The Blog of Derek Kovacevic

After I bought my first prosumer camera (Panasonic DVX100), I quickly discovered how many accessories were available to complement the core item. Some were necessary (tripod, microphones) and some were more in the “it’d be cool to get that later” category (rain cover, jib arm). One add-on I was never really keen on was the wide angle adaptor, especially when I knew the DVX100 had one of the widest lenses in its class. And if I ever needed to go wider, couldn’t I just back up? Why would I want this thing?

Now it is probably the number one thing on my wish list.

Why?

Veteran shooters will already know this, but in case you’re not a videographer, when shooting handheld, all the shakes and movements you make become much more pronounced the more you zoom in. So, ideally, you do all your handheld work at full wide angle. As you gain experience as a shooter and become more discerning about your work, you will want your handheld shots to be smoother. Adding a wide angle adaptor can give you a 30%-40% wider view, and therefore, makes your handheld shots even smoother.

Sometimes you’re at full wide angle but it isn’t wide enough, so you just back up. That works, right up until you back into a wall and still don’t have the shot you’re looking for. It’s generally possible to get closer, by zooming in or by physically getting closer, but you generally can’t create additional space. This is when a wide angle adaptor can save the day.

Using a jib arm (crane) allows you to get some fantastic aerial footage that has a very cinematic look. Getting those sweeping overhead shots just blows people away. But sometimes you wish you could get higher. Now you can. Adding a wide angle adaptor can make your 10 foot crane look like a 14 foot crane, and you didn’t even have to assemble extension arms!

So if you’re looking to add an accessory to your camera, don’t overlook the wide angle adaptor. I get the feeling that after I get mine and use it a few times, I’ll wonder how I ever worked without it.

Dave riding in my car

Last year, Dave and I drove up to Clinton, ON (small town an hour north of London) for a video shoot. We had a lot of fun on our trip, especially north of London, where most people would have little reason to go, as it’s made up entirely of small farming communities.

We made remarks and observations about all the odd things we saw. For me, I couldn’t help but notice how almost all the buildings were made of yellow brick. This included houses, commercial properties, churches, basically everything was primarily yellow brick. It was a sort of Twilight Zone moment.

I was looking forward to us going on this journey again this year, as the shoot is an annual gig, and I know Dave was eager to go again as well.

From Windsor, Clinton is about a three hour drive, and the shoot is only for about an hour, then it’s another three hours back home. Ideally, one would have a travelling companion to kill the boredom, but no one else I asked was available. I guess it was just meant to be me and Dave.

When I was at his wake, I took some extra memorial pamphlets, knowing I’d find a use for them. For this trip to Clinton, I slid one in the visor on my passenger side. I’m going to keep it there, so Dave can go with me to Clinton every year, and everywhere else I go.

I took Highway 4 from London to Clinton, and along the way, I heard a song by Raine Maida (former frontman of Our Lady Peace). It was called Yellow Brick Road. I didn’t think much of it right away, but then I started seeing the yellow brick houses again and it hit me. I may be on the road most would refer to as Highway 4, but from that moment on, I would know that stretch of highway as Yellow Brick Road.

Panasonic HPX300

In case you missed it, Panasonic recently announced a new camera, the HPX300.

Basically, it’s an HVX200, but in a shoulder-mount form factor with interchangeable lenses. These are nice features that old-school shooters have no doubt been clamoring for. I’ve only used the more handheld prosumer cameras (DVX100, HVX200) and I’ve certainly learned how to work with them, but I wouldn’t mind trying the larger ENG style.

Why upgrade?

The image quality in the HPX300 doesn’t appear to be any better than the HVX200. If it is, it’s negligible, so I wouldn’t upgrade for that reason. I think the biggest reason a shooter would upgrade to this camera is because they just want to “look” and “feel” more professional.

Certain discerning corporate clients who have worked with videographers might see an HVX200 (or similar camera) and think it looks small and amateurish. Of course they’d be wrong, but if you walked in with the HPX300 instead, that thought would probably never enter their mind. Aside from that, veteran shooters who have worked with shoulder-mount cameras are accustomed to more knobs and buttons and less menus. This is understandable, as I am not crazy about menu surfing myself, but I take the good with the bad.

Pre-orders are available at B & H for $8500.

Looks like the cat is out of the bag, Dave.

My good friend Dave (for more on Dave, read my post called “Meet Dave“) had a certain mystique to him. For a number of reasons, I gave him the nickname Bourne, from the Jason Bourne movies.

Author Tim Ferriss (who wrote the best-selling “Four Hour Workweek”) just posted this entry on his blog about how to become Jason Bourne.

Tim’s post is in reference to the new release from Neil Strauss called “Emergency.” Neil Strauss is also the author of the best-seller “The Game,” which, oddly enough, Dave lent me a few months ago.

Funny how all these things are connected. Strauss’ “Emergency” will no doubt be on my personal bookshelf very soon. I can’t help but wonder if Dave helped him write it.