24Feb Azden 330LT UHF Stereo Wireless system Audio test
While I’ve been using this set for awhile, I haven’t really published any audio tests so here’s the first. The audio track below was recorded directly into the Panasonic Gh4 as well as the Canon t2i running magic lantern. I’ve noted this in the audio recording and i’ll also say it right here. For whatever reason the Azden 330LT UHF system is a bit sensitive. If you have both receiver channels turned on, but only one transmitter turned on, you’ll get a horrible crackling noise. If you have both transmitters and receiver channels turned on, you wont have an issue. If you have one receiver channel turned on and one transmitter, you’ll also be fine. So make sure you only turn on both receiver channels if you are using both transmitters.
Take a listen to the audio and what i’m saying will make a little more sense. While the Azden 330LT UHF system isn’t quite as clean and clear as the Sennheiser G series units I normally use, the audio is still what I would consider decent to good depending on your standards. The noise floor is hanging out around -45db or so and with a noise gate or light noise filtering, it’s completely gone.
Other than converting the audio to MP3 format there hasn’t been any changes made to the Azden 330LT’s audio. Also note that this audio was recorded with the included Azden lav mics which aren’t fantastic. When I put together the full review I’ll demonstrate the unit with the nicer lav mics I normally use as well as the included lav mics so you can get an idea of the difference in quality.
24Feb DSLR FILM NOOB Podcast Episode 11
DSLR FILM NOOB podcast Episode 11 is up. Devin from impulsenetworks.tv joins me to discus the JVC 4k super35 LS300 price drop, Veydra primes, Sony a7s android app, Dual battery chargers, camera rigs, and more.
You can find the show notes here. You can find the show on itunes here, Soundcloud, or under the podcast tab above. You can also leave questions on reddit at r/dslr.
23Feb Azden 330LT UHF Stereo Wireless system – First impressions
I normally use Sennheiser G series wireless units, but I’ve always been attracted to the idea of a dual channel receiver system. While I’m not as excited about the all plastic build of the Azden 330LT UHF system, it is really nice that the system only requires one dual channel receiver on camera instead of trying to find room for two Sennheiser mounts.
The Azden 330LT UHF receiver is a bit on the bulky side, but again you only have to deal with a single unit which makes setup very easy. Looking closer at the receiver it has the option to turn on/off either channel when not in use, this saves on battery power, which helps when running on 2 AA batteries. The Azden receiver can also be powered by a 6 volt barrel plug if you have a battery system and it’s nice that Azden gives you those kinds of options.
Azden’s 35BT transmitters are a pretty standard affair, plastic build, a little chunky, and the controls are only slightly easier to use than the Sennheiser G series units. The transmitters are powered by 2x AA batteries and volume adjustments are actually made with a plastic screwdriver which is a little wanky. Build quality overall is about the same as the Shure FP units that were released last year. It isn’t amazing but it isn’t horrible, just middle of the line thick plastic. I don’t think you’d have a problem with durability as long as they aren’t abused.
The included Lav mics are kind of junky and almost comically over sized. Early on I tried to use them, but honestly they kind of suck. While you can use them to record audio and they do work, the included Azden lav mics are something you’ll want to upgrade whenever your budget allows. There’s a reason you can buy these chunky lavs for $20, because that’s about what they are worth.
Azden does provide a nice case for the 330LT UHF system and plenty of connectors. The kit includes a 3.5mm to dual XLR adapter as well as a stereo cable so that you can plug it directly into your DSLR. The system is pretty handy for interviews and it’s nice that you don’t necessarily need an XLR adapter system to get this thing up and running. While I’m not a huge fan of the build quality, the dual channel capability of the 330LT UHF system make it pretty handy.
I’ve been using the 330LT UHF system for a number of jobs and I’ve been carrying it around in the provided case. You’ll notice there are no labels on the package and that’s because I took them off after the first shoot. While the box is great, have a big flag on the case that screams “dual channel wireless system” makes it an easy target for theft. I still have it, but the first project I took it on, someone got all the way to the parking lot before someone stopped them and asked them what they were up to. A black box is definitely more discreet than a brightly labeled box.
I’ll have some more on the 330LT UHF system once I have a chance to put together a full review. Spoiler, i’ve been using it for 6 months and I haven’t put it on ebay, so it’s not to bad.
23Feb Should the Olympus 40-150mm f2.8 lens be the next on my list?
I have two lenses left on my M4/3 list to buy, the 60mm f2.8 macro and this beast born of Olympus (that sounds epic), the 40-150mm f/2.8 lens. Although I have the Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 in my collection, I always find myself wanting a little more reach and when i’m pulling focus I really enjoy the hard stops I get on my Olympus 12-40mm f2.8. While the Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 has IS, the fly by wire system makes it a bit trick to pull focus.
With the 40-150mm your 35mm equivalent on this guy is 80-300 and with the optional 1.4X Teleconverter you’re looking at about a f4 112-420mm full frame equivalent zoom range. I know that might seem a little extreme, but once you get used to shooting with that much reach, you start to really rely on it. Plus the 27.6 inch minimum focal distance on this thing would be fantastic for extreme closeups.
Currently i’m debating on either a Second Panasonic GH4 body or the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 lens. I’m hesitant to invest in a second GH4 until I see whats coming from Panasonic and Olympus at NAB and I don’t really “need” the 40-150mm f2.8, but it would be a nice addition to my kit.
The only negative comment I’ve found about the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 lens in reviews is the $1400 price tag and that’s usually followed by something like “it’s well worth the price”. Have any of you had a chance to shoot with this guy?
I know this lens is consider very large when compared to other M4/3 lenses, but its only 6.3 inches long which is only slightly longer than a Tamron 24-70 full frame lens. When shooting video I’d most likely have the Olympus locked down on a tripod but do you think I could get awhile with this for hand held photography without image stabilization? My Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS is a beast to shoot with when the image stabilization is off but the Olympus 40-150mm is significantly lighter and shorter than that monster.
I’m kind of thinking out loud here. I might have to see if I can get a loaner in for review or rent one to decide if I really want to spend $1400 on the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 lens. It really does look like a sexy lens.
21Feb Watson Pearstone Duo LCD battery charger
A number of you asked about the battery charger I mentioned in the last podcast. Basically the tick is to buy one of the cheaper Watson or Pearstone versions for $39 or $19 respectively and then pick up the battery plates you need for the batteries you use. Depending on the battery charger you select this will save you between $40 and $60 compared to the normal option.
The battery plates are easy to change out and the charger is made pretty well. I’ve been using mine for more than a year now without any issue. As I mentioned in the podcast, some people have reported a high pitch hum coming from the Pearstone version. I’ve never had a problem with mine, but it could be that the frequency is just to high from me to pick out. So keep that in mind if you are sensitive to coil hum. Other than that $19 + maybe $10 for a hand full of battery plates and you’ll get a great price on a pretty decent charger.
20Feb DSLR FILM NOOB Podcast Episode 10
Episode 10 of the DFN podcast, Mitch from planet5D joins me to discuss the Olympus Air, Gopro Ribcage, 4K system on a chip from Qualcomm, Audio adapters, camera straps, and more.
You can find the show notes here. You can find the show on itunes here, Soundcloud, or under the podcast tab above. You can also leave questions on reddit at r/dslr.
20Feb SmallRig low profile 1/4 20 cold shoe adapter
In the past I’ve used a plastic thumb screw style cold shoe adapter (above bottom) for most of my rigs. It’s done a pretty decent job on my Varavon cage but it’s a little big and often sold out. So I started looking for something a little lower profile and a bit more permanent.
After a bit of research I came across the the SmallRig 1/4 20 cold shoe adapter on ebay. For ruffly $7 you basically get a piece of CNC aluminum in the shape of a cold shoe mount. The black anodized aluminum mount comes with two different 1/4 20 screw lengths and you only need a flat head screwdriver to mount it. Tighten the thing down to a spot on your rig and you’ll be good to go.
You can also find them on Amazon, but for whatever reason they’re $10. Basically it provides the same style of mount as the thumb screw model only it’s all metal and doesn’t stick out as far on your camera rig. I often found myself removing the plastic thumb screw style cold shoe adapter because it got in the way when hand held shooting with the Varavon cage. The SmallRig 1/4 20 cold shoe adapter has a low enough profile that it doesn’t really cause problems when handling the camera. It’s also a few dollars cheaper, so it’s a win win.
18Feb Canon 5d mark III down to $1999
Not sure if this is a sign, but Canon 5d mark III bodies are now down to $1999 on ebay. I’ve heard some talk of a 5d mark IV body on the way, but it’s hard to say for sure if this is any indicator. Regardless $1999 is a very good price.
17Feb DSLR FILM NOOB Podcast Episode 9
DSLR FILM NOOB podcast Episode 9 is up. Devin from impulsenetworks.tv joins me to discus, the new Panasonic GH4 firmware V-log update, Nikon’s D750 DSLR Filmmaker’s kit, Voigtlander’s new 10.5mm f/0.95 lens, Flickers new Camera roll, and more.
You can find the show notes here. You can find the show on itunes here, Soundcloud, or under the podcast tab above. You can also leave questions on reddit at r/dslr.
17Feb Thinking about ordering the Olympus E-M5 Mark II
I’ve been looking longingly at the Olympus E-M5 Mark II since it was announced a few weeks ago and I’m still on the fence. At $1099 it’s basically a rugged version of the Panasonic GH3. However the E-M5 Mark II excels for me in one key feature, image stabilization. The 5-axis system is really interesting, but is that enough?
Right now a used Panasonic GH4 is selling for around $1100 to $1300, it’s a camera I own and a camera I really enjoy. The GH4 shoots in 4k, while the E-M5 Mark II is still hanging out at 1080p. I know that most footage ends up being delivered at 1080p and that I don’t really “need” 4k right now, but it’s still a feature I’ve grown accustom to and something I’ve been using more and more. I keep thinking, “man it would be nice to have the 5-axis image stabilization for hand held shooting”, but than I remember that I already manage to shoot hand held even without IS.
I’ve collected enough M4/3 lenses to make it worth it to me to invest in another M4/3 body. The question is, should it be a used Panasonic GH4 or a Olympus E-M5 Mark II? The E-M5 Mark II is already available for pre-order is expected to start shipping on the 27th. What do you guys think? Is the 5-axis image stabilization and rugged body enough to make the E-M5 Mark II a contender?
