This remote cord + wireless remote combo was dirt cheap and I had to have it. I use these when i'm doing my Pole Photography (blogged about it earlier), so that I can trigger the camera while it's about 12' feet in the air. They work on multiple types of Canon Cameras. Check out the video on how cool these things are. I bought mine from this seller. These work much better than the RC1 infrared type remotes. Click here to purchase for as little as $16.00 dollars + Free Shipping!
Canon 5D Mark II & 7D – Cheap China Batteries
I thought this was old news and everyone was already using these. I purchased these batteries just weeks after the Canon 5D Mark II was announced! Yeah they are pretty old, but still rocking and rollin'. Apparently after posting my aftermarket battery video for the 550D & T2i, I received many questions on the 5DM2 / 7D aftermarket batteries.
So these batteries work differently. They don't charge on OEM canon chargers, and they don't display battery life. Other than that they are dirt cheap and work just as long (i think so). I'm also using aftermarket China 'battery grips' on both my 5D Mark II & 7D. Prices have gone up a bit. I purchased mine for about $10.00 dollars. The Canon 5D Mark II and 7D use the same type of batteries. I purchased mine from this seller. It's going for about $14.00 dollars. Click this link to purchase.
Battery Grips for Canon Cameras can be found here:
Canon Aftermarket Battery Grips
A.S.S. Implants – How To
Total Approx $45.00 Dollar 'Hands Free' shoulder rig modification / Shoulder Mount + Rotating Flash Bracket.
The Goal of this video is to show a simple 'low budget' way of how to mount all of the important accessories for DSLR video onto a cheap $24.00 shoulder mount rig.
Okay that's probably the worst article title ever for a Video Camera blog, but this cheap should support from Amazon or Adorama has earned it's own acronym. A.S.S. stands for 'Amazon Shoulder Support' or 'Adorama Shoulder Support'. I blogged about this thing months ago and one seller on Amazon ran out of stock. The other sellers tripled their prices. It was normally going for around $24.00 dollars, now you're seeing it around $70.00 bucks. You can all thank me for popularizing it. Not to fear, the guys over on eBay are still selling it for around $24.00 dollars and you can find them following the link below.
Anyways, I wanted to hack something up and saw this thing hanging around the corner of the studio. Thought i'd try to add all of my important accessories to it and see how it goes. It's actually not bad, and it turns it from cheap looking to sheek looking. So sit back and enjoy the video of me doing my A.S.S. implants with the Canon 5D Mark II, Battery Grip, Rode VideoMic, 126 LED video light, LCDVF, and Zoom H4n.
Here's the product.
You can find the shoulder support from eBay by clicking this link, or the image below.
click image
Here's a link to that rotating flash bracket that goes for about $21.00 dollars or so.
click image
Shoulder mounts aren't the same as Steadicams. It's not totally designed for walking / running, but it still helps alot in those areas. I don't want to reinvent the wheel, so here's a user that's uploaded his version of testing it out by walking around.
If you're still not sold, I believe this is the legendary Phillip Bloom having fun with one.
Camera Hand Grip
I saw these grips a while back online, but thought they would be something very tiny and not very useful. Turns out these things are quite large and the company who makes it also designs Gun and Rifle type stabilizers. I have yet to see a DSLR + Viewfinder with this handle, but thinking that would look very very cool. Might be a great handle to add to the DIY shoulder rigs.
Old school 8mm Cameras
Camcorder with Grip
They can be purchased here:
TuperHero DIY Shoulder Rig : Tuper-Rig
Fred C. over at TuperHero.com is working on a DIY shoulder rig I believe he's calling the "Tuper-Rig". Based on the RedRock EyeSpy shoulder mount, he's cleverly used some type of L-Bracket to serve as both an offset (for lcd viewfinders), as well as height leveling. Not easily seen in these photos, he's using 2 long aluminum square tubes to make both the handle + shoulder pad fully adjustable sliding forward and back.
Still in progress, Fred sent me these photos of the basic rig layout. If you check out his blog website at https://tuperhero.com, you'll find more information with some way cool drawings and designs of his final plans. Awesome job Fred, and thanks for that huge huge donation to the website too!!
Final questions i'm sure the Cheesycam audience wants to know is, when's it going to be done, and where can they buy one?
$5,000 dollars + Camera Giveaway
Now that you're all excited about the title of this post, I have to break the bad news and say unfortunately it's not me giving this prize away. I'm just letting you all know about the Olympus Pen Challenge going on right now. Olympus is going to give you an Olympus E-PL1 camera + $5,000 dollars to fund your next video project.
It's easy to enter, you don't even need an Olympus camera to submit for the challenge. Basically you send them a short video telling them what you would use the new camera + money for, and they'll choose a few winners. Anyone want to team up with Cheesycam for a project, holla back! I'm thinking music video utilizing all the features in the new E-PL1. More details following the link.
Joel C. Thanks for the Donation!
Whoa, i'm flattered so many people stop by to read and comment on this blog. Better yet, i'm humbled by those who find time to even leave me a donation. Joel C. was a reader I blogged about earlier who created an awesome DIY version of the Shoulder Rig. Shortly after, Joel dropped a huge huge huge donation towards the blog. Thanks Joel! BTW, i've partnered with a company to create a special unique steel adapter, ordered a few hundred of them, and you'll be getting one in the mail. Thanks for the donation! If any one else wants to support, the donation button is at top right. Thanks readers!
Wonder why Lenses cost so Much?
These videos are long, but super super interesting for anyone who cares anything about lenses. Most of the time I feel like everything camera related is overpriced, but after you understand the work behind creating some great lenses, you'll feel very differently (well at least for Canon Lenses). This is a three part series that covers the making of a Canon L series 500mm F/4. Take the time to watch when you can.
Part #1 Making of Canon 500mm Lens
Part #2 Making of Canon 500mm Lens
Part #3 Making of Canon 500mm Lens
Olympus Pen Cameras E-P1 E-P2
I've always wanted this Pen camera for it's throwback feel, and interchangeable lens features for a small portable, but wasn't happy with the quality of the E-P1 HD video. Now this E-PL1 version which comes out cheaper than the introduction price of the E-P1 is more my style. This commercial revived my interest, you'll see what I mean at the end of the commercial.