Dependable wireless 4K video with Teradek 750 and 1500!
We saw the need to improve and bolster our wireless video capabilities, and what better way that with the Teradek 4K 750 LT and Teradek 4K 1500 LT! The strength of signal is much improved upon from the Teradek 500, especially with the inclusion of multiple antennas on both units. As the name suggests, these units are capable of 4K signal transfer via HDMI and 1080 via SDI. Teradek has made their units capable of mix-and-match along with increasing the number of receivers per transmitter to six! There are a myriad of other cool features we can talk about, but we suggest getting your hands on a set and testing it out for yourself! For your next Las Vegas camera rental or Las Vegas video production, make sure to reach out to us here at F11 Rentals for all of your gear and studio needs!
Aputure lights up Vegas!
We recently invested in some amazing light from Aputure, and we are thrilled! We purchased some Aputure LS 600X light for both our motorized lighting truss in our studio, as well as a few to rent out. With those, we added some F10 Fresnels along with barn doors for added lighting control. We also have Aputure LS 300X lights with a few extra items such as lanterns, lenses, etc. These LEDs offer a really dynamic and versatile light source that is low draw, easy to use, and really pushes your creative boundries. Make sure to add some to your next Las Vegas video production!
The Importance of Lighting Control
Ask any true Gaffer, Director of Photography, Grip, or Photographer and they will tell you the absolute and unquestionable importance of quality lighting control. For, it's not just the quality of the lights, the camera, the lens, and the location, but the ability to control and create the perfect light for your scene that will make or break your shot.
Similar to really great captured audio, really great lighting may not be noticed by the common view, but bad audio/mediocre lighting will be! Anyone can pop up some LEDs or Fresnels, make a couple adjustments here and there, but to know how to diffuse/intensify the light, to bend it, shape it, warm or cool it to just the right temperature, that's what makes the difference. And, in order to become a Picasso or DiVinci or lighting, you'll need the right tools.
Starting with the right light fixture is of course the first step, after that, you'll need to make sure that you get the appropriate items to control the lights. Whether you'll need exterior dimmers, a flag set, 4x4 frames with diffusion or solid, gels, bounces, etc., we've got what you need.
Now, all this said, you should know when to say when... never let your friends over-adjust and drive... But, if you have time, make another change or two, just to see what it does to the scene; you never know when your masterpiece will be created!
For your next Las Vegas video production equipment rental or Sound Stage Booking, reach out to your buddies at F11 Rentals!
Aputure Space Lights now available!
We have invested in some really fantastic LED space lights for our studio and for rental! We placed four Aputure LS 600x Pro Lamps on our new Lighting Truss in our Cyclorama stage, and we have additional Aputure LS 600x Pros and a Aputure LS 300x available for rent. These space lights are amazing, they're RGBWW with a bunch of awesome effects, they draw a low amount of energy compared to traditional, non-LED space lights, and they run cool and quietly. The space lights in the studio completely open up the entirety of our three-walled cyc for filming, and the additional lights really expand our creative offerings in regards to different styles of lights.
Along with the lamps themselves, we also invested in an Aputure Spotlight Mount Set with a 26-degree lens that can be used with the 600x and 300x, and a couple of F10 Fresnel attachements and barn doors for our additional 600x Pros. Again, this provides a broad range of tools that will really enhance your scene/production. If you would like more information, please visit our website for more information, and of course, rent some lamps from us and see what you can create!
As always, for the best Las Vegas Sound Stage and best Las Vegas video production rentals look no further than F11 Rentals!
DJI Ronin RS 2 now available!
We are so excited to announce that we have added the latest gimbal offering from DJI to our inventory. We now proudly offer to you, the DJI Ronin RS 2! This new and improved gimbal improves upon the Ronin S with increased weight capacity, improved performance, and expanded abilities. Paired with a new Canon C70, and you're looking at a compact and very high quality solution for your next project. Make sure to jump over to the gear section and build your perfect setup for your next Las Vegas video production!
The Benefits of a Haze Machine in Videos
A Haze Machine can be a very valuable tool for productions. Music Videos, Films, and Commercials are all examples of good times to add haze. Let's look at these examples more thoroughly.
Music Videos
First, Music Videos. Not every video or scene calls for the addition of haze, but a lot could. Adding haze to a party scene to add "atmosphere" is a very popular move. Additionally, if the song is heavier or darker, adding haze may intensify the heavy, dark, sinister mood of the song. There is a difference between haze and smoke, so take note of that; the haze is a lot lighter. So, if you're trying to soften up the image, maybe soften up a practical light source, haze is the way to go. If your artist/talent is supposed to walk through a smokey building, haze is not the way to go. In all, haze can give your music video just the right type of cinematic atmosphere and softness to make it stand out from the multitude of other videos.
Films
Here's an example: FiveSix Productions of Las Vegas/Long Beach shot a short film in Utah. The film took place in a cabin in the woods, and was a physiological drama. Now, you may thinking, "Oh, the haze made the cabin creepy!" No. All the haze was used for was to create a bit of "atmosphere" in the rooms. It didn't look hazy at all, but, it did create a little bit of softness, and glow. To the untrained eye, you would never know it was hazy, but without, it wouldn't have looked so cinematic. Think of it like this: haze is to a cinematic look, as shallots are to a restaurant quality dish. Adding a tiny bit of haze will give the picture a little extra quality, and shallots will give a dish a little extra flavor.
Commercials
Finally, commercials. Again, similar to films, there are so many different uses. Dense haze can add a rich atmosphere to beauty and fashion products. If you're creating a creepy environment such as a a haunted house, cemetery, etc., haze is great. Concerts or clubs of any kind generally have haze machines. Or, again, a dramatic, cinematic style commercial could really benefit from a tiny bit of haze to create 'atmosphere'.
So there you have it. If you have any questions, make sure to drop a line. If you would like to rent a Hurricane Haze Machine for your next project, make sure to reach out and we'll get you squared away!
Working with Natural and Artificial Light
Working on a closed stage or set can make lighting a stage/subject very straightforward. There are, of course challenges, but there's a lot of control. What about lighting in a location where there is natural light? Let's talk about getting along with the sunshine.
The sun is wonderful! It provides lovely, 110+ degree days, burns your skin, and smolders your retinas. The sun also melts evil snow and makes rainbows possible. Sun is our friend, not our enemy. Here are our favorite lights/gear to use when tangoing with the natural daylight.
Arri Skypanel. It's big, powerful, doesn't draw a whole lot of electricity, and spreads nicely like jam.
Litepanels Gemini 1x1. Think, Skypanel in a 1x1' LED panel. Also, the light spread is jelly like, "soft and spreadable".
Litepanels Astra 6X. They don't come with the 96-color crayon box of filters, colors and effects, but they'll give you a gentle smack in the face on a bright day.
Joker 800 Bug. A big ol' haymaker of light, right in your face. (Great to shoot off a bounce board, or use as an accent.)
Lastly, cutters, floppies, flags, frames and diffusions. Remember, the sun is pretty bright... you may just need to block and bounce a little. Sunshine is a gift from the Heavens, use it before you lose it.
If you have a sun-filled video production in your future, let us help you make it a little faker, but much more attractive.
Green Screen Filming Basics
Green Screens are a popular way to create exciting, resourceful, and dynamic videos. Corporate and commercial work is a great example. A green screen enables you to add text, graphics, and logos. Also, green screens can really help when a location is not very attractive to film in.
Lighting a green screen correctly is not difficult, but it is very important for the post process. It is critical to have a very even spread of light across the entire screen. Similarly, it is very important to make sure the screen is not brighter than your subject. A great place to start on your waveform is an even line around 45 for the screen, and then your subject's face should be around 60. There are obviously exceptions with skin tones and wardrobe, but it's a good place to start.
For the budget conscience, I would recommend a set of Kino Divas for the screen, and an Arri Tungsten kit for the subject. 750 with a softbox for the key, 300 for the fill, and 150 for the backlight. About $250.00 will get you that gear with us. However, if you have a larger budget, you could go: S2 LiteMat 4s for the screen, a couple Astra Gemini 1x1s for the key and fill, and then a Dracast 1K for the backlight. That setup would set you back about $700.00, but it would be totally Cash Money of you.
Either way you go, we have the video production rental gear you need!
Best Gear for Music Videos
Do you have some funky beats and dope lyrics that need to be seen as much as heard? Well then, my friend, you need a music video! Whether you spit hot fire, shred metal, or rely on Auto-Tune and lots of makeup, a music video is for you. Music videos have transformed the music industry. A TV channel completely dedicated to music (until "The Real World" happened) resulted from music videos. Music videos not only allow you a glimpse of your favorite artists, they allow expanded creativity and vision of their songs. The sky is the limit on creativity, but you need the right gear!
The overwhelming majority of creativity comes from the director. That being said, you need one heck of a talented director to just grab a handy-cam and strike gold. So, start with the following: Astera Titan Tubes (like Hansel, so hot right now!). Litepanels Gemini 1x1, the most versatile LED panel on the market. Easyrig Vario 5, handheld made easier, dutch-angles made dutch-ier. Rokinon Primes; because no one does snap zooms anymore, and you're artist is probably ballin' on a budget. Hurricane Haze Machine... welcome to the jungle.
Las Vegas is a great place to film music videos; from the Strip to the dry lake beds, hotel suites to Fremont Street! When you're in need of Las Vegas video production rentals, look no further than F11!
Best Gear for Filming the Convention Floor: 2019
Conventions and trade shows are big business these days, and that's especially true here in Las Vegas. With well over 10 million square feet of convention and meeting space, Vegas constantly ranks among the top host cities in the world. Gear requirements of course depend on the project, but some of the best gear on convention floor are as follows... The Sony FS7 Mark II is great for ENG-style shooting, has a 17-110mm servo lens, and can shoot up to 4K. Couple the FS7 with the Sony a7S II and the DJI Ronin-S; b-roll shot over-cranked will really up your production value. Either the Astra 6X or Gemini 1x1 LED kits provide more than enough light, run on batteries, and have a small footprint. If you have an audio technician with you, the Sound Devices 633 is perfect. If you're a one-man-band, an on-board shotgun mic and lavalier is usually more than enough. Finally, the Cinevate Duzi is a great, compact slider to really take your video over the top. F11 Rentals is happy to provide all your Las Vegas video production rental gear for your next convention gig!