HDSLR MOVIEMAKER - Summer 2014

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REVIEWED MICROPHONES AND MINI TRIPODS TESTED & RATED

Taking videography to the next level Summer 2014

WWW.DSLRMOVIE.CO.UK

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF

Out of this world Find out why Comodo’s Orbit rig floats our boat

Get into training

Courses and workshops to help you sharpen up your videomaking skills

PLUS 5 must-have audio extras Make a sound decision – buy one of these useful gadgets HDSLRSUMMER14_01 (COVER) RP subbed.indd 1

Latest kit llaunches F details on the Full hottest products ffrom the recent NAB and BVE shows N 16/04/2014 09:05

PHOTO A B S O L U T E

I LOVE THE CONTENT OF THIS MAGAZINE! SNOWBASIC, 21 JAN - CANADA

It’s perfectly suited to the iPad with lots of interesting photography features and videos to explore KEVEALING, 10 JAN - UK

Amazing images and interactivity with great videos also. Great stuff! LEDLEY26, 19 DEC – UK

I love the multimedia format with print, video and sound ROSIEBARCELONA, 30 DEC - USA

Find out why people are talking about Absolute Photo magazine.

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31/03/2014 15:03

NEWS ROUND-UP

CONTENTS

A growing sector

4 News Exhibition events, launches & the latest announcements from around the globe.

The floor of BVE was packed with visitors recently and many were photographers looking at what video had to offer them

10 BVE & NAB reports Product news from two major shows.

became fascinated by the fact that his DSLR had a video facility, and it was just a matter of time before he decided to see what it could do. To cut a long story short, it opened the door to a whole new area of business, and it’s been rewarding on both the áQDQFLDO DQG FUHDWLYH IURQWV Ăœ7KH RWKHU ZHHN , KDG áYH GD\V áOPLQJ LQ /RQGRQ IRU WZR FOLHQWV DQG ,ĂšP QRZ EXV\ HGLWLQJ IRXU áOPV DV a result,â€? Ben told us. “That’s work I just wouldn’t have got two years ago‌ one client has booked me to do a photoshoot as well.â€? If it’s worked for Ben then there has to be a good FKDQFH WKDW YLGHRJUDSK\ FRXOG EHQHáW \RXU RZQ business as well. At the very least it’s worth checking out the products that will help you, and talking to others who have already made the move to see what’s involved in the whole process. One of the things that you could do to help make the move across into a fresh area all the easier would be to take dedicated training, and there’s a lot out there to choose from. All of which makes our feature this issue, which focuses on some of the excellent establishments currently offering courses to professionals covering the basics of video production, even more unmissable. We’ve been talking not only to tutors but also to VRPH RI WKRVH ZKR KDYH HQOLVWHG IRU FODVVHV WR áQG out what’s on offer. The clear message coming across is that this is a good way to go if you’re serious about taking advantage of this exciting new sector.

Terry Hope Terry Hope Editor Photo Professional

24 Moving into movies Filmmaker Ben Langdon talks about his new Mile 91 business. 35 Training days Boost your skills – and your bottom line – with a learning experience. 44 Mini-me You’ve got a tripod, so why do you need a mini tripod? For hard-to-reach spots. 48 Comodo Orbit You might need to make some space in your kit for this astronomically good rig. 54 Essential accessories Any one of these seven gadgets could improve your working day – every day. 62 Group test: microphones We pick the best mics for the GLVFHUQLQJ +'6/5 áOPPDNHU 75 Sound advice %LWV EREV IRU KL áGHOLW\ DXGLR FDSWXUH

Editorial Team Editor Terry Hope Editorial contributor Jamie Ewbank Sub editors Lisa Clatworthy, Hannah Bealey, Siobhan Godwood Advertising Team Commercial director Dave Stone 01223 499462 davestone@bright-publishing.com Sales director Matt Snow 01223 499453 mattsnow@bright-publishing.com Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499457 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com Design Team Design director Andy Jennings Design & production manager Grant Gillard Publishing Team Publishing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck HDSLR Moviemaker Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ

Cover image: Gerhard Gruber

You should have been there: and maybe you were, but if by any chance you did miss BVE make a mental note to get along next year, even if, at the moment, video production might just be a distant speck on the horizon of your career path. This lively and entertaining event, which runs at the ExCel Centre in London for three days every February, is ostensibly a show dedicated to broadcast and production, but if that doesn’t sound like your remit then don’t be put off. Increasingly there are companies here who will be of interest to those professional photographers who are already shooting video using their DSLR or who might be considering moving in that direction in the near future. :DONLQJ WKH øRRUV RI WKH VKRZ WKLV \HDU , ZDV struck by the number of photographers who had come along to see what all the fuss was about, and as well as the product to peruse and handle, there were some excellent productions taking place in the show’s 11 theatres – well worth attending. This was an opportunity to learn, to dip a toe in the water and to get a feel for what the world of moviemaking might have to offer you, and you owe it to yourself to take a look before your rivals beat you to it. Amongst our features in this issue is an interview with Ben Langdon, an interesting case study I think \RXĂšOO áQG EHFDXVH DV ZHOO DV EHLQJ D UHJXODU UHDGHU of HDSLR Moviemaker, he’s also a professional photographer who has completely revamped his EXVLQHVV WKURXJK PRYLQJ LQWR '6/5 áOPPDNLQJ Much of what Ben has to say is certain to strike a chord, even if you work in a different part of the photographic business right now. Working in the voluntary sector and also shooting weddings, Ben

3

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:KHQ \RX KDYH áQLVKHG ZLWK this magazine, please recycle it • HDSLR Moviemaker is published 12 times a year by Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3HJ. • No part of this magazine can be used without prior written permission of Bright Publishing Ltd. • ISSN number: 2045-3892 • HDSLR Moviemaker is a registered trademark of Bright Publishing Ltd. • The advertisements published in HDSLR Moviemaker that have been written, designed or produced by employees of Bright Publishing Ltd UHPDLQ WKH FRS\ULJKW RI %ULJKW 3XEOLVKLQJ /WG DQG PD\ QRW EH UHSURGXFHG ZLWKRXW WKH ZULWWHQ FRQVHQW RI WKH SXEOLVKHU ĂĄ 7KH FRQWHQW RI WKLV SXEOLFDWLRQ GRHV QRW QHFHVVDULO\ UHøHFW WKH YLHZV RI WKH SXEOLVKHU

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SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 13:08

G-TECHNOLOGY

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

A life in film unning his own production company Nino Film e.U from his base in Vienna, Nino Leitner is the epitome RI WKH PRGHUQ áOPPDNHU ZRUNLQJ with a variety of the latest video solutions, including DSLRs and the Canon C System, and enjoying WKH IUHHGRP DQG øH[LELOLW\ WKDW now attaches to this whole area. +HĂšV D JXQ IRU KLUH ZRUNLQJ ZLWK different creative teams on each production, and travelling relentlessly DV KH WDFNOHV WKH LQWHUQDWLRQDO commissions that come his way.

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Ăœ, PRVWO\ VKRRW GRFXPHQWDULHV FRUSRUDWH áOPV DQG FRPPHUFLDOV Ă? he says. “Many of my clients are TV channels or production companies producing documentary programmes for these channels, and in the FRPPHUFLDO áHOG , ZRUN IRU D ZLGH range of companies from many LQGXVWULHV IRU H[DPSOH FRQVXPHU JRRGV EDQNLQJ DXWRPRWLYH DQG ,7 6RPH RI P\ EHVW NQRZQ FOLHQWV DUH Audi, Red Bull, Puma and Universal Pictures. The clients and production FRPSDQLHV , VKRRW DQG RIWHQ SURGXFH for are from all over Europe and often

IMAGE On the VHW RI VKRUW áOP Homophobia, Nino Leitner was pleased to be working with a crew he trusts – just like he trusts his G-Technology storage drives.

Safe on location The intensity of each job and the fact that Nino is continually travelling means that protection of the raw footage from the moment it’s produced is crucial, and it’s down to the cameraman to take the primary responsibility. Everything revolves around secure backup, with safeguards in place so that even if one stage of the process were to fail contingencies will save the day. Like so many in his profession Nino doesn’t have just one backup system, rather he has three. G-Technology drives have long been a part of Nino’s working life, and the relationship is so strong and the belief in the product so complete that he’s now become a part of the company’s ‘G Team’, a selection of handSLFNHG WRS SURIHVVLRQDOV LQ WKH áHOGV RI áOP photography and other creative industries who are happy to acknowledge the peace of mind that comes with a trusted product. “I felt honoured for the recognition and gladly joined, because I really like and trust G-Technology products,â€? says Nino. “Hard drives are usually very ‘unsexy’ products, but G-Technology cares about making them look good. “Not only are G-Technology drives nice to look at, however, they are very robustly built, and I haven’t had a single one fail on me so far. I love the G-Raid Thunderbolt, because of its unparalleled speed. It really helped me when I was handling 4K raw material when all other storage options I tried just weren’t fast enough to cope with the huge amounts of data we were generating on set. For example, I was creating 1TB of data per hour,

HDSLR MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2014

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with the 4K raw footage from the Sony F55. “Currently, my favourite G-Technology product is the G-DOCK, because it’s a nice Thunderbolt dock for the G-DRIVE ev units, which can also be attached individually using USB 3. That makes it a very versatile option – you can save the data on the evs on set and have the G-DOCK sit on your editing desk when you’re back at the studio. It’s a neat and fast way to edit, especially when your clients also invest in the system.� Filmmaking by its nature is an exciting life, where bonding is strong and complete trust has to exist between the members of a small team. Part of that trust is that the safety of raw footage will never be compromised, and with the security of G-Technology behind him Nino can relax in the knowledge that he’s completely covered in this crucial area.

Gerhard Gruber

Nino Leitner is in the happy position of being a fulltime filmmaker, travelling the world working on a host of commercial and personal productions, and he relies on G-TechnologyÂŽ to keep his footage safe

also l A America. i Ab About 60 per cent off WKH ZRUN , GR LV DEURDG RU IRU IRUHLJQ FRPSDQLHV ZKLFK , ZHOFRPH EHFDXVH WKDW PDNHV PH OHVV GHSHQGHQW RQ WKH VPDOO áOP LQGXVWU\ ZLWKLQ $XVWULD Ă? Nino has always had an LQWHUQDWLRQDO RXWORRN VWXG\LQJ LQ both Salzburg and Southampton, then showing his diploma project, Every Step You Take DW D QXPEHU RI áOP festivals around the world in 2007. Ăœ7KH áOP JRW D ORW RI JUHDW UHVSRQVHV DQG ZRQ VRPH VPDOOHU SUL]HV Ă? KH VD\V Ăœ,W ZDV DOVR SLFNHG XS E\ D IHZ cable TV channels in Canada, Hong Kong and Russia, and it really helped to get my career off the ground. Cinematographically it isn’t up to WRGD\ĂšV VWDQGDUGV EHLQJ áOPHG LQ 6' EXW ,ĂšP VWLOO SURXG RI LW 1RZ WKH áOP can be watched for free on my blog ZZZ QLQRáOP QHW EORJ Ă? Every project these days is different, and Nino has had to learn to EH KLJKO\ DGDSWDEOH DQG VHOI VXIáFLHQW FDSDEOH RI ZRUNLQJ ZLWK VPDOO WHDPV and tight budgets. “One reason that ,ĂšP DEOH WR FDWHU IRU VR PDQ\ GLIIHUHQW SURMHFWV DQG FOLHQWV LV WKDW , GRQĂšW

“Not only are G-Technology drives nice to look at, however, they are very robustly built�

www.dslrmovie.co.uk

15/04/2014 14:44

G-TECHNOLOGY

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IMAGE G-Technologyโ s drives provide Nino Leitner with the capacity and speed he needs for 4K footage.

More information www.g-technology.eu

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SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 14:45

24 FEATURE BUILDING A BUSINESS

Making a difference The ability to shoot high-quality film footage using the DSLR he uses to shoot stills was the tipping point for photographer Ben Langdon, who has now made video production the heart of his operation WORDS TERRY HOPE IMAGES VARIOUS

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had also become a father and the regular overseas travel wasn’t so easy WR FRSH ZLWK Ă— KH QHHGHG WR áQG MREV that were closer to home. Wedding photography offered a way of earning a living while still getting home at night, and this was the route he chose to take, with a couple of overseas MREV RQFH RU WZLFH D \HDU WR NHHS DOLYH that side of the business. It was a IXOáOOLQJ H[LVWHQFH ZLWK WKH VHFXULW\ of forward bookings to ensure less worry about the investment to be made, but advancing technology was to present him with an opportunity that would change his life. The move to movies The Canon EOS 5D Mark II that Ben was using for his wedding photography came with HDSLR capability built in and, being naturally curious, it wasn’t long before he was IHHOLQJ WKH XUJH WR VHH H[DFWO\ ZKDW would happen when he pressed that record button. “I had paid for a camera that also shot full HD video and so it felt silly not to use it,â€? he says. “Not long afterwards I was on a trip to Lesotho and there were some ODGLHV VLQJLQJ , øLSSHG WKH VZLWFK WR áOP LW VR WKDW , FRXOG VKRZ P\ family a bit more about this amazing H[SHULHQFH 7KH TXDOLW\ RI WKH IRRWDJH was incredible, and from that moment RQ , NQHZ WKDW , MXVW KDG WR H[SORUH LW What I needed to do now was to learn how to use that side of the camera.â€? Realising that he needed someone to show him the rudiments of this new craft Ben booked a day’s training with HDSLR specialist Paul Gwilliams, a lighting cameraman with several \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH LQ WKH ZRUOG RI broadcast and documentaries. “This gave me a good overview, ERRVWHG P\ FRQáGHQFH DQG UHDOO\ inspired me. From there everything else was self-taught, through H[SHULHQFH WKURXJK WKH ,QWHUQHW DQG WKURXJK WDONLQJ WR RWKHU áOPPDNHUV I’ve also found HDSLR Moviemaker magazine to be a brilliant source of information, as it allows you to see

MILE 91/CATHERINE RAYNOR

HERE ARE THOSE WHO fear change and there are others who see an opportunity and embrace it, and who end up going in an entirely different direction than they might at áUVW KDYH HQYLVDJHG 'HáQLWHO\ IDOOLQJ into that latter camp is photographer FRPH áOPPDNHU %HQ /DQJGRQ ZKRVH whole life and career to date has been governed by his ability to simply seize the moment. That he was involved in still SKRWRJUDSK\ LQ WKH áUVW SODFH ZDV down to him feeling the need to take a camera with him when he had the opportunity to live and work in Kenya after leaving university. Housed with a Kenyan family and working in the slums and industrial area south of 1DLUREL KH ZDV KXJHO\ LQøXHQFHG and moved by the poverty he encountered, and on returning to the 8. KH KHOG KLV áUVW SKRWR H[KLELWLRQ contrasting images he had taken in Kenya while travelling as a tourist and other, more graphic ‘real life’ shots taken while working in and around the Nairobi slums. Ăœ6RRQ DIWHU WKH H[KLELWLRQ , ODQGHG D MRE DW 962 9ROXQWDU\ Service Overseas), an international development charity,â€? he says. “It was P\ GUHDP MRE DV , ZDV DVNHG WR OHDG WKHLU áUVW RYHUVHDV IXQGUDLVLQJ WUHN to Nepal. I went on to take several other treks and always had my camera with me. Then one day the head of communications at the time, who had seen my photographs, asked if I would be interested in going to 0R]DPELTXH VSHFLáFDOO\ WR FDSWXUH photos for VSO. I can’t really describe how that felt; it was like everything, all my interests, coming together at once and that was it. I truly knew then what I wanted to do. I went on WR SKRWRJUDSK WKHLU SURMHFWV WZR RU WKUHH WLPHV D \HDU IRU WKH QH[W WHQ \HDUV DQG LWĂšV D MRE ,ĂšP VWLOO GRLQJ Ă? That introduction into the world of professional photography motivated Ben and eventually he decided it was what he wanted to do full-time. He

“I photographed VSO’s projects two or three times a year for the next ten years and it’s a job I’m still doing� ABOVE Ben Langdon started his photography journey when moving to the slums of Kenya. Years on, he’s still shooting there.

what other people are doing and to áQG RXW ZKDW NLW LV RXW WKHUH WR KHOS you to overcome different problems,â€? says Ben. Five years after taking the decision to move full-time into professional photography, Ben has now made another huge career decision, DGGLQJ áOPPDNLQJ DV D SURIHVVLRQDO SURSRVLWLRQ WR KLV H[LVWLQJ VWLOO VHUYLFH On the back of this he’s set up a new company, Mile 91, with Catherine Raynor, a friend who had left VSO a couple of years after him. The business is now one that is essentially a bespoke story-gathering service for charities and changemakers, and throughout his career Ben has travelled to Africa over 30 times. Adding another discipline to the repertoire has created a new set of FKDOOHQJHV DQG %HQ LV WKH áUVW WR admit that the whole process has entailed a massive learning curve. )RU D VWDUW LW ZDV GLIáFXOW WR FRPH WR www.dslrmovie.co.uk

15/04/2014 14:50

MILE 91/BEN LANGDON

FEATURE

www.dslrmovie.co.uk

HDSLRSUMMER14_24-30 (CASE STUDY)hbSG.indd 25

25

LEFT Mile 91, set up with Catherine Raynor, specialises in story-gathering for charities to add to their stills and promotional videos.

SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 14:50

SYRP

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Really wild

Obsessed with wildlife, filmmaker and photographer Luke Massey has recently taken his time-lapse technique up a notch through his investment in the innovative Syrp Genie

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โ Iโ ve found the Genie really easy to use as I can literally programme it to do a 360ยฐ pan for time-lapse and goโ

IMAGE The Genie is designed for motion control capture of time-lapse photography and real-time video.

HDSLR MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2014

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15/04/2014 14:55

SYRP

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and the time-lapse can look jarred,” he explains. “The settings I use also depend on what kind of accessories I’m using with the Genie and what kind of footage I’m looking to create. But generally, it is better to have faster intervals as then you have a glut of footage you can edit in postproduction, as opposed to going too slow and missing out key moments.” Already preset in the Genie are three time-lapse settings: stars, people and clouds. If you are a newcomer to time-lapse, these settings let you easily produce stunning results right from the get-go. Being an experienced timelapse photographer, Luke has saved his “own personal presets on the Genie, which is really useful as I can revert to settings that I know will produce the results I’m looking for. But for people who are new to time-lapse, you can just plug your camera in, focus on your subject and then use the in-built presets,” he says. To date, Luke has been using the Genie with professional equipment, including tripods and sliders. But in the coming months, he’s travelling to Malta to document the issue of illegal hunting and plans to get creative with www.dslrmovie.co.uk

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ABOVE AND LEFT The Genie comes with three time-lapse settings, suitable for stars, people and clouds, but you can also set up your own; for ducks, for example.

his set-up. “I want to play with the Genie, attaching it to moving objects such as a car and having the Genie move at the same time,” he says. With the Genie, your imagination is your limit. Not only does it work brilliantly with pro kit, but it has also been designed to be compatible with all your DIY projects. “I have seen people do some really cool things with the Genie. I’ve seen someone put one Genie on top of another and have one panning across and the other doing a

360° pan at the same time which looks incredible,” he adds. As well as projects abroad, Luke LV DOZD\V SKRWRJUDSKLQJ DQG ÷OPLQJ on his home turf. Sharing his love of British wildlife, he also runs workshops to introduce photographers and ÷OPPDNHUV WR WKH ZLOGOLIH RQ WKHLU doorstep. Wherever his photography takes him though, the Genie will always be in his kitbag. “There’s lots of different motion time-lapse equipment on the market, but there is really nothing like the Genie. With the Genie, it has everything you need in one body. It’s the perfect accessory for both beginners and professionals.”

More information www.masseyimages.com

www.syrp.co.nz

SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 14:55

JOHNSONS PHOTOPIA

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Super Cool Ice Light When Jerry Ghionis considered what he wanted most from a light source he realised nothing fitted the bill, so he designed his own with Westcott. The Ice light is now available through Johnsons Photopia

hey say that necessity is the mother of invention, and there’s more than a grain of truth in that. It helps, of course, if you happen to be celebrated wedding photographer and trainer Jerry Ghionis, who has a happy knack of working his way around a problem one way or another, particularly if it’s lighting related. When Jerry sat down and worked out exactly what he wanted most from a light source he realised that such a device didn’t exist and so, in association with Westcott, he set out to produce his own. What came out at the other end of this process was the innovative Ice Light, and it’s without a doubt one of the world’s best conceived and most versatile lighting accessories, equally at home when used by VWLOO SKRWRJUDSKHUV RU áOPPDNHUV Distributed in the UK by Johnsons Photopia, at just ÂŁ399 it will inevitably become one of your most cherished investments, its ability to come to the rescue unlimited. “For years I wanted a portable, dimmable, cylindrical light that was compact, had a built-in battery and that emulated window light, which is my favourite light source,â€? says Jerry. “That’s why I love the Ice Light so much: it’s truly like carrying window light wherever you go.â€? In those few words Jerry has pretty much summed up everything that makes the Ice Light such a popular product with image-makers all around the world. It’s been so brilliantly thought through in every way, from the its take-everywhere, portability through its ease of use, dimmable and daylight balanced output, to the LED lights that deliver

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a continuous light source, that helps you to see exactly what you are going to get while being equally suitable for still and moving imagery. Long battery life The Ice Light features the latest lithium-ion battery technology and can be run on AC or DC power. Batteries are built into the lightweight 0.58kg design and can run for a full 60 minutes at full power, while it takes just 2.5 hours to complete a full recharge. Meanwhile you can plug the Ice Light into any standard power outlet and it will run continuously, all the while charging the unit. &UXFLDOO\ IRU áOPPDNHUV WKH ODWHVW /(' WHFKQRORJ\ RIIHUV D øLFNHU free light source, while the custom designed curved front has a 72° wide beam spread ideal for achieving soft, even, wraparound light, eliminating WKH QHHG IRU DGGLWLRQDO OLJKW PRGLáHUV Meanwhile the lamp emits true daylight colour and is rated for over 50,000 hours of use. Another plus point of the Ice Light is its high CRI (Colour Rendition Index). Put simply, this is rated on a scale of 1-100, and the lower the number, the less accurately colours will be reproduced. However, there are no such problems with the performance of the Ice Light, which has an impressive CRI of 90+, easily enough to ensure that subjects will look natural in your footage. Not only is the output of the Ice Light designed to be suitable for most occasions, but the unit is also remarkably simple and easy to use. Its ergonomic design allows for singlehanded operation and requires no additional mounting accessories. Both

“It’s truly like carrying a window light wherever you go� IMAGEPortable and versatile, the Ice Light should probably be your next lighting buy.

ends of the Ice Light incorporate a Âź-20in thread, providing the option of mounting it to a light stand, tilter bracket or even a mini tripod. Meanwhile the included carry case makes going on location a breeze. The ,FH /LJKW áWV LQVLGH PRVW UHJXODWLRQ carry-on luggage, and its multi voltage ability allows for adaptability when WUDYHOOLQJ LQWHUQDWLRQDOO\ ,WV øH[LELOLW\ is increased still further if you attach a gel using the included gel clips to change the colour temperature from daylight to tungsten, or you could even add a bold colour gel for more dramatic results. Overall this is an exceptionally XVHIXO DQG øH[LEOH OLJKWLQJ DFFHVVRU\ which, if you know anything about Jerry Ghionis, is exactly what you ZRXOG H[SHFW )RU \RXU áOPPDNLQJ the Ice Light could be one of your best buys; you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one!

More information www.johnsons-photopia.co.uk

SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 15:04

44 GEAR MINI TRIPODS

Small is beautiful Donโ t disregard the mini tripod as a crucial accessory to have in your video kitbag just because of the hobbyist connotations. This could be one of the most useful tools youโ ll ever possess WORDS JAMIE EWBANK

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รทHOG LI \RXU VXEMHFW LV LQ IURQW RI D EXV\ RIรทFH HQYLURQPHQW PRYHPHQW DQG DFWLYLW\ FDQ ORRN UHDOO\ JRRG DV DQ LQGLVWLQFW EDFNJURXQG EXW FDQ EH YHU\ GLVWUDFWLQJ LI \RX FDQ VHH HYHU\ IXUURZHG EURZ www.dslrmovie.co.uk

15/04/2014 15:06

54 GEAR MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER

Essential gadgets Every filmmaker worth their salt values the gadgets that make their life easier, and here’s a selection of some of the latest to hit the market, all tested out and evaluated by our resident expert Jamie Ewbank WORDS JAMIE EWBANK After trying out the SOLOSHOT auto tracking portable robotic cameraman several months ago, we’ve been wondering what the next big crowdfunded gadget for videomakers would be, and this issue

we think we’ve found it in the shape of WKH LQQRYDWLYH .LFNVWDUWHU áQDQFHG 6\US Genie motion controller. As well as seeing if the crowd really does have wisdom, we solve the problem

of transporting your tripod and camera gear, get our hands on a remote-controlled intervalometer and our heads into a set of camera-equipped ski goggles, and round the lot off with some lights and hardware.

Azden SMX-20 DETAILS www.intro2020.co.uk ÂŁ169.99 www.proav.co.uk

Short and stubby, the SMX-20 is a highly directional stereo ÂŁ198 microphone with a wide frequency response – in other words, it’s everything most on-board DSLR microphones pretend to be but DUHQĂšW DQG PDNHV D JUHDW áUVW VWHS LQ LPSURYLQJ \RXU DXGLR TXDOLW\

E-Image EA-500KF Aluminium Jib Arm & EI-717AT Tripod Where the Syrp Genie (opposite) is a new approach to capturing certain types of motion, the E-Image tripod and jib combination is an old-fashioned one at an excellent price. The counterbalanced jib arm and tripod are made of aluminium, to keep them both durable and comparatively lightweight, and the combination of pivots and locks means that you can capture smooth crane shots or lock the camera off for static shooting from a particular angle. Surprisingly easy to assemble, the arm and tripod combo has a profusion of mounting threads for attaching accessories and a pair of spirit levels. We found the whole ensemble easy to use and capable of producing some super smooth movement sequences, but you need to employ the balancing weight (supplied) to keep the whole thing stable, otherwise a larger HDSLR will topple the whole thing over. You

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PLJKW DOVR EHQHáW IURP XVLQJ D PRQLWRU so that you can see precisely what \RXĂšUH áOPLQJ IURP \RXU SRVLWLRQ This is the kind of accessory that cost many times this price just a few years ago, but we suspect that as more people PRYH LQWR WKH ZRUOG RI áOPPDNLQJ prices may be brought down while quality levels remain high.

VERDICT We’ve paid more for a stand-alone tripod than this. A very useful bargain.

RATING

10 www.dslrmovie.co.uk

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GEAR

55

DETAILS syrp.co.nz ÂŁ800

Syrp Genie Adding movement to your timelapse photography has traditionally been a process that required expensive, precision-calibrated equipment, but crowdfunding looks likely to change that. The Syrp Genie is a Kickstarter-funded product from New Zealand that removes the bulk and a lot of the expense from the process of adding pans or linear motion to your shots. A small, plastic cube, the Genie has two major functions. In part it’s an intervalometer that triggers your shutter at chosen time-lapse moments. There are a few presets for common time-lapse situations, VXFK DV FURZG VFHQHV VWDUáHOGV and clouds, but you can also SURJUDP XVHU GHáQHG GXUDWLRQV DQG intervals and save them as a preset. Alternatively, you can choose to leave the camera in real time mode, if you’re only interested in making use of the Genie’s gearing system, which is where motion is added. Supplied with two accessories which screw onto the bottom of the

www.dslrmovie.co.uk

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PDLQ FXEH WKH áUVW LV D VLPSOH SDQ head that allows the Genie to pivot DWRS \RXU WULSRG DW D SUHGHáQHG speed, while the second is a pulley system that attaches to a cord and acts as a winch to pull the Genie and its attached camera along. Used in conjunction with a slider or suspension line, the amount of travel that can be achieved is limited only by the length of your rope and external accessories.

VERDICT A clever idea that’s easy to use and comparatively versatile. 6RXQGV H[SHQVLYH DW áUVW EXW VHULRXV áOPPDNHUV DUH snapping it up.

RATING

9

SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 15:11

62 GEAR EXTERNAL MICROPHONES

Rock the mic It’s well known that better sound comes from a better mic, but which one should you go for? Here’s a selection of offerings aimed at the DSLR filmmaker, and we’ve tested them out to offer some guidance WORDS JAMIE EWBANK That little smattering of pinprick holes usually found next to your DSLR lens or alongside the accessory shoe is not the camera equivalent of acne, rather it’s the reason why the quality of your audio rarely seems to match up to that of your footage. Built-in microphones are closer to circuitry, batteries and your DSLR’s moving parts, and they’re tiny. This reduces both their ability to pick up and render a good range of volumes and tones, and also increases the risk of noise, both in its electronic and literal sense. The solution? An external microphone. We put ten of them through their paces on a DSLR and an audio recorder, and subjected them to a repeatable selection of live speech, an array of different music, recorded speech, off-axis speech and background noise. We also kicked the tripod. Lots.

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ON TEST 1. SENNHEISER MKE 400 £239 en-uk.sennheiser.com

6. HAHNEL MK200 £129 www.hahnel.ie

2. RØDE VIDEOMIC GO £64 www.rodemic.com

7. RØDE VIDEOMIC PRO £133 www.rodemic.com

3. TASCAM TM-2X £72 www.tascam.com

8. AZDEN SGM-DSLR £209 www.intro2020.co.uk

4. AUDIO TECHNICA £234 www.audio-technica.com

9. PANASONIC LUMIX DMW-MS2E £279 www.panasonic.co.uk

5. NIKON ME-1 £99 www.nikon.co.uk

10. SHURE LENSHOPPER VP83F £330 www.shure.co.uk

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“Circuitry, batteries and your DSLR’s moving parts reduce the in-built mic’s ability to pick up and render a good range of volumes and tones” www.dslrmovie.co.uk

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SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

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GADGETS & GEAR

Essential audio add-ons Audio is one of the most crucial parts of filmmaking to be on top of and, alongside the microphones that we’ve just been looking at, there is a whole host of accessories available to help you out WORDS JAMIE EWBANK For the still photographer making the move into video, audio is one of the most challenging areas to master, simply because it’s something you won’t have had to think about before. Once you get involved, however, it soon becomes second nature, and there are lots of outstanding accessories coming on to the market that are VSHFL÷FDOO\ GHVLJQHG IRU the HDSLR videographer. Here’s a selection of some of the latest products to hit the market, all of which are capable of doing a great job for someone who is PRYLQJ LQWR WKLV VHFWRU IRU WKH ÷UVW time or is looking to upgrade.

Audio accessories are a vital part of any videographer’s kit, and all these products (apart from the light and mic on the double shoe bracket) are reviewed here.

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SUMMER 2014 HDSLR MOVIEMAKER

15/04/2014 15:22

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