Site Archive

Comparison of four professional LED lighting instruments under $1K
Written by David Tames on July 19, 2009
Filed Under Camera, Documentary, Filmmaking, Gadgets and Devices, Lighting, Reviews

Over the past couple of years I’ve had a chance to use or take a close look at various LED lighting instruments available in the marketplace. Today you will find lots of inexpensive lights suitable for on-camera use available...  Continue Reading...

Beyerdynamic velour pads: new life for Sony MDR-7506 or V6 headphones
Written by David Tames on November 16, 2008
Filed Under Gadgets and Devices, Sound, Video Production

For many years I’ve been using two pairs of Sony MDR-7506 headphones (one lives in my camera kit and the second lives in my sound kit) and the original plastic ear pads had started to fall apart. These are outstanding headphones...  Continue Reading...

Maria’s Story and its role in the technological history of documentary filmmaking
Written by David Tames on September 20, 2008
Filed Under Documentary, Filmmaking, Media Technology, Reviews

Maria’s Story (1990, Monona Wali & Pamela Cohen, 53 min.) is a documentary portrait of Maria Serrano, a 39-year-old woman who is a peasant, mother, and guerrilla leader who at the time the film was made, had spent over...  Continue Reading...

Sony PMW-EX1 Camcorder (BOSFCPUG Presentation)
Written by David Tames on July 25, 2008
Filed Under Camera, Events & Screenings, Final Cut Pro, High Definition

The Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX camcorder represents an important milestone in the evolution of digital video camera design. This is the first all-in-one camcorder to provide videographers with the productivity of solid-state memory card...  Continue Reading...

Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX camcorder: first impressions
Written by David Tames on July 4, 2008
Filed Under Camera, High Definition, Media Technology, Tools

A friend recently loaned me his Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX camcorder for a few days so I had a chance to take this fascinating new camera for a spin. In this post I’ll share my first impressions. I’ll be taking the camera out...  Continue Reading...

The little camcorder that could
Written by David Tames on March 14, 2006
Filed Under Camera, Filmmaking

I’ve been shooting a documentary with the Sony HVR-Z1U HDV camcorder and it’s a fine camera if you’re into the 1080i thing (I prefer a progressive approach to my imaging technology as with my politics). Working with...  Continue Reading...