Here is a super cool DIY four foot soft light solution by Michael Sutton of Frozen Prosperity.

This looks light a great way to add a soft source without breaking the bank. Here is th breakdown by Mike Sutton.

Click here to check it out.

Click here to check out Mike’s work.

Thanks!

“Here is what you will need to make my 4 foot soft light wand with remote on/off, dimming, strobe, etc.

1x Co-RODE DC 12V 300LED 5630 LED Strip. $18.99 on Amazon Prime

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018JGD4I6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

1x LE Mini Remote controller for Single color LED. Dimmer, etc. $5.45 Amazon Prime

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHKCTLE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01

1x PCB LED connector 10pcs $2.99 Amazon Prime

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MB9H9XE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01

1x Metalux Clear Bulb Guard $3.68 at Lowes

 http://www.lowes.com/pd_280611-337-TG04T8-MP12___?productId=50061745&pl=1&Ntt=fluorescent+tube+protector

1x ClosetMaid 8’ White Shelf Liner (used as diffusion and as a LED strip Carrier insert) $7.98 at Lowes you can also use other diffusion material but this is cheap and thick.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_346097-362-1127___?productId=3373768&pl=1&Ntt=closet+maid+shelf+liner

A flashlight for a handle or PVC pipe. Flashlights are cheap $5-15. A piece of PVC $2.99.  When front end removed battery canister must be a diameter that will fit the metalux bulb guard tube.  Then just use mini screws or hot glue to affix it.

Some electrical tape $.99 to affix the metalux bulb guard end cap and to prevent light from coming out the end of the tube.

12V battery block (bescor, Kessler magpack, etc)  or this $11.99 cheapy

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YH9Z16I?keywords=12v%20battery%20lithium%20ion&qid=1453664728&ref_=sr_1_18&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&rps=1&sr=8-18

Total Cost = $67.07

assuming you are using a $15 flashlight versus one you already have or just a piece of PVC pipe.

Cut a 2” wide 48” long strip of the ClosetMaid White Shelf liner or thick opaque diffusion material.  Use a ruler to make sure it’s a straight cut.  The LED strips on the roll have 3M Adhesive on the back.  For your first strip make sure its the one that has the power connector.  Now line up that LED strip onto the 2” x 48” white liner you just cut along the edge. Leave some length on the bottom where the power connector attaches. Remove the backing and affix it to the liner. Run it upto the top edge.  Overlap the LED strip so that you get a cut point about an inch or two above the liner edge. You want the LED strips longer than the liner and you want them to each end on a cut point as you will be using the PCB connectors to link the cut strips together.  Now take you next length of LED strip (should be same length as last one. This one you will lay next to the strip you just affixed but the positive and negative should be the opposite of your first strip end. Example + – on first strip then strip next to it will be – +   Affix the strip to the liner and cut it at the end point. Again overlapping the liner like the first strip.  Use one of the PCB LED connectors and connect positive to positive negative to negative.  You will see the connectors will now line up.  Now do this same process with two more strips. Now your third strip will be same same as the first + – and your fourth will be like your second – +

Next step is to cut an 8” wide x 48” long strip of the liner material and roll it up so that it fits nicely into the Metalux Bulb Guard Tube.  Keep the seem straight. Feel free to use scotch tape to assist in making it straight. Now you have a nicely diffused tube that your LED liner will be inserted into.

Now take your liner that has 4x LED strips with PCB connectors and a power input cord and curve the end and insert it into the Metalux Guard Bulb tube all the way down so the connectors hang out the end. Make sure it is straight and tape down the ends if your curve isn’t staying.  Tuck the connectors on the end back into the tube. With electrical tape affix the Bulb Guard Cap onto the end.   Attach the power dongle from the remote control to the power input of the light strip.  Use some tape on the connector to ensure it does not come loose.

Next take your flashlight and remove the front end (bulb, reflector batteries, etc) and drill a hole wide enough for the remote control power dongle end to fit though.  or just use a PVC tube and end cap (drill hole for remote power dongle to hang out of.).  Affix your light with remote dongle into the cavity of the flashlight or PVC tube for at least three inches.  Once you find a place you like, either use screws or hot glue to affix your new handle.

Lastly take the power terminal that came with the LED strip lights and attach it to your power lead on the battery you have chosen.  If you chose the cheapy battery I listed then you just have to plug that in directly.

Now shoot some shit will your cool ass soft light wand.”

Michael Sutton

Twitter @MNS1974

www.frozenprosperity.com

Red has been teasing a sub $6K 4K capable camera for a few days. Now they have announced some of the specifications and pricing. The base price will be around $6K US. The camera is metal, not plastic with a fixed Canon EF mount and will include wifi and a microphone. The complete package will set you back around ten grand. Here is a rip from redraven.red.

Click here to check it out.

Source: Redraven.red

Here is a quick lens test we did with the new Zeiss Milvus Nikon mount lenses. The Milvus name comes from the bird Milvus migrans Wiki Def here. “The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.” The new style rubber housing is similar to the Zeiss Otus line of lenses and is very smooth and accurate. We used a dead head Sony E to Nikon mount adapter with the 21mm, 35mm, 50mm and 100mm lenses at a local pool hall here in Los Angeles.

No permits or permission, we simply just got a few friends together and shot the test while we were playing pool. We shot with the new Sony A7r mark 2 at 800 ISO for the interior shots and 25,000 ISO for the DTLA city shot. The steady shot worked quite well with these lenses. I left a little handheld shake in there to get a better feel for how it will handle. Let’s hope they continue this new exterior style to other lens mounts in the future.

Here is a rip from the ZEISS website.

Click here to check out pricing and availability from BH Photo.

Click here to check it out. 

Click here to download the DTLA exterior shot. Thanks!

“Redefine the limits of your creativity – with the new ZEISS Milvus lens family. It will initially consist of the following six focal lengths with ZE- or ZF.2-mounts compatible with SLR cameras from Canon and Nikon : ZEISS Milvus 2.8/21, ZEISS Milvus 2/35, ZEISS Milvus 1.4/50, ZEISS Milvus 1.4/85, as well as the macro lenses ZEISS Milvus 2/50M and ZEISS Milvus 2/100M. Further focal lengths will be added to the ZEISS Milvus lens family over the next few years.

The ZEISS Milvus lens family with precise manual focus offers high and consistent image performance across all focal lengths. They are ideal for current DSLR cameras and also for mirrorless system cameras of the Sony α7 series via an adapter solution.”

Here are a few BTS Still from the shoot.

A HUGE Thanks to Maya and Emilia for helping out with the shoot.

SmallHD has announced a new 702 super bright daylight viewable monitor. This looks like a great solution to smaller cameras and gimbal rigs for daylight monitoring. The new 702 Bright is not cheap. It will set you back around fifteen hundred smackers. Here is a rip from the SmallHD website.

Click here for more info.

Display

Canon has announced a new 8K cinema camera. A desperate attempt to keep up with Sony. Don’t believe the HYPE Remember the hair dryer?  Even if this cameras drops it will cost a fortune and will not compete with current Sony Or Panasonic gear. This announcement is so sad it makes me want to sell my 5D all over again. Here is The Lame Press Release
Red Shark News.

Here is a snap of the purposed new camera and monitor. from http://www.canonrumors.com

Sony announced the new a7RII with 4K internal recording. This is the camera I have ben waiting for. It’s not cheap at around three grand for the body only. A Full Frame forty two mega pixel 4K beast sounds really nice! Here is a rip from the BH Photo website.

Click here to check it out.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

• 42 MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X Image Processor
• Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log2 Gamma
• 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
• 399 Phase-Detect AF Points & 5 fps Burst
• 0.5″ 2.36M-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder EVF
• 3.0″ 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
• ISO 102,400 and Silent Shutter Mode
• Durable Reduced-Vibration Shutter Design
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC

***UPDATE*** Looks like they might have figured out the error. Link no longer works. Bummer.

Mike Sutton of Frozen Prosperity found this killer deal on the Sony a7R camera. It’s either an error or the biggest price drop I have ever seen. The list on this puppy is $2299. Sony has it now for $199. I ordered one. Let’s just hope they honor the advertised price. A HUGE THANKS to Mike Sutton!

Check him out here. 

Click here to get your Sony a7R for $199

Dave Aldrich of D|Focus has a killer Kickstarter campaign for his new web series “Dreaming Awake” I have worked with him on a few of these shoots and he has access to the top hang glider pilots in the world. They are almost at their goal and could use a little help. They have some great camera related rewards. Here is a rip from the KS page.

Click here to check it out.

“Hang gliding is the ultimate realization of one of man’s oldest dreams, true bird like flight. No cockpit, no engines, no mechanical controls, just you, the wing and the air. This beautiful pastime has brought immeasurable joy to thousands of people that have been able to realize their lifelong dream of flight. Dreaming Awake is a web series that aims to showcase this by highlighting the unique people and places that make up hang gliding today. Hang gliders are colorful, elegant aircraft that operate in some of the most beautiful, natural environments in the world. This deserves documentation with a very high level of production quality, utilizing only high quality cinematic cameras and advanced stabilized aerial camera platforms. GoPros are excellent cameras for the money and ease of use, but we strive for something greater than your average youtube gopro flick.”

The new 25mm f2.0 and 85mm f1.8 are like baby Otus lenses. They have a similar feel and build quality. I got the chance to check them out briefly and they will be a killer addition to any Sony E mount camera. The digital read out will be great in low light situations and seems to be the future of lenses. These should be great for both stills and motion. News Shooter has them priced at around $1300 for the 25mm and $1200 for the 85mm.

For mor info go to thephoblographer.com

Here is a rip from the PR release.

Technical data ZEISS Batis 2/25

Zeiss Batis 85mm f1.8

Technical data ZEISS Batis 1.8/85

Read more at http://www.thephoblographer.com/2015/04/22/the-new-zeiss-batis-lenses-have-an-oled-screen/#BK4J2GlczQJEtqR1.99

Here is the new Exhauss exo skeleton system. This looks like a good option for long days of handheld gimbal work. Adam was just an attendee and gave us his take on it while wearing the system. The base price is $5500 US. Available now at Abel Cine.

Click here to check it out.