Tower Cam

Here's a camera support system you'll probably saw on the Oscars operated by my old friend Dave Eastwood.

The Standard Tower Cam can go from 5'-15' as fast as 3' per second while carrying 132 pounds (I guess that means I can't ride along).   You can also hang the Tower Cam upside down from the grid so the camera comes down.

There's also different sizes:  The Tower Cam XS is 3'-5, the FX is 6'-16' and the Tower Cam XL goes 10' to a whopping 32'.

Finally, there is the CruiseCam, a remote controlled motor assisted dolly.  You can mount a Tower Cam onto the CruiseCam for complete remote operation, like a Furio, but the Cruise Cam can also be controlled by a riding operator via a foot pedal.

He's rents these along with all his jibs and Steadicams.  Check out his website at http://www.fluidpicturesinc.com/

Field of View Calculator

Here's somehting handy, the AbleCine Field of View Calculator.

Not only does it compare Field of View for just about every popular camera but shows a Sensor Size Overlay, gives the dimensions of the sensors and tells you the crop factor in both directions.

http://www.abelcine.com/fov/

Canon RC-6

My buddy Jeff Vasquez has been working on a Stand Up Paddle Movie and has been getting some great stills and video using his Canon 7D and some very long glass.

Telephoto lenses not only magnify the image but every time you touch the tripod or camera.  Jeff found that every time he started the camera he would get a little vibration at the head of each shot from pushing the start button.  I've heard others are having the same problem.

A cheap solution is the Canon RC-6 remote control.  Only $30 bucks MSRP and even less at B&H and Amazon.  But the trick is the IR sensor is on the front of the camera.  I've been told the IR signal will bounce off the walls in a small room so you can start the camera from behind.  But outside you'll need to hold the remote in your lens hand.  Tie it off to the camera and after starting the camera just let go of the remote.  Or at least that's the theory...

http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_246251_-1

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&N=0&Q=&Ntt=%2Bcanon+Rc-6+Remote&A=endecaSearch

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-RC-6-Wireless-Controller-Digital/dp/B0037NX6JY

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001483690867&ref=ts

http://www.vasquezstudios.com/

Tilt Shift Taco App

After playing with Brad Hagen's AF-100 over at Video Resources we went to lunch.  Brad had previously told me about this cool Tilt Shift App for the iphone and I had downloaded the free version.  When the food came instead of eating hot food we took pictures of our plates.  That's what happens when DP's go to lunch together.

I decided to use the window to backlight my taco and used a white paper napkin leaned against my water glass to fill.  I thought I was pretty cool until I saw Brad using the chrome napkin dispenser as a reflector...

Check out Brad's Blog, The Happy Fork and see what he had for lunch and more of the Tilt Shift app.

http://artandmobile.com/tiltshift/

http://www.thehappyfork.com/

The Ninja and the AF100

I went to Video Resources last week to check out their Panasonic AF100's and see what they are using for lenses.  Brad Hagen was an early RED adopter (he bought RED cameras #15 and #16) and got his two AF100's back in December.

BTW, last year Brad upgraded his two RED's to MX cameras and wouldn't go back.  You can check out tests between the old chip and the X on his website ShootWithRed.  Brad says he shoots anything with audio with the RED and carries his 5D for b-roll.  Now he's starting using the AF100 in the same role as the RED because the AF100 has XLR inputs, level control, proper monitoring, etc.

While the AF100 has the large sensor shallower depth of field of the RED there is a huge difference in data rate.  That 25mgps Panasonic codec can't compete with R3D.  But Brad is looking to close the gap with the help of a Ninja.

No, not some guy in black pajamas but the Atomos Ninja, a new box that accepts HDMI in and uses swappable hard drives so you can archive using cheap hd's.  Plus, it's only $1000.

And what about my original interest, what is he using for lenses?  Mostly his RED zooms.  I've heard more than one person complain about the RED zoom but they looked pretty sharp to me, especially for the price.  I wasn't looking at a chart (but then again, I don't shoot charts) but it looked about as sharp as the prime we also tried (Brad has a full set of RED Pro Primes).

And he had a little Panasonic G 20mm f1.7 pancake lens that looked pretty good... especially for $350 bucks!  What was really surprising was the weight:  The AF100 weighs less than three pounds.  Add the pancake lens and a battery and the total rig couldn't weigh four pounds.  Now there's a camera even I wouldn't mind using on a Steadi-cam.

http://www.atomos.com/
http://www.videoresources.com/
http://shootwithred.com/
http://www.red.com/store/lenses/product/red-zoom-18-50mm-t3-i

Arri Alexa Direct To Edit

A really funny video showing the Arri Alexa Direct To Edit feature.

What makes it even funnier is it was shot on a Red....

http://www.freshdv.com/2011/02/inspiration-alexa.html

Do You Like Fighting Robots?

Didn't take a job today because the production got bigger as the budget got smaller.  Hmmm.  A lot of that going around....

http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/do-you-like-fighting-robots/

I especially like the tag line "Commentary On The Visual Effects Industry's March To The Bottom".

First RED EPIC M8 Footage

Here ya go:  http://www.freshdv.com/2011/02/epic-m8-footage.html

Only it's not exactly the Hobbit.  Can't believe it takes that many people in post to make these images...

Sachtler DSLR Tripod

Now that I'm so used to a very light head I wonder if this Sachtler isn't overkill for a 3 pound camera?  But I do like that dovetail plate that gets the camera and lens up above the adapter plate.

http://www.sachtler.com/en/fluid-head-cine-dslr.html

What A VFX Artist Really Does

Have you ever wanted to work on cool movies and do those big visual effects?

Maybe this will change your mind:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18486_the-5-miserable-vfx-jobs-that-make-movies-possible.html

Alexa Simulator

This is fun... if you're a camera geek like me.

It's a Alexa Simulator that allows you to play with, uh, I mean, learn the software menu structure on the Alexa.

http://www.arridigital.com/simulator/index.html

Shooting in LOG

 Confused about shooting log?  No, not this. Here's a pretty good explanation.

http://blog.abelcine.com/2011/02/03/why-shoot-in-log/

Go Pro LCD

I'm sure you all know about the GoPro.  You can buy these things off the shelf at the local surf shots.

One of the Go Pro's big limitations was it didn't have an LCD screen to set a shot, it was more of a point and shoot thing.  Well, Go Pro has come up with a monitor that includes a screen and speaker for only $80 bucks!

Moreover, they've got a clever way of attaching it so there's no wires and you can easily detach the monitor to keep the camera as small and light as possible.  One caveat, it can't be used with the cheaper 960 and 170 models because they don't have the back port.

I guess you could buy just one monitor and use it to set all your shots.  I've worked with both the Sony and Panasonic lipstick cameras and the cheap one cost over two thousand.  That means you could buy 10 Go Pros... and a monitor for the same price.

I think this is going to give Sony and Pansonic a run for their, I mean, your money.

http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/lcd-bacpac/

Eye Direct

Eye Direct:  Solving the problem of getting non-talent to look in the camera lens?

Or just creepy?

http://philipbloom.net/2011/01/27/eyedirect/