LED light technology has been moving at a very rapid pace in the last few years and new lights seem to be coming out on an almost daily basis. In this video, Caleb Pike takes a look at some of his favourites that have come out in 2018.
Portable power – Everything you ever needed to know about V-Mount batteries
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At one point, V-Mount batteries weren’t very common outside of high-end production. These days, though, they’re starting to become much more prolific as the devices that utilise them are becoming more affordable. But V-Mount batteries can be pretty expensive, which puts a lot of newcomers off even considering them. But should you?
In this video, Caleb Pike goes over just about everything there is to know about V-Mount batteries. He talks about the devices he uses them with, the various adapters available, powering multiple devices from a single battery, and even touches on battery capacity limits for flights.
Double exposures work for video, too, and here’s how to make them
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Double exposures have been found in the world of stills photography since the first time a photographer said “crap, I forgot to advance the film, oh, wait a minute, that looks pretty cool”. Although the technique today is often done in post, the same basic principles hold true. But did you know you can do it with video, too? Let Caleb Pike show you how.
Use these $15 LED lights to add a rainbow of color to your shots
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If you’re looking for a super-cheap RGB setup for your photos and videos, here’s an interesting video for you. Caleb Pike of DSLR Video Shooter has found a set of DJ lights for only $15 per piece. They produce a wide range of colors, they’re dimmable and you can also use a controller to set the colors and the brightness. Check out the video to see them in action.
Do these 10 things before you go out and shoot with your new camera
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So, you got yourself a brand new camera. Congratulations! I’m sure you’re anxious to go out and shoot with it, but there are some things you should do first, in order to make the best out of your new toy. Caleb Pike of DSLR Video Shooter gives you a list of ten things he does before shooting with a new camera, and they’ll help you make all future shoots successful and more efficient.
The best 5″ camera monitors between $179-499
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With more DSLR and mirrorless owners turning to video, the topic of camera monitors comes up fairly frequently. As a result, there’s a lot of choice out there now when it comes to camera monitors. They come with a whole host of different features, too. Some of those features are more beneficial to certain types of filmmaker while they may be overkill for others.
But which is the best? In this video, Caleb Pike at DSLR Video Shooter takes a look at four popular 5″ monitors ranging from $179 to $499 to see how they stack up against each other.
This easy trick will turn any lamp into versatile, dimmable LED light
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If you need a lamp in your shot, the regular bulbs have their downsides. They get hot, you can’t dim them, and LED bulbs have bad CRI. Caleb Pike has a handy trick for you that will help you turn any lamp into a versatile, dimmable LED light in a couple of minutes. It’s easy and cheap, and you can use it in plenty of ways in your videos and images.
Can a $16 microphone stand up to the job or is it just a waste of money?
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On-camera microphones have become a huge industry in the last few years. It used to be the only time I ever saw on-camera microphones, it was to create a sync track in the camera, or for emergency news interviews and such. Ever since DSLRs and mirrorless cameras became video-capable, though, their sales have skyrocketed. And they’re now the primary type of microphone for many vloggers and online video creators.
You’re still going to get the best results with a boomed shotgun or lav mic (yes, that’s a subjective statement), but on-camera mic technology has come a long way. And while there are some rather expensive options, many options are also rather cheap. In this video, Caleb Pike looks at a $16 Boya BY-VM01 microphone to see if it can really stand up to the task.
3 ways to shoot macro for under $20
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Macro is always a popular topic, and it’s one that more people seem to be exploring for video content recently. But macro lenses typically aren’t inexpensive. My Nikon 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor, for example, was around $600 when I got it. Today, the current model Nikon 105mm f/2.8G AF-S VR is closer to $900. But there are a number of cheaper alternatives.
In this video, Caleb Pike looks at three very inexpensive options to get you started with macro. Each of the three options comes with their unique pros and cons, but all three solutions cost under $20 each. If you just want to dabble without spending a fortune, one of these could be the way to go.
This Frankenstein on-camera microphone setup could be the perfect vlogging audio rig
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Vlogging is a whole lot of fun, but it can be difficult, especially if you’re out with other people. If you want to capture them on camera, or just record the scene in front of you, then capturing audio of yourself becomes tricky. You either just have to deal with being behind the microphone and hope it gets it, pull the microphone off the flash shoe and rotate it 180°, or just record a voiceover at another time. None of these is ideal.
Caleb Pike over at DSLR Video Shooter, though, might have come up with the ideal solution, using a pair of Rode VideoMicro microphones and a short adapter cable. As well as allowing you to record audio both in front of and behind the camera simultaneously, it records them straight to your camera using two separate channels for maximum flexibility in post.
