Gear

A Shutter Release with Live View: Aputure Gigtube

Written by Michael | 10 December 2009

An interesting device especially if you are into PAP. I can see how someone could use something like this on a 10-15 feet pole to trigger and monitor the shot. Under two hundreds this is not exactly a bargain but it's
not that expensive either. I might try it. It comes with a 6 feet extension cable and I assume there is a way to extend that... Actually, I haven't checked out with them, maybe I should prior to buy one.

The LCD swivels like the detachable LCD screens in point-and-shoot cameras. The Aputure Gigtube can be found for pretty much any Canon or Nikon dSLR camera that supports Live View.

Here's the website

LATER EDIT: After watching the Videos on the website It seems like the extension of the cables is really easy in a DIY way.

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Bogen 410 Geared Head Repair

Written by Michael | 16 November 2009

As every Architectural and Real Estate Photographers knows, leveling the camera is something essential in our day by day work. For that I went the Geared Heads avenue from Bogen Manfrotto. I have two models which I both love, the "Junior" Bogen 410 (also known as the Manfrotto 3275) and the Bigger one, the 405.
While I worked with the 410, after 4 years of intensive use the knobs got stiff and eventually the horizontal pan knob got stuck rendering the head pretty much useless. This Head is priced at about $220 now and while is not exactly the most expensive piece of equipment, I was kind of frustrated of having it broken. I like it because it's smaller than the 405 and at certain shootings makes more sense.
After a phone call to Manfrotto I found out that the warranty is 2 Years and it's prolonged with an extra 3 years if the product is registered online. Got it registered online and sent the Head for repairs. Just got it back, few minutes ago, to my surprise and it's like new. Took them about 10 days... Thanks Bogen Manfrotto!!

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Wireless video for PAP (Totally cool)

Written by Anton Puttemans | 29 October 2009

This is a Guest Post by Anton Puttemans. He came up with this totally cool wireless video for your PAP (Pole Aerial Photography)

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AeriCam Remote Controlled Helicopter for Flying Your DSLR

Written by Michael | 26 October 2009

If you have $12000 lying around the house you can buy a fully assembled chopper able to lift up to 7 pounds of gear in the sky for Aerial Photography or Aerial Video making. The kit is cheaper, only $9000 but you have to assemble it. This is an alternative to a mast for elevated image taking.

Created by photographer Jason Lam, the aluminum 30-pound Aericam offers a 7-pound payload, allowing it to carry a digital SLR on board as large as the new Nikon D3s. The helicopter is controlled by a remote control pilot who guides the craft along with a camera operator who steers the DSLR via a live feed on a ground station.

For more information, check out www.Aericam.com. There's also a sample video below:

Aerial Photography New York from Jason Lam on Vimeo.

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Canon TS-E 17mm Teaser

Written by Michael | 16 October 2009

It was a crisp day of October when the phone rang letting me know that my "precious" was ready to pick up. Since 18th of the February when Canon announced it, Architectural Photographers from around the world started drooling. Along with them, myself... It was a long and painful wait! From my initial shots I can tell that... ehmmm, you know what? I will follow up with a complete review in the following days. Stay put!