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Staff Writer

Stephen Kampff

Dublin, IE

Articles from Stephen Kampff

Make Your Cart Go Releases Stronger Wheels, Inovativ Partnership

The motorized cart wheel manufacturer has refreshed their line-up, making for a smarter offering. 

Make Your Cart Go originally debuted single- and double-wheel options, and the choice of 24-volt or 48-volt battery selections. Now, while the battery options are the same, they no longer sell single wheel options.

Hands On: Insta360’s Ace Pro

Insta360 has gone traditional. The Ace Pro is a feature-packed action camera that doesn’t rock the boat. 

With a new sensor and removable battery, the Ace Pro is surely set to become Insta360’s flagship vlogging and lifestyle camera. The action camera market has some fierce competition, though, and it needs to stand apart from the rest.

Check Out This New Type of Bounce

While some may stress over light fixtures, others are stressing over reflections. 

Australian cinematographer Lewis Potts has been testing out a new kind of material, intended to bring a subtle realism to bounced light. Pott recently picked up an Alexa 35, which I assume he used to shoot this creative video.

Check Out These AI-Generated Studio Sets

Since Adobe’s Photoshop beta, more artists have been introduced to frame expansion. Interestingly, this workflow also benefits video shoots. 

Matte paintings aren’t anything new, as Epic Light Media points out. However, the skills needed to create a matte painting have been greatly diminished. With AI-generated images, we can expand our scene with more ease than ever.

How Markus Mentzer Shot 'I Think You Should Leave' in Just 24 Days

Cinematographer Markus Mentzer offers advice for shooting on a fast-paced set, like Netflix’s “I Think You Should Leave.” 

Between cinematography and the rest of the camera department, Mentzer has been in the comedy scene for over 15 years. He “watched the best people do it,” getting credits with Seth Rogan, Adam Sandler, The Lonely Island, Tina Fey, and more. 

How ChatGPT-4 Saved Me Hours in After Effects Last Night

A client came back with a last-minute change, and GPT-4 saved the day. 

Last month, I wrote about how GPT-4 can finally work with Adobe After Effect’s powerful scripting system. I’ve only used it for experiments until last night. GPT-4 helped me create a custom script to meet a tight deadline.

Creating a Virtual Studio With 3 TVs

You don’t have to spend big bucks to get a virtual wall these days. Bring your studio to life with just three televisions. 

Epic Light Media is showing off their new virtual studio setup. Sometimes known as a “mixed-reality” studio, this is as much an elevated look as it is a time-saver. Thankfully, this version isn’t too much commitment.

GPT-4 Gets Even Smarter With After Effects

A step up in ability makes a huge difference. Suddenly, the future doesn’t seem that far away. 

If you didn’t read my last article on plugging ChatGPT into Adobe After Effects, then here’s the rundown: it will make masters of novice users. While graphic artists have been understandably shaken by AI automation, this is an example of elevating skills to make way for better art.

Comparing High-end Video Monitors

Samuel Bilodeau compares some of the best monitors on the market to see how they stack up. Are the prices worth it? 

High-end video monitors are usually workhorses. I know some people that swear by their Flanders, and it’s for very good reasons. You’ll pay over $20,000 to get a reliable work tool. It should last a long time and easily integrate into a workflow.

Wishlist: Canon’s Next Cinema Camera

Canon’s cinema line of cameras ushered forward the post-DSLR years for video users, and now, they could be set to do the same with mirrorless designs. 

The Gloves Are Off: EF Glass Working on Panasonic S5 II

Panasonic’s latest and greatest cameras will have a much better chance of success. 

A few years ago, I wrote about what Panasonic would need to win the full frame fight. Their flagship S1H had killer features, but lacked any reliable way to adapt lenses to L mount. I felt that they didn’t understand their core audience.

How to Edit Video on a Slow Laptop

Beginning your video editing journey can be painful on a slow machine. I’ll explain a few tweaks that might help smooth out the experience. 

RED Firmware Update Allows for Hasselblad Viewfinder

With a bracket and a new “Prism Mode,” users can make use of a wire-free viewfinder with a retro touch. 

If I’m honest, the EVF market isn’t too hot right now. There aren’t that many options. Zacuto most likely owns most of the market, but it still irks me that their flagship products don’t have an on/off switch. Instead, they’ll sell you a $150 cable to fix this.

Insta360 Announces 4K Webcam With Built-in Gimbal

They’re attempting to make an all-in-one solution. So, how does it stack up? 

Insta360’s Link is anything but a normal webcam. It appears to be a hybrid between an action camera and a webcam. As a result, it’s pretty feature rich for a webcam. Here’s a rundown of these specs:

The Tools I Use to Work With LUTs

While bringing color to your images is best done manually, LUTs accelerate things. Here’s how I customize LUTs to get the best of both worlds in a pinch.