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In this article I'm going over videography setups I made out of LEGOs...back in 2017. At the time it was a pretty decent option I had on-hand to accomplish what I needed with my video work. The main focus here is a video slide because I have a corresponding video I had made back then. However, at the end of the article I show photos of two different mounts I had made.  The LEGO slider with a camera mounted on the cart and positioned on the track between four clamp lights. A camera slider is a piece of equipment that allows a camera to make a smooth sliding motion, usually horizontally, to create dynamic and professional-looking video shots. By moving the camera smoothly along a track, filmmakers can add a sense of depth and movement to what would otherwise be a static scene.* The Construction: Cart and Track Let's take a closer look at the build. The camera rests on a small cart, which is a simple bowl construction with plastic wheels. The set did come with rubber tires that fi...

The company STARTRC sent over some of their camera gear for me to try out and feature in a video. While I received these products at no cost, STARTRC had no input on the content of the video or this article and did not see anything before release.  The equipment is primarily focused on action cameras and includes a couple of quick-release mounts, a versatile metal clamp mount, and a compact sling-style bag. Quick Release Mounts The Snap-X1 Quick Release Mount and Snap-1/4 Magnetic Quick Release Mount. Let's start with the two different quick-release mounts. Both connect to standard GoPro-style fins. One version features a 1/4-20" tripod connection on the bottom. It also has strong feeling magnets in the base, so it will affix well to ferrous metals. While the other has a set of GoPro-style fins on the bottom.  Trying the one quick release with magnets in its base (in addition to that  1/4-20" hole) . A "GoPro-style fin" mount, often called the "GoPro mounti...

I did receive a code for this version from their marketing agency, but they had no say in the content of this article and related video. I've been using this software for many years and will be going over the new features, as well as the functions I use in my day-to-day workflow. I also have a live stream I did before creating the main video. There's a lot more use of the application in this longer video.  A screenshot of the main tabs of ACDSee PSU. Main Functions Overview On the top right of the interface, you'll find the main functions of the program: Manage: This is for managing your media files. Media: Provides a large list view of all the photos and videos in your database. View: Ideal for culling through photos and videos. Develop: Offers non-destructive editing, primarily for RAW files, but it can also be used with JPEGs. Edit: This is for raster-based, destructive editing with its own set of tools. People: Utilizes AI face detection to help you manage and name peo...

I recently created a video from GoPro footage and photos I took at an impromptu trip to Colossalcon North in 2024, which is held at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. It has been a while since I visited this hotel. The convention Daisho Con used this space for years, which I had gone to a few times. It was nice to check it out again!  The weather was nice, which is the main reason I'll decide to go. Considering it was November in the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area, nice weather is a big factor for me. If it's snowing I'm going to pass.  The main lobby of the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. My Photography Gear and Settings For this trip, I was using my usual setup: the Nikon Z5 with the Nikon Z 40mm F2 lens. It's a cost effective combination, especially with how expensive camera equipment is getting. The Z5 isn't perfect, and its autofocus is not amazing, but if you take enough photos and set the camera up properly, it can be pretty decent. T...

It's time for another photo walk. This one was actually done way back in 2022 when I was using the Canon M6 Mark II with the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 lens for the EF-M system. Sadly, all of this equipment is probably discontinued at this point, except for the Viltrox lens, but you might be able to find it used if you look around. For this photo outing, I went to one of my favorite places, a beautiful Japanese-styled garden in the area. Given that it was around October at the time, it had a lot of color. A single red leaf on a rock, captured with the Canon M6 Mark II. The settings are 33mm, f/1.4, 1/320s, and 100 ISO. My Camera Setup for the Day For this photo outing, I recorded a settings video that I included in the linked video. Otherwise here's a basic description of the setup I have for the M6 Mark II on that photo outing. Of course, the touchscreen works as you would expect. I don't have that disabled.  I have the back dial fully disabled so it just doesn't get in my way....