CANON 5D MK III FIRMWARE UPDATE v 1.2.1

Posted on April 30, 2013 by HDSLR NOW

Quick Tips from HDSLRnow

Well after nearly 6 months of waiting, its finally here … the 5d mk iii firmware upgrade that enables clean video out of the hdmi port.

No doubt this clean HDMI output function has been a highly anticipated firmware update for one of Canon’s flagship EOS camera bodies – the 5D MK III – for a variety of reasons.

For out testing purposes, we used the Atomos Ninja 2 .. in our book – the best value in external video recorders on the market today. The flexibility of the unit is great, from the various codecs to the quality of the monitor and its professional features such as focus assist, peaking, zebras and false color.

On the camera side, we used a Neutral Flat picture style setting on the 5D MK III.

We shot with both IPB and ALL-I modes internally on the MK III, and the ProRes LT setting on the Ninja 2.

In post we applied the same sharpening, vibrancy and luminence curve to each clip.

Our results show an enhancement in color regarding the Ninja 2 Pro Res LT clip.

Image clarity was very close close, as you can see in this comparison of the ProRes and ALL-I at a 250% scale.

That’s it for now … we invite you to follow us on twitter @HDSLRnow.

Posted in Canon, Canon 5D Mk III, Firmware | Comments Off

LA CROSSE ALPHAPOWER BC700 BATTERY CHARGER

Posted on April 22, 2013 by HDSLR NOW

Quick Tips from HDSLRnow.

Battery chargers may not be your first concern, but it is safe to say they are an important tool in your HDSLR kit.

The La Crosse Alpha Power BC 700 is an affordable, versatile charger which has capabilities the typical AA or AAA charger does not offer:

For example …. batteries are charged on separate channels and have their own LED indicator gauge.

Why is this advantageous?

The majority of chargers on the market do not re-charge each battery separately — usually, they charge in pairs — or in some cases — all on the same channel.

The result is you might get one or two fully charged batteries, but the unit shuts down at that time — leaving the remaining cells only partially charged.

The BC700 also features overheat detection. At full charge, the unit switches into a trickle charge mode to maintain full charge and thus extending the life of the battery.

The unit has a “refresh” mode — essentially erasing any memory and returning the cell to its original state.

This can take several days as the charger will drain and recharge the cell multiple times in order to regain full capacity. This process is recommended every 3 or 4 months.

The unit also has a test mode that measures capacity, a discharge mode for complete draining, and a speed mode which controls charge duration — a fast mode for speed and a slower mode for quality.

All in all, the BC 700 is a great tool to have in your HDSLR arsenal … and you cannot beat the price of $35.

That’s it for now, we invite you to follow us on twitter @ HDSLR now.

Posted in Accessory, Battery Charger | Comments Off

DIY WEATHERPROOF YOUR CAMERA

Posted on March 25, 2013 by HDSLR NOW

Quick Tips from HDSLRnow

Recently we were out shooting time lapse sequences on location for a documentary film and we happened to run into some rainy weather.

Rather than bag it and re-schedule, we had a simple DIY solution for protecting our camera.

We carry several sheets of waterproof Gore-Tex with us and — along with a couple of rubber bands — we are able to provide adequate protection to our camera and lens.

Having the Carry Speed “Swivi” viewfinder attached to the live view screen makes it very easy to secure the back end.

Obviously, this solution may not be suited for high wind, driving rainstorm conditions, but most of the time – it works fine.

Gore Tex is a terrific waterproof material and is sold by the yard online … while the 2 rubber bands came off our Sunday newspaper.

Total investment, about $15.

That’s it for now …

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Gore-Tex Fabric Resellers:
Ebay Reseller
rockywoods.com
Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics

Posted in Accessory, DIY, Waterproof, WeatherProof | Comments Off

SIRUI T-1205X TRIPOD AND G-10 BALLHEAD

Posted on February 25, 2013 by HDSLR NOW

If you are in the market for a lightweight, high performance carbon fiber travel tripod, you may want to consider the The Sirui T-1205X Tripod and G-10 Ballhead (best price click here).

Backed by a 6 year manufacturer warranty, this Chinese built tripod and ballhead combination gives its more expensive competitors a run for their money.

The T-1205X tripod is torture tested to work in temperatures of 40 below zero Farenheit … up to 212 degrees Farenheit, which may come in handy on your next trip to Mars.

Independent lab testing of the leg angle locks have been shown to withstand 100,000 actuation’s.

The tripod weighs a scant 1 and three quarter pounds.

Its maximum extended height is 51.3 inches while its minimum is a bit over 5″.

It folds up to very compact 15 and three quarter inches.

And best of all, it can handle a 22lb payload.

The Sirui G-10 bllhead is made of aviation grade aluminum alloy — with separate adjustment knobs for panning, friction control and head locking, provide maximum control and flexibility.

The panning base is designed with a 360 degree dial, while the quick release plate features a bubble level.

The G-10 weighs in at a little over a half pound, it has a front back tilt of plus or minus 180 degrees, pan of 180, and side tilt of plus or minus 90.

And similar to the tripod, the ballhead has an amazing load capacity … 44 pounds.

So there is a lot to like with this combo, from the carbon fiber legs, the lightweight and compact profile, the hook for added stability, and of course the high load capacity.

The only downside — at least with this particular model — is no spiked feet. Plus … if you prefer lever locking tripod legs, the twist locks are the standard configuration.

We’ve been using the T-1205X and G-10 for the past 6 months and have been happy with its performance, portability, and price point.

That’s it for now, we invite you to follow us on Twitter.

Posted in Sirui, Tripod | Comments Off