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Zacuto Z-Finder EVF Pro HDSLR Viewfinder Review | Mark Holder | VideoMaker
A short review of the Zacuto Z-Finder EVF Pro (3.2") [$950] explaining the problem it solves for DSLR shooters, and evaluating it's features:
In addition to the enhanced focusing ability inherent in the loupe's 2.5x magnification and light-excluding eyecup, several focus aids are included in the menu settings. Peaking over-sharpens hard edges as they come into focus and Pixel-to-Pixel (Zoom) zooms into the center of the frame for a 100% view and more precise focusing. Exposure assistance includes Zebras where two different levels of zebra stripes may be established. For example, one may be set to expose for skin tones and the other for pure white. Finally, each of the three navigation and selection buttons also pull double duty as assignable function buttons.


Samsung HMX-Q10UN camcorder offers ambidextrous operation | Bryan Hastings
| Macworld
The Samsung HMX-Q10UN [$199] camcorder can be turned upside down and will flip the video on-screen and as it is saved, so it can be used with either hand. Despite some firmware issues, no on-board memory and a small battery, it's judged to be a remarkable little camcorder:
The HMX-Q10UN turned in a solid performance in our video and audio lab tests, chalking up Good scores across the board. I filmed outside around the grounds of my home during late afternoon and dusk, and found the color reproduction and low-light shooting quality to be adequate, but not exceptional.


Toy Camera Reviews | Dad Does
The resolution of these cameras is low (640 x 480 & 320 x 240) but a toy plane and a Hot Wheels car with a video camera? I wish I had these as a kid! Of course, I guess I could just mount my ContourHD Camera onto an RC car....

Review: Air Hogs Hawk Eye Blue Sky RC Camera Plane – Smile You’re On Video
This plane with camera is $69.95, which almost seems like a bargain...

Hot Wheels Video Racer Hands On Review – Not Your Daddy’s Hot Wheels
The Hot Wheels Video Racer Micro Camera Car [$59.99] is knocked for price, yet still gets 4./5
The footage is not High Definition (HD), there is no image stabilization and video will look grainy in low light. All of this may be true, but you do need to remember this is a toy for kids -- not a professional video camera!


Editing

Lightworks Editor Jill Bilcock Discusses Her Latest Editing Endeavor, 'Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark' | DV.com
An interview with editor Jill Bilcock about how she got into the business, the production of the movie "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" and working with the NLE Lightwave.
Why do you think some editors are reluctant to switch to Lightworks?
Through ignorance of producers thinking they have limited choices when it comes to equipment. Also, in the past there was fear of a lack of technical support when Lightworks was smaller. The deal will often have been done before the editor has been hired. This has resulted in a lot of editors already having been channeled down a different path. I have tried the obvious alternatives and know their advantages and disadvantages. I wouldn't be interested in a film if they told me I had to work on a different machine.


Meet the editor of The King's Speech : An Evening with Tariq Anwar
| New York, Oct 27
Speaking of Lightwave, if you are in New York on October 27 this event should be worth catching:
Set to take place at the Union Square Ballroom, on Thursday, October 27, 2011, this exclusive industry event will kick off with an inside look at the future of non-linear editing technology with founder and CEO of EditShare, Andy Liebman. The evening's guest MC, NYC filmmaker and founder of Manhattan Edit Workshop Josh Apter, will then lead the audience through an un-edited tour of Tariq's life and work as editor on some of the most influential films of our time including Oscar-winning masterpieces, The King's Speech and American Beauty.


Transferring projects from Final Cut Pro 7 to Final Cut Pro X | Squarebox | Blog
A tutorial on transferring projects from FCP 7 to FCPX using their product CatDV. There are some restrictions on what can be transferred:
  • A basic "cuts only" sequence is moved across. Titles, transitions and other special effects or filters, including detailed handling of certain multi-channel audio files, are not fully supported and may need to be reapplied. Timing is preserved however.
  • Most regular clips that come from a single .mov or .mp4 movie file, as well as subclips, simple stills and audio clips, are copied across. Complex clips such as multiclips, sequences within sequences, P2 mxf files, or image sequences are not fully supported in most cases.


OSX Lion and Red Giant – Happy Together at Last! | Red Giant | Blog
An update on the status of their Final Cut Pro 7 tools:
Breaking News! Today, Apple announced an update for OS X Lion: 10.7.2 and we’re happy to say that this update resolves the issues we have been seeing with Magic Bullet Looks 2, Colorista II, Primatte Keyer, and Knoll Light Factory running in Final Cut Pro on OSX Lion. We’ve been testing with the pre-releases of this OS X update and we can finally give it a thumbs up!


Audio

Use An iPhone To Record High Quality Audio For Your Videos | FStoppers | Vimeo
Lee Morris demonstrates using an iPhone to record audio, and also how to get that audio into your editing app.
It's an interesting idea, though I'm not convinced that the iPhone mic is sensitive enough to use unless the iPhone is very close to the subject; fine for off camera work, but not for on-camera stuff. Don't forget to put the iPhone into Airplane Mode if you are using it for audio recording.





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