Gear

Airport Assistant

When the people at Lowepro designed their rolling camera case, they set out to design something that would stand apart. What they came up with was the Pro Roller 1, a rolling case that does indeed stand on its own, with the help of a collapsible back prop that holds the case at a 30-degree angle for easy access while you work. Also included are two removable Sliplock tripod holders, bungee attachments, padded inserts, rugged in-line skate wheels and lots of pockets. (707) 575-4363.
Suggested retail price: $410

---

Smooth-Stopping Head

Steady shots require a strong tripod with a good head on it. The new Manfrotto 510-10 Pro Video tripod head from Bogen Photo hopes to fill the bill. It provides an advanced three-step drag system for smooth 360-degree pans and promises smooth starts and stops. It has a +75 degree to 70 degree tilt control and a return-to-center variable balance spring adjustment that allows for fingertip control. This professional-quality head has a large camera platform that will support cameras weighting between 14 and 23 pounds and incorporates a leveling bubble and a quick release plate. (201) 818-9500
Suggested retail price: $1,136

---

A Sound Idea

Fostex has introduced a solution for those epic videos that look great but sound bad: the FD-4 Digital Multitracker audio hard-disk drive recorder. As the first digital multitracker to sell for less than $600, the FD-4 provides users with the tools needed to create uncompressed digital four-track recordings and save them on a hard disk drive. With four dedicated tracks (on the hard drive) and two virtual tracks (in memory) the FD-4 offers both multitrack and stereo mastering on one machine. The FD-4 is equipped with a standard SCSI-II port allowing users to select a variety of recordable media (not included), from removable systems like Zip, ezflyer, and Magneto Optical to larger capacity SCSI hard drives. Fostex also offers an optional factory-installed internal 2.5-inch IDE hard drive. (310) 921-1112.
Suggested retail price: under $600

---

Spy Stuff>

The Supercircuits wireless covert book-cam features a 2.4-gigahertz FM synthesized transmitter for long range and solid black-and-white video performance. The camera's wide-angle lens covers a 110-degree field of view, enough to deliver a commanding view of most rooms. A high-gain microphone and preamp are built in as well. Available also in color, and with Supercircuits' model MVR-3 super high gain receiver/antenna for up to 2500-foot shooting range. (512) 260-0333.
Suggested retail price: Black and white, $600; Color, $1000

---

Robotic Pans and Tilts

From Telemetrics, Inc., comes an advanced remote-controlled camera pan/tilt mechanism, the PT-LP. The new unit incorporates a serial control receiver compatible with Telemetrics' line of serial control panels to facilitate remote studio operation of cameras. The unit is designed for a variety of applications in the broadcast and prosumer markets. Heavy-duty cross-roller bearings and Swiss motors with isolation mounts provide the PT-LP with smooth, variable speed operation. (201) 848-9818.
Suggested retail price: $4750

---

Balanced Technique

If you've stepped up to an external microphone with a balanced XLR connector, you'll probably need an interface to convert to an unbalanced signal that your camcorder can accept. TecNec has introduced On The Level audio interfaces for just this need. The heavy-duty steel boxes are available in both mono and two-channel stereo versions: RCA unbalanced input to combo XLR and 1/4-inch balanced output and combo XLR and 1/4-inch balanced input to RCA unbalanced output.
Suggested retail price: OTL-1, OTL-2 (mono): $44.95; OTL1S, OTL-2S (stereo): $79.95

---

New 8mm ViewCam

Still committed to providing high-quality, innovative camcorders in its ViewCam lineup, Sharp has released the VL-E760U, its latest flagship model for the 8mm format. Featuring a 4-inch LCD monitor, 16:1 optical zoom, 40:1 digital zoom, image stabilization and a handful of digital effects (fade, snap, strobe, extend, sepia, monochrome). Also included is a scene menu and 10-second recording function for easy editing. (800) BESHARP.
Suggested retail price: $900

---

DV Steadicam

From Cinema Products, makers of the world-famous Steadicam line of camera stabilizers, comes the DV Steadicam. Though designed specifically for use with the new generation of small, lightweight digital video camcorders, the DV Steadicam can be used with virtually any two-to-six-pound camcorder, offering the same fluid motion and professional shots achieved in big-budget Hollywood films. Weighing in at approximately two pounds, the DV Steadicam offers a four-inch active matrix color LCD monitor and a patented gimbal design. (310) 836-7991.
Suggested retail price: $1395

---

New Pan-EL-Lites from Cool-Lux

Cool-Lux has introduced a new lighting product that allows users the flexibility to "bend" light at will with neon-like quality. For video production, it will primarily be used to light difficult areas, provide an added stage design element, special effects production and blue-screen applications. The system is made up of a very flexible, translucent material that is half the thickness of a credit card. Pan-EL-Lites are available in widths from 1/4 to 44 inches, and can be ordered in any length. (805) 482-4820.
Suggested retail price: $1.80 per square inch

---

Lens Accessories for DV Camcorders

Century Precision Optics introduces their new Digital series, a family of high-quality products created especially for use with the new digital camcorders with small lens front diameters, such as the Sony DCR-VX1000 and the Panasonic AG-EZ1. Products include a .65x wide-angle converter, .6x wide angle adapter, achroic diopters, and others. (818) 766-3715.
Suggested retail price: $265 and up