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The Lumapod is the fastest but oddest looking tripod you ever saw

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I see a lot of new products come through my inbox. There are a lot of people out there right now really pushing to try to create something new and interesting. Something that makes us rethink everything we thought we knew about a particular type of product or process. They don’t always work, but sometimes something comes along that challenges the norm.

I’m not suggesting that the new Lumapod tripod sits in one particular camp or the other, though. I’d have to try one before I could make any kind of judgement. But it definitely looks a little strange. It packs up into what looks like a giant minimalist light sabre handle. But when you open it up, it’s a monopod with feet… and string.

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The Steadify claims to replace all your tripods and monopods

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This is an odd one, and I’m curious what you guys think. When I first saw this, I thought “that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen”, but a couple of friends said it looks quite useful to them. The more I thought about it, I could see potential uses. But some of the claims made in the Steadify’s Kickstarter campaign are a little off-base.

The first of those being that it is “the first wearable stabilizer”. You can see what they mean by “wearable stabilizer” from the photo above. But that not really true, as this idea’s been floating around for years (and you can find similar for about a third of that price on eBay).

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Create cinematic shots with just a tripod and a camera strap

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When I was in college in the early 2000s, I still vividly remember how much I had to improvise to make my shots look like a real movie. Back when sliders and gimbals still weren’t available to the masses, we had to create makeshift rigs with PVC pipes and ride skateboards for tracking shots.

Of course, a lot has changed since then. These days, even amateur filmmakers now have access to all sorts of accessories online to achieve cinematic shots. However, I think it’s still important to instill in people the value of DIY ethos in filmmaking.  You can’t always bring a carload of gear to every location, so learning how to shoot quality footage with minimal equipment will benefit you in this line of work.

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Chairpod is a tripod that doubles as a chair, and it’s brilliant. Or not

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We’ve seen some funny photography-related products before. The latest one we’ve stubmbled upon has been introduced by Japanese tripod manufacturer Velbon. Is it a tripod? Is it a chair? Well, it’s actually both. If you want to stabilize both your camera and your butt, Velbon is soon to launch Chairpod, a tripod that doubles as a folding chair.

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First look at Manfrotto Nitrotech N12 video head

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Manfrotto recently released two new video heads, the Nitrotech N8, and the Nitrotech N12. Those are high-load video heads which support 0-8kg and 4-12kg respectively.

What is interesting about those heads is their counterbalance mechanism. Unlike lower-end heads, these heads have a nitrogen gas piston for counterbalance. We looked at the Nitrotech N8 and it supports quite a load (up to 8kg). The head provides continuous counterbalance power. This means that when you let go of the handle, the head keeps its position as if it was locked in place.

There are two models in the Nitrotech  family:

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5 effective tripod hacks for your next film project

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It’s rare that I actually see new ways to utilise a tripod. When these videos pop up, they’re invariably just a rehashing of somebody else’s tips and tricks. It’s not that I think I’ve seen or know them all already, but it’s just rare that I see something new. Maybe you have seen or even attempted these techniques before, but I haven’t.

This video, though, from Cinecom, takes us through five great ways to use a tripod that you might not have considered before. Specifically, the tripod shown in the video is the MeVIDEO Travel Tripod, but these tips can be used or adapted to work with just about any of them. I’ll definitely be trying out a couple of these

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How to choose the best tripod for your photography needs

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There are many situations where it’s hardly imaginable to take photos without a tripod. But there are several types of them, and you may find it hard to choose the one that best suits your needs. Or you’ve already bought it only to realize it isn’t really ideal for you. This is why photographer Joe Edelman breaks down the types of tripods and their uses, which should make it easier for you to make the decision. He also shares some useful tricks for using them, which will further help you get the best out of your photos.

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Living in North America? Here is your shot at winning at kick a$$ travel video tripod

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Update, this giveaway has ended, please hit the jump to see if you won. Thanks MeVideo for providing the prize!

You know whats better than a tripod? a travel tripod, and what’s better than a travel tripod? A travel video tripod! Well, to be honest, its horses for course kinda thing. Yet travel video tripods are a great tool to have if you are on location a lot and don’t have an intern a crew to carry gear.

The MeVIDEO is such a travel tripod (hit the jump for more info), and its a gorgeous one at that.

MeVIDEO is giving away one Aluminum/Black tripod to one winner from USA or Canada. You can still own one if you are overseas, you’d just have to back the project for it.

We will pick one random winner on Nov, 17th, so don’t linger…

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