REVIEW - iFootage M1-III (3) Mini Crane

The iFootage M1-III (3) mini crane ready to use,
with a Vinten Blue 3 tripod & Radian Pro wireless video set.

First Impressions
iFootage, the creator of the very popular Shark slider, recently added a new product to their impressive lineup: the M1-III (3) mini crane. When you see the bag that holds the mini crane, it is hard to believe that the crane can actually fit inside it. It's similar to the size and weight of a Vinten Vision Blue tripod when stored in its bag, but it is housing a complete camera jib system that can hold 15 kg (33 lbs) of weight and has a maximum boom range of 210 cm (83 inch). Incredible if you think about it! When I opened the padded bag I noticed the great amount of accessories you get included by the mini crane, all neatly tugged away in custom pouches. The mini crane comes with everything you could ever wish for and you can start booming your camera in no time. While taking out the crane I was surprised by how light it felt. It's rather difficult to imagine that it can hold so much weight while staying so light. That's probably because of having a square tube design as main support beam instead of a round one. I've been working with a camera jib in the past that is known for its portability, while still weighing about 13 kg (29 lbs)! It also has less boom range then this iFootage M1-III mini crane, and it was quite a pain to set up. This is the first time that a compact and lightweight mini crane (or pocket jib), originally designed for smaller cameras, manages to come this close to the specifications and performance of a camera jib costing 5 times as much, while weighing only 3,8 kg (8.3 lbs). The iFootage M1-III  mini crane beats the older jib I've worked with in the past in almost every way and it's a lot more fun to work with as well! I don't want to spoil the conclusion of this review, but I do have a new favorite camera jib...

iFootage M1-III (3) mini crane unboxed, showing all of its included accessories

The iFootage M1-III neatly stored in its nicely padded bag

REVIEW: PRO V-Mount Compact Batteries from BAXXTAR

The BAXXTAR Compact-Serie PRO V-Mount batteries with the BP-2CH Dual Charger 

Introduction
For as long as I can remember, V-Mount batteries have always had a certain size and style. They are quite bulky and heavy, but they are an industry standard for most professional cameras and accessories. The more power they store inside, the bigger and heavier they get. The German company Bundlestar, who's been active in the battery business for a long time, had a unique and fresh approach with their PRO high-end V-Mount batteries. They made them compact!

These V-Mount batteries reduced in size, still provide you with the same reliable power as the bigger ones and are of course fully compatible with all equipment that has a V-lock system. I was intrigued when I came across these new BAXXTAR Compact-Serie V-Mount batteries and was very eager to review them and let you know what I think about them. Later on in this review, I will be discussing the BAXXTAR BP-2CH V-Mount charger, which is definitely worth checking out also. But for now without further ado, let's have a closer look at the new BAXXTAR PRO V-Mount batteries.

Video about the new BAXXTAR Compact-Serie V-Mount batteries:

REVIEW: BAXXTAR Pro-Series V-Mount X4 Charger

The 4-way V-Mount charger from the BAXXTAR Pro-Series

Introduction
The German company Bundlestar, who created the fantastic BAXXTAR Compact-serie V-Mount batteries (review here, go check it out!) have added something new to their growing collection of fantastic camera gear. Their BAXXTAR product line can best be described as high quality products at an affordable price where all their knowledge of the past years comes together. No wonder I was eager to try out their newly developed charger for all your Sony, RED and DSLR V-Mount batteries with the capability of simultaneously charging 4 V-Mount Li-ion batteries at once!

Filming with the Sony FE 24-240mm Lens

I took the Sony FE 24-240mm lens (review here!) with me during the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, to try it out in the field. While taking lots of pictures, I also tried to shoot some footage whenever I had the chance to see how the lens would perform. Everything was shot without a tripod using OSS. The resulting footage can be seen here:

Pictures that I took at the Tour de France with the Sony FE 24-240mm can be found here.

Blackmagic Design URSA Broadcast - in depth look

Blackmagic URSA Broadcast camera

On the 2nd of February 2018, Blackmagic Design announced a new high end professional broadcast camera. The URSA Broadcast camera for ENG and programming work as well for studio work and live production. A very versatile camera which I'm very exited about. It's completely tailored to be used in combination with b4 2/3 inch broadcast lenses, by reducing the size of the sensor to 13mm x 7mm so you won't have to deal with crop factor or magnification of the field of view. Of course you won't have the same depth of field as with a full frame camera, but in news- and events coverage or when shooting TV shows this has never been an issue. And from experience I know that with enough zoom and using a wide aperture you can still get some nice depth of field shots. This is what Blackmagic has to say about the sensor: "The image sensor is designed for both HD and Ultra HD so you get amazing texture and detail, accurate skin tones, vibrant color and high dynamic range video, all without the need for post production". So without further ado, let's have a look at some of the key features.

REVIEW - Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Zoom Lens (SEL24240)

Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS Zoom Lens (SEL24240)

About three months ago Sony announced 4 new full-frame FE lenses and one of them really caught my eyes. The Sony Fe 24-240mm f3.5-6.3 OSS lens. For APS-C type cameras there are plenty of zoom lenses available to choose from, but there aren't many full frame zoom lenses on the market which are able to cover such a broad focal range. In fact, they are quite rare. The Sony FE 24-240mm is able to capture very nice wide-angle shots at 24mm and has 10x zoom capabilities to capture images up to 240mm! I've been eagerly waiting for such a versatile lens to hit the market and I'm very exited to be able to share my thoughts and comments on this new Sony lens with you.

Like I've said before in my other reviews, I'm not going to spend too much time about the technical aspects of things, nor will I share sample pictures taken with it at my secret camera laboratory underneath my house (which doesn't exists BTW). I'm going to look at it from an user point of view with real life picture samples and footage, so you know exactly what to expect from this lens. There are plenty of great sites out there that can show you diagrams, graphs and lab-results if you search for them and they can certainly be very interesting to have a look at. So grab your favourite cup o' joe and start reading!

REVIEW: Nebula 4000 Lite 3-Axis Gyroscope Stabilizer

Sony A7s on the Nebula 4000 Lite 3-axis gyroscope stabilizer

Introduction

Last week I received my Nebula 4000 Lite from Camera Motion Research. This is a 3-Axis gyroscope stabilizer from FilmPower that I've been really interested in. A few months ago I saw a video online of someone (test) flying a Sony A7s in front of mirrors and I could hardly believe it was real. A MōVI / Ronin like device, only a lot smaller, single handed operation, lightweight and affordable. About two years ago the first (noticeable) handheld gyro-stabilizer was introduced and it took the market by storm. With this device you were able to get Steadicam like shots, only it's all relying on electronics instead of "analog" balance. It makes it very easy to get nice moving shots with your camera, even when you're working in unfriendly Steadicam conditions. It enables you to get even more creative shots and it doesn't take months or even years of training to be able to use it properly. Now, only two years later, we can get all of this great technology in a small and lightweight device that you can easily carry around with you. It's incredible to see how fast things are changing in the world of filmmakers.

Ah yes, filming in the old days. Much simpeler times...

The Nebula 4000 Lite can be used with cameras weighing up to 1KG / 2LB, making it the perfect companion for your Panasonic GH4, Sony A7s and similar sized cameras. They even include a special mount which will help fly your smartphone on the Nebula. It also comes with a nice custom case with strap, charger and a battery that has been fitted inside the handle. The Nebula only weighs 800 grams which is virtually nothing.

NEW - Mini TX Backbone For Radian's Wireless HD Video Set

Radian Pro at work

Sometimes you come across a product that works so good, that you can't imagine it to become any better. I've felt that way about the Radian Pro (review here) from Camera Motion Research, which is used to transmit an uncompressed HD video signal wirelessly through the air. A perfect tool for filmmakers who need to be able to freely move their camera through space while using it in combination with a gyro stabilizer like the MōVI as well as other equipment like a crane, stabiliser or Steadicam. All of these devices share a common enemy: cables. But even if you're not using such a device, it's still an extremely handy accessory on any film set to provide the director, producer or client with a direct feed of what the camera is capturing without any limitations. The Radian transmitter can be placed on any camera thanks to CMR's backbones. It provides several mounting options and also enables you to add a lightweight USB style battery to directly provide power to the transmitter for several hours. You will forget it's even on the camera while filming.

It's more common then ever for filmmakers to use smaller cameras with great capabilities on productions as an 'B' or even as an 'A' camera. Camera Motion Research, the company behind the Radian Pro and Radian Multicast wireless sets, has developed a new Mini TX Backbone which is the perfect lightweight match for any DSLR or similar type of camera. It enables you to mount the wireless transmitter with installed battery in a very discrete and lightweight way, without compromising on ease of use or performance.

Sony a7S Hands on Review - Footage Available for Download

Sony Alpha a7S mirrorless digital camera unboxed

Introduction

In the beginning I was a bit skeptical. Could this little camera really produce good quality video? Well, I found out quick enough, the answer is YES. For the last few years I've mostly been using the FS100 and was very happy with the results I got. I did need some time getting used to this little "brick camera", but more because of the form factor and different way of shooting. Before the FS100 I've been working with heavy ENG shoulder mounted cameras that were all about getting your shots and quickly moving on. With the FS100 and cameras of a similar kind, you'll need to put effort in each and every shot to get the most out of it and I've learned to appreciate this kind of filming. Going from the FS100 and now to the Sony a7S I further complete the transition to a whole new way of filming.


Sony a7S first impressions

While taking the Sony Alpha a7S mirrorless digital camera out of the box I noticed that it came with two Sony NP-FW50 batteries, which is a nice bonus. The camera is compact but still feels good in the hand. It's not too light and the LCD screen can be tilted. The viewfinder is surprisingly good and way better then I expected. I can actually use this! Thanks to a few customizable buttons on the body and a dedicated dial for shutter, exposure and aperture it's very easy to use this camera in manual mode and quickly adjust settings. There are a lot of options to go through in the menu so finding that one setting you're searching for can take a bit more time in the beginning. Nevertheless I'm glad the camera has so many options available.

REVIEW - SEL1018 Sony E-mount Super Wide-Angle Zoom Lens

Sony 10-18mm f/4 OSS Alpha E-mount Wide-Angle Zoom Lens

It's been a while since Sony announced their new batch of E-mount lenses, but today I'm finally able to do a hands-on review of the much anticipated Sony 10-18mm super wide-angle E-mount zoom lens, compatible with the Alpha NEX cameras and NEX Camcorders. Now, I won't be doing this review from a scientific point of view. I'm a photographer and filmmaker and personally care more about how it is to work with in the field and seeing the results created with my own camera and settings, then talking about specs and lab-results. So if you were hoping to see some nice colour boards, diagrams, graphs and lab experiments, I'm very sorry to disappoint you! Luckily there are many sites out there that can show you exactly that and they can certainly be interesting to see. A comparison (with video) between this 10-18mm ultra wide lens and the Sony 16mm pancake lens with VCL-ECU1 ultra wide converter will be posted soon.

First impressions

SEL1018 in use on the Blackbird stabilizer

When I opened the box and took out the lens, I was pleasantly surprised with how light-weight the lens actually is. It weighs only 225g. This is perfect for using it on a Sony Alpha NEX Mirrorless Digital Camera and even better for using it on a NEX-FS100 or NEX-FS700 in combination with a handheld stabilizer / Steadicam.

The second surprise was the build quality. Except for the lens hood, there's little plastic parts to be found. The zoom and focus rings operate very smoothly, but unfortunately there are no markings on the focus ring and it doesn't have stops. However, it works and responds much better then the focus ring on the Sony 18-200mm NEX lens, which feels a bit more electronic-ish. When using the zoom ring to go to 10mm ultra wide, the lens will extend slightly. This is the opposite of what you might expect normally. The drawback of this, is that the lens will retract a bit when mounting the lens cap when you're in full wide. The lens is quite small when you compare it to a similar lens like the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 lens and it's only half the weight. The lens has a filter thread in front, so you can add a 62mm Variable Neutral Density filter or 62mm UV filter if you want. An option that was seriously lacking when using the ultra wide converter with the 16mm pancake lens.

Sample images
Now before talking further about specs and performance of this lens, I'm going to share some sample images I took with this lens on a Sony NEX mirrorless digital camera.

GoPro Hero 3 Silver edition Camera - Cycling Video

The GoPro Hero3 mounted on my bicycle

I went cycling yesterday evening and captured the bike ride with the GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition Camera using the Handlebar/Seatpost Pole Mount.

I love what this little action camera is capable of and I'm working on a review which I'm hopefully be able to publish in the next couple of days. In the meantime, you can watch some of the footage I filmed in the beautiful city of Alkmaar.

NEW Vinten Vision blue3 and Vinten blueBridge - Review & Video

Vinten welcomes a new tripod (center) to their popular Vision blue range

Introduction

In 2011 Vinten released the Vision blue tripod (review here) which is aimed at the top end corporate market and for professional broadcasters looking for true Vinten performance and quality support for their lightweight camcorders. The Vision blue became very popular in no time and they actually sold faster then Vinten could produce them and they were selling like hotcakes and it became difficult to find them in stock anywhere. Apparently filmmakers around the globe had been patiently waiting for a tripod that incorporates all the bells and whistles you'll find on higher range Vinten products, but now specially tailored for their professional lightweight camcorders and fully accessorised DSLR's weighting between 4.6 to 11 lb (2.1 to 5 kg). People got to know about the great capabilities of the Vision blue tripod and began to ask for the same performance quality of the Vision blue, but with a higher load capacity. Vinten listened and released the Vision blue5 at the beginning of 2012, to support cameras ranging from 12.1 to 26.5 lb (5.5 to 12 kg). Word kept spreading and a new market surfaced. Asking for the now famous Vision blue tripod range quality, but this time for a slightly different (in between) payload capacity. That's why Vinten decided to add a new tripod to their popular Vision blue range: the Vinten Vision blue3! Ideal for today's intermediate weight and highly accessorized camcorders ranging from 6.6 to 14.6 lb (3.0 to 6.6 kg).

Watch the video to see it in action: Vinten Vision blue3 and Vinten blueBridge in Amsterdam

NEW Vinten Vision blue3 and Vinten blueBridge - Review & Video

Vinten welcomes a new tripod (center) to their popular Vision blue range

Introduction

In 2011 Vinten released the Vision blue tripod (review here) which is aimed at the top end corporate market and for professional broadcasters looking for true Vinten performance and quality support for their lightweight camcorders. The Vision blue became very popular in no time and they actually sold faster then Vinten could produce them and they were selling like hotcakes and it became difficult to find them in stock anywhere. Apparently filmmakers around the globe had been patiently waiting for a tripod that incorporates all the bells and whistles you'll find on higher range Vinten products, but now specially tailored for their professional lightweight camcorders and fully accessorised DSLR's weighting between 4.6 to 11 lb (2.1 to 5 kg). People got to know about the great capabilities of the Vision blue tripod and began to ask for the same performance quality of the Vision blue, but with a higher load capacity. Vinten listened and released the Vision blue5 at the beginning of 2012, to support cameras ranging from 12.1 to 26.5 lb (5.5 to 12 kg). Word kept spreading and a new market surfaced. Asking for the now famous Vision blue tripod range quality, but this time for a slightly different (in between) payload capacity. That's why Vinten decided to add a new tripod to their popular Vision blue range: the Vinten Vision blue3! Ideal for today's intermediate weight and highly accessorized camcorders ranging from 6.6 to 14.6 lb (3.0 to 6.6 kg).

Watch the video to see it in action: Vinten Vision blue3 and Vinten blueBridge in Amsterdam

Review: FotoMagico 4

FotoMagico 4 from Boinx Software is the brainchild of computer engineer and passionate photographer Peter Baumgartner. The software helps you to create impressive digital slideshows using pictures and videos that you can easily share by choosing one of the many export presets for iPad, iPhone, web or DVD.

Review and Video: Vinten Vision Blue

The Vinten Vision Blue

Background

Vinten Fulmar pedestal

A few years ago I got a chance of buying a Vinten Fulmar pedestal with MK-7 head mounted on top, to support the 132 lbs weighting LDK-6, which was part of my TV camera collection. Although this pedestal has been used and abused in studios over the last couple of years to capture many of UK's television history, it still works perfectly smooth like it was build only yesterday.

And there's a good reason why Vinten products are being used for creating television productions all over the world. Their equipment is build to last, is extremely reliable and they belong at the top of camera support.

Vinten Vision Blue Tripod

The Vinten Vision Bue Tripod

<< UPDATE: Review and Video are now online. Click here to read it >>

Thanks to Peter Harman, Vinten's Product Manager, I will be able to review the Vinten Vision Blue tripod soon. I'm really looking forward to this, because I think this will be a great tripod for the Sony NEX-FS100. The Vision Blue head incorporates adjustable continuously variable counterbalance which enables you to dial in the exact amount of counter balance needed for your camera. It's also equipped with the Vinten lubricated friction (LF) technology, which provides smooth movement of the camera. The Vision Blue is completely designed with today's lightweight camcorders and DSLRs in mind and it is able to manage payloads between 4.6-11 lb (2.1-5 kg) with a low center of gravity of around 2.2” (55 mm).

Review: Blackbird Camera Stabilizer

The Blackbird Full Kit after unpacking everything

A few days ago I was asked by Camera Motion Research if I would like to try out their Blackbird Camera Stabilizer. A fantastic offer I just couldn't refuse, being the camera stabilizer fanatic that I am! And before I knew it, UPS came to my door and delivered the Blackbird.

3x Unboxing the Kessler Pocket Dolly

<< UPDATE: Video: NEX-FS100 on the Pocket Dolly >>

Anyone who has ever seen one of my videos, will know that I love to work with a moving camera. I have a Steadicam which gives me the freedom to steadily move the camera around in space, which I really like to use on shoots. But on some occasions you want a more subtle movement of your camera. That's why a few years ago, I came up with a solution which I thought hadn't been invented yet (haha!)...  A small long platform to put on your tripod, where you can mount your camera on top, to dolly it from one side to the other. Sounds good right? Well apparently that's why others also came up with this idea, which I found out, after I created a 3D model to visualize such a camera slider. Since I don't have the tools, resources, nor the skills to build my own camera slider (other then a 3D model, which is difficult to travel with...), you can imagine how happy I was to find out that sliders just had been invented and actually being build.

Now that you know a little bit about my history with camera sliders, you won't be surprised to hear that I bought one over a month ago. A month ago I tell you? Yes one month ago... one, un, en, ein, jeden, ένας, één, uno ...month ago. Then why not blog about it sooner - I hear you ask via your computer microphone or cool looking headset - ? Well, because I had a bit of a rough start with it. And with that being said, I hope you're happy to witness my first understatement of the day! ;)

Let me begin by saying that nobody is to blame. Not the store I bought it from, not the manufacturer and not me. Just a great example of bad luck rearing it's ugly head. But why is it alway's showing it's face to me, I ask..

Unpacking the Kessler Pocket Dolly V2.0 for the first time, looks awesome!

Review: Raincover for the NEX-FS100

The Sony NEX-FS100 with the Petrol PR410 raincover

I was looking for a raincover for the NEX-FS100 but couldn't find it anywhere. The camera has been out for several months but still no sight of a raincover. When you go to manufacturer website's you will find all type of camera's being mentioned, but none of them talks about the FS100. Maybe everyone is busy working on it, or we're just not allowed to take the NEX-FS100 outside?

I also searched on the B&H website and under 'Essential Accessories' for the NEX-FS100, they listed the Petrol - PR415 raincover. Officially it's being sold as a raincover for the Sony PMW-EX3, JVC GY-HD series and similar size camcorders, but apparently it should work fine for the NEX-FS100 as well. Unfortunately for me, it was out of stock and I really needed one for a shoot later that week. So I went on a search for this particular raincover, but I couldn't find it anywhere in stock. I started to look around for other raincovers that might be able to fit on the FS100 and found the Petrol PR410 Deca Transparent Raincover.