Directive Studios Blogs

We have the Rode NTG3 Shotgun mic in our studio for our clients when we shoot talking head videos. We have had our share of background noises around the studio, anywhere from trains outside to phones ringing. Surprisingly, the NTG3 Shotgun has been killer for not picking much of those noises while our talents are talking. The audio has shown great waveform when we bring it into Adobe Audition and has worked tremendously. Highly recommended mic! B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/573977-REG/Rode_NTG_3_Basic_Shotgun_Microphone.html

Wondering how you're going to get that perfect shot of someone running or walking? We tend to go with the DJI Ronin. The Ronin is a 3-Axis camera stabilizer that will self-adjust to balance your video camera. We're looking forward to getting more familiar with ours!   Official DJI Website: http://www.dji.com/product/ronin B&H link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1137174-REG/dji_ronin_m_3_axis_handheld_stabilizer.html Check out what the DJI Ronin is good for!  

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

This 2.8 12-35mm lens is officially our number one lens on our GH4! We use it mainly for our standard, “waist and up” shot on our talent. It is a very compact and light-weight lens that comes with many awesome features such the 2.8 brightness that covers the entire zoom range. Works and looks great. B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/865111-REG/Panasonic_H_HS12035_Lumix_G_X_Vario.html?gclid=CKe-kpb53cYCFRCEaQodBB4MlA  

We’re excited to have two Panasonic Lumix GH4s in the studio for our videos. One of our only concerns we have about these cameras is that our clients will look at the size of these without knowing what they are capable of. Awesome quality and color packed into such a small body!  B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1028453-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh4kbody_lumix_dmc_gh4_mirrorless_micro.html

Good resources about shooting b-roll. I'm gathering more information and will add more to this post. Check it out! Thanks to: Slavik Boyechko

  One of the hottest trends with mobile devices is for designers to push the limits of traditional gadgets with new hybrid products. This is the case with the new Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro; it's a hybrid between a laptop and a tablet running full Windows 8.1 OS. Here's a review on our favorite way to do Yoga. 1 Device, 4 Possible Positions The name Yoga is suggestive of the device's most stand-out feature; its ability to transform into four unique and usable positions. These are, clamshell laptop, tablet, stand, and tent. Each one of these positions allow the device to be used in a completely different way, which makes it feel like you're getting four separate devices for the price of one. Thanks to a double-hinge design, the device is able to quickly and seamlessly transition from each position, and the screen and keyboard settings will automatically adjust to its...

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...

I recently received my ColorChecker Passport. After doing a few shoots with it I can tell you it's amazing. Setting the profile for my camera in different lighting situations to get the perfect color calibration for my camera is awesome. It so simple to use too. I use it primarily with LightRoom. Make sure you download the DNG Profile Manager so you can manage and rename the profiles you created. So you don't have to hunt for it like I did, it's located here: DNG Profile Manager X-Rite Product Description: ColorChecker Passport is a powerful 'capture to edit' color solution for any photographer looking for more accurate, consistent color and creative flexibility. And when you combine ColorChecker Passport with Adobe® Imaging solutions you'll gain even greater benefits. ColorChecker Passport combines three photographic targets into one pocket size protective, self-standing case that adjusts to any scene. Together with the included camera calibration...

  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...

A new movie called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is coming out Christmas day. It looks visually Epic, the cinematography is amazing. This is a non-remake of the Danny Kaye movie from 1947. I might go see it. :)

Dropbox for Business is now available from my IT company Directive. Reach out to my team if you would like some information or a demo. They understand Photographers/Videographers and their workflow.   Dropbox, the world’s most respected file sharing solution, has recently become much more user friendly in the business world with the launch of their new tier “Dropbox for Business”. A personal Dropbox Pro account will either run you $10 a month or $99 a year, and offers you 100gb of storage with limited options. This is great for a personal account to simply access files with, but what about projects you need to collaborate with others on? What if you need professional tools to manage access across a wide array of devices? Dropbox is now offering an answer to these questions and more.   The first feature to really stand out is that you can couple your personal account...

We use this in the studio mostly. It's pretty heavy and I wouldn't take it on a shoot unless we need the Kessler Pocket Jib PRO or maybe for some slider work. It supports 300lbs! The Kessler website describes it best: "The Kessler K-Pod System™ is a revolutionary tripod camera system designed to support camera cranes / jibs. The K-Pod™ has extremely rigid double strut legs with the patent pending incremental Posi-Lock System™, that friction locks the legs, as well as interlocks into incremental lock pockets. The lock pockets allow you to equally position the legs while providing a lock that can not slip down. The K-Pod™ was designed to be the best tripod system for your camera crane / jib, but it is also an excellent tripod to shoot from, when not using your crane." It's also a full blown Dolly system. You can lay track down and run the K-Pod on...

My old tripod was a lot smaller and couldn't hold very much weight and the center column on it could not be removed, which made it impossible to get shots close to the ground. This Really Right Stuff Tripod is one of the best I've ever seen/used. It's very adjustable for some of the weird situations I put it in and it's so easy to adjust the legs. I did buy the center column but I like that I can take it off and then the tripod can get all the way down to the ground when I want to.  I didn't actually weigh it but it feels like this tripod plus my Really Right Stuff BH-55 LR Full-sized ballhead is lighter than the old tripod without the ball head! The construction is amazing. I should be able to mount the Kessler Stealth Slider 40.5" on top of it without a second support. Manufacturers...

This tool travels with me, works with all the Really Right Stuff Gear as well as other gear. Includes Flat Tips, Cross Tips, Star Tips and Hex Tips.    The really cool thing is it mounts underneath my tri-pod center column.  Manufacturers Site: http://reallyrightstuff.com/ProductDesc.aspx?code=_MTX&type=4&eq= Here's some pics:  

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 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 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  

By greatly extending exposure times the Big Stopper has the effect of allowing anything that is moving in your image to become blurred or ghost like, for example clouds, waterfalls, rivers, and the sea. The filter can also be used on cityscapes to blur people or on roads and motorways to blur traffic. This filter requires the Lee Filter System/ Manufactures Site: http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera/bigstopper B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/686370-REG/LEE_Filters_10_STOP_GLASS_4X4_4_x_4_Big.html Here's a few samples images from Lee:

This strap is great, I DO NOT leave the house without it, I use it a lot. Manufacturers Site: http://www.blackrapid.com/products/classic B&H Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/808811-REG/Black_Rapid_RS_4_BALLISTIC_RS_4_Camera_Strap_with.html