Welcome: H(d)SLRs in Motion goes to Photo Plus Expo 2009

As I was walking around the floor at PDN’s Photo Expo Plus surveying products that would be useful for motion capture while using a Video enabled DSLR, I was struck by the number of different names that are being used to describe these cameras: VSLR, VDSLR, DSLR with video, HSLR and HDSLR. The one name that I absolutely refuse to support is VDSLR. Imagines you are sitting in a restaurant and the person at the next table tells their lunch companion that their husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other gave them a "V-D-S-L-R last week!" I really wish we could agree to call them by one name, and the one that makes the most since to me is HDSLR. The “HD” can either stand for High Definition or Hybrid Digital - you can decide, but let’s adopt a standard shorthand/moniker!

Speaking of Photo Plus Expo, I wanted to kick off the entries on this site with the a few of the items being exhibited that can be used for still and motion capture that made me stop and want to know more. I call these items, “Floor Stoppers”

The first Floor Stopper of day two of the expo is courtesy of Canon. It is the wickedly “tricked out” 7d sitting atop a Redrock Micro shoulder mount rig, and outfitted with matte box, monitor, Litepanels Pro, and audio equipment at the Canon display counter. It is one thing to see a picture; it is quite another thing to see it up close and personal. Wow!

(Yes, there really is a 7D under all those accessories.)


The next “Floor Stopper” is a new continuous light from Lowell Lighting that can be used for still or motion, the Lowel Blender. The Blender, which is 4”x3”x3”, is a LED product that offers something unique: the ability to mix daylight and tungsten balanced LEDs in one fixture. The result is a degree of customization that is not offered on any other comparably sized LED light. The Blender can be run off of AC or can be powered by Panasonic, Canon or Sony camcorder batteries mated to the appropriate battery sled. The battery sled is either clipped to a belt or hung from a light stand. The Blender which is scheduled to hit retailers shortly has an MSRP of $750; however expect a lower street price.


Interfit‘s Monstar3 is also a Floor Stopper. The Monstar consists of three 150 watt daylight balanced fluorescents bulbs, which puts out the equivalent of approximately 600 watts of tungsten lighting per bulb. Since each bulb has a switch you have the equivalent of 600 to 1800 watts of hot lights at your finger tips. This is a nice range for still and motion work. The Monstar, which has a MSRP of under $450, comes with a 39” octobox, speed ring, light stand and carrying case.




So those were a few of the motion related items that grabbed my attention today. If you want to check out my Floor Stoppers from the first day of the Expo, visit my other blog:
http://hdhd.wordpress.com