Level Grip iPhone Camera Support

You guys want cheap, we got cheap. If you shoot video with an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or a Video Nano, point your internets over to the Level Grip site and drop 10 bucks for the basic Level Grip. The Level Grip is a plexiglass pistol grip that slides over your iPhone providing it with a rock solid support for hand holding the camera phone when shooting video. Its much more natural and ergo form factor for shooting level and steady video footage. I got a Level Grip a few weeks ago and now it goes everywhere with me. The iPhone 3G isn't my ideal camera for acquiring video, but its always with me, and with the Level Grip its alot better to shoot with. And its cheap. 10 dollars.

The Level Grip website also has other supports for flash based video devices like the Kodak Zi8.

Level Grip Website



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GoPro HD Smart Car Rig

Another quick GoPro video with Director of Photography Osvaldo Silvera. In the first video he introduced you to the camera and a few of the accessories. In the second video Ozzie shows in detail in person kit that he has used on several well known reality shows and docu-series. In this video Ozzie puts the gear to work attaching the GoPro to the front windshield of a Smart Car using the suction cup mounts. He also puts the camera on the outside of the car with the same results.



Bottom line, this sub $300 specialty camera is a must have for any type of do it yourself Cinematographer or Videographer. The creative possibilities are endless. Just keep in mind that it is a specialty camera with the 170 degree fisheye field of view and is not something that you would want to film an nentire movie with, but for the special shots, or situations that prohibit a standard camera from being used the GoPro is the go to camera. We own a half dozen of them, and are gonna buy more. Now get out there and make videos!

GoPro Website.

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Youtube Update - Unlisted Videos

This week Youtube rolled a small update to the Privacy control of users uploaded videos. The new feature is called Unlisted Videos. In the check box where you used to just be able to designate a video for public or private distribution, users can now opt into Unlisted Videos. Basically it means that viewers need a direct link to watch a particular video. The old way Youtube did this was to allow up to 25 people to be invited to watch a video. Now its link based meaning you can send the video to anyone and anyone that has the link can watch the video. Youtube cautions users to share Unlisted Video links only with people that they trust.

I see a huge possibility for generating Viral momentum via the link sharing. Unlisted Videos have the ability to create a demand for links beyong just stumbling onto someone's Youtube channel. You actually need the link. I predict the big power will use the Unlisted Video links like a ticket to exclusivity and these valuable video links will be in high demand. I already have a few videos that I will probably change to Unlisted. Got links?

LENSWARS: Rocket Blower Vs. Blower Brush

Starting at the very basics we are gonna begin with a very important exercise. Cleaning the lens. First step is to gently remove any visible dirt. For that you need a Blower. I hate canned air. This video looks at the two most popular models. The Giotto Rocket Blower vs. The standard Brush Blower.

QIK Video on iPhone Finally!

Techcrunch - Apple must be in full Holiday mode because they just approved the Qik Video streaming App, on the heals of the recently released UStream App. Head on over to Techcrunch to read all about it, they do this better. I just look out for the folks.

Nikon D300S with Video

NIKON D300S - Well here it is the ultimate convergence camera for the ages. The camera that can do anything and will do everything. Really? Not Really. But if you wanna swim against the rip tide and use a DSLR for making videos by all means grab your Black Card and run to the nearest Best Buy.

Looking for a more serious review of the new Nikon photographic imaging gadget? DPREVIEW takes this stuff a little more seriously.

Note - I have heard rumors that the thing overexposes in Matrix metering mode!

VIRAL VIDEO LINKS

YOUTUBE Blog - New Channel Design Announced

DPREVIEW - Sandisk's New Super Fast 32GB SD Card

WIRED - Porn Cums to iPhone App Store

DUSTIN DIAZ Photography - Inspiring 365 Project. Learn about light!

One Man Band - The art of the close up shot. Composition.

iPhone 3GS video vs. Point and Shoot

All the Apple douches and tech fanboys and the neckbeards that worship at the alter of Leo LaPorte are squeezing themselves in glee over the announcement of a new model iPhone. I have no opinion on any of the features announced other than it being announced that the new iPhone 3GS will have video recording. WOW! Whoopdee fucking doooo! I'm not a hater. I got a regular old 3G iPhone and I use the camera. I even use the effective 12seconds.tv app to post triptic faux video on the the 12 timeline. And I'll concede that its better to have footage of Jimmy Page jamming at a Blues Bar in South Beach that was shot on a phone than to not have it all. But of you are reading this blog, you are looking for more than catching the luck of having the lowest level camera at the right place at the right time. And that means you carry cameras, and if you carry cameras everywhere you go, than an iPhone Video camera just happens to be the last gadget available in the worst case Ontario photo opportunity. In other words get a real camera that records video. Even the Point and Shoots capture great video. I use a Leica D-Lux 3. Its 640 X 480 Quicktime video, no big wupp, but its maintains alot of the bells and whistles that Panasonic and Leica crammed into their mass market Point and Shoot. So instead of a match head speck of glass, I have the Leica optics, extras memory cards, extra batteries, form factor, a tripod vagina, and some pretty sophisticated controls that all fit in the front pocket of my jeans (I'm original Hip Hop Style so I wear baggy) Of course its lame to speculate about a device or camera that I have never actually laid my hands on. But trust me, its a droppy dog. Its fine for the masses that just shoot goofy video clips like blowing out birthday candles and other assorted Heineken moments. In conclusion there is nothing wrong with having an iPhone 3GS that shoots video, just make sure you gotta something better than that at all times. And make sure you got extra cards and extra batteries like a real video shooter.

VIDEO ENCODING & WIDESCREEN

One of the questions I'm asked the most is about video encoding. Which codecs to employ to get the best results when the videos are posted to the web, specifically places like Youtube. I must be in the minority because I don't really judge online video content by the quality of the resolution but I digress. The Best DVD Editing Software webpage has a blog up about video encoding and has all the numbers and technical crap you need to hog bandwidth. Nevermind that I think that the widescreen format doesn't work cinematically with most online videos. But its what the people want, and what the people want, they get. If you know your cinema history, and know why the widescreen format was invented then you know what its used for as a visual storytelling tool. If you don't, then you are probably just happy that your camera shoots in 16 x 9 and think its better to shoot widescreen than it is to shoot 4 x 3. Here is a hint, the aspect ratio or aperture should be in direct proportion to how many eyeballs are gonna be in the frame at one time and how to maintain the rule of thirds when keeping the eyeballs in the frame. If you have 2 eyeballs in most of your frames, shoot 4 x 3. If there are gonna be 4 eyeballs, shoot widescreen. Of course that leaves us with that to do with horses and western vistas.

42nd St. and Youtube

Have you seen the utterly pathetic offering that Youtube is proud to announce? I know its only the first round of movies and shows, but most of them are really really bad, in the public domain, or just about unwatchable. Its like Youtube is now the $1.00 Closeout bin at the front of the video store. I'm not gonna bash Night of The Living Dead cause its one of my all time favorite films. But isn't it funny, that a movie that was made by friends in Pittsburgh for barely no money, went uber viral via drive in movie theaters and made gazillions before falling into Public Domain becaue of paper mistake is now being pimped by Google as blue ribbon content. There is irony there folks.

Bottom line, all we can do is keep making content. I'm not afraid of Dario Argento and his lilttle Giallo movies or any of that other trash that Youtube thinks is gonna pull its own weight. Cause its not. Its gonna sit there, unwatched but for a few fanboys of obscure Italian horror films. Trickle trickle trickle.

VIDEOTECH - LINKS

NEWS VIDEOGRAPHER | Its not the Camera Its Who Is Behind It

NOTE - Working for MTV this week so I wont be updating often.

Twitter if you must.

LINK - The Art Of Seeing | EDFAT

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SCHOOL has an excellent short essay about learning how to work a system of photography. Alot of the EDFAT system applies to using a video camera as well; however, you dont turn a video camera sideways. Vloggers could learn a thing or two about dynamics and establishing shots and framing. A camera is a camera. Youtube is filled with people that don't know how to use one. Articles like this can help.

NEW CANON EOS 500D VIDEO? HAHAHAHA

THE ONLINE PHOTOGRAPHER just posted a piece on the new CANON EOS 500D DSLR camera that specs out with HD Video. The blog distanced itself from the video specs which was actually pretty cool. The article picks up steam in the comments section where readers are commenting that the 500D does 1080 video at 20FPS. Are you kidding me? What was Canon thinking? That Buster Keaton look is coming back? Or maybe you can change the shutter speed and get that Saving Private Ryan look? I don't think so. I think its a weak attempt at avoiding a full pit stop in this camera rat race that these manufacturers have placed themselves into. And its a stop gap replacement for an already overwhelmed and confused customer base. 1080 at 20fps is a waste of time. These camera makers really step up and make a video feature that is worth using, and that means 30P, 24P in drop and non frame drop modes and decent audio inputs and control. In other words, you aint gonna see me shooting video on a DSLR anytime in the near future.

VIRAL VIDEOTECH UPDATES

CHRISTOPHER AVE - Tips for recording better voiceovers and interview audio.

TWIP - Basics of Light revisited.

DPS - The Art of Panning. (for stills but principles also apply to video)

YOUTUBE - Vancouver Film School Youtube Scholarship

GETTING ADAPTED | AUDIO VIDEO

NEWS VIDEOGRAPHER - Great little article on using adapters to connect consumer cameras to professional audio video gear. In a perfect world none of these God forsaken electronics companies would use proprietary connectors, plugs, and cables on their cameras and gear, and ultimately all the gear would play nicely together. For example you wouldn't have compatibility issues when using SONY with MAC products but you do cause they all have to make a special little plug that only works with their special little cable. It makes me sick.

ZS4 - FREE VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE

T@B - Just a heads up out there, I came across this free video editing software called ZS4, its cross platform which means it works on Mac and Windows. I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet, as I am in the middle of several commercial projects and dont have the luxury to test the water nor the time of a new learning curve of a new video editor. But its out there, and I plan on giving it a test drive once I have the time. Well what are you waiting for, go grab it, use it and report back. Is ZS4 anygood?

Videomaker Starter Kit and Panning the Camera

Gear - I was checking out MediaStorm and came across this page that details a basic shooting package for the low cost of $18,636! Its all nice gear no doubt, too bad we can't all run out and get it. In fairness, the professional gear listed here is pretty close to my run-and-gun package (except I use Sony instead of Canon) that took me a few years to acquire. In reality you can get into the video making game much cheaper, as long as you know what you need and how to get it cheap.

Technique - Consumer Video Tips has an article up about how to pan the camera the correct way. Really you need a serious tripod but for starting out the tips dont hurt. Slow it down now!

VIDEOTECH UPDATES

TECHCRUNCH - CAN VIRAL VIDEOS BE REPEATED? Techcrunch takes a look at the Evolution of Dance videos and how the success of the videos affects each other. Since the videos are related the success of the 2nd EOD video is actually increasing the growth of the first video. The comments also have some good stuff.

YOUTUBE HOME PAGE GOES HD - Just click to view in High Quality.

LUMIX HYBRID CAMERA

DP REVIEW - New Panasonic Lumix camera the DMC-ZS3/TZ7 is a point and shoot that shoots something called AVCHD Lite video and also claims to capture good 48khz audio. This looks like an awesome carry everywhere pocket camera that shoots terrific still and can grab some usable video with audio if you need it to. Most of us have video mode on our point and shoots for a few years now. The video quality is better in some cameras than in other but it really the audio performance that has been lacking since most of these cameras have some sort of pinhole condenser microphone. The ability to grab video clips with usable audio on a point and shoot great and since these little cameras are so small you really have no excuse not to grab special video moments, anywhere.

VIRAL VIDEOTECH UPDATES

YOUTUBE - For some of the nerds out there that drink and comment this is probably a good thing. Youtube will now allow users to delete their own comments. For those times when you just wish you could take that back. Youtube is Social, and commenting on videos is an effective way of reaching out to other Youtubers. Now you can go back and erase all that crap you were talking.


CONSUMERVIDEOTIPS - WHICH VIDEO ACCESSORIES DO YOU NEED? - Scott blogged about the items you will need when you are just starting to build your video package. He's got some great suggestions. I added a few to the comments on his blog. Check em out.


REELSEO has a collection of links on how to maximize your videos for sharing and Youtube. I'm weary of so called Video SEO's but this seems like a good list of tips you can do on your own, let me know how it works out.