🎤 VERY IMPRESSED! The (less than) £100 RØDE VideoMic GO II sounds AMAZING 👏

In this video I go through a Practical 'Hands On' with the new RØDE VideoMic GO II Microphone that costs less than £100 BUT produces audio quality to match much more expensive microphones on the market AND it can be used on other devices.

In a world where day to day living is getting more and more expensive this microphone is definitely something to consider.

*NOTE: RØDE did send me the VideoMic Go II but have not paid me to create, or influenced this video. Opinions in this video are entirely my own 👍

DOING THIS made a BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER: Tethering HOW and WHY

If there's one thing that has made me a better photographer more than anything else, it's tethering!

In this video I explain WHY and HOW including HOW to Tether using Sony, PLUS an extra tip at the end about HOW to help people become more CONFIDENT in-front of the camera…

In addition to the software and a cable, there’s lots of additional kit made by TetherTools that is designed to make tethering, either indoors or outdoors, as simple and as convenient as possible.

Over on my GEAR PAGE I’ve listed the kit that I use on a very regular basis; you can check that out using this LINK or just clicking on the GEAR link at the top of this page.

Cheers,
Glyn

ESSENTIAL KIT I couldn't (and wouldn't) be without

Without doubt one of the most important pieces of kit I have is a U.P.S. (Uninterruptible Power Supply), which is basically a big battery that keeps my office / studio running when (not if) there’s a power cut, and protected when (not if) there’s a power surge.

History

In the past I’ve suffered because of power cuts on 2 occasions…

1. When living at our first home, the power, well, just cut off and this caused irreparable damage to the hard drive system that I had at the time and I consequently lost years of files.

2. When I was using a Windows based PC as my main computer and there was a power cut during an update being installed to the Operating System.

   This resulted in a complete re-install.

So enough was enough; I needed a solution.

Solution = UPS

There’s a whole host of companies that make these UPS units; all with different power capabilities depending on your needs i.e. how many peripherals you have plugged in and need to keep powered up when there’s a power cut.

The one I currently have is the BX1400UI made by APC…

This particular unit has 6 available plug sockets; 3 of which are battery backup and surge protected and the remaining 3 are surge protected only.

The idea behind a UPS is simple; when mains power cuts out, the UPS kicks in immediately meaning your equipment keeps running until the mains power returns; this ultimately means your equipment is safe.

Of course with it being a battery it can only keep things running for a limited amount of time which in my case is roughly 20-25 minutes, by which time the power should be back up and running.

However, if it isn’t then there is built in software called Powershute which will take over and safely power down the system rather than letting it run until the battery power runs out.

KEY

A: Main Computer

B: 2nd Monitor / Screen (BenQ SW321C)

C: Synology NAS 4-Bay Backup

D: G Tech External Hard-drive

E: Broadband Router

Living in the middle of the countryside, momentary power cuts are a way of life so having a UPS is not only a life saver but essential.

When it does kick in, all you hear is a feint click as it engages, but there’s absolutely no interruption to your computer system whatsoever. A percentage indicator also appears in the information bar at the top of my screen saying how long at the current usage the battery can keep things running.

Essential Kit

Having experienced the wrath of a power cut on a couple of occasions, I simply would not be without a U.P.S..

A U.P.S. not only protects your equipment, but also nowadays with doing more and more online presentations using video platforms such as Zoom, it means (if there’s a power cut midway through) I don’t just leave people wondering where the heck I went.

Instead, the unit makes me aware it’s kicked in and this is usually just for a second or 2, however if it’s going on longer than hoped, I can make people aware that I need to close things down.

Thankfully this hasn’t happened BUT it’s something we all need to be aware of if we do online meetings.

So if there was one piece of kit I would recommend you look at investing in for 2022 (if you haven’t already) it would be a U.P.S. ; the first time it kicks in and keeps you running is INCREDIBLY satisfying and reassuring.

You can check out the U.P.S. I have over on my Gear Page here (LINK)

Keep well,
Glyn

BenQ and Permajet Discount Codes and Offers

Just dropping in with a quick one to let you know of some discount codes and offers I know that are available from folks that I’ve been creating content for lately.

Cheers,
Glyn

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WeX and BenQ

BENQ5

This one is valid until 23rd December 2021 and relates to a 5% Discount off any BenQ Monitor in the SW range purchased through WeX when using the code BENQ5 on checkout:

www.wexphotovideo.com

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Permajet

In this weeks video on my YouTube Channel I go through how to get the very best prints when using Canon Printers, and at the end I mention some discount codes and offers that Permajet have put together…

GLYN15

This one gives 15% OFF any of the papers in the Permajet Range

www.permajet.com

DEWIS22

When purchasing the Canon Pro 300 from Permajet, if you add this code at check-out, a 10 Sheet Sample Pack of various Photo Paper in the Permajet range is added to the order free of charge:

www.permajet.com

UPDATE: Kit I use when Filming On-Location

Today I’ve updated the GEAR Page here on my website to list the kit I’m now using when filming on-location.

Over the past couple of years I've been trying out all sorts of equipment to make my 'filming on location' kit that much more portable and convenient.

Really happy with what I'm using these days because it is extremely portable AND the quality of the footage is superb!

I’m going to be doing a video soon for my YouTube Channel to show everything, especially the 360 Camera which, by the very nature of what it is, is like having a film crew out with you capturing lots of different angles at once.

Check out the updated GEAR page using this LINK or just click in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Cheers,
Glyn

GoPro Hero 10: BEST SETTINGS (I was wrong...it's actually quite GOOD)

I got my first GoPro (Hero 5) a few years back and was sooooo disappointed in the quality of the footage that it ended up being put into a drawer and never being used again.

Recently though, GoPro announced the Hero 10 and looking at all the promotion and hype, it looked to be a vast improvement, so I dived in and added it to my filming kit.

Unfortunately I was disappointed yet again, and following an accident with it whereby it got smashed and then GoPro kindly sending me a new one, I decided to give it one more go.

Needless to say after a few educated tweaks of the settings, I’m now quite happy with it. The footage is actually quite good.

In this video I share the settings to dial in AND show some much improved footage.

Enjoy,
Glyn

Hands on with the Sony A7IV: Would I buy it?

This past few days I’ve been away in Chepstow presenting for Sony at their current Roadshow showcasing the new Sony A7IV.

Here’s a short video I put together giving a look at what went on but also my thoughts and feelings about this new camera.

Spoiler Alert: It’s a BEAST!

Touring with Sony and the NEW Sony A7IV

Soooo looking forward to this...

I'll be with Sony at the St Pierre Marriott Hotel in Chepstow for 2 days (12th and 13th November) showing the NEW Sony A7IV in use during a series of different photo shoots.

If you're around and fancy coming along to get a first look and hands-on, at the new camera, it's FREE and there's various time slots throughout both days as well as other dates at different locations throughout the month, including London, Chepstow, Manchester and Edinburgh

For dates, locations and more details click on the link below:

SMASHED!!! My Brand NEW GoPro Hero10 ... But was it that good anyway???

So a couple of days ago whilst grabbing some BTS (Behind the Scenes) footage from a photo shoot, my brand new GoPro Hero 10 picked a fight with tarmac...and LOST!

I’ll take full blame for the damage though; that was down to the suction cup mounted on the bonnet of my car failing at just under 30mph.

However, annoying as it is that the GoPro is broken at just 2 weeks old, I had been feeling that it wasn’t really as good as the hype would have you believe.

So, here's a video I put together showing how it actually ended up broken PLUS an explanation of why I was becoming less impressed with it…