Directive Studios Blogs

For any cameras from 4 to 10 pounds, the Glidecam HD4000 is a great walking and running stabilizer we have here at the studio. The quick release plate makes it nice and easy to put on and take off the camera. It's free floating, 360 degree pan and tilt really gives you the variety of angles needed for any running or walking shot. Simply counterbalance the weight of your camera with the adjustable weights on the system itself, and you're off to the races. Great for those unsturdy, quick shots. B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/579908-REG/Glidecam_HD_4000_HD4000_Stabilizer_System.html

Not all of our work is done here in the studio. What better way to explore outside than the DJI Phantom 2 Quadcopter. We love using ours with any of our GoPros (Hero 3, 3+, and 4), for recording great B roll for company videos. Having the 3,280' Line-of-Sight Wi-Fi Range really helps us monitor its every position while in flight. Running off of 2 GPS modes, we can assure that the Phantom will stay close to our home base position during windy or low battery days. Such a nice piece of equipment to help us get the videos we normally couldn't get! B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1018649-REG/dji_cp_pt_000083_phantom_2.html

We're looking forward to start using the Tascam DR70D. This sound recorder can record up to four channels as once. A really nice feature it also has, is the audio output. This allows you to connect the recorder right to the camera's mic port. Which essentially means the audio and video will be synchronized for us! B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1086798-REG/tascam_dr_70d_4_channel_audio_recording.html

A new addition to our lens inventory! Looking forward to work a little more with this 35-100mm Lens. So far very satisfied. We're setting this on our second GH4 to get a nice close up while it's at the same distance away from our talent as our 12-35mm Lens. We will see how much more we can do with it in the near future! B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892457-REG/Panasonic_h_hs35100_35_100mm_f_2_8_Lumix_G.html

  I followed CheesyCams advice about these converters and using the NP-F Batteries instead of V-Mount Batteries and it works like a dream AND I saved a bunch of money. We used the Wasabi Batteries listed below. CheesyCam is the Bomb! http://www.cheesycam.com  I purchased this to power our F&V K4000S LED Studio Panel | 3-Light Kit. This converter brings our cost down to roughly $150 per light for the 2 NP-F Batteries and the Converter instead of the $350-$400 V-Mount Batteries. We would of needed three of them to power all three light panels. First here is the link to CheesyCam's post and video about this: http://cheesycam.com/v-mount-adapter-for-sony-l-series-np-f-batteries/ I purchased the following: 3x Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Chargerhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FQ0RB92/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 3x Wasabi Power Battery Chargerhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043WZY0W/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 3x NP-F Battery to V-Mount Battery Converter Adapterhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0CEDIE/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 BONUS: My son Dillon found this at radio shack and it made it so all 6 charges could plug in to 1 strip for $20! http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11115445...

The Zacuto Half Cage is one of my favorite pieces of kit from Zacuto. I love having the handle on the side and being able to mount additional pieces via the Z Rail bar on the top to mount things like the Zacuto QR Handle and the Zacuto Axis EVF Mount. I also purchased a Zacuto Z-Rail kit to mount a light or any other accessory. The Half Cage is universal and rail mounts to our DSLR Baseplate so when we want to use a different cameras it's going to work. I purchased this on the path of going to a "recoil" rig. Which moves the camera up on to my shoulder instead of in front of me as with the Zacuto Scorpion Rig. I love the Scorpion Rig but I think the recoil rig is where I'm going to end up. I may be selling the shoulder piece and counter weight on...

This is the best ball head I have ever seen or used. I'm a really big fan of Really Right Stuff. I have their ballhead, tripod, L-Bracket and a few more pieces.  It's so solid and can handle 50lbs which means I can use my rails with full camera, follow focus, mic etc without worrying about stressing it out. It's not a video head for sure and I rarely use it for video unless it's a still shot for a testimonial or something. Manufactures Site: http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=BH-55-LR&type=3&eq=&desc=BH-55-LR%3a-Full-sized-ballhead-with-LR&key=it  

I purchased this clamp to use with my BlackRapid RS-4 Classic Camera Strap so I could very quickly connect it to my Really Right Stuff BGE11-L: L-Plate for BG-E11 Grip (5DMk3).  Manufacturers Link: http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=B2-FAB-F&type=0&eq=&desc=B2-FAB-F-38mm-clamp-with-flat-back&key=it Here's a few pics of it:  

This L-Plate/Bracket from Really Right stuff let's me very quickly mount the camera on my Really Right Stuff BH-55 LR Full-sized ballhead. The nice thing is that you can quickly flip the camera for vertical shots and the center of the lens stays is the exact same spot. I leave this on my camera most of the time. I use a battery grip so, if you don't you will want the other version. One thing to know, the after market battery grips do not fit this plate properly, I had to purchase a real Canon battery grip for it to work. If you have any questions just let me know in the comments below. Manufactures Site: Really Right Stuff Here's some pics:

I consider these studio only lights. I really wish I just invested in led lights early on. They do work great though, but to me they are not portable at all.  EDIT: I have since purchased more portable LED Lights and I take it back, I am happy I invested in these first and they are great for the studio.  These have 9 Bulbs and create some great light. We have 4 of them, mainly so we can light the background well and two for the subject and we use a smaller 5 bulb version for hair light etc. You can read more about them at Impacts Website:http://www.impactstudiolighting.com/detail?sku=699030

Devin and I are going to the Mojave Desert again for the 23rd and 24th of April. We plan on doing a nighttime time-lapse of the milky way (amongst other things). To make up for last year when I FAILED, you can see a frame from last years video above. I'm breaking out some fun stuff like our Kessler Slider and the Kesller Crane Oracle Motion Controller) to get some interesting shots. We've been planning it for 2 months BUT I found out yesterday that we'll be right in the middle of a meteor shower! I didn't plan this so I think this is one of those times where the "stars aligned" and I got lucky. Now if we just have some clear nights! (knock on wood). You can read more about it here: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide BTW I think we are going to shoot a little video of our adventure, we'll see.

The ORACLE Control System is the core of our elektraDRIVE line of products. Almost two years in development, we set out to make the ultimate multi-function controller for our line of electronic products. The ORACLE Control System is interchangeable between multiple products, like our REVOLUTION Pan / Tilt System, elektraDRIVE motor pods for the CineSlider & Pocket Dolly, and other products to be released in the future.