Stillmotography
+
Presents
“Geared Up and Ready� Tools to assist you in the relentless pursuit of stills and motion!
Late February/Early March 2012
www.stillmoplus.com
“Geared –up and Ready” from StillMotography +
Got a question or comment? Contact us at: stillmoplus@gmail.com
Notes and Notices No responsibility is assumed by the publisher or author for any injury, loss and/or damage to persons or property, directly or indirectly, as a matter of product liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, hardware, software, instructions, exercises or ideas contained in the material herein or any addendum which may be issued. The material is distributed on an as is basis and without warranty. Company, product, brand or Website mention in this publication does not constitute an endorsement, and no consideration has been offered or taken by author or publisher from any company mentioned herein. Nothing contained herein supersedes the manufacturers’ safety and operating instructions for any product. The information provided herein is provided as a resource and for reference purposes only. Many of the companies and product names used in this publication are registered trademarks and are the property of their respective owners. All product names and company names that appear in this publication are used in editorial fashion only and for the benefit of the respective companies and their subsidiaries, with no intention of infringement of any service mark or trademark.
The Main Course:
The long awaited successor to the D700 does not disappoint Nikon Recently announced the D800/D800E models and they are arguably are among the most anticipated full-featured, and exciting HDSLR cameras to date. Armed with a 36 megapixel FX (aka ‘full-frame”) sensor, and a standard version with the typical low pass-filter as well as the “e” version which has no low-pass filter and therefore eliminates the detail blurring effects, Nikon may have redefined and reshaped DSLR photography by offering the ultimate economically-priced professional cameras for studio and general use. In addition to being a still powerhouse, the D800/800E models offer the same HD video capabilities as the flagship D4; 1080 and p ad various frame rates, and the ability to stream uncompressed video to external recorder when the media cards are removed from the camera. The Suggested Retail Price for the D800 and D800E are $2999.95 and $3299.95 respectively. Pros: Class leading resolution/detail; multimedia capability; build quality and seals; autofocus,; feature set; and cost. Cons: lower continuous burst rate (4-5 fps); the number of people waiting to get their hands on them.; the “E” model will require special software to deal with moiré that may result from the absence of the low-pass filter. For more information visit Nikon USA
Stillmo + Accessory bits…
A fabulous modular handheld camera and focus system. There is a lot to like about System Zero from IDC Photo Video. You get the control of a follow focus without gears and rails and the ability to attach accessories including handles, cold shoes, and tripod plates that make it a truly versatile HDSLR/ILML camera/video camera stabilizing and focusing solution. Suggested retail prices for System Zero begin at $399 depending on camera and lens length. Those with taller bodies or using cameras with grips, should check out System One. Pros: Build quality, adjustability, quick-release plate friendly, and most components are universal (see below.). Cons: Since camera mounting plates are body and lens length specific, you may need to buy additional plates for upgraded bodies. For more information visit www.idcphotography.com
A portable digital recorder from Samson for all around sound. As many of us know, sound can make or break a movie project. Samson, maker of the very popular Zoom H4n and 1N models, adds the Zoom 2N to the mix. The 2N features five microphones — the familiar X/Y condenser mics, and MidSide mics— capable of recording sound in 4 different recording modes including 2-and 4-channel surround sound. The Zoom H2N (shown) has a suggested retail price of $199. An accessory kit including a wired remote control is available for $39. Pros: 5 microphones, greater control of ambient sound recording, surround sound capability, available wired remote, price. Cons: No XLR inputs For More information visit www.samsontech.com/zoom
And Light Bytes! Two Solutions that Offer Flash or Continuous Light on-Demand A Ring Flash that can also serve as a Ring Light The Omicron QF26 is a versatile tool: when used in conjunction with Quantum's Trio or TD5R flashes, it’s 80 “Chromatically Correct” ™ LED lamps provide flash illumination which is compatible with Canon and Nikons TTL systems as well as the manual mode of other cameras. It can be easily switched from Flash mode to video mode for continuous lighting. If you are a dedicated video shooter and have no need for a flash, the QF26 can be powered directly with a Quantum battery . The estimated street price for the QF26 is $865 and includes a camera mounting bracket. Pros: Portable , high quality LED ring flash/light for shadow-less imaging for use with stills or motion. Cons: For use as a flash, the QF26 must be used with a Quantum Trio or TD5R. For more information visit www.qtm.com
A portable lighting solution that can handle double duty. If you need the power of flash for your stills and continuous light for your video work, the Mobil A2L may be worthy of a serious look. It is a 1200 w/s battery pack that can handle two heads. With a newly designed lithium battery and MobiLED head with a LED lamp, the A2L can be switched from flash mode to continuous light mode for video shooting. According to Broncolor, the 30 watt LED output is equivalent to a 100 watt halogen lamp. The one head Travel Kit (shown) has a suggested retail price of $4,670. A second head is available at a suggested retail price of $1360. Pros: Build quality, power, flexibility. Cons: price For More information visit www.bronimaging.com
And More Bits!
The Third time is indeed a charm! LPA’s recently announced Pocket WizardPlus III and it should appropriately be dubbed “ MultiMax Lite” as it has many of the features of their flagship Multi-Max Transceiver, at a cost less than the Plus II model it replaces. Features include,: Selective Quad-Zone triggering of cameras, and flashes; 32- channels; Two-stage Remote Camera Triggering; Long Range Mode; a revised user interface with a backlit LCD display; and an USB port which will allow for firmware updates. Pros: improved build quality, smaller size, features, cost, backward compatibility with other Pocket Wizard models, with packs with builtin Pocket Wizard receivers., as well as Sekonic meters with the PW module Cons: They weren’t available earlier,; they didn’t inherit the MultiMax’s ID feature; there is no “pair” pricing discount. For more information visit www.pocketwizard.com
Beyond Stills and HDHD!
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