This is a cleaver idea. He really gets to the problem of most camera rig designs. The extra unnecessary counterweight on on the back of the shoulder pad.
Most rail systems are constructed from 15mm DIA rails, which are crazy expensive. That’s fine for short rails used to align optics, but it is equally crazy to construct rigs, stabilizers, and other components from 15mm rails. The JuicedLink DIY product line is dedicated to using 5/8 inch DIA (0.625″) Aluminum tubes.
Check out this sample footage video using the juicedLink DIY Slider System. Nothing compares to it in smoothness … at this price point … or has the capability of being used as an 8ft Slider. It’s AMAZING!!
Smoothest Slider Footage … EVER !!! from Robert Rozak on Vimeo.
This is a video that I shot with my 60D and edited with FCPX for one of my favorite hobbies – trains. Again this is a good example of using lens image stabilization when handholding the camera. Shot with my Canon EF 24-105 f4 IS.
Even though there are now video cameras with large sensors, it is nice to see the HDSLR being used. A Canon press release.
Canon U.S.A. has announced that the highly anticipated feature film, Captain America: The First Avenger, used Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR cameras to capture many of the movie’s action shots. Throughout the super hero action picture, the 5D Mark II was used to shoot motion sequences that were seamlessly integrated with the production’s 35mm film footage.
More compact and lightweight than traditional motion-picture cameras, the 5D Mark II offers creative advantages such as compatibility with Canon’s wide range of high-performance EF lenses, user-selectable frame rates, including 24p (23.976 fps), the standard for motion-picture cinematography, and full 1920 x 1080 HD imagery captured by the camera’s high-resolution 21.1-megapixel (36mm by 24mm) Canon CMOS sensor. According to Jonathan Taylor, second unit director/director of photography on Captain America: The First Avenger, these features made the 5D Mark II an excellent choice for the capture of dramatic POV (point-of-view) action shots.
“The challenge with a lot of action photography is getting the camera in the right position,” Taylor noted. “I’m always looking to get the camera into impossible-to-reach places because those kinds of shots make action sequences much more exciting. Most 35mm motion-picture cameras and even the leading digital cinematography cameras are just too big to get into interesting positions.”
Action scenes in Captain America: The First Avenger in which Taylor used 5D Mark II cameras for POV shots include a car chase and crash, and a high-speed motorcycle pursuit. The small size of the camera enabled Taylor to mount it on the interiors and exteriors of moving vehicles to capture dramatic action shots. The camera’s size also ensured that it was “invisible” to the film cameras shooting the same scene from a distance.
“The thing with action is that the more angles you can shoot, the faster the cuts you can use, and the more energy you get into a sequence,” Taylor added.
Previously, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II cameras and EF lenses were used for action shots in the blockbuster hit Iron Man 2.
Does Image Stabilization work when shooting movies? This question was asked on DV.net.
Yes, I wish more lenses had it. All this excitement over primes and none except the EF 100 Macro has it. Canon needs to turn the EF 24-70 f2.8 into an IS lens. I have the EF 24-105 f4 IS for that reason alone.
IS is one of the best inventions for video shooting. My use of it goes back to Sony's TR-101 Hi8 camera. I got shots with that camera I could not get with my Betacam.
Now with HDSLR's it is essential to have IS lenses because of the CMOS rolling shutter. I have had to edit a few videos where rolling shutter ruined shots I needed because the camera was handheld. This would not have been a problem with IS. I turn the IS on and it goes away.
I usually use my Canon 60D with out a rig for hand held. All of my reports from NAB for this site were done with the 24-105 with IS turned on. I also handhold my EF 70-200 f4 IS as well.
Also when using the 640×480 crop mode in the 60D IS is a great help because the image is so magnified. This was shot on a heavy DV6 Satchler tripod.
Here I am with my handheld rig. The camera is mounted on a CamCaddie which I brace against my body. I also have a Hoodman Loupe on my flipout LCD on my 60D.
I just got an email from Canon:
Canon has released a firmware update for the EOS 60D Digital SLR camera.
Affected Product
EOS 60D Digital SLR
Firmware
Firmware Version 1.1.0 incorporates the following fixes and improvements.
1. Fixes a phenomenon where the wireless built-in flash settings are reset to defaults when the battery is removed from the camera.
2. Fixes an intermittent phenomenon where image-rotation information is not recognized correctly when shooting with the camera in the vertical position depending on the timing of the shutter release.
Firmware Version 1.1.0 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.9. If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.1.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
The new firmware (Version 1.1.0) can be downloaded by clicking here.
Support
This information is for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region.
Thank you,
Customer Support Operations
Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Contact Information for Inquiries:
Canon Customer Support Center
Phone: 1-800-OK-CANON (toll free)
1-800-652-2666
TTD: 1-866-251-3752 (toll free)
E-mail: carecenter@cits.canon.com
For additional support options: http://www.usa.canon.com/support
Apple handled the intro to FCPX badly. I have cut some projects (paid gigs) on FCPX and with many things it is better, but not all. Most of my editing will still be on FCP7 for now to stay compatible with others. I am going to check out Premiere because that is how I started non-linear editing back in the early '90's. Back then nobody gave it much credit but I was doing TV commercials and documentaries with it. Never did the Avid route. Started on FCP with version 3. Both Avid and Adobe abandoned the Mac platform for a while so while FCP worked it was my editor of choice. We all are wondering what Apple will do to fix FCPX.
For some history of Final Cut, Rob Tinworth has made this short video on his life with Final Cut Pro. This video is a great way to see where FCP has gone.
My Life in FCP from Rob Tinworth on Vimeo.
This just came in from CrumplePop makers of some great FCP Plug-ins: Here is the complete article:
“A lot of you have been asking about FCP X, and what we think about it. Here is the answer for you:
Conclusion: In a Year, Most Professional Editors will be Using FCP X
As developers for FCP, we have a strong bias in favor of FCP’s continued success. That said, we had spent much of the year prior to FCP X’s release expecting that we might have to leave the platform. We were hearing the same rumors that everyone else was – that FCP X would be another iMovie, wouldn’t be pro, etc. – and we were ready to bail. Happily, we don’t have to. While there are obviously missing features (like a comprehensive redo of Compressor), the foundation of FCP X is extremely solid. FCP X, for the reasons listed above, is going to be what most professional editors use to edit. Maybe not tomorrow, but likely within a year. In many ways, FCP X is ten steps forward, three steps back. It’s not perfect, but as a company, we’re comfortable betting everything on it.”
Earlier this year, our friends over at JuicedLink showed off a prototype slider at NAB that they were developing. The slider is currently in production, and will be ready for release in August. Watch this video to see the production version of the slider in action, including an example of an 8 foot slider …
Have you got rig envy? Have you lusted after one of those shiny DSLR rail contraptions that seem to cost more than the actual camera itself? Terron Brown and Clayton Aiello's new rig will put an end to all that.
Forget the others, these guys have developed the ultimate in DSLR rigs. Have no idea on price or availability. There's nothing quite like it on the market. They have some good points.
DSLR Camera Rigs from Luke Neumann on Vimeo.