Our 713 Tattoo Commercial Wins a Telly!

What great news! Craig Loper (a.k.a. Dad) has been talking to me about HDSLRs for a few years. At the time he first brought this to my attention, I would have to buy a Canon camera for about 8k for just the body. With an array of peripherals, and new lenses to switch over from Nikon, I wasn't unimpressed, I just couldn't justify making the jump over to a new system.
When the Nikon D7000 came out, I started to rigorously researching the camera. By this time the HDSLR market has revolutionized the industry! All kinds of accessories and manufactures jockeying for position, it feels like the "Wild West"!
All of this instantly made me think of my dear family friend, mentor and fellow photographer Larry Wilhelm. When MiniDV first came to market Larry and my Dad purchased a Canon XL-1, and I soon followed with a high-end Canon consumer MiniDV camera for personal projects, backup camera and tape deck for editing. Larry quickly came to the conclusion that small cameras will be the "wave of the future". This would mean more people in the industry, lower pay scale and smaller crews, this did not excite myself or Dad, to say the least. On the upside, this would create more affordable camera systems, with less hassle and faster setup and turnaround, enabling independent Producers and Cinematographers to create projects on their own with a fluid workflow from inception to fruition.

Some people say the HDSLR "movment" is a fad. Tell that to Zacuto, Nikon, Canon, Carl Zeiss, Kessler, Manfrotto, Gitzo, Redrock, Carry Speed, Dfocus, Jag35, etc.

These cameras are revolutionary because they are a perfect medium to what Larry, Dad and myself want. Extreme mobility that one person can manage, at a price that makes is okay to upgrade every few years, with movie making quality!

This is just the beginning for myself with these wonderful cameras, and I look forward to where they take me. http://vimeo.com/user6597006

Copy of the newsletter.

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Zacuto's "The Great Camera Shootout 2011"

Zacuto Camera Shootout! www.zacuto.com

Well it’s finally here, after a year of anticipation I was NOT let down. The 2010 shootout was the best comparison to date and this year Zacuto topped their previous performance with the format and style of shooting by allowing Robert Primes ASC, a working Hollywood DP to design and supervise the unbiased tests and choose his shooters. Especially beneficial is the comparison of traditional video style cameras with the DSLRs and I appreciated the inclusion of 35mm motion picture film as well.

There is a substantial array of formidable cameras this year and some pretty drastic price differences. I’m excited to see the Nikon D7000 in the group, as I just won a Telly for a commercial I produced using only footage shot with the D7000. I’m quite pleased how well the Nikon holds up with the “big boys” and the Canon DSLRs, performing especially well on the low light scenes.

This is a very impressive series of tests and comparisons. A “must see” for any shooter or anyone interested in electronic cinematography. As was brought out, any good Cinematographer can produce good footage out of any of these cameras, but it is great to see each of the cameras taken to the limit in less than ideal conditions that are equally treated by each camera.

Kudos to Zacuto! 

A busy week to say the least!

Golly!! This has been a busy week! A bunch of new gear has come in, finished up a brochure for the Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) www.tyhp.org , squeezed in a photo shoot and we are starting up work at SHSU again to upgrade the studios  lighting to 100% LED instruments.

TYHP brochure. Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

I have wholeheartedly adapted to the HDSLRs. Being a photographer and cinematographer, these are indispensable tools for me. 

One of my recent purchases is a Manfrotto 504HD head. I also found a set of 1500series Gitzo sticks on ebay. The 504HD is a great head. It feels very professional and is extremely smooth, with substantial drag and counter balance control. What can I say about the Gitzo sticks, other than they’re the best, heaviest photography sticks ever made.

This combo creates a stellar tripod that’s well built, is a stable base and is remarkably mobile.  All aspects being important for any shooter, especially with DSLRs.

Just arriving is a new Kessler Pocket Dolly. This slider is robust. I haven’t had the chance to take it out in the field yet, but I plan to shoot some city nightscapes as soon as I can. 

LOTS more to come! Punko

Zacuto Z-finder Pro 3x

I just received a Zacuto Z-finder Pro 3x for my birthday from my parents (thanks Mom & Dad).

I had some reservations about this product, because of the sticker price of $395.00. This is my third viewfinder for my DSLRs and it looks like it will be my last!

The quality is through the roof from Zacuto. The optics, the gorilla plate, the composite Zacuto uses for the viewfinder are all superb. Evan the silk screening on the lanyard is high end.

The diopter and anodized aluminum ring feels really nice and substantial, and the insurance that your viewfinder isn't going to slide, rock or pop off is great. The viewfinder as another point of stability, drastically improves handheld video.

Zacuto also gives you slue of accessories with the kit.


This viewfinder is compatible with Zacuto's EVF monitor too. This monitor is a state-of-the-art devise that Zacuto has packed all kinds of features into. With this monitor you are able to configure it to work with DSLR rigs, the RED, Sony FS100 etc., etc.

I'm able to rationalize $395.00 now. This a professional tool that works in multiple applications.
If you are a shooter, the Z-finder Pro is a must.

Another step forward with my DSLR rig

I just picked up a shoulder rig from Carry Speed priced @ $200. So far I have been really happy with the rig's quality and versatility. I also picked up a new viewfinder from carry Speed, priced @ $50.

The shoulder rig really improves the quality of shooting handheld with DSLRs. The rig is easily converted into an array of setups that are very quick and easy to go back and forth to each configuration. In seconds you are able to remove the shoulder part of the rig and have a nicely designed platform for a tripod configuration. This comes in handy for running all of your accessories and being able to mount your head plate, so that you are ready for controlled production to ENG "run and gun".

With a $200 price tag, this is hard to beat. I will end up playing around with more configurations, and will keep you updated as I progress.

The Carry Speed viewfinder for $50 is a steal compared to other competitors. The viewfinder does not have a diopter, which can be somewhat problematic for people with out 20/20 vision (doesn't seem to effect me though). The viewfinder utilizes a metal frame that adheres to your camera, with tabs and magnets in the viewfinder to attach to the frame. It works fairly well, but there is some sense of carefulness so that the viewfinder doesn't fall off. Carry Speed suggests wearing the lanyard that comes with it.

More cameras, rigs, tripods, heads and accessories to follow!

Carry Speed shoulder rig

Carry Speed shoulder rig with French Flag

Carry Speed shoulder rig with full doors

 Tripod configuration with handles for "tucked in" stability when shooting

Tripod Configuration

Carry Speed viewfinder "guerrilla" style shooting