Articles by Martin

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or get my latest posts directly in your mailbox. Thanks for coming to the Foo!

Shot on the RED One camera:

We finally took the plunge and paid for our RED One camera, 40% more than it would have been a few months ago, 20% more than a few weeks ago. But these are turbulent times, and even at 140% the camera is still a steal.

I had to slim down our package, and for now we will get the camera with a Nikon mount, modified by Doug Underdahl to accept G/DX lenses, the base production pack and the CF module. I´ll pick up some Lexar 8gb UDMA flash cards locally. For power we will use our IDX and Globalmediapro batteries. Tripod will be a Sachtler Video 18 III head.

So, fingers crossed, next week will be very RED immersed for me, lots of trying and testing and pushing buttons.

More “beyond HD” cameras

On other RED news, November 13th the California based company will reveal details of their next two camera offerings, the pro-high-end Epic and the run-and-gun Scarlet. RED has already said that this will be their biggest announcement ever. So, sit tight and don´t buy that HDV camcorder yet.

Reduser down?

Not down, but moving to a new server. Today this popular site is only accessible via http://205.234.135.241/forum

While our wax printer was away for repair, I bought a cheap Canon MP610 ink printer. Turns out, it also prints on DVDs, and better than our outrageously expensive Bravo II dedicated DVD printer.

A friend told me I could save buckets by getting a so-called CISS system, continuous ink supply system.

Looking on eBay, there are many different offerings, all from cheap Asian to custom-built solutions for each printer. I chose an offering from down-under rihac. Installation is just a bit complicated, but if you manage to install memory in your computer, you´ll be fine. Rihac provides an extensive installation manual, which is adapted to your specific printer model.

The result: cheap printing (did you know that drugs - the illegal type - are cheaper than printer ink?), never having to worry about which colour might run out just as an important printing job is up, and saving the environment.

Rihac uses very good ink, and I did some printouts just before installation, and afterwards, and could not see a difference. Some reviewers wrote that the Rihac ink is more light resistant than the original one.

Bottom line

If you rather spend money on film gear than ink, get yourself a quality CISS system. Search on eBay, there are many different providers. I for one can recommend the one I chose, but find out for yourself.

Happy printing.

I try to stay away from politics on this blog, but when politics meets film, technology and life, I cannot resist.

Director(s): David Morgasen , Yaroslav Kemnits (Director of Special Effects)
Writer(s): David Morgasen
Producer(s): Dmitry Lesnevsky (Exec. Producer), David Morgasen (Exec. Producer), Elena Muravina

ASC member and DP for the long-running 24 series, Rodney Charters, gave a 20+ minute interview, showing off his RED One rig that he used to travel around the world.  Equipped with the Birger Canon mount (about 1.200$), he uses the Canon 16-35mm 2.8 (1.450$), the Canon 24-70mm 2.8 (1.190$) and the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 (1.190$; $1.700 with image stabilisation) lenses. From Sim Video he has a special handle (1.200$) that doubles as EVF and battery holder.

He also had some custom made handle bar system, that does not need any rods - thus shedding off a pound or two, and saving further space (sorry, no link).

The whole set fits into one smart looking bag (the Think Tank Airport Acceleration, about 200$) that can be taken onboard a plane.

The whole interview can be found on the excellent Reel Show.

Sam had some bad luck with his Canon 17-85mm lens, which retails for about 500 dollars. Rather than just throwing it away (or worse: selling it on eBay), he followed his inquisitive nature, and took the beast apart. Visit his post for more pictures.