Flip Video—A One-Touch Wonder for the Masses
 We swore we wouldn't use the phrase "...you'll flip over this compact camcorder..." but we lied. We couldn't help ourselves. Besides, it's true. The Flip Video Ultra Series from Pure Digital has plenty of pop for the buck and is a snap to shoot. It's just Point and Press....Shoot and Share. Instant playback and delete. The real surprise here is the Flip's picture quality. It not only gets the colors right, but captures are crisp and clean. The unit's software is built-in, so you can edit and organize your flicks on the fly. YouTubers rejoice, the cam was designed for easy uploads to sharing sites. Email your videos or connect to a TV and view them. And, hey, here's another surprise for a cam in this class: you can capture stills from your videos! A great gift for the screen-teens in the family, as well as DV-loving adults who want to capture the moment(s) without reaching for a manual. Heck, even serious videographers can safely stick the Flip in their pocket for party-shots and vacation fun without fuss. If news breaks before your eyes you won't panic at the controls... just aim and grab the action. The Flip is pure shoot-from-the-hip fast and cool. A handy tool for the citizen-journalist, the video-diarist, and the soon-to-be-indie movie-maker. Hey, the Flip is democracy in action!
There are two flavors in the Ultra series. We tested a top-of-the-line 60-minute 
model with 2GB of onboard memory. (There's also a 30-minute model with 1GB.) The cam comes in sporty colors, too, and has a 2x digital zoom, plus a built-in tripod mount. It's conveniently powered by 2 AA batteries (included) and comes with a wrist-strap and soft carrying pouch. Affordable, portable, easy and FUN—a combination hard to beat. www.theFlip.com
Hoodman's new HD CAMCORDER HOOD is a cool tool to drool for if you're shooting outdoors. Imagine actually being able to see what your taping on the LCD screen, instead of struggling to hand-shade your camera or having to move under a tree. We tested 2 models -- the HD-400 for 3.5 - 4" LCD screens, and the HD-300 which handles smaller 2.5-3" screens. They work line a charm and are easy to mount and detach. Any questions? Of course not, go grab one! www.HoodmanUSA.com
The ZOE-DVXL from Bebob Engineering. If you own a Canon or Sony camera with a Lanc input socket, this is a must-have add-on. It's a zoom / focus remote controller that adds a professional touch to your zooms. As you've discovered by now, the zoom controls on DV cameras are painfully erratic. Press a rocker lightly and the zoom ZOOMS way too fast. In fact, jerky, sprint-style zooms are a dead giveaway in amateur videos. To be in command of your shots, the controls should be off-camera and provide precision movement. The ZOE-DVXL is the first universal remote zoom control for DV. The unit includes a quick release clamp and click functions for switching quickly between manual and auto-focus; a toggle switch that allows operation of both camera protocols; and a new elbow-plug. It's constructed of durable, shock resistant polycarbonate and Its pressure-sensitive rocket switch provides stepless zoom control, plus ultra-smooth ramp-up. So hobnob with Bebob and get yourself the Zoe-DVXL.
Speaking of smooth moves.... even a top of the line video tripod can’t replicate a gorgeous crane shot. And, yes, it’s a crane that gives Hollywood those sweeping, 360-degree shots and awesome fluid tilts and pans. Here is where Kessler Crane comes in. They offer cool, hand-crafted cranes. And get this—they’re surprisingly affordable. Our choice is their compact KC 5.5. With a folded length of only 48 inches and weight of 15 lbs., this is an ideal model for taking on location or for use in small studios. Easy to cart and store, the KC 5.5 can support up to 50 lbs. It's sturdy, steady, and a rock-solid performer made of high grade T-6061 Aircraft aluminum. The unit features a sliding weight bar for accurate balance, rear control handle and manual and automatic camera tilt control. Another nice thing about the 5.5 is that it can be upgraded to an 8-ft or 12-ft crane, whenever the need arises. If you want to kick your production up to the top of the ladder, head to Kessler: www.kesslercrane.com
 TURN GOOD LOOKS INTO GREAT (FILM) LOOKS.
We all know the quality of DV is excellent, yet it doesn't compare to the aesthetic "look" of film. For example, DV is razor sharp, while film is soft and textured, with depth in the shadow areas. DV essentially offers black and blown-out white. If you want your video to have the magical quality of motion picture film stock, look no further than Magic Bullet Looks from Red Giant Software. It's a sophisticated, post-production plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Avid Systems... that lets you apply a vast array of Hollywood (and TV) looks to DV. CLICK HERE to see some samples. The interface is beautifully designed to facilitate hundreds of options without clutter or confusion. Panels slide open and close smoothly (called Quick Drawers ) as you make choices. The tools are all at hand, just a mouse-over away. If you're not quite sure which particular look you're after, let the Magic Bullet Look Theater present a slide show of the various styles—a wonderful function. When you find one you like, just press the spacebar to pause for closer examination. You can then fine-tune or change the effect's parameters. You can also save your customized "looks" and refer to them within the program's visual gallery. Magic Bullet provides one hundred unique Looks, organized by category in the Look Library. Presets range from exposure and film process emulation to radical color changes. The program works as both plug-in and stand-alone app, and even includes Magic Bullet Misfire, which creates the illusion of film damage such as dust and scratches to artificially age your video. Magic Bullet Looks not only has all the looks you could possibly want, but the brains to go with them. Changing the mood of your movie is now a snap and these moods swing! A must-have post-production tool.
HELLO DOLLY!... Sorry, couldn't resist, but bad puns aside, this little dolly from DV Caddie is well worth  the greeting. Officially known as the DVCA-D1, this cool camera dolly features custom grooved wheels for some awesome fluid moves. Use it on a variety of flat surfaces and you'll be wowed by the results. It's low to the ground so you can get some creative shots you may not have considered. Move it along a table-top for intimate scenes. Add some PVC pipe for outdoor tracking shots. The unit has more uses than we have space to list, but just use your imagination. One of the wheels includes a friction brake so you can lock it in place on your coffee break. The compact size makes it a no-brainer on location. The DV Caddie D1 is another clever gem from the mind of Jim Kundig. Nice work, Jim! Check it out here.
 What four digits are essential to your video production? 1394, of course! FireWire is how we smoothly MOVE our video files from camera to editing software. But there is more than one type of FireWire cord and there's the rub. For instance, we routinely connect our camcorder to a  desktop to capture video. Then one day we decide to connect to a laptop, but wait... the laptop only accepted a 4-pin connection and we had 6-pins! That's when we had a brainstorm—Belkin! We knew they had the cord we needed. Indeed, their Apple FireWire & Sony i.LINK compatible 1394 6' 4-Pin to 4-Pin cable was the solution. This isn't just the right cable, it's the best-made one, too, featuring gold-plated copper contacts and Molded Strain Relief and PVC overmolding for error-free transmissions. Another essential for your kit bag from Belkin is their FireWire 6-Port Hub. If you own a notebook, you're lucky to have one 1394 port, right? Well now, with this amazingly compact hub you instantly have 6 free ports for all your FireWire devices: iPod camcorder, web cam. PlayStation 2, and more. It also enables you to extend the distance between your computer and devices. And don't forget the advantage of zippy FireWire downloads at up to 400Mbps. To top it off, Belkin throws in a Lifetime Warranty—a sweet deal all around. For more cool accessories visit their site: www.belkin.com
One aspect of DV production that's often overlooked is audio. Indeed, the sound quality of your movie is just as important as the moving images you capture. A good external microphone is an essential accessory as a camcorder's built-in mic just doesn't cut it.  Once you've got yourself a shotgun or handheld mic, you might think you're ready to go on location.... well, you're not. You'll want to grab the Topper from K-Tek. They're best known for producing high quality, professional boom poles, but they make all manner of mic accessories and this wind protector is a must-have tool if you plan to shoot outdoors. Indeed, nothing is worse than trying to decipher an on-screen interview when the audio is dominated by the whooshing of the wind hitting the mic. K-Tek's furry cover solves the problem by cutting out noise and disturbance. It may not be a product you'll brag about, but it's one you surely can't do without.
It seems like the world is awash in earbuds, but remember one thing: all earbuds are not created equal. When it comes to getting the best quality, direct-to-ear audio we turn to Future Sonics and their Atrio Series Professional Earphones. Future Sonics has been serving the entertainment industry with innovative products for over 20 years. The Atrio Series represents the fruits of that innovation. In short, these earphones are the best you can buy. They offer big rich, true timbre, 100% armature-free sound with sensitivity of 112dB/1mW@ 30Hz. That translates into bigger sound at lower volume with no artificially enhanced "boost." Just pure, resonant audio, The best!
 xx
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by Andrew Bailey and Paul Duncan
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