At A Glance: The Padcaster

Filmmaking in a frame

By Neil Matsumoto

If you work in production, iPads have become ubiquitous on set. With its Retina display, the iPad delivers higher than HD resolution (2048×1536) and has become the go-to device to view on-set dailies. Many production professionals also have been using the iPad as a film slate and teleprompter, as well. But for shooting HD video, most believe the... Read more

At A Glance: Video Stock Options

Gaining extra sales from footage through Shutterstock’s royalty-free stock offerings

By The Editors

Video content is exploding online, and as the need for high-impact visuals and graphics proliferates, so does the need for original content that’s available at affordable rates. Top sellers can bring in thousands of dollars a month, and while it takes a lot of focus to reach this level of sales, even casual users can make a few hundred extra... Read more

At A glance: iStockvideo

Cut your budget and recycle footage for profit by exploring the world of stock video sales

By The Editors

If you have a library of footage that’s sitting around collecting digital dust, it may be the right time for some spring cleaning. The demand for video content is exploding online, and the unedited clips and unused footage that you’ve collected over the years just may be worth something. Several sites like BBC Worldwide (T3Media), Getty... Read more

Focus From Afar

For camera assistants, new tools to pull focus wirelessly

By Clint Milby

Talk to different shooters, and you’re likely to get a variety of different views on the necessity of a follow-focus system. If you’re a run-and-gun shooter, you may feel these devices are unnecessary. This goes double for ENG shooters who tend to keep it simple and pull focus with their hand on the barrel of the lens. Although you can operate... Read more

At A glance: Protecting Your Files

G-Technology offers two new innovative storage solutions

By Neil Matsumoto

Announced back at NAB 2011 by Apple and Intel, Thunderbolt has been slow to hit the marketplace. If you’re unaware of the technology, Thunderbolt is an interface for connecting peripheral devices to your computer by merging PCI Express and DisplayPort into one serial data interface that can run audio, video and data over a single cable. The main... Read more

At A Glance: The Merlin 2

Steadicam refines its popular handheld stabilization system for low-weight camcorders and video-capable DSLRs

By David Willis

Introduced more than six years ago, the Merlin was designed originally as a solution for smaller camcorders, with hover-like floating stabilization of the image for extended takes and smooth pans even when dealing with tricky camera movement obstacles like staircases, corners and motion. Soon after the video-capable DSLR explosion, the Steadicam Merlin... Read more

At A glance: Pregrading

Irudis Tonalizer|VFX gets your footage into shape

By Michael Guncheon

Once the shooting stops, it’s time to create your look. For many, the color-grading process is a plug-in to an editing application with an assortment of preset looks. The process also can be a full-blown color-grading application. Whatever your color-grading process, it just became more difficult if there are any problems with your original footage. ... Read more

At A glance: The Variable ND Filter

A good solution for motion capture?

By Neil Matsumoto

Capturing cinematic shallow depth of field is the main benefit in shooting with large CMOS sensors found on DSLRs and the latest crop of large-sensor camcorders. But with this advantage, you also have a steep learning curve in knowing how to achieve a cinematic look with a large-sensor camera. As many of you know, to maintain a cinematic look shooting... Read more

At A glance: Cross Over

The Manfrotto 502 Video Head

By Neil Matsumoto

As we all know, rock-steady shots, as well as smooth pans and tilts, can easily separate your work from the non-pros. In the October 2010 issue of HDVideoPro, we reviewed the Manfrotto 504HD fluid head, which was Manfrotto’s first video head to use their patented Bridging Technology. With lightweight and compact large-sensor camcorders hitting... Read more

Splish Splash

Air Sea Land Productions’ T-Bag helps keep Boardwalk Empire and The Big C dry

By Nicholas Lindner

The 2010 fall season saw two new preeminent Emmy®-nominated cable series open with titles that featured under-water cinematography. Both programs, Showtime’s The Big C and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, utilized shots that were captured with RED ONE cameras, protected in splashbags conceived in New York City by Air Sea Land (ASL) Productions,... Read more

Sound To Vision

Audio giants THX and Dolby get into the professional monitor business

By Mel Lambert

It’s often surprising, with the best will and intention, how trusting we can become. Through experience, we take it for granted that the color balance, brightness and contrast levels we see on LCD screens fitted to our digital cameras only vaguely match the scenes being imaged. But it can be critically important to determine during a live shoot and... Read more

The O-Series

Known for its fluid heads, OConnor releases innovative DSLR and compact digital camcorder accessories for the professional shooter

By Todd Sali

The OConnor name connotes quality gear, albeit high-end and high-cost, normally supporting large, heavy camera systems where innovation is paramount and cost is relative, thus justified. Drawing on this pedigree, OConnor is a welcome player in the exploding competitive DSLR and midsized digital cinema camera accessory playing field—but do the form... Read more