dslr video

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When it comes to smart adapters for Canon EF lenses that allow you to adjust the iris, your selection is limited and pricey. Over at the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas, I stopped by the Aputure booth to look at a brand new concept Canon EF to mirrorless Lens adapter.

Cheesycam Aputure Wireless Follow Focus Adapter

This new DEC concept is an adapter that not only can adjust the iris on the Canon EF lens, but can also adjust focus through a wireless remote. This is not the same method used from USB follow focus systems where it requires the lens to 'step' in increments. What I saw was very smooth, and they confirmed it is using a different more accurate method.

The adapter also offers a LANC cable for start / stop video. It uses an internal battery, so everything can be completely self contained. An LCD screen on the side of the adapter shows the lens focal distance and aperture value. The same LCD on the remote also shows this information. The remote can store A/B limits so that you can return to exact focus points. A throttle on the joystick controls how fast or slow to focus.

I'm not a fan of the single hand joystick, but they did mention on designing a more 'standard' wireless follow focus remote with marking disc. Do away with lens gears, 15mm rails, and external follow focus motors. An adapter like this will easily appeal to those working with Steadicams or Active Gimbal Stabilizers. So far this product is not yet available on the main website, so please leave your comments, suggestions, and feedback here in this article (comment here).

NAB 2014 Coverage Sponsors

Camera Motion Research Came_80x80banner Varavon fvlighting

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Known primarily for their affordable quality lighting solutions, F&V extends their product line with a new high resolution 4.3" inch EVF LCD monitor.

fvlighting spectra evf hdmi sdi lcd display

The Spectra HD4 EVF carries a 1280x720 HD display with a 900:1 contrast ratio. Software overlays include Histogram, waveform, vector scope, peaking, false color, adjustable frame guides, etc.

fvlighting evf spectra HDMI lcd

Additionally the small unit offers both HDMI + SDI Input, HDMI loop through, SDI Loop through, and HDMI to SDI and SDI to HDMI Conversions. There is also a Tally light above the unit when working with multi-cameras. The unit shown was still a prototype and the loupe will most likely see a redesign. To stay informed about the new Spectra HD4, check out the website at FVLighting.com (here).

NAB 2014 Coverage Sponsors

Camera Motion Research Came_80x80banner Varavon fvlighting

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At the NAB Show, Libec shows us the ALLEX system. A line of products or complete kit designed to work seamlessly together so that you don't have to struggle with what tripod works with which video head and how that all comes together with a video slider.

The ALLEX H Fluid Video Head uses a drop in style plate, something many shoulder rig shooters have a preference over instead of the sliding systems. The head combines both a 75mm bowl + a standard 3/8" flat base mount. When used on the Libec ALLEX T tripod, the bowl allows you easily level your system, and the flat base will thread easily to the ALLEX Slider.

ALLEX_H_4

The ALLEX S is a 30" Slider using 8 bearings surrounding the rail. The slider features a friction knob for drag, brake knob, along with adjustable legs / feet. Beneath the slider is a similar 75mm bowl to fit directly to the ALLEX T Tripod, but also offers a 3/8" thread flat base mount.

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ALLEX_S

Libec ALLEX Tripod Slider Fluid Head Keiko

The ALLEX T Tripod is very sturdy two-stage all aluminum, 75mm bowl mount, with mid level spreader, and articulating feet. The Tripod weighs approximately 5.5 lbs.
ALLEX_S_KIT_2

More information can be found at the ALLEX product page at the LibecSales.com website (here).

ALLEX Video Contest

NAB 2014 Coverage Sponsors

Camera Motion Research Came_80x80banner Varavon fvlighting

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As companies introduce new products during the NAB Show, you can pick up a sense of coming trends. Active stabilized gimbals were very prominent at the 2014 NAB show, and Shape has introduced a few gimbal stabilized products. One handheld stabilizer is dedicated for GoPro Hero, iPhone, or small cameras, and another iSEE II product is combining this technology with a Shoulder Rig Stabilizer.

More information about the Shape iSEE II DSLR Gimbal Shoulder Mount can be found at the SHAPEWLB.com website.

SHAPE ISEEII GIMBAL WEBSITE PICTURE 640X480-v1Shape Gimbal GoPro Hero Camera iSee
find-price-button Shape iSEE Active Gimbal Camera Stabilizers

NAB 2014 Coverage Sponsors

Camera Motion Research Came_80x80banner Varavon fvlighting

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If you happen to have an IGUS W1080-B Linear Slider and are looking for a way to get consistent movement, Servo City now offers a DIY Motorized Kit. You may have seen me working with a prototype version of this slider in a past video when I designed a simple infinite loop auto reverse switch (seen here).

With a slower motor in place you can use this to achieve long time-lapse sequences, or with a faster motor in place you can use this for real time video (noise will be apparent from the motor).

The kit comes in dozens of little pieces, but with patience was easy to assemble following the video instructions:
Actobotics - IGUS W1080-B Slider Kit Assembly (part 1)
Actobotics - IGUS W1080-B Slider Kit Assembly (part 2)

Once again, this kit is designed specifically for the W1080-B Igus Rail (which you will need first) and can the entire kit can be found at the Servo City website (here).

Igus_Slider_Kit_3Igus_Slider_Kit_-_included_components
Igus_Slider_Kit_2
find-price-button Servo City IGUS W1080-B Motorized Slider Kit


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blackmagic-studio-camerablackmagic-ursa-camera

As BlackMagic Design announced several new products this year at NAB2014 (as seen above), one question was - Will they continue to support fixes/bugs for previous cameras? A recent response from the Blackmagic Design Forum points to yes. A few notes included

1. New debayering for shooting directly to ProRes or DNxHD on the Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and MFT
2. Improved MFT lens support on the Pocket Cinema Camera
3. Compressed RAW support on the Production Camera 4K
4. Autofocus support for EF lenses on Blackmagic Cinema Camera EF and Production Camera 4K

There are a few other improvements with hints to audio level metering and histogram displays among other comments about some requests that may not be possible to fix over at the Blackmagic Design Forum (Found Here).

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Here's a quick image of three different video monopods with a fluid base. Only one is actually sold through retail stores, while the smaller two are monopods i've modified with an aftermarket fluid base folding tripod foot (found here) Cheesycam-Monopod-Tripod-Foot-Base1.

DIY Modified Cheesycam Video Monopods Fluid Foot Base Tripod Monopod Feet

The largest is the Manfrotto 561BHDV Video Monopod (now replaced with new MVM500A). The middle option is a 4 section Manfrotto MM294A4 Aluminum monopod which offers a nice combination of light weight and stability. The smallest is my 5 section carbon fiber Rokinon monopod when I want to go extra light. If you're looking to add stability to one of your favorite monopods with one of these tripod foots, it will only run you about $20 dollars and a bit of ingenuity.

Guaranteed this aftermarket monopod fluid base tripod foot won't fit perfectly with whatever monopod your trying to add this to, but i've added epoxy putty (found here) to make it work. It's basically putty that you'll stuff into the foot, shove your monopod in, and the putty hardens like steel. Just make sure your monopod stays straight as it dries, you won't get a second chance.

So if you've watched the video included in this article, there are two versions of this Fluid Base Monopod Tripod Foot. One is just a simple ball socket fluid base, the other (for $2 dollars more) offers a lock that will hold the monopod in a vertical position. For the non-locking version you can find it via eBay (here)

Cheesycam Monopod Tripod Foot BaseDIY Video Monopod Feet Tripod Manfrotto styleVideo Monopod Fluid Tripod Foot Fluid Base Tripod
find-price-button Fluid Base Tripod Monopod Foot - No Solid Lock

For the version that includes the locking screw, you can also find that via eBay (here).

cheesycam diy video monopod fluid base monopod tripod foot with lock
find-price-button Fluid Base Tripod Monopod Foot - No Solid Lock

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ALLEX,- the new tripod system for small cameras by Libec., provides greater usability than ever by perfectly performing the following three movements; pan, tilt, and slide.

Libec's ALLEX system offers a combination of the head, tripod, and slider, which is very simple yet extremely convenient and effective for all shooting purposes at a surprisingly competitive price.

“We’re excited to extend our legacy of making the best camera support systems in the world by introducing ALLEX to the growing U.S. market,” says Takuma Sudo, president of Libec Sales of America, Inc. “Owners of small DSLRs and early adopters of new styles of filmmaking are demanding high quality camera support, and the ALLEX new tripod system is based on Libec’s 60 years experience developing best-in-class equipment for professionals. No other manufacturer has ever developed a tripod and slider like ALLEX, as one integrated system.”

Libec ALLEX Video Slider Tripod Fluid Head

Pro Quality/Prosumer Price Point
The system allows amateur DSLR users greater usability by allowing for pro level pan, tilt and slide camera movements. The ALLEX system includes three components, ALLEX H, a 75mm dual head, ALLEX T, a 75mm ball diameter lightweight (2.5kg/5.5lb) tripod and ALLEX S, a 30” slider. By the integration of all three components, The ALLEX system makes dynamic camera moves possible at a surprisingly affordable price.

ALLEX Video Contest

ALLEX “SHOW US YOUR MOVES” VIDEO CONTEST
Create a three-minute video that shows us your most innovative video camera moves to win big! Different ALLEX kit prizes will be awarded to the five finalists that receive the most online votes. For complete contest details go to: https://www.libec-global.com/allex

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Looking to travel with a very very long slider, but hate dealing with the bulk? RigWheels has introduced a few new products that you might be interested in. The first product is the Universal Rail Bracket System. A simple adjustable rail clamp to accurately lock in any set of 1"-2" round rails or up to 1 3/4" square tubing. If you have to fly off to another state, it's easy to pick up these types of rails at your destination, so that you don't need to travel with it.

Now if you really want to travel with a set of rails, RigWheels is offering up a new PortaRail Collapsible Rail System. These are 40" (1 meter) sections of (approx. 42mm OD) Round Rail that can be assembled together to create a long seamless track.

For more information about these products, check them out at https://RigWheels.com.
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find-price-button RigWheels Universal Rail Bracket & PortaRail System