My Gear: Accessories
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As you move into the world of cinema and MANUAL FOCUS, you will want tools that help you achieve fine focus and also allow you to artistically throw focus wherever you want. |
I am missing out on one!
i don’t see the little magic arm thinks on this list.. or are those the Zonitor 15mm Studio Kit??!
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Hi Vincent,
Just to be sure: “Ergo if you are using a 14mm lens, or any cinema glass or the Zeiss ZEs – a matte box is absolutely essential.”
With a 14mm you won’t see the frame edges due to the field of view being too wide for a Matte box?
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:42 am
@Richard van den Boogaard, If you put the 14mm RIGHT up against the filter – you should be OK – but I do mean RIGHT up against it. Obviously you cannot put filters on the front of the 14mm or a CP.2
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Hi Vincent,
Have you ever tried the screw-on VariND filters from Singh-Ray for the EF lenses? This allows you to gradually control the light from 2 to 8 stops. I never leave home without it.
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:42 am
@Richard van den Boogaard, Doing a review on this shortly.
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Hi Vincent, it would be very useful a review about your choice about hard cases, bags, foams inserts or similar!
tks a lot for awesome section to choose gear.
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:42 am
@arturo, Coming soon…
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Since the cage only has three outputs, how do you power all five of your accesories: monitor, EVF, Blackmagic, Boxx transmitor, and follow focus?
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Harry Rabin Reply:
October 19th, 2010 at 6:12 am
@Pau, I pretty much have this same setup and you can use the DTAP on the battery as your 4th power connection to the accessory that draws the larger amount of current. For example I have the Bartech with the M-One motor which can draw up to or over 1 amp. On the Contineo cage you do NOT want to plug anything into it that will exceed 1 amp hence the DTAP connection. As for a 5th item well that’s another story and you may need an extra battery in the setup somewhere, like the Marshall monitor.
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Pau Reply:
October 19th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
@Harry Rabin, Thanks! So, correct me if I’m wrong, the battery plate has two outputs, one to the cage, and one to whatever other accesory.
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Carson Reply:
December 11th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
@Pau, The Viewfactor Contineo has three 12 VDC 1 AMP connectors on the cage… on your Anton Bauer or V-Mount mounting plate you can have an extra DTAP to use for any additional power connections (must use w/ powered items that draw more than 1 AMP).
This gives you 4 total power connections from 1 Anton Bauer or V-mount battery.
Carson
http://www.F9photo.com
http://twitter.com/F9photo
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Vincent tks a lot for cases advise, another question, I´ve a pair of bricks Anton Bauer Propac, how can I attach at rear of rods to send power? I can´t to see clear in video if you have a cheeseplate or any kind powerpod model from RRMicro.
tks a lot!
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hi, i’m the owner of a cinevate follow focus and not really comfortable with their lens gear, i’m thinking about taking the redrock ones. Do you think thats possible (cinevate ff + redrock lens gears)? thx
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Hi VL,
I was wondering if you use any Lightmeters and if so, which one, and the pros and cons of your personal choice of using one or not!
Thanks!
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Hi Vincent,
Do you use a ‘Hot Mirror’ or IR ND filters with the Canon camera’s?
Thanks
Derk
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 10:34 am
No – there is no need to – there is an IR filter built into the sensor/camera
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Do you use the Origo Start and Stop with your 7D?
How do you hook it up and is there a rod mount?
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How much wide angle can you get with the redrock micro mattebox? Let’s say we take a 5D II, how much wide angle (in mm) can you get without vignetting?
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
20mm usually depending on how many filters you have stacked… sometimes 16mm – 14mm too wide… v
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@Vincent Laforet, Awesome! Thank you really much for that quick answer 🙂 Not even the redrock customer support could answer that question.
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Hi Vincent,
The FADER FILTER you describe here is lacking reviews around the web (that’s the only one – but not least- i have actually found). According to you, these are superior to singh ray’s?
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I’m talking about the fader ND from FADER FILTER, not lightcaft ..
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
May 27th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Truth be told – I’d have to do some updated tests. I used some of the very first ones for the purposes of using them for the blog. I used Schneider filters myself with all my stuff (circular + rectangular) on a daily basis and have stepped away from these rotating filters. Let me see if I can get updated demos from both companies and do side by side results. The one I tested is a lightcraft and it works very well for video (stills you notice differences vs Schneider fixed filters.)
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Hi Vincent,
Thanks for the reviews. Really helped to decide between filters and hadn´t been able to find comprehensive advise from anywhere else on the web. Thanks for the input – much appreciated.
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
July 16th, 2011 at 12:47 pm
You’re welcome!
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Hi Vincent,
I would like to use a circular polarizing filter (screwed onto the lens, no matte box), but in order to shoot wide aperture video outdoors with a DSLR lens, I believe that I will need ND filters too. Stacking the ND and polarizing filters I am told will cause vignetting at wide angles, especially on full sensor cameras.
Do you have any suggestions on using a circular polarizing filter for wide angle video in sunlight, with out stacking filters and the resulting vignette?
Thanks so much for all your time put into this blog, it’s been extremely beneficial to me!
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
December 13th, 2011 at 12:44 am
As long as you get the correct diameter you should be fine. When you go wider than 24mm you start running into problems and do end up needing the larger drop in filters…
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Hey Vincent,
I recently bought a 5D mk ii w/ the 24-70mm lens. What would you say is a good starter ND screw on filter for this lens? I use the camera mainly for video. I would preferably like to be in the $70-100 range.
Thanks for such a great blog!
Ryan
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Hey Vincent,
What ND filter do you recommend in the $70-100 price range? I am using it mainly for film. I am using a canon 5d mkii with a 24-70mm L lens.
Thanks
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
January 7th, 2012 at 6:03 am
Schneiders and Tiffens are excellent
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Hi Vincent, Great work!
I’m using a variable ND 77mm. All my lenses are mod to accept 77mm (except my 16-35mm) so my ND fits all my lenses. I don’t own a matte box (yet). I’m wondering what would be the best way to use a polarizer and the my ND at the same time. Or maybe it’s bad idea because of the lost in the quality of image.
Thanks
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 8:50 am
You could get into some serious loss of image issues indeed. When you start to STACK filters – then I recommend you go to MatteBox and 4X 5.65 filters.
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Hi Vincent,
I’ve a plan to control a 5dm2 on a TDT remote crane, but do you know if it’s possible to start/stop filming with a pocket wizard?
And how long can be a HDMI cable??
The remote follow focus from red rock micro isn’t ready yet, so is it worth to buy a Impero Follow focus?
My plan is to shoot it with the canon 50mm 1.2.
Very nice blog and work, i follow you daily, great tips and a lot of inspiration! Thanks.
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I haven’t found many reliable ways to start/stop the camera… there is a cheap Canon IR unit that works (but not a great distances.) I haven’t heard of any wireless units other than that -anyone else out there know of any?
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Hi Vincent,
I would like to use a variable ND on my 60D, mainly for filming. I read a lot of reviews wich pointed out the problems of vignetting, wider than 50mm and color shifting. Is this true for all the variable filters (the reviews I read were about LIGHT CRAFT WORSKSHOP filters)? In filming this create as much problem as in still? How do you solved the problem? Mattebox is the only way??
Thanks
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
March 9th, 2012 at 7:43 am
We’re going to do a review on all of these filters very soon…
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Hi Vincent, great info!
You talked about how it’s best to shoot the flattest video image with the widest range of exposure possible, how would you use the polarizer to get that rich look in film while still maintaining the flat image for post?
thanks again for the insights!
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
March 27th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
The polarizer will still have the same desired effect – notably w/ creating darker skies, richer vegetation colors and of course reflections.
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Hi Vince,
Thank you for being such a great outlet of inspiration, Keep up the good job. I was wondering wich Follow Focus System do you use?, Have you used Red Rocks Microremote do you think it`s worth the wait, have you tried Jag35?Wich one would you use?
Thank you
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I use the new RedRock FF – very nice. I also like (more expensive) Arri FF2 and O’Connor FF.
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i’m curious… is there any trick film makers use to darken windows? i think if there is a way i could put up something to darken windows it could be very helpful… your thoughts?!
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
August 7th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Sure – they make ND gels to cut down light – you just need to get a roll and cut a piece to the size of your window.
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My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different website and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to exploring your web page repeatedly.
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Hi, Vincent, thank you for info.
What do you think about RedRock microRemote? Which wireless (remote) FF you use?
Thanx
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
March 7th, 2013 at 3:42 am
For the price I think it’s fantastic. I use Prestons on bigger shoots – but I don’t own one… a bit too price 😉 I do own the new RedRock microRemote…
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I haven’t really used ND since my medium/large format days. I’m re-buying ND’s for my matte box now. Do I need to be concerned about IR or using a “hot mirror” filter? It doesn’t look like it’s on your list.
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Vincent Laforet Reply:
May 21st, 2013 at 10:41 pm
W/ the RED Epic it can help. Most cameras: not necessary. When you get past .9NDs you might want it in general…
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Is there any links where we can check reviews of the gears
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Very informative, thank you. Alas, most of these are not available where I work. Must find alternatives.
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