The T3i has returned Unfixed and Some personal updates.

Received my camera back from the repair facility at Canon after sending it there due to vertical lining in the video.  When I opened the box the spec sheet said they cleaned it and removed a foreign object from the image sensor...Which is a total crock since I had inspected the sensor before I sent it.  So now I will be calling them Monday and see what happens from there.

My real issue with these lines is that in the future I hope to create a movie I came up with and hopefully show it on a big screen somewhere, whether I pay to do so or not.  Now for YouTube purposes it seems to do good, since its compressed so much that it almost eliminates the lines.  But I am afraid that once the HQ video is blown up they will become quite apparent.

One of my current projects that has taken over is turning my sun-room into a small video studio.  Yesterday I went out and bought more materials to complete the task and hope to get crackin' on it today when the sun comes out.  In case you are one of those who is still waiting for my next Betrayer video to come out this is part of the reason it hasn't yet.

In the mean time I hope to come up with some clever videos as I have downloaded the trial version of Boris FX Continuum Complete 7.  Just playing around with it and trying to figure out how things work, I could see some really cool effects being made from it.  But I will keep you posted.  Thanks for your patience.

Northern Water Snakes!

Hello everyone, just wanted to share my latest video.  Its some cool shots I happen to capture while I was at Asylum Lake.  My wife had found one snake in a small stream and then next thing you know we discover there are three of them.  All just chilling and cooling off on the hot day.  Very neat!  Here is the video I created of them and I also created another preset for download in my Sony Vegas Presets tab at the bottom.  Cheers!

T3i in for Repair

Hey guys and gals, just wanted to update you on whats going on.  I have just mailed in my T3i to canon as I have discovered some vertical lines in my video.  Now once I discovered said lines I realized they had been haunting my videos ever since I had the camera I just didn't realize they were there till recently.  So hopefully I can get back to shooting stuff soon, but I do have some shots I had taken to play with and possibly create another preset from.  Here is a couple screen captures to show you guys what I found.

Now in both cases I was using Technicolor CineStyle which really shows the lines but if your using the regular canon profiles then they can be harder to notice.  Anyways, hopefully I am the only one with this issue.  If you think you have this problem, post it below.  Cheers.

Sony Vegas Pro 10.0e is out

Just thought I would let anyone know who is unaware of it but Vegas Pro 10.0e is out.  Looks like it fixed some issues and added some more options.  Here it is straight from their site:

Notable fixes/changes in Version 10.0e

• Added support for LPCM audio in MVC files, 24p video in MVC files, and 50p/60p video in AVC files (e.g, such as from Sony HXR-NX3D1U camera).
• Added support for reading Omneon Spectrum RDD9 MXF files.
• Added support for creating IMX MXF files compatible with Sony eVTR deck.
• The Burn Blu-ray Disc feature has been updated for compliance with the Blu-ray Disc specification. You can render 3D projects to a Blu-ray 3D Disc image file (.iso) from the timeline (Tools > Burn Disc > Blu-ray Disc). This feature is intended for commercial BD-ROM preparation testing.
• Increased bit rate on built-in MVC templates and added 720-50p MVC template.
• Fixed a crash that could occur when deleting events with OFX plug-ins.
• Fixed a crash that could occur using Apply Non-Real-Time Event FX.
• Fixed an issue that could cause incorrect colors for Windows Media Video (WMV) files in the 64-bit version of Vegas Pro.
• Fixed an issue with thumbnails for some OFX plug-ins.
• Fixed an issue editing Sony AVC/MVC templates in non-English versions of Vegas Pro.
• Fixed an issue that prevented saving certain OFX presets.
• Fixed an issue creating a Dynamic RAM Preview for OFX transitions.
• Fixed an issue copy/pasting events with crossfades smaller than the audio quick-fade duration

Make sure to update your version if you feel so inclined.  Here is the link:  http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/trials/vegaspro

Asylum Lake

Here is a little short I put together while I was at Asylum lake.  I realized after I made it that I totally forgot to include the snakes in the water I shot.  Maybe next time I guess, but here you go.  This was in Kalamazoo MI.

On a side note, on my way to Kalamazoo my car caught on fire!  I managed to put it out with Poweraid!  W00t.

DIY Quadpod

Update:  The legs are complete, they are just sitting together at the moment.  I'm currently deliberating how I will proceed to finish my design.  It currently weighs 15 lbs.  Just to get your hearts racing a little I am including a image I took of the quadpod standing up.  Its low height is about 32 inches and I estimate it will be about 50 inches tall not including the rest of the tripod head mount or fluid head.  Don't be fooled by the PVC you see, as I can confidently tell you each leg is rock solid with zero wiggle room.  There is also more to this than the eye can see, but I will keep that my little secret until I make my DIY video once its finished.  Let me know what you think in the comments below :).  Cheers.

Well its almost here.  My very own DIY quadpod.  My estimates on its final specs would be that it could be capable of supporting 100lbs and weigh about 20lbs, but thats just a guess because it looks like an amazing freakin beast!  I currently only have to assemble the last leg and from there final design tweaking.  The last leg will take longer because I will be shooting my video while making it for the DIY.

If your wondering what is involved in the construction process you will be very glad to know that there is zero metal work involved!  So anyone could technically make this.  The tricky part might be getting the parts I used but I will get into that later.  Estimated final cost, about $55.  Oh yeah baby, oh yeah.