Video of Sarasota's Iconcept where Art Meets Fashion.
Editing on Final Cut Pro and shot with a Canon 7D.
Video Here
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
4 Things I've Learned About Republicans Lately
1) They will come up to you bashing Obama thinking you think like them just because you are white.
2) Obama is responsible for the oil leak and now the floods in Nashville.
3) When you joke with them that a solution to the oil leak is to 'bomb it', they think that is a great idea.
And 4) If they know you are an Obama supporter they will come up to you and ask, "Well, how are you liking your change now?" with a grin on their face like they just asked the killer question. Of course that smirk goes away when you answer, "Excellent, better than expected." They haven't thought past a response like that yet.
2) Obama is responsible for the oil leak and now the floods in Nashville.
3) When you joke with them that a solution to the oil leak is to 'bomb it', they think that is a great idea.
And 4) If they know you are an Obama supporter they will come up to you and ask, "Well, how are you liking your change now?" with a grin on their face like they just asked the killer question. Of course that smirk goes away when you answer, "Excellent, better than expected." They haven't thought past a response like that yet.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Cheap China Batteries for Canon 5D and 7D
I bought a couple of Li-ion batteries from a Chinese vendor on eBay for about $20 for charger and batteries. They came in about 12 days.
This vendor had good feedback from other Canon EOS purchasers who bought these batteries, so I thought I would give it a try.
Upon careful inspection the charger looks cheaply made. The contacts to charge the battery are thin tin or some other material. I had to straighten them out some with needle nose pliers.
The batteries also have cheap contacts. What is disturbing about the contacts is they are not 'all contact' contacts, but rather two plates with two small pin size dimples pointing inward. I tested it to see if they were sharp by running an exacto knife in them and seeing it the blade was scratched. It wasn't, but I wanted to be sure before I stick these things in my 7D. I don't say this is the best test as blades are pretty hard metal and hard to scratch anyway.
The next thing I did after charging them up was check the voltage. 5D and 7D runs off of 7.4VDC. These batteries were measured at 8.4VDC even though they are listed as 7.4VDC. I'm hoping and thinking there is overvoltage protection in the 7D. One would think this high end circuitry would have that. It may be also that the voltage will drop to something more the 7D and 5D uses upon receiving it's load.
I have not put them in my camera yet, but I will since I haven't heard of any trouble from other users on them.
It's a risk I know, but so is life.
This vendor had good feedback from other Canon EOS purchasers who bought these batteries, so I thought I would give it a try.
Upon careful inspection the charger looks cheaply made. The contacts to charge the battery are thin tin or some other material. I had to straighten them out some with needle nose pliers.
The batteries also have cheap contacts. What is disturbing about the contacts is they are not 'all contact' contacts, but rather two plates with two small pin size dimples pointing inward. I tested it to see if they were sharp by running an exacto knife in them and seeing it the blade was scratched. It wasn't, but I wanted to be sure before I stick these things in my 7D. I don't say this is the best test as blades are pretty hard metal and hard to scratch anyway.
The next thing I did after charging them up was check the voltage. 5D and 7D runs off of 7.4VDC. These batteries were measured at 8.4VDC even though they are listed as 7.4VDC. I'm hoping and thinking there is overvoltage protection in the 7D. One would think this high end circuitry would have that. It may be also that the voltage will drop to something more the 7D and 5D uses upon receiving it's load.
I have not put them in my camera yet, but I will since I haven't heard of any trouble from other users on them.
It's a risk I know, but so is life.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Studio4 Productions Focus Puller or Indifocus
I have a Canon 7D DSLR and love it. But the challenge with any HD video machine with great DOF (Depth of Field) is keeping the focus where you want it.
Hence, the onslaught of 'Focus Pullers' as they are called. Mechanical devices that help you do the job of focusing.
After looking at several focus pullers I came to the decision to try the Indifocus Focus Puller made by Studio4 Productions.
The first problem I had was getting the item. It took about 4 weeks to get the item. During that time they never answered one email on the status. I created a 'chargeback' issue with PayPal of which Studio4 Productions never responded to. I was about to close the case when it finally showed up. Still no email correspondence with Studio4.
My first impression was "This is a pile of junk". After looking it over it is a conglomeration of off the shelf parts that probably cost about $20 which I don't have a problem with, but the main issue is the operation. First of all, the gear that operates the toothed belt that goes around your focus ring does not mesh. The gear tooth spacing and the belt spacing have a different pitch. They could have said "put a rubber band around your focus ring" and it would have worked better that this toothed strap which looks like it came from a car power window rack and pinion system. Second, the 'strap' that goes around your focus ring is very stiff, is almost impossible to securely fit on the focus ring (which by the way you have to attach foam pads to the strap or it will not work at all and they are cheap).
The other issue I have with this is the block that attaches to your rods is rough sawed metal that looks cheap as hell and is about as heavy as lead.
So my second impression after trying to make this work was, "Yep, this is a pile of junk". I have no hope of contacting them and returning the item as they say on there website they may or may not accept returns and as they have not replied to me by email on the shipping issue, I'm not going to waste my time. I'm also not going to put this junk on someone else by selling it on eBay. What I'm going to do is dump it in the trash, look up at the sky and say, "Dad, you were right. If you buy cheap, you buy twice."
I'm off to find a decent focus puller. Enjoy my $200 or so bucks Studio4. Have fun selling useless junk to other filmmakers.
Hence, the onslaught of 'Focus Pullers' as they are called. Mechanical devices that help you do the job of focusing.
After looking at several focus pullers I came to the decision to try the Indifocus Focus Puller made by Studio4 Productions.
The first problem I had was getting the item. It took about 4 weeks to get the item. During that time they never answered one email on the status. I created a 'chargeback' issue with PayPal of which Studio4 Productions never responded to. I was about to close the case when it finally showed up. Still no email correspondence with Studio4.
My first impression was "This is a pile of junk". After looking it over it is a conglomeration of off the shelf parts that probably cost about $20 which I don't have a problem with, but the main issue is the operation. First of all, the gear that operates the toothed belt that goes around your focus ring does not mesh. The gear tooth spacing and the belt spacing have a different pitch. They could have said "put a rubber band around your focus ring" and it would have worked better that this toothed strap which looks like it came from a car power window rack and pinion system. Second, the 'strap' that goes around your focus ring is very stiff, is almost impossible to securely fit on the focus ring (which by the way you have to attach foam pads to the strap or it will not work at all and they are cheap).
The other issue I have with this is the block that attaches to your rods is rough sawed metal that looks cheap as hell and is about as heavy as lead.
So my second impression after trying to make this work was, "Yep, this is a pile of junk". I have no hope of contacting them and returning the item as they say on there website they may or may not accept returns and as they have not replied to me by email on the shipping issue, I'm not going to waste my time. I'm also not going to put this junk on someone else by selling it on eBay. What I'm going to do is dump it in the trash, look up at the sky and say, "Dad, you were right. If you buy cheap, you buy twice."
I'm off to find a decent focus puller. Enjoy my $200 or so bucks Studio4. Have fun selling useless junk to other filmmakers.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Where To Start With Applescript
I want to record my adventure with learning Applescript.
The Apple manual says to first begin with "Getting Started With AppleScript".
Where was that? I couldn't yet find it. But I have found several good places to start.
First is the Mac Library volume "Introduction to Applescript Overview" here:
http://17.254.2.129/mac/library/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/AppleScriptX/AppleScriptX.html
"Applescript the First Step" here:
http://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/firsttutorial/index.html
Then the Applescript Wiki here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppleScript
And last but not least the Applescript forum here:
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=724
The Apple manual says to first begin with "Getting Started With AppleScript".
Where was that? I couldn't yet find it. But I have found several good places to start.
First is the Mac Library volume "Introduction to Applescript Overview" here:
http://17.254.2.129/mac/library/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/AppleScriptX/AppleScriptX.html
"Applescript the First Step" here:
http://www.macosxautomation.com/applescript/firsttutorial/index.html
Then the Applescript Wiki here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppleScript
And last but not least the Applescript forum here:
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=724
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