RigsEnvy is a great place to see what HDSLR cameras people are using in the real world:
While we all know shooting a great film does not require a great rig, most people agree that it helps! Since everyone is interested in these, we thought it would be a good idea to build a web site dedicated to these wonderful pieces of gear.
I even put up my rig, which looks stupid without a decent lens, lol.
Is yours up?
do it, no matter how small or large, how cluttered or simple.
Mine is there 
One can already do this with the Canon software bundled with their DSLRs. Having it available on the iPad, however, is quite novel. Not sure what Nikon has in terms of Software – they probably have something.
OnOne Software has this really cool iPad app called DSLR Camera Remote HD – it looks very useful.
Now all that is needed to make it better is to pair wireless access to the DSLR Camera Remote HD with Okii’s USB Follow Focus then it will be beyond awesome.
Imagine a preview of Live View on the iPad – fullscreen – with overlay controls that you can dial in through the touch interface.
Nice.
For now you can get this OnOne iPad app for just $50 – pretty much a no brainer if you have an iPad – especially with that Auto bracketing feature.
When it comes to monitoring there are a heck load of options; anything from a 2x magnification eye piece with or without diopter to an electronic view finder to a separate LCD screen with unbelievable options. I went to the lower end of the scale – a view finder without a diopter. Personally I like the stability the direct view finder to camera LCD gives, but in terms of features it does not come close to Zacuto’s Z-Finder EVF or this new Marshall 7″ V-LCD70XP-HDMIPT.
There are of course cheaper options like the Lilliput, but like the old cliche goes; you get what you pay for – not that Lilliput is bad, it just does not have all the stuff you may want.
Here is a Field monitor that has a lot of features.
Something for the wish list.
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The Zacuto Z-Finder EVF, gotta be the rolls royce of View Finders for HDSLRs. I bet that there are not many Filmmakers with HDSLRs that are not wondering if they should get one. There are obvious benefits in using a view finder rather than the built in LCD, however the Z-Finder EVF takes a step further by breaking down the constraint of having the View Finder attached to that LCD.
Recently I got myself a view finder, the LCDVF 3/2 for my Canon 550D; it’s the most basic type you can get and fairly cheap – I am already blown way by it’s benefits, how much more will the Z-Finder EVF blow me away. Wow. I’ll have to plan long term for this, not just for the price but also because of the fact that the biggest benefit is only realized when used in conjunction with a decent rig/support.
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Here is a great timelapse. It is not the conventional type, it is HDR.
That is High Dynamic Range. Basically HDR is just a higher dynamic range than what we are used to in images or sequences of images. Digital Video is not able to attain as much range as Film and Film does not have the same range as the human eye.
You could say that this range is how much detail can be obtained between the shadows and highlights; the higher the range the less detail you loose in the shadows and highlights. Usually you have to expose in a way that finds a balance; using lights to make it easier.
In my opinion, looking at an HDR image is more 3D than so-called 3D, it just pops in a way that is more realistic.
There are probably many techniques; mostly by means of filming a stop or 2 lower and a stop or 2 higher than you usually expose for, then to apply a technique combine those images.
The technique used in this very awesome video is here. Check the video out …
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Redrock Micro have some very awesome HDSLR rigs – check on the sidebar, if you wish to buy one then please buy one through the amazon widget; that way you’ll be supporting this blog (through the affiliate links). Below you’ll see a great commercial done for Lexus using the Redrock Micro DSLR Rigs. Always good to see HDSLRs and related equipment making ground in the professional realm. Check the video at the bottom of the post.
Here is an example of a Rig – The Redrock Micro EyeSpy Balance Bundle for Shoulder Mounted DSLR 2.0 Rig With Straight Offset Kit
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Here is a very cool low low budget short film – shot with a Canon T2i. The short was submitted to a Film Festival with the theme of Speechless.
What appealed to me the most was that this was a DIY low budget film shot on the Canon T2i. A really low budget of $247
wow
I was very keen to just post this short film as is, however, I had a chance to ask Patrick Prejusa the Writer/Director/Editor a couple questions about the Film, check them out after the video.
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[Via this tweet from @vincentlaforet]
[Source : World Online Premiere of The Beyond The Still Final Collaborative Film]
Below is the Whole compilation of all 8 Chapters of The Story Beyond the Still.
The Story Beyond the Still is the : “first ever user-generated HD video contest where photographers become filmmakers, and we all see beyond the still.” See the Vimeo Group for more information.
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Visual Impact SA has confidently stepped out into the world of Social Networking, not just connecting but also engaging. It has been a privilege to observe and also be a part of that engagement. What is also fantastic is that there have been offline events where the enthusiast filmmaker and professional have been able to attend. An example of such an event was when Visual Impact hosted IndieLAB. The focus was on HDSLRs and they had a whole bunch of equipment out for us to drool over – never mind the talks – ha ha ha.
Anyway, the purpose about this blog is to highlight Visual Impact standing in the Local Filmmaking industry – for both sales and rentals, and of course how the Social Networking and HDSLRs have been influential to their business and success.
Read on to for some Questions and Answers with Visual Impact ….
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Here is a list of resources for HDSLR that I have found useful. Since I own a Canon 550D/T2i it has a flavour leaning towards that camera, however it is not exclusive to it.
Just to add a disclaimer: I have not read all the books listed here – I am not that mad. Also the links to items on Amazon contain Affiliate links that will benefit me only if you buy the item, probably only a book. Any money earned from it will be redirected to this blog.
but the video ability is just as good. It is well priced and I have found that, as both a Stills camera and Video camera, it is an amazing tool. Granted, I have been more blown away by the awesome photographs I can take with it.
The trade-off comes in the form of the sensor size – affecting your choice of lenses or modifying angle of view of the lens by a factor of 1.6. Different frame rates and audio controls can be balanced with Magic Lantern‘s firmware ‘hack’. The APS-C sensor provides less of a Depth of Field but from my experience it is good enough, besides too much DOF can get annoying and it is hard to keep focus.
