 1080p HD Video, edit directly on the Android platform, and instantly upload to YouTube. Oddly, as an android system you can still download from the Play Store a variety of apps, games, browse the web, sync to DropBox, connect to Google Drive, send Emails, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more.

I find the merge between high quality cameras and smartphones interesting, and I think there is a place for distribution speed in everyday life as well as in Journalism. Hopefully we see more products this year from other companies like the Galaxy Hybrid Camera. For more information check out the Samsung Galaxy Camera via Amazon (click here).

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find-price-button Samsung Galaxy Camera Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean)

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Here's another cool product Giveaway for you guys to join in on and this time it's for a BlackBird Camera Stabilizer - Basic Kit. The BlackBird Camera Stabilizer System - Basic Kit includes camera mounting plate, gimbal extender, 11 in, and 15 in. horizontal tubes, spare screws, user manual and instructional DVD. There are some great Video examples of various cameras including a small Canon 5D up to a large Sony EX1 balanced on the BlackBird found at the website (here).

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This is a professional level Video Stabilizer product that offers some unique features not found on other stabilizers such as an adjustable friction Gimbal. By adjusting the friction on the Gimbal you have more control of the stabilizer preventing excessive roll or sway. The special T-Bar counterweight design allows this stabilizer to fly cameras weighing as light as 1 pound all the way up to 8 pounds. The unit is also designed to work directly with the Steadicam Merlin Vest with an optional mounting post.

For more information about the BlackBird Camera Stabilizer Giveaway, check out the Giveaway page following the link (click here).

BlackBird Stabilizer System
BlackBird Camera Stabilizing Kit

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I'm still working on organizing my LED Video Light tests which should be posted up soon, but I can tell you right now the F&V lights are high on the list of quality output with both CRI and LUX readings. Having said that, a few people mentioned how the K4000 Studio Kits and R-300 LED Ring Lights were out of stock, but I received notification that they are currently available again (links below).

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find-price-button K4000 Studio LED Video Light Panels

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find-price-button F&V R-300 LED Video Ring Light

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Though it won't keep your camera's horizon completely level as if you're flying (like a Steadicam), Fig Rigs make great hand held stabilizers allowing you to move the camera around and change positions very quickly while getting rid of those unusual micro-vibrations. One problem that you'll run into is that you won't have an easy way to pull focus.

Here's an interesting solution Vimeo member Bruno Chansou has come up with using a window seal as his DIY Follow Focus belt. I'm sure this idea can be translated to many of the other hand held tools out there. [Thanks Bruno].

In the video Bruno looks to be using the Manfrotto style Fig Rig which is a complete circle and makes it odd to place the camera down. I find the the Halo Rig is a good design which incorporates all the benefits of a Fig Rig, but uses a flat base for resting the camera, or mounting to Tripod Heads. You can find these Halo Fig Rigs via eBay (Click Here).

Halo Fig Rig Stabilizer
find-price-button Halo Fig Rig Handheld Stabilizer

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A few years ago, I never thought to be editing photos on a tablet or mobile phone, but now today's applications make it easy and fast. Still, I'm not a huge fan of editing video on an iPad, but maybe that's because I just haven't found an application that's easy to work with.

In a recent CraftTruck.com episode Dan Lebantal (editor of “Iron Man”) shows off a pro editing application he has developed for the iPad. If any of you are currently editing video on a Tablet, or Mobile Device, i'm interested in hearing more on what works for you.

Description
TouchEdit is a frame-accurate video editing system for the iPad that uses timecode to export the project to other non-linear systems. To perform edits, users have two monitors—a source and a record monitor—controlled by two corresponding filmstrips. Users control the filmstrips by running their fingers back and forth across them, using gestures to perform edits. TouchEdit’s timeline based editor also enables users to interact directly with the video and eight channels of audio.

For a full list of Features, check out the TouchEdit website (here).

Touch Edit App
TouchEdit iPad Video Editing App

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Procinematools.com throws up a short video review showing the Edelkrone Monitor / EVF Holder. These types of brackets are great when you need to readjust the position of your monitor or EVF through the day and they don't tend to spin loose like traditional friction arms. The Edelkrone Monitor / EVF Holder can be found at https://Edelkrone.com and often cheaper through eBay (found here).

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find-price-button Edelkrone Monitor / EVF Holder