HD DSLR Film Maker Photographer Holiday Gift Guide

Posted by Zeke Kamm on 12/07/09 • Categorized as The Latest

Letter For Santa Claus 1910 Got one of them newfangled still cameras that just won’t sit still? I’m talking video. Yup. Maybe it’s giving you a rash of new ideas and you’re itching to make some movies. Here are a few accessories you may want to put on your “I want it list” this holiday season.

Fader-ND: For movies or stills having a neutral density filter in you bag can really come in handy. Way back I posted a “why to” article about using ND filters for still photography. All that still holds true, but now with a vari-nd / Fader-ND you’ll have variable control over the density or darkness of that neutral density filter. If you like using short depth of field shots in your video work (or just want to have more control over your exposure settings in general) you’ll find yourself using the Fader-ND for video far more than you ever used an ND filter for stills. I got one that would fit on my largest diameter lens and bought step rings so it would fit on my smaller lenses. ($60-$190)

Follow Focus: A follow focus changes the way you manually focus the lens from actually on the lens to sideways next to the lens. I won’t get into detail about how helpful these can be because that’s a whole other post. The prices for follow focus units are all over the map (as is the quality) so do your research before you decide which brand to put on your list. To get you started, Indi-Focus has a quality value priced follow focus. ($120 – $3,000)

Cans (closed ear headphones): Some people say we see 70% with our ears. Okay, no one says that. I just made it up. But I think it’s true. If you’re doing video, you’ll want to think about the audio. That means you’re going to need to monitor the audio as you are recording it in the field. That means using closed ear headphones – not earbuds. You want headphones that cover your entire ear. Trust me on this. They are also preferred over computer speakers by 9 out of 10 spouses for your 3 a.m. editing sessions. I think the best cans for your dollar right now are the Audio Technica ATH-M35 ($50). You can definitely get better cans (like the Sure SRH840), but you’d probably have to jump into the $150 – $400 range to get there. ($50 – $400)

Zoom H4n: A 4 track recorder with built in stereo mics, two phantom powered xlr inputs, and more than 100 other “cool bean” features powered by a pair of AA’s for hours that records to an SD card in MP3 or uncompressed WAVs for under $300? Yeah. Put it on the list! Recording sound separately from the camera will improve your end product better than switching to the most expensive lens. And the Zoom H4n is the recorder to do it with. ($300)

RedHead Windscreens: If you get the Zoom H4n you are going to want the ReadHead. This work of magic made on the Hawaiian Islands will render all but the harshest winds mere whispers to the ears/built in microphones on the Zoom. If you don’t know why you’d want one of these, then you DEFINITELY need one. Actually, you need one either way. Personally, I like to have two on me at all times: a black one for low profiles shoots where we maybe forgot to ask for permission to shoot in a particular area. And the original red one for when I want to see right away if the boom man drops into the shot (instead of noticing it in the editing room and having to have him “punished”). Solid construction. Amazing price. Professional results. ($35)

Articulated Arm: These are fun little buggers. They are good for about a million and one things like holding a field monitor, or a camera light, or a recorder, etc. But not just holding them. No. Holding them just right. Imagine having a leprechaun clamped to your camera who would hold anything you want and position it anywhere you want as far as his little arm could reach. Now subtract his prankster ways and that smell of bathtub gin and you’ve got an articulated arm. See my Articulated Arm Shootout in the next week or so for more info and my pick for the best of the best in the category. I’ll give you a hint. ($45 – $150)

Lensbaby Composer: Here’s another great accessory that you can use both for stills and video. Just because you’re fancy pantsy camera can make everything look perfectly perfect doesn’t mean everything you shoot should look that way. The Lensbaby Composer lets you selectively F-up your image. And it does it in such a creatively inspiring way that I rarely leave the house without it in my bag. Sure, you could copy some of the effects of the LensBaby in post through selective blurring and messing with various plug ins and doodads, but I don’t. Shooting with the LensBaby moves the inspiration into your work flow to the part just before you capture the image rather than after, making it an active inspirational tool, rather than a passive one. ($260)

Trade Secret Cards: Okay, okay, I’m biased because I edited these little gems, but the reviews coming in make me feel like a proud papa. These lighting diagram trading cards, though describing lighting techniques for still photography, work equally well for movies. Both the Chase Jarvis Portrait Sessions set and the Strobist Favorites set feature an impressive image on the front of the card and a lighting diagram and description of how it was done on the back. (around $20)

In my opinion the best thing a film maker / photographer could put on their wish list is Ideas and Hard Work. Of course that’s a gift only you can give yourself. Be generous and give it.