Upsidedownjim

Well, it has been awhile since I’ve posted on this blog. So, here I am getting back at it…

One of my main hobbies is photography. I’m also a video editor. So, naturally, when DSLR cameras started being able to shoot high quality HD video, it was a great opportunity to combine my two interests.

I, originally, had a Canon Rebel XTi but upgraded to a Canon Rebel T2i when that was released. I decided to upgrade, largely, because of the HD video shooting capability and my envy of the Canon 5D Mark II. Not wanting to spend the money for a 5D, I decided to sell my XTi and apply the proceeds to a new T2i.

I haven’t really purchased any major additional gear for the T2i until this week. I decided that I wanted to upgrade the audio quality while shooting video on the T2i. After researching various options I decided on the following gear:

Audio Recorder: Samson Zoom H4N

Microphone: Rode Video Mic Pro

I, also, researched various options for mounting the audio recorder and microphone. I wanted to stay as mobile and compact as possible. I, also, didn’t want to spend a lot of money on rigs. Fortunately, I found several items that I think will do the trick and not cost too much money:

Flashner 4″ Hot Shoe Mounting Bar

This connects to a camera’s hot shoe mount and the bar allows for other hot shoe mounted devices to slide onto the bar. Since the Rode Video Mic Pro mounts via a hot shoe, I knew that would fit onto the Flashner bar. The H4N does not have a hot shoe mount, so I needed to find a connector to connect the 3/8″ tripod mount of the H4N to the hot shoe mount of the Flashner 4″ bar.

There seems to be several options for this:

1. 1/4-20 Flashner (Hot Shoe to 1/4″ Mount adaptor)

2 Flashner Mini Ball Head (Hot Shoe Mount)

3. Spider Holster (belt holster for DSLR cameras, using a 1/4″ connector)

Option 1 would cause the H4N to lay flat with the display screen pointing upwards. Not ideal since I would not easily be able to monitor the audio levels or access the controls  on the H4N.

Option 2 – this seemed to be the best option since I could adjust the ball head to mount the H4N so it rested vertically, allowing me to easily access and monitor the audio recorder. To me, this is more ideal when mounting the camera, mic and audio recorder on a tripod. Since, the audio recorder adds a bit of weight which could cause fatigue sooner.

Option 3 – The Spider Holster was designed for DSLRs but I figured since it has the 1/4″ mount the H4N could still connect to it and rest at on my hip. This is more ideal than option 2 when I’m more mobile and not locked onto a tripod. It takes weight off of the Camera + Flashner 4″ bar. It also means I don’t need the Flashner bar, as the Rode Microphone can connect to the Canon T2i’s hot shoe directly. Having the H4N connected to the Spider Holster is convenient for mobility but I can’t really see the audio levels while the H4N hangs by my hip.

In the end, I ended up getting, essentially, all three options. The store I went to did not have the Flashner Mini Ball-Head and they only had a Manfrotto Hot Shoe ball head mount which they were selling for $100. Since I didn’t want to pay that much I decided to get the  1/4″ to 20 Flashner ($20) and the a regular small ball head mount ($25). I probably could have saved money by purchasing online or searching more stores.

Note: The Rode Video Mic Pro 3.5mm stereo cable is pretty short, as it is designed to connect into a DSLR’s audio input port. The the H4N on the Flashner 4″ bar or the ball head, there is no need for longer cables. However, when connecting to the Spider Holster, an extension cable is needed. I had a 3.5mm female to 1/4″ jack cable lying around. So, I’m currently using that.

I’m trying to determine if a 3.5mm to XLR adaptor and/or XLR cable would provide better audio quality than a stereo or 1/4″ jack.

So far, I think I’ve found the mounts that will work for me. I think the only thing left to find is a compact hard shell case for the Rode Video Mic Pro. If I find something suitable, I will post here.

I’ll try to update this post with photos of this set up.

Cheers!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Wistful Skies from Adam Richardson on Vimeo.

Time-lapse of a sunrise, storm and some clouds. Toronto, August 2010.

Music Credit:

Artist: Kendra Springer
Album: Hope
Song: Wistful
License: Creative Commons
Links:
http://www.kendraspringer.com/
http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/55571

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A storm was heading my way on Sunday, and I was hoping to get a timelapse of lightning. So, I set up my camera, tripod and intervalometer and started shooting. While there wasn’t much lightning, I was able to capture the storm as it passed by. I was even treated to really cool rainbow (rainbow rays!!!) that started its formation close to my apartment. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the start of a rainbow. Sadly, no pot of gold from what I could tell.

To get a shot of the beginning of the rainbow, I had to interrupt my timelapse and reposition the camera. Which in hindsight was a mistake. I could have had a timelapse of the rainbow forming and then disappearing. I cut these frames out of the video since there weren’t many and created an awkward cut. So, in the video, I have the rainbow fading away. The advantage to this was the new angle offered a nice view of clouds passing out to the horizon.

There’s a crappy audio edit in the video. I didn’t have enough material to fill a point in the song where I could cut to the last bit. Maybe with a few more timelapses I’ll re-visit the video. Enjoy!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Road-Trip-Oct09_9999_108_pano_mod-2

Originally uploaded by upsidedownjim

I’ve uploaded some photos on my flickr account from the Road Trip I went on over Thanksgiving Weekend.

I have some more to go through and some time lapse videos I made. Some spectacular views!

Popularity: 13% [?]

I’m testing out Windows Live Writer to write my blog posts. Not sure if I like this but we will see.

Now that I have said some stuff I”ll just say, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah balh <—got that far before a typo. I am sad. I shouldn’t post pictures of that Pumpkin Pie…it was way too good…I must go back to Vermont to get more!

In fact, I’ve just added a review of the place I got the pie from,  P & H Truck Stop

Popularity: 12% [?]

Recently found out that you can embed slide shows from Flickr into your blog, so I’ve done that with my photos tagged with “my favs”:

Popularity: 14% [?]

Well, I haven’t updated in awhile – originally due to laziness, now due to being too busy!

Started working as an assistant editor on a 4-episode tv series – things have picked up quite a bit lately.

When I’ve had a spare moment, I’ve been working on some motion graphics/video work, which you can see here:

http://www.vimeo.com/user900995/

Here’s one of the videos I have put up at vimeo:

Tilt-Shift – Edwards Gardens, Toronto from Upsidedownjim on Vimeo.

I’ve been starting to work in Cinema 4D with the goal of having a pretty decent graphics/editing reel put together by the time my current assistant editing job ends.

Hopefully I’ll stick to that plan!

Popularity: 28% [?]

Beetle in High Park, Toronto

Popularity: 48% [?]