Equipment Reviews

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house-cleaning

Outside of this blog, i'm busy with a few other projects. I need to make some additional space. I think it's fair to say i've collected a few items over the past year and it's time I did a bit of house cleaning. You know what they say, out with the old and in with the new. The problem has been finding the time to try and offload some of these items. I'm at the point where I may just hold a small garage sale - first come first serve. I'll have a small two hour window, you snooze you lose.

Some items i'm looking to pawn off are a couple of DSLR rigs, Rotating Skater Dollies, Follow Focus systems, Sliders, LCD monitors, lighting, and more. I won't go into specifics, but there's plenty of name brands like Gini, HanGrip, Konova, Express35, SmallHD, etc. etc. No DIY stuff. The question that's on my mind - is there anyone in the Bay Area that would show up? Or would I be wasting even more time?

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Here's a very simple mod you can do with a Fotopro Transformer tripod or sometimes called the Polaroid All Terrain tripod. Available in ugly chrome and Gunmetal Grey. When choosing, be aware that some packages don't come with all the pieces. It's probably found under several different names too, but basically it's a flexible tripod with swappable feet and uses the standard 1/4x20 thread.

Parts needed:
1) Flexible tripod with removable feet
2) (3pcs) 1.5" 1/4-20 bolts & (3pcs) 1/4-20 jam nut,
3) (3pcs) basic skate wheels and bearings. Could be Rollerblade or skateboard wheels.
4) About 30 seconds of time out of your day...

When unscrewing the feet from these tripods, they are on pretty firm. Don't worry, just wrench them off, they are indeed removable. The 1/4-20 bolt is not a perfect fit (a bit smaller), but it really doesn't matter once it's rolling. Just don't crank down the bearings too tight or the wheel won't move as freely. This particular tripod isn't built for huge cameras, but should do fine for cameras around 3lbs. For anything heavier, I still recommend at least the Pico Flex table Dolly.

Something like this is perfect for camera sizes like the Sony HX9V or GH2. Find these tripods on both eBay (click here)

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find-price-button FotoPro Flexible Transformer Tripod – via eBay

and also via Amazon (click here).

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find-price-button FotoPro Flexible Tripod Rubber Suction Spiked Feet - via Amazon

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I've been asked to recommend a good small ball head that would work well with the Pico Flex Dolly or a good one for small sliders. I tested out a few, and the one that seems to fit the best is the Fancier FT6691. It's larger than the Giottos mini ball head, but still smaller than the larger Fancier Ball head I often use with the Konova Slider. For the price, it's a perfect little head for even DSLR cameras giving you extra stability with your sliders or table dollies.

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All metal with strong clamp force to keep the camera in position and a quick release plate (with safety latch) so you don't have to spin your camera off. So far I haven't found anything else that offers this type of bang for the buck. If you've got suggestions for a good similar feature ball head, let me know. Floating around $24 dollars, you can find them over at eBay (click here)

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find-price-button Fancier Small Positionable Locking Camera Ball Head - via eBay

Cheaper and available for Prime shipping over at Amazon below (click here)

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find-price-button Fancier Small Camera Ball Head - via Amazon

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I posted up about a very effective (and cheap) Velbon fluid head a few weeks back and it literally sold out in a few hours. For around $26-29 dollars, it's a great way to add on a dedicated Fluid head for camera dollies, sliders, etc. You can find the original video, article, and other comments about the fluid here: http://cheesycam.com/cheap-velbon-video-fluid-head-review/.

A few of the units are back in stock at B&H (click here).
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find-price-button Velbon Fluid Video Tripod head - via B&H

or at Amazon (click here) available at both B&H and Amazon (click here)

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find-price-button Velbon Fluid Video Tripod head - via Amazon

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I'm not very familiar with this company, but from the wind tests in the video sent over by YouTube member NitsanPictures, it seems to work well. Another great option furry deadcat microphone windscreen for those out in the UK. Thanks Nitsan. Available for a few different popular microphone models, found following the link (click here)

Windcut Windshield furry windscreen
find-price-button Windcut Windshield Microphone Covers

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This morning I woke up and literally slapped myself in the head for finally figuring something out that should have been pretty obvious from the start. A few months ago Gini DSLR Rigs began working on a few prototype follow focus system that attached only to one rail. The first versions were based on a Huco gearbox, which is the same stuff found in old RedRock Micro Follow Focus systems. Gini eventually ditched the Huco gearbox and began working on a second design with a different gearbox.

Gini-Follow-Focus-Lens-Gears-1Gini-Follow-Focus-Lens-Gears-2

Through this process there were unfinished versions so it wasn't clear about the direction this follow focus was heading. Now that there are more recent images of the new Follow Focus, I finally figured out the inspiration for this design! (Slaps ForeHead) The entire time the follow focus was being developed, it was based on the Cinevate Durus Follow Focus system. Single Rail mount, adjustable marking point, the removable marking disc, knob design, and latest gearbox design. In fact the new Gini Lens gears are also a tribute to Cinevates universal lens gears. Here's a side by side on the FFs.

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Cinevate Durus (left) Gini Latest Follow Focus (right)

Hands down, the Cinevate Durus Follow Focus is the best Follow Focus i've used under $1300 dollars. If you want something rock solid, literally ZERO Backlash, and built to last for years don't hesitate on any of Cinevate's equipment. They make the best sliders, Matte Boxes, Follow Focus systems, and more. Customer service behind all their equipment is a big added bonus. Find more of Cinevate products (click here).

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find-price-button Cinevate Durus Follow Focus

From looking at all the other photos, Gini truly appears to have been inspired around the Cinevate Durus, but the question is how closely has the new FF followed in actual design? Gearbox design? You can see all the new additional photos following the link (click here).

Gini Follow FocusGini Follow FocusLens Gear Gini
find-price-button Gini i Focus Follow Focus

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Video demo from Vimeo member claire showcases the Wondlan Sniper Rods, BasePlate, and Follow Focus. I still can't get over the color, and the price isn't very competitive with what's on the market currently. I just got news that the RJ Budget Follow Focus is getting a special baseplate mount. This means that the Follow Focus can be used without rails. We'll start seeing that pop up soon, unless someone already knows where to find it.

Wondlan Sniper Follow Focus
find-price-button Wondlan Sniper Follow Focus

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I'm sure many of you already know about this particular Velbon fluid head. It's been a hit for a while now, and I thought it was finally time for me to test one out. As much as possible I love shooting with smaller cameras, and this fluid head was a great surprise. Works great as a spare head on the Konova slider instead of using the static Ball Head (and cheaper too).

If you're just starting out with a GH2, Olympus Pen, or Sony NEX-5n camera you'll get some truly fluid movements with this sub $30 dollar fluid head. It's no wonder this fluid head gets rave reviews over at Amazon and B&HPhoto websites. Best bang for the buck no doubt. Here's a few things to keep in mind about the Velbon. It's plastic, all plastic (except for a bit of metal on the pan bar). Although it doesn't feel fragile to break in under your camera, it's not designed to be thrown underneath all your other heavy equipment or to be tossed around.

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Size Comparison (Left) Manfrotto 701HDV (Right) Velbon Fluid Head

Don't get the bundled tripods as i've heard nothing but horror stories. You'd be better off buying another one like the 190XDB from Manfrotto (found here). Don't overload the thing. I used a Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 100mm Macro F/2.8 which worked well, but the head does not have a 'balance' feature so it wanted to tilt forward with the heavy lens. It's too bad the build quality comes in short, because the performance is truly amazing for such a cheap head. Often you'll find the head on sale as low as $26 dollars, and for a spare head on your DSLR video slider, track dolly, or even one for your Monopod it's a deal. You can find them on sale at B&H (click here)

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find-price-button Velbon PH-368 Video Fluid Head

or at Amazon (click here) available at both B&H and Amazon (click here)

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find-price-button Velbon Fluid Video Tripod head - via Amazon

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swivel-lcd-2

Yes. The images look quite funky, but they were purposely modified to be a little discreet. I can assure you that the product is real. It's actually been in design for a few months (Patent Pending), and this is the first images ever released. So what is it and what does it do? It's a 5.6" swiveling LCD (about the size of a SmallHD DP6) that connects under a camera like a battery grip. Seen in the images is a Canon 5D Mark II, but the unit will mount under any camera providing it with a swiveling LCD. There's an HDMI pass through on the side and the LCD unit is powered by a single Canon LP-E6 battery. I guess this LCD design also solves the problem of using an HDMI Lock so you don't damage the one on your camera. If you don't have a Canon LP-E6 battery, there's an adapter that accepts AAs. There's also an optional sun shade. The monitor will have peaking to assist with focusing. I've heard there's other features, but i'm not sure if I can mention it.

That's about all I can say for now, until the product hits the shelves in a few weeks. What do you guys think? Love to hear your opinions....