gf3

16 Comments

If you're shooting video with the Panasonic GH3, I highly advise you take a look at the Fhugen GH3 Video Cage. It's compact enough that you can leave your camera in there the entire time, and will give you more mounting points for adding on those necessary accessories. One question that comes up often is 'How do you add rails to the Fhugen Cage?'.

Although there isn't a dedicated 15mm rod adapter for the cage, the design is straight forward much like the tripod mount under your camera. You can mount it to a variety of baseplates that support 15mm rails (and yes it will be optically centered).

In the example above i'm using the PNCGear MP-2 dual rod baseplate (found here). There are height adjustments on the MP-2 if you need to make your rails slightly higher or lower. The baseplate can be used in any direction, but here I have the logo on the side of the LCD screen. Under the baseplate is enough tripod mounts to add your quick release plate of choice for tripod mounting.

fhugen_honu_cage_gh3_hero
Fhugen Honu Video Cage for Panasonic GH3 Cameras
Dual_Rod_Camera_Mounting_Plate_w_Tripod_Mount_large
MP-2 Dual 15mm Rail Baseplate
15mm rails
(2) 15mm Rails for Baseplate

26 Comments

Here's a side by side video test showing samples from a Panasonic GH3 with and without the new Lens Turbo Focal Reducer. We used a newer Rokinon 85mm T/1.5 Cine Lens [Nikon Mount] + and old Nikon 50mm Pancake. With the Lens Turbo adapter we were able to achieve a wider field of view and an increase in exposure.

Obviously YouTube has added compression to the video, but if you want to be a pixel peeper, you can download a better version of this edited video from my Vimeo Channel (here).

I think the image quality achieved from this (Speedbooster alternative) adapter delivered decent results for the price. The Metabones Speedbooster will run about $489 dollars (here), versus this Lens Turbo which can now be found under $139 US (here).

Of course we're just using a consumer grade Rokinon Cine Lens, and an old $50 dollar lens from eBay. There's no doubt this adapter won't match up to the quality of the Metabones products. Anyone using serious glass worth thousands of dollars might as well pony up the extra cash for the Metabones MFT M43 Speedbooster (found here).

Metabones Speed Booster MFT M43 Nikon Adapter
find-price-button Metabones SpeedBooster Nikon to M43 MFT

If you're a casual video shooter looking to get a wider field of view and increased light through your common glass, I think you'll be happy with the Lens Turbo. I'll probably go out and take a bunch of high resolution still images on the next outing, but for now let's hear a few comments about these first video test results. What did you guys think so far? [Comment]

For more info, you can find the Lens Turbo MFT Focal Reducer adapter available now via eBay (click here).

Mitakon_AI_m43_MFT-Nikon_Focal_reducer_speed_booster
find-price-button Lens Turbo Focal Reducer Nikon to MFT Micro Four Thirds Adapter

44 Comments

I've had this Mitakon Lens Turbo MFT Adapter for a almost a week and I am just getting ready to publish a video showing some examples from this. Recently I noticed an increase of questions and the amount 'buzz' picking up around the Internet, so I wanted to quickly provide some additional important information. THIS ADAPTER WILL NOT WORK ON THE #BMPCC BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera. It simply will not fit or attach to the camera.

If you're not familiar with this adapter, it's similar to the Metabones Speed Booster (found here) (but less than half the price). Always a concern on smaller MFT cameras is the cropped sensor. The Lens Turbo adapter offers a wider field of view on these smaller sensor cameras and also increases your Aperture by 1 F-Stop. Your lenses are now wider and faster!

Metabones Speed Booster MFT M43 Nikon Adapter
find-price-button Metabones SpeedBooster Nikon to M43 MFT

Right now the Lens Turbo MFT / M43 adapter fits Nikon (F, G, Ai, Ai-s, E) manual lenses and should work perfectly on your Panasonic GH3 or BlackMagic Cinema Camera MFT mount (not Pocket Cinema). How well does it actually perform? Give me a few days, and you'll see a video with a variety of examples.

For more info, you can find the Lens Turbo MFT Focal Reducer adapter available now via eBay (click here).

Mitakon_AI_m43_MFT-Nikon_Focal_reducer_speed_booster
find-price-button Lens Turbo Focal Reducer Nikon to MFT Micro Four Thirds Adapter

6 Comments

Right now there is a Sigma Lens deal which includes the 19mm F/2.8 and 30mm F/2.8 prime lenses bundled into one discount price. You can choose either a set for Sony E Mount cameras, or the set for Micro Four Thirds cameras. I have the 30mm on my Sony NEX7 and really enjoy this lens. I may have to get a set for the new GH3 at these prices.

[Update] These sold out quick and the listing shows a Back-ordered status, but I have just verified with B&H you can still place an order if you want to take advantage of these prices and it will ship when it is back in stock. Click through the links below for the deal.

Sigma 19mm 30mm M43 mount GH3
find-price-button Micro 4/3 19mm F/2.8 + 30mm F/2.8 Sony E Mount Lens Discount Bundle

Sigma Sony E Mount 19mm 30mm
find-price-button Sigma 19mm F/2.8 + 30mm F/2.8 Sony E Mount Lens Discount Bundle

29 Comments

Panasonic 14mm Lenses

Ray writes in and shares an interesting link to some very cheap Panasonic 14mm Lenses. [Thanks Ray] These lenses are found for over $300 dollars on Amazon (seen here) and B&H (seen here), but at the listing it sells for just $164. Seller has excellent ratings and checking the feedback shows the seller has sold several of these lenses in the last month. Everything seems to check out fine and it's a hell of a deal. (click here for listings)

panasonic-14mm
find-price-button Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F/2.5

7 Comments

Available again, the fast moving Fuji X10 is currently in stock
Fuji-X10
find-price-button Fuji X10 Digital Camera

A few other popular items you might have been eyeballing are also available.
7.5mm-fisheye-M43
find-price-button Rokinon 7.5mm Fisheye lens for Micro Four Thirds

45mm-1-8
find-price-button Olympus 45mm F/1.8 for Micro Four Thirds

1 Comment

Panasonic GX1panasonic 3D1

You've probably heard the buzz around other websites that Panasonic officially announced their GX1 camera (wasn't a big secret) along with another small 3D camera. Their previous GF2 and GF3 cameras were pretty much released one right after the other, and failed to appeal to a mass market. I have a feeling they're missing the boat again with the GX1 mainly because of pricing. In the mini interchangeable lens camera market, we've already seen the Pentax Q, new Olympus cameras, and the new Nikon V1/J1 cameras (which I hear is totally awesome). There's just too much going on right now with small ILC cameras. Although not the same camera body style, personally I think you'd still be better off with a GH2. Pricing found below.

Panasonic GX1
find-price-button Panasonic DMC-GX1

63 Comments

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)

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

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

velbon-fluid-head-ph368
find-price-button Velbon Fluid Video Tripod head - via Amazon

5 Comments

Product Highlights
* 12.1Mp Live MOS Sensor
* 3.0" Touch LCD
* Venus Engine FHD
* Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount
* 100-6400 ISO
* iA & iA+
* Creative Modes
* Built-In Pop-Up Flash
* 1920 x 1080/60i HD Video Recording
* Optical Image Stabilization

More GF3 cameras hit the shelves and are available now over at B&H (click here).

Panasonic GF3
find-price-button Panasonic DMC-GF3 Digital Camera