My name is Robert Benson, I'm a freelance photographer in San Diego and shoot mainly editorial and commercial stuff. You can write me at robert atmark robertbenson.com. Read more.My portfolio.
UPDATE. Winner of the contest described below is Qasim Arshed, who posted a mention of my monitor here. Congrats Qasim, and thanks for everyone who made mentions!
Hello all. On Friday, September 3, I’m giving away a free wireless seven inch monitor (with transmitter and built in receiver), along with the new cpmfilmtools.com custom made grip gear to one lucky reader of this post, a $250 value. Here’s what you do to enter:
-embed the video below on a video or photography-related blog or website (yours or another; a videographer online forum, for example, is fine too), along with a description of the monitor, similar to this: “This DSLR wireless monitor takes the video or still photo feed from any DSLR camera or video camera and sends it wirelessly to a seven inch or 10″ portable, battery powered monitor. Read about it at www.robertbenson.com/blog”
-send me a link to your blog post via email (r o b e r t atmark r o b e r t b e n s o n d o t com)
-name will be chosen randomly by a second party on Sept. 3. That name will be announced here, and it will be shipped that day.
I have revised the monitor described below, and now the receiver and related components are inside the monitor. There are no wires showing whatesover. When you turn on the monitor, it’s automatically in receiving mode. Video above shows this. Also as of today (July 30, 2010) the transmitter and battery are in their own case with on/off switch.
I’ve been in the garage again, Frankensteining existing parts to make a device which I think a lot of photographers will dig: a wireless color monitor to preview what your DSLR camera sees.
The device, consisting of a transmitter, receiver, and color 7″ or 10″ (or larger if requested) monitor, takes the feed that normally appears on the back of your DSLR, and transmits it wirelessly to one or more monitors, which can be used by the art director on a shoot, assistants, or anyone else who wants to see what the photographer is seeing. Sends video or still photos without delay. Don’t have to bump heads anymore trying to show others an image on the small display on back of camera. When you plug this into your camera, it overrides the camera’s monitor.
This, like the 20-mile wireless remote I built a couple years ago, came out of a need in real world shooting, and I didn’t see anything else really available. Not at a reasonable price at least. There’s the HD CamWave which sends an HD signal wirelessly to a monitor, but the price starts at $6000. The Canon wft-e5a does something kind of similar, but that cost $675 and doesn’t include a monitor, and isn’t job-specific like mine. There’s other stuff out there, but its horrifically expensive, and the joy with a lot of Indie filmers is DIY, right?
-range for the monitor is up to about 30 feet or more.
-the transmitter will send the video or still photo feed wirelessly to one or more monitors.
-transmitter runs off a 9-volt battery (in a case, with on/off switch); monitor is rechargeable and runs up to 2.5 hours continuously. Draw on the nine volt battery is minimal: the transmitter draws only 70mA. Monitor’s battery powers the receiver, built into the monitor.
-transmitter has a 3.5mm stereo miniphone connector to go into cameras with A/V out, like the Canon 5dmk2. It works with other cameras, like Nikon or Canon mk2, Mk3, etc, which have a video out (as opposed to A/V out, which is usually a stereo connection) via an adapter which I supply. This works with ANY camera that has a/v or video out. Specify camera when ordering.
-Canon 7d users: I send the unit with the necessary adapter to make it work with the 5dmk2. To use with your 7d, se the cable supplied with your camera (the one that has three RCA cables coming out of it in yellow, white and red). The yellow cable plugs into the transmitter.
-For Nikon users: this will work with a Nikon cameras as well (as long as it has a video or a/v out). Just specify type of camera when ordering. The good news: Many Nikon cameras, like the D3, still show image on camera’s monitor even while my wireless monitor is being used.
-works with video liveview in preview or record mode. No delays in transmission. Real time video.
-receiver unit is built internally into the monitor. Just turn the thing on to have portable live view.
-color monitor is seven inches and displays standard definition, 480p. I also sell a 10″ version below. Monitor is the same type that portable DVD players use. If you are familiar with the image quality on those, you will know what to expect. Monitor can be used for watching TV if you’re not using as a photography monitor. It’s sleek and lightweight.
Disclaimer one: Since this is a wireless device, the setup will occasionally act like, well, a wireless device. It operates in the same frequency as some cordless phones, tv remotes, garage door openers, security cameras, wi-fi routers (yours or your neighbors), bluetooth headsets, vehicle back up systems, some radios, walkie talkies, power lines and other various electronic equipment. Sometimes you may experience interference/static, depending on the positional relationship between transmitter and receiver and other signals in the air. Other times it’s a crystal-clear picture.
Disclaimer two: If you want one of these I’ll make it (in my garage) and send it out to you. Please understand all the specifics of the kit mentioned in posting above, and give me up to two weeks to build it, as some parts come from China. Also, before ordering, understand that this is a home DIY kind of project, and while fully functional, it may not have the polish and asthetic appeal you’re used to when buying electronic components from the store. I make these one by one, in my garage. If you’re not happy after ten days, I’ll refund your purchase.
Shipping is $10 stateside and they are sent via USPS with delivery confirmation. If you live overseas, please refer to shipping rates on drop down menu below. Other prices for individual parts shown below.
Questions? robert atmark robertbenson.com
DIRECTIONS ONCE YOU RECEIVE (in any order):
1. insert nine volt battery into transmitter
2. plug transmitter into your camera’s a/v out
4. turn on monitor.
5. enjoy!
I’ve teamed up with fabricator and video gear gurus cpmfilmtools.com to offer professional grip gear for my wireless monitor. It will be available directly from them or from me. Here’s some pictures of what is being offered. Production has started and this will be available soon. The price for the grip equipment will be approximately $49, or there will be a package price if purchased with the seven inch monitor. More info to follow.
Had a long two day shoot in San Diego last week for a sporting goods company. Shot models with various sporting goods. Aggressive lighting is what the client asked for… Lighting included an overhead gridded beauty dish, profoto 7a powering two strip banks, some fill light via umbrella and other gridded spots when needed. Here’s a few images:
I made it at a photoshoot in Palm Springs a few days ago when I shot an LPGA pro golfer. I knew if I shot without lights, the images would all look kind of like this (blah-sey, pedestrian, boring…).
My subjects soemtimes ask me “why are you using those lights? Do you need them? Isn’t the sun bright enough?”
I tell them my lights overpower the sun and add a certain “bling”. They get it when I shoot a photo and show them the monitor. “Wow, those lights are doing that?” I have a Honda 1000 watt generator to run lights outdoors, but use it only if I’m running my 2400 watt second pack: it’s too big and heavy.
Otherwise I’ll power my lights with Paul Buffs portable AC pack. I have two of them, and they go all day long. They also double great as weight bags, just strap them to the lightstand. The images below were all made with four light sources: three artificial and one main (the sun). The third image down there, the black and white one, was made with a Hasselblad and good ol’ black and white film.
Here’s a tear from the current issue of ESPN the Magazine. They sent me to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista to shoot olympic archers who wore a special head device that monitored brain waves as they shot… cool stuff!
Here it is: the project that has consumed my life for the past month. I put about 200 hours into this personal project, partially due to the fact that I was using new software (Adobe After Effects and a few other programs).
I was initially inspired by the work of Magnus Engfors, a graphics designer in Europe (a master at motion graphics). I shot this karate guy (Darren Domingo) before, and thought he would be a good fit for this video, or motion picture. So I got on a plane 40 days ago and flew to San Francisco, met the two guys at an old train station built in the early 1900s, then went to work with the project.
Everything else in my life has almost been on a standstill. Now that this is done I can move on to other things! Here it is. View in full screen mode (down there just to the left of the word “Vimeo” click on that “X” looking icon) for the full-crip experience:
I’m turning into such a motion graphics junkie. I’ve been working on a personal project that I’ll unveil here in a day or so… Something that took about 200 hours to produce. A 3d moving pictures thing….
I’ve always been a photographer, but I feel my career path changing almost with the influence that has been moving me of late with “motion pictures” – that is moving pictures. Here’s a few video’s I’ve seen recently that are pretty jaw dropping:
And here’s just a good low budget but extremely powerful and moving video about…. someone who lost something. Made with a Canon 7d. It’s gutt-wrenching:
Props out to Rob Haggart at aphotofolio.com, makers of robertbenson.com and other photographer’s websites. They worked the backend of all their sites so they show on the iPad. For anyone considering a site, look to aphotofolio.com. I searched all the guys when I was shopping around for a site a couple years ago, and they blow everyone out of the water, by far, in terms of price, features, etc. He’s not paying me to write this either!
aphotofolio.com sites (like mine) now work on the iPad.
