Rebates going around instantly knocking off another $100 bucks off of the GF2. Had I only waited an extra week. Yeah sucks, cause I just bought one. No rush, because it looks like this rebate could stick around for at least a month.
So that you don't miss out on any other deals, there are quite a number of MFT (micro four thirds) Camera rebates that will be expiring in the next week found below:
MFT Digital Camera Rebates
Vimeo member Ragnar tackles the DIY suction cup camera mount for his GH2. There are much cheaper suction cup mounts, first posted here: http://cheesycam.com/diy-double-and-quad-suction-camera-car-mounts/, but Ragnar decided to go with a slightly more expensive Suction mount with articulation so that it can mount on not-so-completely flat surfaces such as hoods, windows, and other car panels. I'm sure we all don't believe in specs, but the one he's chosen states that it's rated for 132 lbs, so even if it's half true, that's more than suffice for a small GH2. So far it looks like he's fairly comfortable with the setup, trusting it to about 50mph (with a backup safety strap attached of course). For GoPro owners, this inexpensive setup should have no issues with the mini lightweight camera.
Exact Tools used:
Double Swivel Vacuum Cup
If you've got a Panasonic GH2, or other Micro Four Thirds camera, you'll know what this lens is. It's been tough to track down lately when they went out of stock because it's just that awesome for a MFT camera. Luckily I grabbed mine months ago, and it's been on the GH2 as the primary lens. My GF2 also came with the 14mm Pancake, which is another popular and highly recommended lens for these MFT cameras. More than likely this new shipment of the 20mm won't last very long, so if you've been waiting patiently here's a chance.
It wasn't long before the nice discount on the 5D Mark II body expired from BestBuy.com, but maybe there's new hope. There's a special announcement for a Midnight Sale - Online Only.Starting midnight tonight until 8am tomorrow they'll be launching some additional special deals. Besides the slew of other electronics and gadgets, there's DSLR's on the list. Hmm..Canon T3i, Canon 7D, Canon 60D? Who knows what's in store, but you have to be up past midnight or online before 8 a.m. to see what's in store. Follow the banner for more details.
Midnight Sale, Online Only, Starts Midnight Through 8 a.m. EST on Thursday (5/19)
The Proaim DSLR View Finder is nothing new, and personally I would prefer the VF Prime or Seagull VF, but Proaim looks to have a 'one-up' on the competition. This morning I was turned onto a recent BasePlate addition to Proaim's View Finder [Thanks Greg]. Looks like they're the next in line to follow in the recent trend of converting all LCD View Finders over to baseplate mounts.
The BasePlate looks to be an all metal construction that still allows you to mount a Quick Release Plate underneath. The ViewFinder claims Anti-Fog coating on the lens, and a minimal Diopter for less than perfect vision. To get further correction, you can stack the extension frames between the LCD and View Finder. Can you see that small hole on the BasePlate? The Proaim viewfinder also comes with a short Aluminum Rod that you can use has a handle (probably not very functional).
If you're wondering, it looks like a 3" LCD View Finder, but for Canon T2i, T3i, and 60D owners who really want this setup expect to lose just a 1mm crop on each side (IF it can line up properly).
Some interesting sales going on, one that might be of interest to some of you is the Canon 5D Mark II. Shaving a few hundred dollars off normal retail price, the Canon 5D Mark II (body only) goes on sale over at BestBuy.com for a limited time.
Swing out LCD's are great for odd shooting positions, but posed some problems for DSLR LCD View Finders. The Canon 60D and T3i fall into this category. The solution is to use a frame that mounts under the camera body, but the pricing has been out of reach. Or has it?
Has anyone caught these new LCD Viewfinders for both 3" and 3:2 DSLR LCD Screens? Claims to be compatible with the 60D and T3i cameras, as well as the older 5D/7D cameras.
I'm not seeing very much adjustments on the frame, so i'm wondering how they could get it to line up against so many different camera bodies? Sure the LCDs are a basic size, but the position on the body isn't always the same. There's definitely two different versions from the photos i've seen. One is a square 3" and the other a more rectangular 3.2". These VF's have the obvious large eyecup but no diopter. No luck for you battery grip users, straight body mount only. Uses magnets to hold onto the frame - which the frame is mounted under the camera body with a Tripod mount still available. Fetches for mid $30's US.
Don't think I ever posted any footage samples of the vintage 85mm F/1.2 on the GH2, so here it is if you're curious. Old lenses are a great alternative to getting DOF on a budget. There's a variety of different adapters to mount just about any lens type to any camera. For a list of old Vintage lenses, check out the eBay auctions. Just make sure you choose the right adapter for the Lens you choose to fit your camera body.
Search for Manual Focus Camera Lenses
Here i'm using an FD adapter without glass to make this 85mm F/1.2 work on the Panasonic GH2. At F/1.2 there's a soft glow, but step it down to F/1.8 and it's plenty sharp. They will never be as sharp as true lenses designed for Digital, but that's the whole allure about them. Sometimes they give off a really vintage feel. Oh and I didn't bring an ND filter out so the shutter speed was quite high on this footage. Might look at bit jittery...
Panasonic GH1 / GH2 have a strong following and when it comes down to DSLR video it's almost 'cult-like'. Ok guys - you win. Panasonic does have some awesome qualities in DSLR video, but I still can't get through the ergonomics as quickly as I can the Canon DSLR's. That's a personal preference. Of course I did buy into the GH2 and recently Lumix GF2 (which i'm loving so far).
Now Panasonic has updates it's 'G2' model with the new G3. The new G3 digital upgrades the common 12MP chip found in most Panasonic's to a new 16MP chip, and adds many of the new touch screen controls like the GH2 and GF2. So far the Panasonic's 'GH2 is just completely sold out, and has been since it's announcement. The new G3 looks pretty good, but I don't think it will have the same effect being sold out, but it's available on pre-order now.
Panasonic Lumix G3 Pre-Order
