The Cost of Carelessness

(PART OF) MY EX1-R BEFORE REASSEMBLY

I just picked up my repaired Sony EX1-R that dropped to the ground a few months ago. Total costs: €630,70 (the equivalent of US $885,-) Parts were €330,-, labor €200,- Fortunately I am insured but unfortunately the first €250,- is at my own risk.
Nico, owner and only employee of Camcorder Service, has done a nice job of putting my camera back together and documented the repair with a series of photographs. If you like to take a look at the inside of an EX1-R, here's your chance:

XLR UNIT: A VERY TIGHT FIT ACCORDING TO NICO...

MICROPHONE UNIT

Odd Sony camera repair...

THE TIEWRAP SOLUTION

Today I received my EX1-R from the Sony repair service. I had busted my camera after it dropped 5 feet from my bicycle unto the pavement. The bill was €600,- and the Sony repairman came up with this remarkable solution: three tiewraps to hold it together! Do you think I should file a complaint? Or write them a letter to tell them their service guy deserves a Nobel prize?

I'm kidding. I applied the tiewraps myself, as a temporary solution. First I unscrewed the little screws on the handle, looked if there was anything crooked inside and then gently pressed the handlebar together while tying the tiewraps. It works! The 'record' button functions again, the zoom lever recovered and dust and moisture are kept outside. Great work, if I say so myself. This solution will keep me in business until after my upcoming 2 camera-shoot this week...

In my book, the invention of tiewraps is way up there, along with the Wheel and the iPhone lens-adapter ;-)

BEFORE

AFTER

Flycam: destructive style

I thought this would never happen to me and I have been so fortunate ever since I bought my first 'pro camera', a Sony PD 150 around 10 years ago; but now my Sony EX1-R smacked into the pavement, cracking the handle and opening up the electronics inside, exposing it to dust, moisture or worse...
First damage assessment: top record button doesn't function, LCD screen is off-level, viewfinder is cracked, zoom-controller kaputt.
On the positive side: I can still shoot video. Both the other record button and zoom lever function 100%...

The camera and bag flew out of a crate on my city bike when I hit a pothole in the road and basically got crushed under its own weight. (It didn't even occur to me I was insured against damages until a passerby asked me about it... I always bought insurance against theft but it's a complete gear insurance.)

Timing is not too great: I have a 2 camera shoot coming up in a few days. Maybe this is a Higher Force telling me to start shooting professionally with my Panasonic GH2?

CRACKED HANDLE

CRACKED HANDLE, RVERSE VIEW

CRACKED VIEWFINDER

CRACKED HANDLE, OTHER SIDE

 

MY BIKE WITH CRATE

A boxer who doesn't like to fight

A new trailer for a doc I've been working on for 2 years with co-director Mark Limburg, a classical from rags to riches story about a man who's taken many beatings but refuses to go down.

As a boy growing up in a small village in Nigeria, Innocent Anyanwu realized that the cycle of poverty and illiteracy had to be broken. He took the fate of his village on his shoulders and started on an a journey that forced him to overcome many challenges. Three continents later he is faced by the greatest challenge of them all: to become a world boxing champion and earn enough money to realize his dream.

Shot on two EX1's (one was upgraded to an EX1R). Now in postproduction. (looking for funding & partners)

I am Innocent - 4 minute trailer from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

The biggest yardsale in the world (timelapse)

April 30 is Koninginnedag (Queensday) in the Netherlands, birthdate of the belated queen Juliana. It has evolved into a massive national party.
People sing, dance, perform, buy and sell. Half of Holland buys the crap that the other half wants to get rid of. Literally millions of people empty out their attics, basements, storages and closets to sit out on the street and make a few bucks.
The Vondelpark in Amsterdam is the place for kids to buy and sell toys, play instruments and do their thing, whatever it is. Like streetperformers they place a hat in which you can throw a few coins.

Shot on a Canon 550D/T2i and a Sony EX1-R

Queens Day: the biggest yardsale in the world from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

XDCAM EX camera's accepteren alle kaarten?

De mooiste vondsten komen vaak door toeval. Zonlicht viel op een glas en het viel iemand op dat het licht zich splitst zich in een spectrum van kleuren. "Wit licht bestaat dus uit kleuren", bedacht hij en dat is de basis van veel daaropvolgende uitvindingen, waaronder bijvoorbeeld (lichtjaren later) de kleuren-tv en de camcorder.
Einstein, door 'andersom te denken', had geen zin om te wachten tot er een leuke vondst langs zou komen en forceerde het toeval. Hij gooide van alles bij elkaar en keek of er iets leuks ontstond. Daarmee heeft hij redelijke succesjes geboekt op het gebied van quantummechanica en de relativiteitstheorie.
Ik wil niet zeggen dat mijn vondst op één lijn valt met de ontdekking dat licht uit vele kleuren bestaat, laat staan dat het zich kan vergelijken met de successen van Einstein, maar het is een vondst, hoe miniem ook.

Mijn apparatuur: Sony EX1 R

Mijn trots, steun en toeverlaat. Elke (semi-)professional kent hem inmiddels: de Sony EX1, inmiddels opgevolgd door de EX1R. Begin 2010 heb ik mijn EX1 verkocht en een EX1R gekocht, waarvan de 'R' geloof ik voor 'revised' (gereviseerd) staat. Ze schieten allebei dezelfde prachtige beelden maar de 'R' kan wat meer, zoals DVcam draaien. Er zijn wat ergonomische verbeteringen op de 'R' aangebracht; een paar extra knoppen en handigheidjes.

Mijn ras- en werkpaard: de Sony PMW-EX1 R