Gearbag « IN[FOCUS]

02.09.10

We use a plethora of lighting tools on the day of a wedding… one tool that we’ve found to be the most reasonably priced and has the best throw (for running off of AA batteries) is the R-50 LED Video Light Panel by LCD4Video.com.

The R-50 is most closely compared to the popular Litepanels Micro LED light. We ran a few tests and found that the R-50 has a much better throw than the Litepanels Micro. The only thing we wish was better was the dimming switch on the R-50. The Litepanels Micro has a finer tuning dimmer – but if you have time and the right stuff, you can achieve the look you’re going for with the right filter.

The R-50 sells for $189.99 which is a little more than $100 cheaper than the Litepanels – and that’s probably what makes us most excited. It runs on 4 AA batteries on full blast for over an hour… but once it’s done – it is done. You’ll need to make sure to have plenty of batteries (regular or rechargeable) if you will be shooting for an extended amount of time where you need additional light. Because we are turning the light on and off throughout a reception, it’s pretty standard that we don’t go through more than four that we put in the light at the beginning of the day.

The other thing that is totally rad about this thing is that it’s LED… if left on in your camera bag or sock drawer should not burn anything because of the heat-free LED technology… TOTALLY different than the Sony HVL-20’s that are extremely popular in our industry – these things will burn your soft little fingers if you’re not careful.

If there is an update to this model, we’d like to see a more fine tuning capability as well as a little more rugged design. I like the light-weightiness of both the R-50 and the Litepanels Micro, but I wish they both felt a little more rugged… it’s just a personal preference.

Here are some of the test pics we took while using it. Click on the images to enlarge and get the specs:

You’ll also notice in the pics that the Litepanels Micro is warmer than the R-50… this is easily solved with some minor color balance tweaking or with a gel.

Overall – for $189 and some change – there is no better option that we’ve found that can produce a nice soft fill light in LED-style.

There are some other great lighting alternatives on the LCD4Video site… be sure to check them out!

Posted in Blog, Gearbag, Product Reviews

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Cody and Jamie says:

02/11/2010 at 9:14 am

Search ebay for 126 LED camera light… I have that one and it cost me $62 and it dims. They have different models as well for under $100.

01.26.10

The Perfect Super 8mm Highlight – Part 1, Preparation

Christina and Clay’s Super 8mm Wedding Highlight from Soulbox Productions on Vimeo.

Hi IN[FOCUS] Readers,

This is Dave with Soulbox Productions. Corbin and I have been producing Super 8mm Wedding Highlights for the past 4 years and we want to share with you what we’ve learned in this two part series.

So you just purchased your refurbished super 8mm camera from Du-All Camera and you’re ready to film a wedding, right?…not so fast.

First, you’ll need to make sure you and your camera are ready to go.

Let’s start with the film, since you’ll need some to test your camera. Shooting at 24fps, each cartridge has 3 minutes of footage. We film a highlight using 3 cartridges, but your first time out, you’ll most likely want to use 4. If the Pre-Ceremony and Ceremony are well lit, buy two 200 speed cartridges (one for each – but you can always get two 500 speed and be ok). And assuming the Reception will be in low light, buy two 500 speed cartridges for it. We buy film from our processing company Spectra Film & Video. The price of their 4 pack of film (with processing included) is $259.

If you want to be confident of your camera’s workability on your client’s wedding day, you’ll want to do some tests at home first:

you’ll need an extra cartridge of 200 speed film
check to make sure there are no hairs are dust particles where you insert the cartridge (use a toothpick to gently remove any unwanted hairs)
use measuring tape and measure out 5 feet and place the meter on your camera at 5 and begin filming
we always like to test our cameras both by their meters and by our eyes to make sure both techniques are in focus (make notes as you test your camera, you don’t want to forget which technique you were trying when your test footage comes back from the lab in a few months)
don’t forget to test both outside in bright light and at night for low lighting situations (see our post on an inexpensive super 8mm lighting trick)

There is a way around the extra costs and time by doing a home test. You can simply jump right into filming with super 8mm. For Corbin and me, it just so happened that one of our friends was getting married, so we surprised her with the super 8mm highlight. Don’t have a friend getting married anytime soon? Simply ask one of your upcoming clients. However, I would be very cautious about charging a lot (or anything at all) when testing an unproven camera.

Below is our first attempt at a Super 8mm Highlight, testing our camera for our good friends Mike and Misty (please note that Spectra Film & Video did not do the processing).

Misty and Mike’s Super 8mm Wedding Highlight from Soulbox Productions on Vimeo.

Okay, so the footage came back and the camera is ready to go! Well, besides your camera and film, here’s what else you’ll need for your first shoot:

a bag
batteries for the camera (and extra batteries)
a light (unless everything is outside, but even then, it might get rained back inside)
a belt clip (so you have easy access to the next three items)
a lens wipe
a marker (to number your cartridges, so your processing company will give the footage back to you in order, this saves time in post production)
a small flashlight (so that you can read how much footage you have left during a dark reception)

Corbin and I hope this helps you get ready for your first Super 8mm Highlight. Next up in Part II, a shot list that will help you perfect the Super 8mm Highlight.

Cheers,
Dave and Corb

Posted in Blog, Editing Tips, Film, Gearbag, Shooting, Supplies

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01.12.10

DSLR Lenses – Part 4 – What we use and why we use it!

In part 4 of our lens series I wanted to cut to the chase and show you guys/gals what lenses we use here at 31Films and why. I’ll also throw in a wishlist in case anybody wants to buy something for me for a belated Christmas:)

Lets get to it! The video above shows these lenses in action.

Canon 50mm Macro:
This was the first lens that I purchased when I bought my 5D M2. I really love this lens. It gives me 50mm, which is similar to what your eye sees, plus it allows you to focus ultra close for dress detail shots, ring close ups, or whatever else tickles your fancy.

Canon 50mm 1.2 L:
Ok, so this is a pretty expensive lens. Honestly I think it is a luxury more than a necessity. It does allow you to shoot in incredibly low light. The shallow depth of field at 1.2 is pretty insane. Sometimes I think it is a little much, but to each is own. On the 7D it looks more like a 85mm which is pretty sweet.

Canon 24mm 2.8mm prime
This is a great and cheap lens if you want to shoot nice wide shots. We use this on the steadicam merlin. The lens is so lightweight I can literally shoot all day handheld on my steadicam merlin with no problems.

Canon 24-70mm 2.8 L:
If you were to only have 1 lens, I would say this has to be it. It gives you a great range of wide to mid tight shots. You can even shoot macro with this lens. We typically shoot the entire pre-ceremony and most of the reception with this lens. We also use this lens on our steadicam merlin. It is a lot heavier than the 24mm prime, so it is more stable, BUT your arms will get tired pretty quick with this.

Sigma 24-70mm 2.8:
This is a fantastic lens. It is a ton cheaper than the Canon L, and based on my side by side comparison, in video mode, it is virtually exactly the same. So if you find yourself needing a short zoom, but don’t have much coin in the pocket, try the Sigma.

Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L IS:
An an absolute MUST HAVE if you ever shoot in big churches or need to shoot far away. This is the main lens that we use for ceremony as well as during the reception for first dances to get that ultra closeup. I would not advise shooting handheld with this lens. We also have a 2X extender to make the zoom twice as far for those old catholic churches where you are stuck in the choir loft. Keep in mind, if you buy a 2X extender, you will be forced to shoot at F5.6 or higher which makes you lose a TON of light. Just be aware of that.

My wish list:
I’ve rented these lenses and I’m blown away by them.
Canon 24mm Tilt Shift 3.5 L (insane perspectives)
Canon 14mm (amazing wide angle)

Posted in Blog, Gearbag

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12.10.09

Maintaining your DSLR – Sensor Cleaning

sensor

As an avid DSLR video shooter I am often shooting under very low light which means a wide open aperture, or close to it, and a very shallow depth of field. Occasionally I venture outdoors and end up shooting at something like f16 or f22 and there have been times when I’ve noticed dark spots or blotches on my footage. If these spots appear on the same part of your video, in different shots and with different lenses, then you dust on your sensor! (Well, to quickly clarify, it’s not actually on your sensor but on a filter or glass cover over the sensor).

The first step in cleaning your sensor is to actually be able to visually identify how dirty the sensor is, and my favorite way to do this is with a sensor loupe from VisibleDust. With your choice of 5X or 7X magnification and built in LED illumination, it’s easy to spot the offending particles.

sensor_loupe

My next step (and this is something I do before each wedding I shoot) is to use an air blower such as this Giottos Rocket Air Blower.

giottos_blower

I personally don’t like to use the compressed air blower canisters as there is a risk of spraying moisture into your camera (if you do use one, give it a short burst of air before beginning cleaning, and also make sure to keep the canister upright during cleaning). Dust is attracted to your sensor with static electricity, and one way to combat this is with this new Zeeion Blower from VisibleDust, which claims it’s unique compound reduces static charges.

The next step would be a dry cleaning method such as the Arctic Butterfly. Here is a manual with details on the cleaning process, but basically you gently clean with one uniform pass and then make sure to remove the brush and keep it away from the camera before turning on the spinning bristle cleaning function.

If your sensor is extremely dirty you may need to resort to a wet cleaning methods such as those offered by DustAid or Photographic Solutions. Here is a video from DustAid on cleaning the sensor of the Canon 5D Mark II.

For more information on sensor cleaning, I recommend two articles: one from Luminous Landscape and another one on the Thom Hogan website.

If you maintain yours differently, I would be interested to hear from you in the comments section below.

Happy cleaning!
Vlad

Posted in Blog, Gearbag, Hardware, Shooting

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12.08.09

DSLR Lenses, Part 3: IS vs. Non-IS

In part 3 of the DSLR lens series I wanted to show the difference between IS (Image Stabilization) and non IS lenses. Specifically I’m talking about the Canon 70-200mm L lenses. There is definitely a big price difference between the two lenses. The question to ask yourself is what is necessary when shooting video on these DSLRs.

Happy Filming!
Joey Mathews
31Films

Posted in Blog, Gearbag, Hardware, Shooting

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