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

At A Glance: Petrol Cambio

A new convertible equipment bag/camera support system

By Todd Sali

Have you ever dreamed of lighter travel and a quicker setup? In an industry first, the new airline carry-on-approved Petrol Cambio offers a unique solution, combining a solid camera/equipment bag and capable tripod. Travel with the essentials securely tucked away in the overhead luggage compartment and avoid baggage claim delays. Imagine this: Arrive... Read more

Data Rules

As more and more productions go tapeless, have storage drives become the new medium?

By Iain Blair

Storage drives may not be the most exciting, sexy elements in the creative process, but they’re quickly becoming more and more crucial as the end of videotape draws ever so closer with productions essentially now capturing data. “Storage is the medium now,” says Rob Kobrin, Chief Technology Officer at Integrated Media Technologies,... Read more

Tools For Everyone

HD-DSLR accessories that will elevate your production without breaking your budget

By Clint Milby

Using a traditional still camera for video capture is revolutionary not only because it’s unconventional, but also because the relative low cost of shooting with HD DSLRs allows anyone with a little money to shoot stunning footage. Of course, you can spend a small fortune on expensive gadgets that may or may not elevate your production value;... Read more

At A Glance: Matrox MXO2 Mini

Cost-effective HD monitoring and more

By Neil Matsumoto

On average, professional HD studio monitors used in postproduction can run anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 on the low end to nearly $20,000 on the high end. With the popularity of laptop editing, which gives filmmakers the opportunity to edit their projects in any environment, Matrox has released a great new product, the MXO2 Mini, which not only can... Read more

At A Glance: The Zacuto Z-Finder

Finding your focus

By Neil Matsumoto

Let’s face it, you pretty much have to be a Zen master in focus-pulling to shoot high-def video with an HD DSLR camera. While shooting wide-open on a moving subject, it’s near impossible to maintain sharp focus, especially for daylight exterior shots. The biggest factor is the camera’s monster-sized sensor that gives a shooter razor-thin shallow... Read more

Filtering For HD

Filter manufacturers offer creative choices for cinematographers to create a multitude of effects

By Debra Kaufman

When cinematographer Daryn Okada, ASC, went to a gathering held by Formatt, a U.K.-based filter manufacturer, and Bogen Imaging, its U.S. distributor, he heard the Formatt Filters factory manager Ann Davis ask for ideas for new filters. Okada had an idea. He had been using the HD Soft filters, which he called “a well-made, fine softening filter,”... Read more

Motion Pictures

Tips and tools that will help you create cinematic movies with your new video-DSLR camera

by Neil Matsumoto

In the past year, video-DSLR cameras have turned the HD-video industry on its head with hype not seen since the announcement of the RED ONE back in 2006. So what’s all the buzz about? Simply put, it’s all about the sensor. Because of the video-DSLR’s monster-sized sensor, shooters at all levels can now achieve “film-like”... Read more

Encore Cinema

Redrock Micro’s new cinema lens adapter, the M2 Encore, enables video shooters to get that elusive 35mm-film look

By Neil Matsumoto

With the cost of film and postproduction services (not to mention gear rental), shooting a feature in 35mm film isn’t feasible for most indie filmmakers. But for the vast majority working in digital cinematography, obtaining that "35mm-film look" is their "Holy Grail." So what defines a 35mm-film look, and how does a shooter... Read more