HD video: To get the most out of this must-have DSLR feature, you’ll need a few well-chosen accessories. Here's our buying guide.
Convergence is a marvelous thing. The ability to combine the elements of high-tech electronics and software in unprecedented new ways his resulted in such marvels as the iPhone, the Blackberry, 8-megapixel cell phones, and yes, digital SLRs that can shoot HD movies of breathtaking quality. When I asked a PhD physicist and software developer why Nikon, Canon and now Panasonic decided to include HD movie capability in their latest DSLRs, he responded laconically, “Because they can.”
Yes, you can shoot HD movies with your HD-enabled DSLR alone without using any accessories whatsoever other than a lens and a high-capacity memory card, but if your aim is to produce professional looking movies and movie clips, the following accessories will certainly help.
Also read: Soup up your digital still camera’s HD video sound—Don’t use the built-in mic!
Tripods for Video
The tripod is probably the single greatest photo accessory ever invented, but is the one you’ve got optimized for shooting movies? At bare minimum, any 3-legger used for video should have separate lockable pan and tilt controls so you can lock the tilt at wherever angle you wish and then pan the camera horizontally with reasonable smoothness to follow the action.
It’s much easier to execute ultra-smooth professional looking pans if your tripod has a damped fluid-effect head, but make sure it also provides a lockable tilt function and an adjustable center post if you also intend to use it for still shooting.
A medium-sized tripod with a 3-way fluid effect is probably the most cost-effective all-round choice for HD movies with DSLRs, but if you plan to do extensive video shooting, consider adding a true video tripod with vibration-damping, crutch-type legs, a genuine fluid head that provides damping as well as friction adjustments, and two-handled panning action.
For serious video work, a dolly—essentially a triangular frame with castor-type wheels that mounts on the bottom of the tripod—makes it convenient to move the camera laterally on smooth surfaces for greater shooting flexibility. As you would expect, these are generally larger, heavier, and more expensive.
Dual-use still-and-video tripods
Davis & Sanford Carbonlite X10 ($180): A great-around tripod for video as well as stills, it can support large DSLRs fitted with heavy zoom lenses. The X10 includes an FGX10 3-way pan-tile fluid head, features a Stroboframe Quick-Release System, carbon fiber construction with adjustable, magnesium flip locks on the three-section legs, quick-lift center column with wing lock, bubble levels on head and yoke, and a bottom center-post hook. It has a maximum height of 70 inches for eye-level shooting, a folded length of 30 inches, weighs 5.4 pounds, and supports up to 14 pounds.
True video tripods
Manfrotto Video Kit with 547B Professional Video Tripod and 701HDV Pro Video Head ($275): A substantial but reasonably lightweight video tripod its two section, twin-leg construction provides additional torsion rigidity. The 547B is basically an updated aluminum version of the classic wooden cine tripod featuring improved locking collars, an easily removable mid-level leg brace, quick-release plate, and a 60mm bowl to match the 701HDV video head which incorporates improved internal fluid cartridges for better fluidity of its fixed-drag panning action. Techno-polymers and die-castings in the upper assembly and leg collars ensure added strength and stability. Load capacity: 33 pounds, maximum height (tripod): 55.9 inches; Weight of tripod and head: 8.81 pounds.
Davis & Sanford ProVista Air 18 Tripod with FM-18 Fluid Head ($220): Optimized for professional field or studio video applications, this sturdy tripod features double-strut 3-section anodized aluminum legs for added rigidity, a pneumatic cylinder center post for easy floating adjustment, locking center brace bubble level, 2 adjustable pan handles, independe4dnt locking pan and tilt adjustments, and a true fluid head with 18 pound load capacity. Closed length: 32 inches; weight: 13 pounds including fluid head; height extension: 31- 68 inches. This tripod comes with a free D&S Tripod Dolly #W3.
Stabilization devices for handheld videography
The ultimate stabilization device for shooting video handheld is the Steadicam that’s used by countless Hollywood pros. The Steadicam Merlin ($750) is the most compact, lightweight version and pros planning to shoot ext6ensive videos with DSLRs should definitely consider it. However, here’s a great walk-around stabilization device for the rest of us.
Davis & Sanford Steady Stick ($60): This belt-mounted unit with standard tripod socket takes the camera’s weight off your arms and shoulders and transfers it to your hips to vastly improve handheld shooting steadiness and minimize fatigue. It’s adjustable for various shooting angles for panning low or high over a crowd, supports cameras up to 30 pounds, fits in most camera bags and helps guide and control your camera in any position. The Steady Stick has a removable padded handle system that connects to the side or bottom of the unit for increased maneuverability, and includes a belt holster, PVC tube, rod and connector.
Eye-level viewing device for handheld HD movies
An LCD hood is a helpful accessory when shooting HD movies in Live View using the monitor to compose your shots. These are available from Hoodman, Delkin, and many other makers. Hoodman also offers the following devices that help you get your DSLR up to your eye and keep it there when using the LCD—they’re a bit of a kludge, but nevertheless quite effective.
Hoodman HoodLoupe Professional 3-inch LCD Screen Loupe for Nikon and Canon ($80): You can wear this thing around your neck like a normal loupe and use it to review your shots by placing it over your LCD moinitor to get a sharp, magnifies view. It is adjustable over4 a +/-3-diopter range. It has a nice adjustable rubber eyecup, fits LCDs up to 3 inches, and is encased in rubber to minimize the effects of bumps.
Hoodman Cinema Strap ($20): If you want to shoot handheld with the HoodLoupe 3.0 in place rather then just using it intermittently for viewing, by all means get this clever strap which is designed to keep this unit in place on your DSLR for extended shooting.
Light sources for HD movies
Here’s a flexible, modestly-priced continuous light source that will help you achieve truly professional lighting effects.
Lowel Pro-Light ($115): This ingenious focusing, multi-voltage (12v, 30v 120v, 50-250w) multi use halogen light mounts on any standard light stand and is claimed to be more efficient than a Fresnel of equal wattage thanks to its interchangeable #2 Reflector and Prismatic Glass that delivers a Fresnal-like shadow quality. It has adjustable barn doors, and can be used as a low-level key or accent light, as a fill light (with diffusion) or as a backlight. To extend its versatility to the outdoors, you can add a DC adaptor cable or mount it directly on camera. Features include 5:1 continuously variable focus control, 160-degree tilt with adjustable, constant-tension, one-handed, no-yoke tilting, wattages of 250 and 125 with 120-volt power. Weight: 2 pounds with 12-foot extension cable.
