Your Canon 7D looks impressive. How much does the whole thing actually weigh? BTW--your web site makes me want to come to New Mexico. Beautiful!

Studio4 Productions is coming out with a new smaller rig called the UltraCompact that is a bit smaller and a bit lighter for $299. I talked to Tim Ovel at Indifocus and he is familiar with your rig and you as well....I guess you bought it from him?
In any case I bought one and hope to get it next week.

Yes, it's coming from Tim.
If you plan to use it with a DSLR system I would suggest to switch the handle to the left side, so it won't get in the way of the CF card slot and battery compartment. I did that with my 7D and it works GREAT. The cool thing about that "C' mount is that it has a lot of holes where you can attach stuff on. For example, it was easy for me to attach the Solid State recorder, wireless receiver, LED lights, and more. I've also attached the handle upside down to be less bulky (and it won't get in the way of the 7" monitor arm.

Good luck building up your "ultimate" rig too!

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show

It is indeed beautiful here in New Mexico! The rig weights about 15 pounds, but it has a LOT of stuff hooked up to it! You can probably shave off a good 5 pounds if you don't use the monitor and the double audio system. If you like New Mexico, make sure to check out the "Director's Pick" on episode 4 of the The Santa Fe TV Show. It comes after Chef Matt Yohalem (direct link: e4).

Enjoy!

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show

Which model is this with the handle? I don't see it on their site at all.

It is a new model and I don't believe they have it on their web site yet. I just happened to call them and they mentioned they had something new.
Call Tim Ovel at (319) 504-3985. He is hard the catch however.

Extremely true for the times!

(And on another note, sad to say, i can't view your sites videos anymore here in China... seems everyday that passes another site gets blocked...or in this case, partially blocked)

Sorry to hear that Mike. How come that sites get "partially" blocked?

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show

cen sorship... lots of sites with video have the just the video blocked.

sad but true:( getting really tired of it... A few months ago after finishing a short for the DVinfo's DV Challenge i found vimeo blocked, couldn't upload or view the site...very frustrating.

i can't even upload here...but i know Dan Chung does and he's sometimes in bei jing when he does - maybe he uses a vpn to do so?

sucks, i enjoyed your first two episodes!

Do you host the video on your site or is it streamed via vimeo or youtube?

PS as you can see even i self cen sor! DVInfo has been blocked on occasion as well.

i use a web proxy but anything java related doesn't work!

Hey Guys, I called Tim up and just have a few updates.

He said he's currently working with his web guy to have the new products up in the coming week or so. I went ahead and ordered the ultra compact and some indi snap lens gears! They look amazingly convenient. Thanks Carlo for giving us the info on this!

Mike,
That's really too bad - very sorry to hear that - it's 2010, I thought we were all past that...
Episode 3 and 4 are even better: more music! We are now working on E5, and I feel it may be the best: new content, some new exciting people!
For now our video is hosted on VIMEO (not the site, just the video). We are coming out shortly with a DVD and Blu-Ray with the first 4 episodes and "bloopers". Check out the home page from time to time.

Glad you enjoy our work, very much appreciated. Any comments or suggestions?
Drop me a line.

Best regards.

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show

P.S.
Do you live in China or are you there just for work?

Hi Carlo,

You mention switching back and forward from 7D monitor to the liliput, can you do this while recording as I know when I pull/insert the cable on the side it'll stop recording.

Thanks

Randy,

That's a good guestion. I am in the middle of something now, but as soon I'm free tonight I will check and get back to you ASAP.

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show

Randy,

As soon as you change input on the lilliput, recording stops indeed. I haven't felt that as a problem, because when I am ready to roll, usually I do not look at the camera display anymore...all settings have been done, it's filming time, and the lilliput becomes the framing and focus reference. If I have to change settings, usually I am not rolling, so it is not a problem.

Hope this helps.

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show

hehe, i guess 2010 means different things to different gov. Its inconvenient yes, but in the end, i feel safe and happy (careful with food, water and chemicals though even in the most modern city, Shanghai) so i guess there is always a price to pay.

That your video is hosted on vimeo makes perfect sense as vimeo is blocked. So in reality your site is not blocked but your video is hosted on a blocked site. I've been putting off paying for a VPN, that will allow me to bypass the cen sorship, but getting fed up so this week i made my short list of vpns i 'd like to purchase so maybe next week i'll get to see those videos of yours.

As for your ps question: in China, as a foreigner, you must have a job to keep a temporary residence visa, no such thing as permanent residency here save for a select few who have helped the country, such as long term charity workers.

I've been living here for more than 4 years and probably be here for many more. The opportunities are absolutely endless.

TV shows here are horrendous production wise, TVCs are impeccable, great production value, and the movie industry quite mature with great production value.

And Chinese studios purchased a lot old technicolor products when hollywood moved away from it in the eaerly 70s so the color palettes of the films are ...unique in old school ways. i.e. technicolor film processing with DI post. Some of the prints are the most pristine and clear i've ever seen. And the underground sans permit indie film community is growing at very fast rate:)