Equipment Reviews

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Sony HX20V ND Filter

Filters can play a fairly important part when capturing photos or videos. For instance, a CPL filter can 'correct' colors, saturation, and contrast to the image before it reaches the sensor. Bringing back washed out skies, saturating bright blue oceans, or removing glares from foliage. This information is normally lost during image capture, and cannot be recovered in post editing, because the data just isn't there.

So what about all the new high end point and shoot cameras? What's the solution to adding ND filters, Variable ND filters, or CPL filters? Even with Manual video controls on the new Sony RX100, without a solid ND filter, you can't maintain your optimal shutter speed for that Cinematic look.

Well I've only teased a few times about a new product ready to hit the market very soon, but today I'm able to share a few teaser images. So far ND and CPL filters are ready for the Sony HX9V, Sony HX20V, Canon S100, and other popular high end point and shoot cameras (including RX100).

ND Filter Polarizer RX100 Sony HX20V

Cheesycam ND Filter Polarizer RX100 S100 HX9V

A very thin metal ring fits flush against the compact camera's front barrel. The super strong magnetic filter quickly attaches and detaches, and can even remain on when the camera is powered off with the lens fully retracted back into the camera body. That's all the information i'll share today, but i've provided a few images that will hopefully get you excited. I'm going to attach this to the Sony RX100 today. Want more information about this? Please follow me on Twitter for those updates https://Twitter.com/Cheesycam

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I wanted to test out this cheap variable ND filter from Fotga (found here on eBay), and so I purchased a small 46mm filter to fit my Sigma E-Mount lens on the Sony NEX7. Major major fail today because I left that camera at home.

So today I just held it in front of the Canon 40mm F/2.8 pancake shooting with the T4i. I wanted to see if there was a purplish color cast (normally found on cheap variable ND filters), but was very relieved to see it didn't! My camera was set to manual at 1/50th shutter speed, F/2.8, and ISO 100. You'll see a section of the video where I pull the filter away. To keep this ideal shutter speed and still shoot at a wide aperture, you can see how overexposed the camera would be without an ND filter.

The next test everyone is wondering about would be loss of sharpness, especially when shooting at longer focal lengths. Unfortunately I only ordered a 46mm which doesn't fit any of my longer lenses. It looks pretty good so far, so i'll place another order for a 77mm filter size. I'm happy with this $13.00 dollar purchase, even though it took several weeks to arrive, it's a perfect little ND filter for my little Sigma 30mm F/2.8.

Fotga Variable ND Filter
find-price-button Fotga Slim Variable ND Filters

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YouTube member MattsMacintosh throws up a review of the cheap Polaroid target shooter style rig [Thanks Matt]. This little rig popped up a few months ago, but it's still a decent buy for small camera shooters. If you have to travel with a small gear bag, the unit breaks down to just a few pieces. Prices on this unit have been steady at just under $60 bucks via Amazon (click here).

Target-Shooter-RigPolaroid Magic Rig Aputure
find-price-button Polaroid Rig / Aputure Magic Rig Target Shooter style Stabilizer

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Home for the day, so I decided to see if I had the skills to fly the Skyler MiniCam Video Camera Stabilizer while riding a Gyro-Stabilized Motorized UniCycle called the SoloWheel (found here on eBay).

Skyler-MiniCam  Solo Wheel Steadicam Segway Self Balancing Gryo Stabilized

Just in case something disastrous were to happen, I felt comfortable trying this test out with Canon's latest EOS T4i (not the 5D Mark III) and was a good excuse to see how the Auto Focus would work with the Sigma 20mm F/1.8.

Canon T4i VariAngle LCD  simga-20mm

Besides not being a very skilled SoloWheel rider, the breeze against the Vari-Angle LCD threw the little Skyler off balance. So it wasn't a truly successful test, but at least I didn't eat pavement...

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We had a brief look at the Focus One Pro at NAB 2012, but there were some slight changes since then. For those who have been following the product, here's an inside look from YouTube member lkwan78 as he shares his thoughts on the latest Follow Focus from Edelkrone [Thanks Luke]. For reference, the other Follow Focus systems mentioned in this video are from a company called TrusMT (seen here) and the new Gini iFocus (seen here).

The new Focus One Pro FF runs for about $290 bucks and can be found at the Edelkrone website (Click Here).

Edelkron Focus One Pro Follow Focus Review
find-price-button Edelkrone Focus One Pro Follow Focus

45 Comments

[Update] This is a new OPEN LOOP system that is not yet available. NOT CLOSED LOOP. Sorry, for the confusion.

New Motorized Pan & Tilt head from Servo City. I used these guys to pick up some parts for the DIY motorized Juicedlink Slider project (here), and at the time they didn't have quite the Pan & Tilt head available for the end of a Jib / Crane. After discussing with them what I was looking for, they mentioned they were working on a new 'Open Loop' system that would allow me to operate the camera through the joystick control.

So here it is. It's a new Pan & Tilt 'Open Loop' system with Joystick control. Construction is top notch, and I don't know of a cheaper system out there. The product is not yet available, but it will be in a few weeks at ServoCity.com (Click Here).

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411 LED ring light review

Earlier this year at NAB2012, we took a look at some new lights that were powered by common Sony camcorder batteries. One interesting light was the larger 876 LED Light Panel which is very similar to the popular 312 LED and 508 LED panel. The other light shown at NAB was the 411 LED Ring Light. You'll see a bit of this covered at about 7:20 into the NAB video below with Olivia.

Both lights are just hitting the market starting at $325 for the LED Ring light and $600 for the panel. Popular LED Ring lights require your own 12V battery or AC power, and Large LED panels are usually based on expensive V-Mount batteries. I like the fact that these use very inexpensive Sony NPF style batteries, and while these might be great ideas, I don't think the prices are going to impress today's market. These and other LED lights can be found via eBay (Click Here).

Front 876 LED light411 LED ring Light
find-price-button 411 LED Ring Right and 876 Sony Powered LED Panel

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Nitsan writes in and shares his YouTube Review for the Fancier 270 Bowl Mount Tripod. I haven't used this particular tripod, but he seems to have good things to say about the Counterbalance feature, Sturdy set of legs, padded bag, etc. Keep in mind you're looking for the 270A version for the higher quality metal legs. On eBay, they can run upwards of $220 dollars, but there is one USA seller who offers it at $159 via eBay (click here).

fancier-270A-270-Bowl-Mount-Tripod
find-price-button Fancier 270A Bowl Mount Tripod - via eBay

For USA customers, you can find one via Amazon for $149 + Free Shipping (here)
fancier-270A-270-Bowl-Mount-Tripod
find-price-button FC-270A Professional Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Pan Head Bowl

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Jack shares a find in the comments about this GeChic 13" Portable LCD that can be used as a secondary screen for your laptop. [Thanks Jack]. Ok, so this is mainly a DSLR Video blog - there's more to this product.

The 13" screen has a resolution of 1366 x 768 (about HD resolution), but the real kicker is that it can be powered via simple USB 5V and has the option for HDMI input that can be used with Video cameras (your DSLR camera). This solves several problems for those who want to tote around a decently sized monitor around with HD resolution for remote monitoring. While the video above gives a different price, it's currently $168. Check it out on NewEgg.com (here).

laptop-LCD-monitor-GeChic-portable-USB
GeChic 13" USB Powered Portable LCD Display with HDMI