Huge battery sale at Adorama

Heads up Y'all! Adorama, one of the most trusted camera stores out there, is having a huge sale on their brand batteries, about 50% off on many!!!
I have purchased several of these batteries before, specifically the Canon camcorder one for my HF-S200 for $12. On amazon they start at 14 plus Shipping.
I can safely say that their customer service is excellent, i have never had quality issues with their products.
Keep it frugal!
-Josh

PS don't forget to sign up for email updates in the top right corner to be the first to hear about these deals in the future!

Keeping track of your Butterfly/Wingnuts

So I use my video Worklights on light stands. No big deal, each one has a hole where its supposed to mount to its base, I just slip the 1/4-20 on top of my light stand though there, then tighten a butterfly (wingnut) on there. But when the kit is packed, those wingnuts are easy to lose, espcially since I pack in crates and rolly boxes that have holes in the sides. Here's how I made sure my wingnuts go where I go, all the time. I took an Eye bolt (2/$1.20 by me) and threaded on 5 wingnuts (50/$5, I believe). (all 1/4x20 obviously) Then I secured it to my case using some utility band, but you could zip tie, string tie, bow tie, or attach it any way you want really. Notice how I reversed 2 of the wingnuts and screwed them on together, that maximizes the available space.

The Frugal LANC remote

First off, whats LANC? It’s a standardized remote protocol. What that means is if you buy a LANC remote, or a tripod with a LANC remote built into the handle, it will work for any camcorder that takes LANC, which is quite a few. Note that Sony has a different shaped LANC port, but you can buy an adapter. More on that soon. LANC remotes come with various options, from simple start/stop, to zoom, to focus control and photo taking. I was shopping around for one, and the prices were what you’d expect for a pro video accessory. I mean, there are generic ones, but I was nervous. There were 2 complaints on the generics, 1) some were reported to make a clicking noise when zooming, and 2) the zoom speed did not vary, which greatly limits your versatility and creative control. Most LANC remotes are designed to be affixed to a tripod handle.

                I wanted one to attach to my tripod. Since whenever I search for an item I always sort by price high to low, I right away noticed that Manfrotto, the big boys on the block in the tripod world, make a LANC remote which is really cheap. Like $35!!! It was only 40 cents more than the generic one!! Basically the cheapest LANC remote around! And free shipping too! 

The only catch is that it was designed for their modosteady handle thingee, which I definitely do not have or want.

Universal translator for your rig!

So the first thing I built was the The Frugal Filmmaker Camera Stabilizer Rig.

I made some slight modifications to it, because my camera is longer than his, especially when I have the extended battery on it. 

I realized something important, however. As an event photographer, I don’t have time to screw on one tripod quick release, then another, then another. I can’t go from one rig to another and take five minutes to transition. Plus I am a little concerned because a friend stripped out the threading on his camcorder’s tripod screw hole. What I needed, I realized, is a universal quick release plate. The problem is every piece of gear I own comes with a different shaped quick release plate.

Frugalphotog now does video!!

Many clients and potential clients have been asking me lately if I do video. Since the majority of my income comes from EVENT photography, this request comes as no surprise. About a year ago I undertook the task of learning to use Adobe Premiere, the standard of video editing software.

Adorma brand (Flashpoint) batteries for digital cameras & camcorders half off!!!!!!!

Plus free shipping!

Link to all: Adorama.com

Some Batteries:
Replacement LP-E5 Battery for Canon EOS Rebel XSi Digital Camera
Save 40%
Regular Price $9.95
Sale Price $5.95
Expires 1/31/2011
FREE SHIPPING


Flashpoint Replacement NP-FV70 Battery 1600mAh, 7.4V for your Compatible Sony Camcorder
Save 44%
Regular Price $24.95
Sale Price $13.95
Expires 1/31/2012
FREE SHIPPING

Replacement Battery for Panasonic CGA-S005A, Ricoh DB-60, Leica D-Lux 3 and Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera Save 50% Regular Price $9.95 Sale Price $5 Expires 1/31/2013 FREE SHIPPING Replacement Battery for the Canon NB-4L for PowerShot Digital Elph Cameras Save 50% Regular Price $9.95 Sale Price $4.99 Expires 1/31/2014 FREE SHIPPING Flashpoint Replacement EN-EL3E Battery Pack for Nikon EN-EL3en 7.4 Volts 1500 mAh Save 40% Regular Price $9.95 Sale Price $6 Expires 1/31/2015 FREE SHIPPING Flashpoint Replacement BP-827 Battery Pack Canon Save 44% Regular Price $22.95 Sale Price $12.95 Expires 1/31/2016 FREE SHIPPING

The most important PovertyWizard mod ever!!

EDIT: Video at the bottom of post!!!

So let’s be realistic. If you own poverty wizards, in any of their various forms, you know they’re actually more “smooth” looking than the (original) pocket wizard. Shooting portraits with a pocket wizard looks like you strapped a radio onto the top of your camera, and it nearly doubles the height of your camera probably. It also kinda looks like it doesn’t belong. Poverty wizards, on the other hand, have that sleek look, almost like they’re leaning forward eagerly, and they go well with the contours of your camera (unless you modded an antenna onto yours).