nofilmschool » davedugdale

Building Your First Computer for Video Editing? Dave Dugdale Has a Guide for You

Joe Marine — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:30:05 +0000

Anyone can go out and buy a computer system, but to truly get something that is customized for video editing, and won’t cost you a bundle, you’ll probably be looking at buying the parts yourself and putting it together. We’ve got our very own Hackintosh guide to help you build a computer specifically designed to handle Mac OSX, but your options are certainly less limited if you’ve decided that you just want to build a Windows PC. Dave Dugdale, from Learning DSLR Video, is building his first computer, and he has compiled all of this information to help you along in your own journey. Here is the video from Dave: (more…)

Neutral Density Shootout from Dave Dugdale: Which Variable ND Filter Should You Buy?

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:19:50 +0000

By now Dave Dugdale and his site Learning DSLR Video should be fairly familiar to you because of his honest personal experience and no-nonsense gear reviews. In our modern, lovely era of acquisition technology — particularly regarding the proliferation of low-cost, high native ISO cameras — the need for Neutral Density filters inevitably arises. That said, there’s quite a few options out there, but like lenses themselves, quality concerns must be heavily weighted against price-point. Dave has recently created an ND filter shootout that incorporates both of these key considerations into his conclusion. Read on to find out which ND filter just may be the right choice for your needs. (more…)

Will We Have RAW Video DSLRs in the Next 12-18 Months? How It's Possible with Current Technology

Joe Marine — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:16:23 +0000

We’ve featured some great reviews from Dave Dugdale in the past, but this time we’ve got a completely different video to share: a prediction about the future of the camera industry. Whether realizing it or not, I’ve written a tremendous amount about the camera industry and where I think it’s going, but most of my predictions are short term and usually based on some sort of concrete information. Either way, let’s speculate for a bit, is it possible that we could see RAW video DSLRs in the next year or two? Click through to check out Dave’s video. (more…)

Behold: The Great (ENG Wireless Mic) Shootout of 2012!

Benjamin Dewhurst — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:57 +0000

Good location audio will make your film shine. The less you have to redo in post the better, as nat sound will bring a level of realism to any project. There are many tools available to help you achieve better sound, from a bevvy of tried and tested field recorders to some crucial on-camera mics like the ever-popular Rode, but what about those hard-to-reach areas away from the camera? Clearly wireless mics are the solution, but which mid-range system is the best? Thanks to Dave Dugdale of Learning DSLR Video, we have our answer. Check out the wireless mic battle of the ages after the jump. (more…)

Which DSLR Camera Bag is Right for You? Three Popular Bags Are Taken for a Spin

Joe Marine — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 21:04:17 +0000

If you travel with camera gear a lot, you know the importance of being able properly store that gear safely. Traditional backpacks are not designed to safely hold cameras and lenses because they’re missing specialized compartments to keep the gear from hitting each other. As Dave Dugdale shows in the video review below, the camera bag you choose may have more to do with you than it does with the design of the bag. (more…)

The Camera Motion Research Blackbird Stabilizer Gives Glidecam a Run for Its Money

Joe Marine — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:37:39 +0000

As I’ve said before, if you want a simple, no-nonsense review of a product, Dave Dugdale over at Learning DSLR Video is a good place to start. This time Dave takes a look at the Camera Motion Research Blackbird Stabilizer which is a camera stabilizer similar to the Glidecam and Steadicam Merlin products. Ryan has talked about the Glidecam in the past, but more and more companies have been getting into the camera stabilizer business in the last few years. Check out Dave’s review below. (more…)

Which 24mm Lens is Better for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Canon or Sigma?

Joe Marine — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:50:12 +0000

Dave Dugdale over at Learning DSLR Video is often reviewing gear from a practical and non-biased viewpoint, and the newest video with DeeJay Scharton from DSLR Film Noob is no exception. With the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera, a 24mm lens is going to become your normal lens, so if you’re interested in shooting in lower light at a reasonable focal length, you’re most likely going to want a fast 24mm lens. Dave and DeeJay take a look at the Canon 24mm f/1.4 and the Sigma 24mm f/1.8 Macro on both full frame and crop cameras, but the part of the review that will apply most to those who’ve preordered the BMCC is the performance on the crop sensor camera. Though the crop factor of 1.6 still does not match the 2.3x crop of the BMCC, it’s a much better representation of performance than on the full frame camera. (more…)

How Much Do Specs Matter? A Real-World Canon 5D Mark III and Canon T2i Comparison

Joe Marine — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 03:59:35 +0000

We all like to think the latest and greatest high-end cameras will save our production or propel us into stardom…or something like that. Cameras are tools, and just because one costs more than another, doesn’t mean that the final result will necessarily be all that different. I’ve used pretty much all of the popular DSLRs out there, and you can get great results from any of them. The question is, once these videos go to YouTube or Vimeo, how much of a difference will there be? Dave Dugdale from Learning DSLR Video asks this very question as he compares the relatively new Canon 5D Mark III to the inexpensive Canon T2i. (more…)

Two DIY Projects That Will Help You See Easier: an $8 DSLR Viewfinder + Powerful $86 Video Light

E.M. Taboada — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:01:29 +0000

Tired of squinting at your DSRL’s LCD screen? Maybe you need some extra lighting oomph for that indoors shoot? These two projects aim to make your no-budget existence a bit easier. The first is a DIY viewfinder from Knoptop and Learning DSLR Video, and the second is a big 800-watt equivalent CFL video light from IndyMogul (accompanied by a goofy short shot with it): (more…)