ProAm dvc5o jib

After I got a slider and glidecam I knew I needed to add a jib to my gear. I needed something that allowed for fluid vertical shots, and nice sweeping shots.So I did my research around the web, and read reviews and  found ProAm. They sell most accessories for cameras, like rigs, monitors, and jibs. ProAm has jibs ranging from 4 feet up to 16 feet. I knew I needed something small, easy for transporting. So I went with the DVC50 a foot jib with a reach of 8 feet in height. Being this small it can easily be used inside as well.

The DVC50 is 4 feet in reach and made of lightweight 6061 aluminum. The jib has high density scratch resistant powder coating and has a tool less design. The DVC50 can hold up to 8lbs and features auto tilting, which keeps the camera level with the ground. The stand extends from 4 feet to 6 feet, giving you around 8 feet total height, and can hold up to 100 pounds.

When I ordered the DVC50, I also ordered the crane stand, which both arrived quickly. The DVC50 and stand are a high quality build and fit together perfectly. Both come with a padded bag and the extra protection is nice. The stand comes in 2 pieces, the legs and the metal pole that raises the overall height. The jib also comes in 2 pieces, the bar and the part that attaches it to the stand. Setting up the jib takes just a minute tops without any tools. Just slide the jib down on the stand and tighten it up. Attaching your camera is done by a 1/4x20 wing nut. I used weights from a local sporting goods store. Finding the counter balance is easy, just add weight until the jib remains level.

The auto tilting feature is a very nice touch the DVC50 offers. The jib stays levels when moving  up or down. Movement is nice and fluid both horizontally and vertically. As can be expected, it does take a little bit of practice to get smooth shots.

Overall, I'm really happy with the ProAm DVC50 jib. The build is nice and movement is fluid, packs up small and can be used indoors. The best thing about the jib is the price versus build. I would recommend the DVC50 to everyone.

bag for the jib and stand

stand

stand

jib connected to stand

1/4x20 wing nut for camera

lowest point

camera attached

counter weights

highest reach

locking pin

SmallHd dp4 for framing

SmallHd dp4

 Test footage of the dvc50

 http://youtu.be/DeXjErdqL4Y

http://youtu.be/1hp5nYnZisk

Cinemorph filter review

The cinemorph filter has the same characteristics of an anamorphic lens. When there is a light source it will flare or streak, and the cinemorph filter stretches the bokeh vertically. Due to the oval bokeh sharper element, the cinemorph filter will not stretch or squeeze the image like an anamorphic lens but you can crop the footage  in post to get an anamorphic aspect ratio.

The cinemorph was made for run and gun shooting allowing you to focus just the prime lens, allow easy rack focusing. An anamorphic lens would require you to focus both the prime and anamorphic lens, making rack focusing in run and gun shooting almost impossiable, unless you were locked down on a tripod with marks set on your follow focuses.

The cinemorph filter is mounted to a smooth rotating filter with sharp glass allowing easy mounting and alignment. It will cause a step or 2 in light loss, so faster primes lenses are recommend 2.8f and faster. You will need on a cropped camera a 50mm lens or tighter to avoid lens vignetting. On a full frame you will need a 75mm or tighter.

I stumbled across anamorphic lenses while looking on the internet and fell in love with the look of the bokeh and the light flares. I began my search for anamorphic lenses and found out they were actually projection lenses that needed a clamp to work with dslr cameras. I also learned they needed to be focus through both the prime lens and anamorphic lens to get proper focus. Most anamorphic lenses don't focus really close, 15 feet and beyond, which makes close ups impossible. But there are a few that will focus down to as close as 5 feet. A few anamorphics have threaded front rings allowing the use of nd filters or diopters which is ideal but most do not. There are a few anamorphic lens that only the anamorphic needs to be focused but isco's usually go for 2000 dollars and up which makes it out of reach for most.

After more searching I found Vid Atlantic and saw they make an anamorphic lens filter that produce anamorphic like effects for a fraction of the cost. The cinemorph just screws on the front of a prime lens much like a nd or polaizer filter. I emailed Eddie at Vid Atlantic and he answered my questions fast and I ordered one the next day. I got the cinemorph filter quickly and tried it out. The effects are nice it flares easily producing streaks across the whole screen. Most of the time the streaks are white but easily corrected in post with color grading to match the streaks of an anamorphic lens. The cinemorph filter allows you to change the bokeh both horizontally and vertical by rotating the filter.
Later I got my first anamorphic lens, a Sankor 16c from Vid Atlantic. Another pleasant and easy purchase. The Sankor will focus down to 5 feet without diopters and has a threaded filter rind for the use of nd or diopters.

I decided to write this blog to compare the cinemorph filter and an anamorphic lens to see the likeness and differences. I used a Canon t3i with Jupiter 9 an 85mm set at f2.0 to get a really shallow depth of field to compare the bokeh of just the Jupiter 9, then with the cinemorph filter and Sankor 16c. With just the Jupiter 9 the bokeh is more oval with a ring like effect for the out of focus area. On both the cinemorph and Sankor, the bokeh changes from  the rings out of focus area to a more painted smear vertical lines.  To my surprise the cinemorph filter looks very close to the sankor 16c with the bokeh stretch vertically. The Sankor has just a little more smear like effect with the bokeh but the two look close enough it would be hard to tell unless you really knew anamorphics. The cinemorph flares just like the Sankor with  horizontal lines. The cinemorph flares are more white with a little blue tint but with a little work in post you can get the flares more towards blue flares. The Sankor flares are a little more pronounced.  All shots were locked down at the same spot through out the shoot. You can see in the video the only real difference between the cinemorph and Sankor 16c, the Sankor 16c stretched the image and got more into frame. 
Overall I'm very pleased with the cinemorph filter. It does want it is meant to, create vertical bokeh and lens flares at a fraction of the cost of an anamorphic lens. If you're looking into getting into anamorphic lenses or the look of anamorphic lenses, I recommend giving Vid Atlantic a look. They are a  great company and they have  great customer service. 

cinemorph

cinemorph close up

cinemorph filter

jupiter 9 cinemorph, dfocus, cpm ff, Smallhd dp4

Jupiter 9 with Sankor 16c

http://vid-atlantic.com

Video of the cinemorph filter and sankor 16c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVVy4wR6s9M&feature=colike

Cpm camera rigs aviator rig review

When I first got my DSLR I had a very poorly made shoulder brace rig. I wanted something better with rods and more support. I was lucky enough to have a bigger camera shop that rented rigs in my area. So I tested a few but wasn't too impressed with the ones they offered. Some of these rigs, if bought, would cost 2 to 3 times the cost of my camera, and they had minimal parts so I would have to buy extras to put other gear on them, adding to the already high cost.

 I did more research and found Cpm Camerarigs on the internet. I started to look over their site and saw they had a bunch of rigs and parts. Something that really impressed me was their rigs are all made from a carbon fiber compounded polycarbonate resin, so they are strong and light weight. Cpm rigs use a cage to mount your camera to. This helps protect it and the side of the cages have 1/4 x20 threaded holes to mount mics, lights, monitors, anything with a 1/4x20 threaded hole. The side strut has 4 mounting points and the uni strut has 8 total. 4 on the left side and 4 on the right side. They are all finished a matte black but you can choose the color fasteners you want. I emailed Cpm to find out a little more about their rigs. I got a fast reply with all my questions answered. After a few more emails I decided to go with the aviator cage with offset shoulder mount. I had a shoot that weekend and Steve from Cpm  rushed me the rig to make sure I would have it.

When I got the rig all the parts were nicely packed in a vacuum sealed package. I got all the parts out and first put together the rig how it was pictured on the site. All the parts are very well made and lightweight. Everything fits perfectly and all the screws and fasteners tightened down without the need of extra force using the supplied Allen keys. Another really nice feature about the Cpm rigs is that they aren't just a shoulder rig. They can be put together in all types of configurations.  I started to see what other configurations I could make with the parts supplied. I took off the offset rods and shoulder pad, and I could now use it as a cage fig rig holding the handles or I could use the top handle for low angle shots. The rig can be taken apart fast. All the parts pack down easily and small enough to fit in a camera bag or small case for travel.

I packed everything up for the shoot and when I got there everything was put back together in around a minute. The shoot went very smooth with the new rig. There was a huge difference with  how stable the shots were compared to my old rig. Having a full cage rig with counter weight helped a lot.

 Everything about the Cpm rig is nice. It all fits together very well and everything is where it needs to be. With the handles close to the 15mm rails for racking focus, not having to let go of the handles to grab the follow focus is a huge plus in not having little shakes from movement. Even with the 2lb counter weight added at the end of the rig, the material they are made from still makes them light weight, and helps cut down on fatigue. It features a bunch of  mounting points on the cage to mount the accessories for a shoot.  These rigs are built to last, I've had mine going on 2 years now and numerous shoots and never had a problem. Also, these rigs are built strong. Besides the camera and lens, I've put a follow focus, mattebox, Rode mic, Tascam audio recorder, Juice link amp, and a SmallHd dp4 evf and dp6 as director monitor and there was no flex in any other the parts.

I'm very happy and pleased with the Cpm aviator rig, and the customer service I've gotten from Cpm. I highly recommend Cpm rigs for their build quality and pricing. Cpm has a rig for all budgets and for all types of shooting styles.

cpmcamerarigs.com

offset 

offset

fig rig- low angle

fig rig- low angle

straight rig

straight rig

hand held

hand held

studio tripod set up

on set

on set

Budget friendly tripod

After reviewing the Sachtler Ace tripod I got a few comments about it doesn't fit into everyone's budget. I have a good budget tripod that I was using until I got the Ace.
The Velbon dv7000 with ph368 head. I got this tripod about a year ago after reading reviews on the smooth movements. It seemed like a good tripod that wouldn't break the bank so to speak.
I ordered online and got it in a few days.
It weighs 7.51 pounds. It has a 2 way fluid head geared center column, braced 3 section aluminum alloy legs. 29mm upper leg sections with built in mid level spreader. The dv7000 will carry a load up to 9.92 pounds with a minimum height of 22.44 inches.

and a max height of 63.78 inches

 The dv7000 folds down to 27.56 inches. It does have 2 knobs to increase or decrease tilt and pan tensions.

and a 4 position handle that can be interchangeable from front to rear and from left handed to right.

That weekend I had a shoot so I decided to take it with me to try out. The build is good and sturdy. I had a 15mm rail with a follow focus and a monitor. Most of the shots were just locked down but the few shots that had panning or tilts the movements were smooth, not super smooth but good and useable. I didn't notice much difference from the pan and tilt tension adjuster, it's very small difference between the settings.
Overall I would recommend the Velbon dv7000 as a budget friendly tripod. Price for the dv7000 with ph368head is $189 dollars. If you're just looking to get the head, because you already have sticks, it will be just 40 dollars. I use the ph368 on my sliders. If you're looking for something a little cheaper Velbon has the videomate 607 tripod with ph368 head for only 80 dollars. I haven't used this model personally but it is another option.