December 2011 - Latest rental list available for download.

For a complete list of our rental equipment, including cameras, rigs, lighting kits and accessories, please download our Rental Kit List PDF. If you have a slower internet connection you can download a smaller Rental Kit List lite pdf file without product photos.

If you have any questions about availability, operation or about kits that we can put together for your shoot, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Nikon 55mm is a manual focus Micro (or macro) lens. It is very good for detail shots. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a minumum aperture of f/32.

The lens features CRC (Close range correction) which increases sharpness in wide lenses as short focal distances.
The lens has a picture angle of 43deg (28.5deg on DX format) and a closest focus distance 0.25m(9.86").


Can be fitted with adapter for Canon DSLR.

PRICES (inc VAT)

Daily hire : £8.40
Weekend hire: £12.60
Weekly hire: £33.60
2 weekly hire: £59.64
Monthly hire: £POA

The Nikon 55mm f/2.8 is supplied with front and back caps. An optional Nikon-EOS adapter ring is available.

This is the Zoom H4n solid state 4 channel audio recorder.
The R-44 can record up to 24bit/96khz across up to 4 channels or a range of other settings below this. The unit has 2x XLR/jack combo inputs and stereo line audio out to another device.
The unit also has a built-in stereo mic system, that can be altered to cover either a 90 degree or 180degree pattern

The Zoom H4n records onto SD or SDHC cards and the data can be quickly transferred to your computer via USB or using a memory card reader.

PRICES (inc VAT)

Daily hire : £10.08
Weekend hire: £15.12
Weekly hire: £40.32
2 weekly hire: £71.57
Monthly hire: £POA

Supplied with a memory card, mains adapter, hard case and instructions.

A new and upgraded version of the HD slider, the Glidetrack hybrid HD slider tripod mounted dolly system and an improved carriage for smmother movements and feet with adjustable heights.

The new carriage features a hrybrid bearing system, greatly improving on the standard HD model. The new adjustable feet allow you to be more creative than ever

The glidetrack is a very simple device. It can be set on any surface or on a tripod and provides beautiful tracking or panning dolly shots. If you feel experimental then you can even achieve a crane/jib shot.
The unit can be mounted on pretty much any tripod and you can even attach a tripod head to the top for extra control.

PRICES

Daily hire : £12
Weekend hire: £18
Weekly hire: £48
2 weekly hire: £86
Monthly hire: £160

The Hybrid Slider HD can be supplied with a tripod head which can be mounted between the slider and the camera. This is available from and extra £6 per day (discounts for durations of a week or more)

November 2011 - Zacuto HDMI Electronic Viewfinder for Canon 7D and 5D

A lightweight monitoring solution, the Cineroid EVF HDMI Electronic Viewfinder.
The unit features a 3.2" 800x480pixel LCD screen used with a removable Zacuto loupe and it works in the same way as the EVF on a ENG style camera. The removable loupe allows the screen used as a monitor.
The EVF has a range of features including Pixel to Pixel mapping, in-focus peaking, saturation zebra, underscan mode and a Monochrome mode. It will accept a HDMI(480i,/480p/576p/720p/1080i) signal and is powered using Canon EOS batteries
This model features HDMI loop-through, allowing a second external preview monitor to be run from the same signal.

PRICES

Daily hire : £14
Weekend hire: £21
Weekly hire: £56
2 weekly hire: £98
Monthly hire: £195

The Zacuto EVF is supplied with 3x Canon batteries, Zacuto flexible arm and mount, charger and HDMI cable. Optional powering from D-tap is available.

An upgraded follow focus, the Redrock Follow Focus Blue has been redesigned to give more fuctionality.
The biggest update is the incorpotation of new hard stops, upgrading the previous, easily broken, focus indicator. These hard stops are fully adjustable and can even be set to work upsaid down for high shots.

The follow focus mounts onto 15mm rods via a quick release mount. It features a sliding connector that allows the unit to work with a wide range of lens diameters.
For use with Redrock lens gears. Accessories available include speedcranks and focus whips.

PRICES

Daily hire : £15
Weekend hire: £22
Weekly hire: £60
2 weekly hire: £108
Monthly hire: £199

The Redrock Follow focus Blue is supplied in a hard case with 3x lens gears

November 2011 - Redrock Livelens mft mount for full EOS aperture control

New from Redrock - the Micro LiveLens MFT is an first active lens adapter that enables Canon EF lenses to be used with any micro four-thirds (mft) camera, such as the Panasonic AG-AF101.

Canon EF lenses require power and electronic controls in order to adjust the lens? aperture. Without powered control electronics, the aperture of EF lenses are stuck wide open. This problem is solved by providing power to the EF lens and a control pad to adjust the lens aperture. You can set the EF lens' aperture in increments as small as 1/3 stop. It works with just about every Canon lens available today and most third party EF-compatible lenses. See the redrock site for lens limitations

The adapter uses a 9v battery in a small external power unit which should last around 20hours. This great device finally allows us to make full use of our Canon lenses.

PRICES

Daily hire : £14
Weekend hire: £21
Weekly hire: £56
2 weekly hire: £98
Monthly hire: £195

The redrock LiveLens mft is supplied with a front cap and external battery unit.

New at Maniac Films and available for hire, the Rode HSP-1 headset mic.

The Rode HS1-P headset mic is a discreet and lightweight headset microphone that provides clean and clear for any application where the microphone needs to be in close proximity to presenter's mouth.

The headset is adjustable to fit any user and is supplied with a 1.2m shielded cable. We will also include an adapter to allow the MiCon XLR terminator to be used with standard audio equipment.
The HS1-P microphone requires +48v phantom power to operate.

Frequncy range: 60Hz - 18Khz
Output impedance: 3000 Ohms
Max SPL: 110dB @ 1kHz
Sensitivity: 1.89mV @ 94 dB SPL

PRICES

Daily hire : £7
Weekend hire: £18
Weekly hire: £28
2 weekly hire: £50
Monthly hire: £90

Supplied in an anti-trauma water resistant case with 1.2m cable, fur windshield, pink foam windshield, Micon - XLR adapter and tie clip.

We have managed to get our hands on a rare Nikon 55mm f/1.2 lens. Nikon only manufactured these for one year before they began working on the more common 50mm version.
This Nikon mount lens can be used with our Canon EOS 7D bodies using out conversion rings, or on the Panasonic Af-101 camcorder with our MTF mount.
This lens is nice and fast, we have tested it in very low lighting conditions and it performs well, and the depth of field is very shallow at f/1.2.
For more details on this lens visit our lens rentals page

PRICES

Daily hire : £10
Weekend hire: £15
Weekly hire: £40
2 weekly hire: £72
Monthly hire: £132

The Nikon 55mm f/1.2 is supplied with front and back caps. An optional Nikon-EOS adapter ring is available.

Newly available for hire is the Nikon 24mm f/2 lens. A faster version of our current f/2.8 24mm lenses, we came across this lens and jsut had to get it!.
This Nikon mount lens can be used with our Canon EOS 7D bodies using out conversion rings, or on the Panasonic Af-101 camcorder with our MTF mount.
The 24mm lens is a popular choice as part of a rental kit and this new faster version will give shooters more fleibility in low light..
For more details on this lens visit our lens rentals page

PRICES

Daily hire : £10
Weekend hire: £15
Weekly hire: £40
2 weekly hire: £72
Monthly hire: £132

The Nikon 24mm f/2 is supplied with front and back caps. An optional Nikon-EOS adapter ring is available.

New and available for hire is a Arrilite 750 plus 3 lamp redhead kit.
The kit comprises of 3x 750w redhead lamps with barndoors and built-in speedrings, 3 lighting stands and a solid flight case.

The lamps have a blue steel body with a flood/spot rear knob. They come fitted with standard 3pin UK mains plugs.
Combine them with our Alpha pack 3 channel 3KW dimmer, gels or chimera softboxes to complete the look for your scene.

For more details on this lens visit our lens rentals page

PRICES

Daily hire : £25
Weekend hire: £38
Weekly hire: £100
2 weekly hire: £180
Monthly hire: £335

Supplied in a wooden flight case with 3 lighting stands and spare bulbs. Sandbags are available on request

August 2011 - New Manfrotto 545GB tripod available now

You can have the best camera in the world, but if the footage is shaky then its no good! In order to ensure steady footage, we now have a set of Manfrotto 545Gb tripod legs with a 100mm/75mm bowl head.
This new tripod will work with our Manfrotto 519 and 504 bowl heads and can support up to 25kg. The minimum working height is 32.5cm and the maximum is 158.5cm

This tripod is one of the sturdiest produced by Manfrotto in this size and should provide many shake free shots!

The Steadicam merlin is designed for cameras weighing up to 2.7 Kg (so it's ideal for the Canon 7D), but it can be used with a Sony z1 or Panasonic HVX200 with batteries and no accessories.

The Merlin provides fantastic steady shots and we were amazed by the results.

We will supply an instructional DVD that will teach you how to set-up and fine tune the rig to your camera weight and balance.

PRICES

Daily hire : £10
Weekend hire: £15
Weekly hire: £40
2 weekly hire: £72
Monthly hire: £133

The Steadicam will be supplied in a semi-rigid case with an instructional dvd.

June 2011 - Sachtler Video 30 II head is fully reconditioned

Our Sachtler Video 30 II head has just returned from a full service at Sachtler headquaters.
The service included replacing all of the fluid modules that create counterbalance system and the ball bearings. this all leads to a more stable, smoother and nicer to use head.

The Sachtler Video 30 II head is available for rental with a choice of tripods on out Grip rental page

Voigtländer 25mm f/0.95 Micro f/3 lens for Panasonic AF101 rental

Our new Voigtländer 25mm f/0.95 Micro 4/3 lenshas finally arrived. We have waited for a while for one of these to become available to buy but the wait is over.
This lens is designed for use with the Panasonic AF-101 micro 4/3 camera which is available for hire from us.
This lens is rediculously fast, we have tested it in very low lighting conditions and it performs well, and the depth of field is very, very shallow at f/0.95. We love it!

PRICES

Daily hire : £12
Weekend hire: £18
Weekly hire: £48
2 weekly hire: £86
Monthly hire: £160

The Voightlander 25mm f/0.95 lens is supplied with 1x rear cap, 1x lens cap and 1x metal lens hood with extra large lens cap.

The Nanoflash is a solid state HD/SD or HDMI recorder/player from Convergent Media.

The unit records to MXF or QuickTime format using 2 x CompactFlash cards at rates of up to 220Mbps. It can be mounted to a camera or connected to any HD-SDI source via BNC coax. The nanoflash features HDMI in/out, SDI in/out and has 2 Compact Flash Slots. Up to 8 channels of quality audio can be embedded in the HD-SDI/HDMI stream.

We also have a specially designed mount that fits onto the Panasonic AF-101 allowing for secure mounting of the Nanoflash.

PRICES

Daily hire : £55
Weekend hire: £82
Weekly hire: £220
2 weekly hire: £395
Monthly hire: £730

The Nanoflash is supplied with a BNC or HDMI cable, power cable, 2x Pag battery, battery mounting plate, 2x CF cards and a USB card reader. If used with a Panasonic AF-101 we will include the mounting bracket. We recommend a rod mounting system to support the battery mount.

On occasion we have found it difficult to get the low shot we need, so we have invested in a new Manfrotto 529B Hi-Hat 100mm bowl tripod.
The Hi-Hat stands at a mere 19.5cm high with a minumum of 14.5cm. Combined with a 100mm bowl head such as the sachtler video 18 III or the Manfrotto 519 head.
The 529B can support up to 20kg and the feet (which have rubber pads to prevent marking surfaces) have pre-drilled holes, allowing you to screw the Hi-Hat a ladder, apple-box or a sheet of wood.

PRICES

Daily hire : £5
Weekend hire: £8
Weekly hire: £20
2 weekly hire: £36
Monthly hire: £67

The Manfrotto Hi-hat can be supplied as a full kit with a 100mm bowl head starting from £13 a day

We have finally received the first of our new Panasonic AG-AF101 HD camcorders. These camera will serve as a direct replacement for our Panasonic HVX200 cameras.
The AG-AF101 is a professional AVCCAM Series HD camera equipped with the Micro Four Thirds optical system commonly used in digital single lens still cameras. It directly accommodates Micro Four Thirds digital single lens still camera lenses, and an adaptor can be used to mount 35 mm film camera lenses and prime lenses.
What this means is that you can get the look of shooting with a video DSLR, but without the associated issues caused by the hardware limitations.
The camera records in AVCHD to SD cards and can record up to full 1080 video at a range of frame rates and can output via HDMI or SDI.

PRICES

Daily hire : £65
Weekend hire: £98
Weekly hire: £260
2 weekly hire: £470
Monthly hire: £860

The Panasonic AF101 (Body Only) is supplied with 2x Panasonic battery, 1x 16Gb memory card, USB card reader, XLR microphone and 1x Panasonic battery charger. Lenses and lens mount adapters are available

February 2011 - Manfrotto 504HD 75mm bowl tripod head.

Tripods are an important peice of kit on any shoot and we feel it is important to keep them up to scratch. To this end we have a new Manfrotto 504HD 75mm bowl tripod head.
The new head will be replace the 503 head in the Vinten pro 5 kit. The new head is stronger and can take larger camera weights. However the old head will still be used with our Glidetrack sliders.
The 504HD features a 4-stage balance control system, 9-step drag system and has a maximum load capacity of 7.5kg.

February 2011 - MTF Nikon to 4/3 adapter for Panasonic AF101.

New to our equipment list is a MTF Nikon to 4/3 adapter, which allow us to mount Nikon lenses onto our new Panasonic AF-101 camera.
Made from stainless steel, the mount incorporates a unique EXPOSURE RING, so it can be used with lenses that do not have an aperture ring.
With other mounts for Canon and PL lenses on their way, the AF-101 will become a very versatile camera!

January 2011 - Sachtler Video 18 III head and ENG 2 CF tripod.

We now have a Sachtler Video 18 III head and ENG 2 Cf tripod.
The Video 18 III head features a 100mm bowl mount and can balance payloads from 2kg - 18 kg (4-46lb). The head has a 10 step counterbalance system to ensure that the camera is kept level.
The ENG 2 CF is a 2 stage carbon fibre 100mm bowl mount tripod. The tripod can support a max payload of 40kg (88lbs) and folds down to 75cm (27.6").
The tripod is fitted with a mid level spreadr and has a height range from 50-151 cm (19.7 - 59.5").

This new tripod sits nicely between our Manfrotto kit and the very heavy duty Sachtler video 30 kit, proving great support but without the excess weight.

January 2011 - Cineroid HDMI EVF for Canon 7D and 5D.

We now have a new HDMI Electronic Viewfinder, the Cineroid EVF, which will make HDSLR shooting with the Canon ESO 7D and 5D a lot easier.
The unit features a 3.2" LCD screen used with a loupe and it works in the same way as the EVF on a ENG style camera. It has a range of features including Pixel to Pixel mapping, in-focus peaking, saturation zebra, underscan mode and a Monochrome mode.
The best thing is that this model features HDMI loop-through. This means that a second external preview monitor can be run from the same signal. This eliminates one of the biggest flaws of the HDSLR market, by deliving a low-weight replacement for the camera screen to be used by the operator and also allowing the director to see the action.

November 2010 - New power option for Small HD DP1x and HDMI splitter for multiple monitors.

We have just received a new D-tap regulated power connector for the Small HD Dp1x HDMI monitor.
This new addition to the Small HD kit allows us to power the monitor using our existing Pag battery system, removing the need for seperate batteries on location. We can now power the whole rig, including the camera, HDMI splitter, camera light, video converters and monitor from one battery.
In the same box was a new Small HD HDMI splitter.
The splitter will allow dual monitoring when using a Canon EOS 7D or 5D mkII. This will allow for a small monitor for the operator and a second for teh director or focus puller. The splitter can be passive, but will also accept a 6v power supply.
Shooting on location just got a lot easier and less complicated!

September 2010 - Lightwave boom pole with integrated XLR cable.

This is our new Lightwave Boom Pole, an aluminium, 2.5m, 5 section boom pole.
The Lightwave boom pole features an innovative triple-cam locking system which allows for minimal twisting when locking/unlocking. It also has a coiled XLR cable fittd inside the pole, making for a tidier working area on location.
The pole weighs 780g, collapses to 0.66m(2'2") and extends to 2.5m(8'2").

August 2010 - Glidetrack HD Slider Dolly 0.75m.

We love our SD slider from Glidetrack, and have decided to upgrade to a bigger model.
Our new HD slider is stronger and can support more weight. We have also chosen a 75cm length, allowing for longer tracking moves.
The physical dimensions of the slider are: length 75cm (30.5"), width 30cm (12") and depth 6cm (2.25")

The glidetrack is a very simple device. It can be set on any surface or on a tripod and provides beautiful tracking or panning dolly shots.
The unit can be mounted on pretty much any tripod and you can even attach a tripod head to the top for extra control.

August 2010 - Contineo 7D & 5D cage

New into the office is a Contineo DSLR cage from Viewfactor. The Cage is a rigid, aluminium structure that completely surrounds the Canon EOS 7D body, (excluding the lens).
The cage is designed in a way that allows easy access to all buttons, panels and connections and also provides numerous mounting points for accessories.

The cage can be mounted onto our existing 15mm rod systems, so as well as providing an excellent level of protection for the camera, it increases the versatility of the camera rig.

A fantastic little camera, the Go Pro HD Hero provides HD video in the smallest of spaces, even underwater!.
The camera features native 16:9 widescreen recording (optional 4:3) from a 3CCD sensor.
Seated within a waterproof housing (60m/180ft), the small camera, (measuring only 42mm x 60mm x 30mm (1.6"x2.4"x1.2")) can provide 1080p HD video recorded onto a SD or SDHC card.
Video resolutions: 1080p:30fps, 960p(4:3):30fps, 720p:60 or 30fps, WVGA(848x480pixels):60fps. The camera can also take stills and be programmed for burst modes.
The camera housing can be mounted to a large range of objects including the human head, chest and arms. It is powered by a Lion battery with 2.5hr battery life. Charger included (USB)

June 2010 - Small HD DP1 upgrade to DP1x

We have just recieved our upgraded Small HD DP1x.
We sent our original monitor back to the manufacturers who have fitted new components and upgraded the firmware.

So whats new? Well they have improved the image processing, with more accurate scaling and colour.
They have also included menu shortcuts/hotkeys and a new 1:1 pixel mapping feature. You also have access to blue/red/green only colour modes for calibation and color composition, fully customisable colour value presets, custom overscan configurations and an auto-scale option for constantly varying input signals (for use with HDSLR cameras).

May 2010 - DAC9 HDMI-HD/SDI Converter

A new addition to our rental equipment is a Datavideo HDMI to HD/SDI converter HDMI to HD/SDI converter.
The unit is equipped with one HDMI input and 2x HD/DSI bnc outputs. It also has a velcro strap on the back allowing you to mount it on to a tripod (see image)

This useful converter has a number of uses. Firstly it allows us to use a Canon 7d or 5D mkII with our Panasonic 8inch and Tamuz 14.4inch monitors.
Second, it allows for much longer cable runs from a Video DSLR or HDMI source. HDMI is not suitable for long cable runs, but by converting to HD/SDI you can run for up to 200m to your video device.
The unit is powered by a 12v mains power supply can can be tripod mounted using the supplied velcro straps.

May 2009 - Extra Zacuto arms and monitor mounts

We have added to our monitor grip equipment with more from Zacuto.
We now have another medium Z-arm and a new Larger Z-arm (measuring 12 inches) as well as a second Zicromount monitor bracket.
We have been very pleased with the medium Z-arm as have many of our rental clients and this has spurred us in to bringing in some more.

March 2010 - Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens

We now have a new Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens to work with our Canon EOS 7D video DSLR cameras.
This telephoto lens produces a very sharp image and provides filmmakers with a versatile zoom. With a widest aperture of f/2.8 constant through the zoom range, it will work very well in low light situations.
The lens features an internal focusing systemwith a minimum focusing distance of 1.5m (4.9ft).
We also have fader ND filters to work with this lens, giving greater light and aperture control.

March 2010 - Second Edirol R-44 4channel solid state audio field recorder.

We have added a second Edirol R-44 solid state 4 channel audio recorder to our rental kit. We have fund our original usit to produce excellent audio quality and it works very well with the Canon 7D on location.
Having 2 units available allows us to utilise another feature of the recorder. The 2 recorders can be linked together via firewire for 8 track synchronised recording. Fantastic for gigs/performances, surround sound recording or big scenes with a lot of principle actors.

March 2010 - B-Hague DSLR Camframe

We have a nifty little tool to work with a Video DSLR, the B-Hague DSLR Camframe.
This frame allows an operator working with a video DSLR to work hand held with more stability and it also allows more flexibility, especially for low shots.
The frame is supplied with a sliding quick release plate and also features 2 accessory shoe mounts which can be used to mount external mics or lights.
You can combine this set-up with our Canon EOS remote to allow you to begin filming without letting go of the camera frame

February 2010 - Glidetrack SD Dolly 0.5m.

After much decision, we have finally taken delivery of a Glidetrack SD 0.5m portable dolly.
The glidetrack is a very simple device. It can be set on any surface or on a tripod and provides beautiful tracking or panning dolly shots.
The unit can be mounted on pretty much any tripod and you can even attach a tripod head to the top for extra control.
Our Glidetrack measures 50cm long and adds a new dimension to most shots. We reccommend this be used wih the Canon 7D, but other smaller cameras can be used as well.

january 2010 - Second Tokina 16-50mm AF f2.8 lens - Canon fit

We now have a second Tokina 16-50mm auto focus f2.8 lens for our Canon EOS 7D. We found it to be a good, general purpose lens and as well as shooting HD video, we use it a lot for product pictures as well.
Our original lens has been popular with filmmakers using the Canon 7D or 5DmkII, the zoom range giving more flexibility when changing lenses isn't convenient. .

January 2010 - 2 more Canon EOS 7D DSLRs with full HD video.

We liked our Canon Eos 7D DSLR so much and it was so popular with our rental clients that we now have two more units available.
With them came more batteries and memory cards for the cameras.
The Canon comes equipped with a 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor, Full HD video at 24, 25 and 30P and 720p variable frame rate.
Following the success of the Canon 5D mkII, the 7D has taken the DSLR video technology to a new level, introducing more frame rate options, dedicated video buttons and settings and many other improvements over it's predecessor
The 7D has both HDMI and composite video out for external monitoring, and will accept a powered external microphone for improved sound. Combine it with our Redrock DSLR kit for the ultimate shooting kit.

December 2009 - Marshall 7" HMDI LCD field monitor.

We have added a new Marshall HD LCD field 7" monitor, (V-LCD70P-HDMI)
this lightweight monitor has HDMI, component and composite video inputs.
It is packed with features including Focus Assist, False colour filter, pixel-pixel mapping, screen markers plus more advanced features. it is powered from Panasonic batteries or an XLR4 cable.
It can display a range of formats - PAL/NTSC 480i/p, 576i/p, 720p, 1035i, 1080i and vesa pc formats to XGA (1024x768). This monitor is ideal for DSLR shoots.

November 2009 - Edirol R-44 4channel solid state audio field recorder.

We now have a Edirol R-44 solid state 4 channel audio recorder available for rental.
The R-44 can record up to 24bit/192khz across 4 channels or a range of other settings. The unit has 4x XLRjack combo inputs and phono audio out to another device.
The R-44 records onto SD or SDHC cards and the data can be quickly transferred to your computer via USB or using a memory card reader. It also features an OLED screen which displays recording levels and other information
This can be paired up with our Sound Devices field mixer (both fit into one petrol bag) to create an ideal field audio recording system.

November 2009 - 77mm Fader ND filters for Canon EOS 7D.

We have now added to our selection of Fader ND filters with 2x 77mm filters. These will fit our 2 new Tokina Lenses.
These clever devices rotate in the same way as a cicular polariser, but they gradually decrease light transmission. This allows you infinite control over light levels.
The true advantage is that allows you to keep a constant light level for all of your shots with the same aperture, ISO and shutter speed. This will improve the consistency of your footage.

November 2009 - Tokina 16-50mm AF f2.8 lens - Canon fit

We now have a great Tokina 16-50mm auto focus f2.8 lens for our Canon EOS 7D, but of course it will work with most other Canon models, (not full frame).
The minimum focal distance is just 30cm and it features a one touch AF/MF system. Simply slide the focus ring towards the camera body to activate manual focus.
The lens comes equipped with a flower design bayonet lens hood. The lens also has a special "water repellant" optical coating on the glass, making it much easier to clean.

November 2009 - Tokina 11-16mm AF f2.8 ultrawide lens - Canon fit

We now have a great Tokina 11-16mm auto focus f2.8 lens for our Canon EOS 7D, but of course it will work with most other Canon models. (not full frame)
The minimum focal distance is just 30cm and it features a one touch AF/MF system. Simply slide the focus ring towards the camera body to activate manual focus.
The lens comes equipped with a flower design bayonet lens hood.
Read the Ken Rockwell Interview.

November 2009 - Fader ND filters for Canon EOS 7D.

We now have a selection of Fader ND filters. These clever devices rotate in the same way as a cicular polariser, but they gradually decrease light transmission. This allows you infinite control over light levels.
The true advantage is that allows you to keep a constant light level for all of your shots with the same aperture, ISO and shutter speed.
This will improve the consistency of your footage.
We have 2x 55mm filters for our Nikon Prime lenses and one 62mm filter for our 20mm prime.

October 2009 - More Redrock DSLR hand-held kit parts

Redrock have release more helpful accessories for their DSLR filming kit.
The new Microlink4 allows for greater camera off-setting than before, bringing the DSLR LCD screen right in front of the camera operators eyeline.
The Microlinkriser4 does the same job but also raises the camera up by an inch. This is because the 5D mkII and 7D tend to sit too low on the rig for the camera operators eyeline, so this will make life easier.
Another riser tool is the microRiser. This is an adjustable rod offset that enables you to attach a second set rods in front of the camera to raise the rods higher. This allows front-of-camera accessories such as a follow focus or mattebox to be used with video DSLRs with battery grip or other under-camera accessory.
We also have new lens gears for our follow focus. The D size gears have a larger internal diameter allowing them to work with the larger Canon AF lenses.
Finally we have our IR start/stop holder. This enables you to securely mount a Canon infrared remote to your Redrock handgrip for easy hands-off start/stop off your Canon video DSLR. Works with both the Canon 5D MKII and 7D. An alternate setup is to pair the remote holder with a microMount and position it anywhere on a 15mm rod that is comfortable.

October 2009 - Ronford Baker moose bar extensions.

We now have accessories to go with our Ronford Baker moose bars. We have now added 3 cotton reel extensions and a set of flat bar extensions.
The cotton reels will extend the with of the moosebars, either for comfort, or they can be used to offset one handle if used with a DSLR rig.
The flat bar extensions can be used to lower the handles in relation the the camera, allowing a camera operator to work more comfortable when during handheld operation.

October 2009 - Canon EOS 7D DSLR with full HD video.

We have a brand new Canon Eos 7D DSLR. It comes equipped with a 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor, Full HD video at 24, 25 and 30P and 720p variable frame rate. We also have a number or batteries and compact flash cards to go with it.
Following the success of the Canon 5D mkII, the 7D has taken the DSLR video technology to a new level, introducing more frame rate options, dedicated video buttons and settings and many other improvements over it's predecessor
The 7D has both HDMI and composite video out for external monitoring, and will accept a powered external microphone for improved sound. Combine it with our Redrock DSLR kit for the ultimate shooting kit.

October 2009 - Nikon 35mm PC (shift lens).

Addingto our range of prime lenses, we now have a Nikon 35mm f2.8 PC (perspective control) lens.
This lenses are something a little special. It works much like a standard lens, but it has the ability to slide the front half of the lens sidewards across the camera body. The lens can also be rotated thus allowing the shift to be in any direction.
These lenses are used to covers large rectangular subjects, for example, a tall building, the photographer has to tilt his camera upwards to include the top of the structure; generally, the resulting image portrays in the photograph will have walls of the building appear to converge, as if the building were falling over backwards. However, with the PC-Nikkor's unique mechanism that enables shifting and rotating movements, it permits the photographer to get balanced composition without tilting the camera. The film plane will remain vertically while the center of the lens is placed on the line connecting the center of the subject with that of the film. This gives the object a flatter image.
The lens comes in a Nikon hard case and instructions on use.

September 2009 - Our Sony 801 viewfinder has been upgraded.

Our Sony 801 viewfinder had previously been flipped to make it work with the Redrock M2 35mm system. But with the arrival of the Redrock Flipx accessory, we have had the viewfinder flipped again and also upgraded with a BNC connector to replace the composite video in. The viewfinder can be powered by Panasonic batteries or using our adapted powerplate with V-lok batteries on a Hawk-Woods powerplate.
We are currently experimenting using this viewfinder for DSLR monitoring as well.

September 2009 - Zacuto Zfinder and other Zacuto monitor/microphone mounting gear.

We have added a range of products from Zacuto. We now have a Z-Finder II loupe for DSLR, Zacuto zamerican arm v3, Zicromount III monitor mount bracket and some Zuds for Noga arm and extra mounting brackets for our DSLR kits.
The Z-finder is ideal for use with any LCD screen, reducing glare or any other peripheral distractions the the camera operator. The Z-american articulated arm is strong and can be connected to almost anything with our range of mounting solutions.
The Zicromount III monitor mount is a very secure and safe way to mount a field monitor to the Zamerican arm. This is ideal for a camera operator who is working handheld, or for the Director to keep an ey on the filming.

August 2009 - Hoodman HoodLoupe 3 + accessories.

We have added a Hoodman HooldLoupe 3 to our DSLR rental gear. This is an alternative viewfinder/loupe for the Canon 5D mkII and Canon 7D or any other DSLR with a 3" screen.
We also have a Hoodriser which acts as an extension allowing the HoodLoup to be used on a 4" screen.
From Redrock, we now have a Hoodman Bracket, this special bracket provides an easy way to attach a Hoodloupe to your DSLR, it fits around the neck of the Loupe and is clamped to the camera body using the tripod plate.
Finally, we have a Hoodman Camcorder attachment. This provides a way to attach the HoodLoupe or Hoodriser to a camcorder LCD screen using velcro fixings.

July 2009 - Extra lighting kit added to our rental kit.

We have added more lighting kit to our collection.

We can now offer a set of 3 650w/800w Photon Beard redheads, two Arri 200w juniors an Arri 2k blonde and a Kinoflo Divalite 400 4bar light. The Arri junior lights are both fitted with Fresnel lenses for better focusing and the Kinoflo 400 is switchable, allowing 2 or 4 bar lighting, and has an in-line dimmer. We also have a 2way dimmer socket and lighting stand for all lights.

July 2009 - Small HD DP1 8.9" 1280x720P HDMI monitor.

We have just taken delivery of a SmallHD DP1 8.9" HDMI monitor with full 720p resolution 1280x720 with component HD and HDMI input. This monitor works perfectly with DSLR video cameras, such as the Canon 5D mkII.

The DP1 will also work perfectly with pretty much any professional camera, including the RED camera. For the RED camera the monitor offers an anomorphic mode.
It offers more pixels for its size than any other monitor, giving you a much sharper HD image. it will also work with your laptop, so you can use it as a preview out when looking back at the rushes later in the day, Ideal for any film maker.
The DP1 monitor features mounting threads on 5 sides, allowing you to mount it the best way for you, with almost any mounting system available.

May 2009 - Redrock DSLR kit for use with Canon and Nikon video DSLR cameras.

We have just got in a Redrock DSLR kit with handlebar mount and DSLR mount, top handle cage and Nikon lens adapters for Canon EOS. Great for Canon 5D MkII video shooting with follow focus and matt box

October 2008 - Zero 88 Alphapack 3 channel lighting dimmer.

To compliment our new redheads, we have a Zero 88 Alphapack 3 channel dimmer.
The unit features 3 faders for local control as well as both analogue and DMX control for control as part of a larger lighting rig.
The Alpahpack is fitted with 3 UK 15A sockets, the round pin variety. The good news is that we also have 3 customised extension cables allowing the lights to run from the dimmer.

October 2008 - Ianiro 1000w 3 piece redhead kit.

We have expanded our video lighting kit with an Ianiro 1k redhead kit. The kit comprises of 3 1000w redhead lamps with barndoors, 3 lighting stands and a carry bag for the lot.
The lamps have a blue steel body with a flood/spot rear knob. Combined together, the output from these 3 lamps is often more than you will need, combine them with our dimmer, gels or softboxes to complete the look for your scene.

September 2008 - More Boa Bags for light stands

We have added four more Boa bags to our grip equipment. These 10lb bags wrap around any peice of grip equipment for counterbalancing or stabilisation.
We use them all the time with our light stads to ensure they stay upright, but they have come in useful for many other jobs.

September 2008 - ULB3 Universal rod mount bracket from Ronford Baker

We have just got in a new ULB3 Universal support bracket for the Sony F900 from UK engineering firm Ronford Baker. The ULB3 also fits the Sony 700,750,XDCAM and Panasonic Varicam and HDX900 and allows us to shoot cinema-style with matt box and follow-focus (on 15mm rods).

August 2008 - Sony F900 HDCAM now available for rental

We can now offer for rental a Sony F900 Cinealta HDCAM 1920x1080 camera for rental. It support 24p, 25p, 30p, 50i, 60i and other popular frequencies such as 23.98 etc.
The camera uses our Pag v-lok batteries. For monitoring purposes the camera has HD component output and records onto large HDCAM tapes.
The supplied lens is a Canon JK16x8B HD zoom lens with a 2x tele extender built in. It has a standard B4 mount with grip, CAC and adjustable zoom speed. Comes supplied with a Sony XLR mic and has 2 more XLR inputs for extra mics. Comes in a hard aluminium case with rain cover, shoulder strap and tripod moutning plate.

August 2008 - Redrock m2 delux shoulder mount kits

We've added a couple of Redrock delux shoulder mount kits to our production and rental kit. These shoulder mounts have carbon fibre rods and can be used with ordinary non-shoulder mount cameras (like the Sony Z1, V1 and Panasonic HVX200) as well as with the Redrock M2 lens adapter system, giving front and back rod mounts for Matt boxes, the Gekko lenslite and battery plates.

"we broke our old Ikegami shoulder mount tripod plate when filming Rogue and have been looking for a replacment system for a while" said Mark Brindle. The Redrock kits are very modular and can be used in multiple ways for quick switching between tripod or hand-held shooting"

May 2008 - Gekko daylight LED lenslite kit with flying ballast

We have added a Gekko Lenslite into our production and rental kit. See PDF brochure. The lenslite is a daylight LED ring light system which mounts on 15mm rods and can fit cameras with lens diameters up to 110mm. Our unit has a top flag, diffuser and clear holder for gels, a flying ballast with dimmer and seperate on/off for each of 4 quadrants of the light ring. It works great with our Redrock 35mm lens adapter system and fits the Sony F900 just fine.

The lenslite is ideal as a daylight fill (6000k, 128fc at 3foot), as a beauty light or eyelight. It will last 2.75 hours on full brightness with a 95W v-lock battery.

May 2008 - More HD production kit

We have added a Losmandy Porta-Jib into our production and rental kit with 150mm bowl mount to fit our Sachtler video 30 II head and tripods."we needed a jib which can take lots more weight then the abc crane...the Porta jib was an ideal choice" said Mark from Maniac Films.

We also added a Tamuz Falcon 15.4 inch full 1920x1080 HD field monitor too with HDSDI inputs and battery plate for field use, plus a heavy-duty vesa mount from VF Gadgets to allow the monitor to be put on a standard lighting stand. The picture looks superb!

<more info on our video equipment rental services>..

April 2008 - Rycote s-series windshield plus PAG Vmount batteries and plates

Weve been getting in more equipment and have added the Rycote S-series modular windshield system to give us good all round protection for audio recording in the UK. "the s-series is very quick and easy to use" said mark Brindle "weve gone for the largest windshields to allow more flexibility for renting and to be able to fit a radio mic tx unit inside too".

We have also added a new 4ch Pag all chemistry charger and a set of Pag L95 Li-ion V-mount batteries to our production and rental kit. These are certified air transport safe.

We have been sorting out our powering systems too with a selection of V-mount power plates and specially made regulator plates from UK-based Hawk Woods. We can now power all our cameras, monitors, downconvertors, redrock systems and Dat recorder with V-mount batteries.

February 2008 - P+S Technik skater accessories

Weve been getting some more accessories for our skate dolly and have added the P+S Technik laser pointer and steadybag to give us more flexibility in using our skate dolly. We've had some custom metalwork made to fit these items to our skate dolly (non P+S Techniks) and the results are great! We've also got in some P+S Technik Clipgear Focus Rings for some of our Nikon lenses too.

January 2008 - More Moose bars from Ronford Baker

Weve been very impressed with the lightweight support handles from Ronford Baker , so we had to get some more! Made from high tensile aluminium, the Moose bars fit both 15mm and 19mm rods, they are adjustable and comfortable too - with extension options too. Moose bars are available from our rental equipment.

November 2007 - Edit suite upgrades with 8Core MacPro and matrox MXO

Following Moores law were had to upgrade our edit suite yet again from dual-core G5s to 8Core Macpro hardware, adding a few extra Terra bytes of RAID storage in more Sonnet Tempo external storage devices, plus a matrox MXO DVI box for colour grading using an Apple 23" LCD Cinema display at the same time. "The G5s were not powerful enough to run the new 'Color' application and were staining a bit with rendering DVCProHD 1080 streams, so we decided it was time to move up" said Mark Brindle at maniac Films. "Leopard is usable - not 100% stable but defiantly usable..however its a pity not all the apps can yet make use of the extra processing speed..were running a few BOINC applications to use up the spare capacity in the interim.."

Contact us about wet or dry hire of our FCP Studio edit suites for HD colour grading or general editing - we also rent out a macbookpro dual-core 17" laptop edit system for P2 captures and assembly edits.

November 2007 - More heavy duty rental kit

We have added to our rental kit with a 150mm bowl Ronford-baker baby tripod and spreader (medium weight) plus a fully-serviced Sachtler Video 30 II head with 3 stages of counter weight plus dual pan-handles, and a tall Sachtler aluminium 150mm bowel tripod and spreader. Ideal complement for our Redrock M2 35mm lens adapter rigs which need extra counter-weight and support when fully rigged with an HD monitor on-board.

October 2007 - more Redrock m2 rentals kits

We've added another Redrock M2 cinema lens adapter to our rental kit, plus a few more Nikon prime lenses. We have rented out a few kits this month to Edinburgh and London for a music video shoot (details and links soon) and a short film. We have Nikon prime lenses to rent including 14mm, 20mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, 180mm and 80-200mm. The Redrock M2 helps create 'the film look' by projecting a 35mm size image and when coupled with cinema lenses or Nikon primes, can be used with SD or HD video cameras to give a very shallow depth of field. We also have some great HD monitoring solutions for rental, plus Panasonic HVX200s and P2 cards, Firestore and mobile FCP edit packages. Contact us for kit list and rates.

September 2007 - Panasonic HD Field Monitor added to rental kit at Maniac Films

Weve added the new Panasonic BT-LH80W 7.9inch HD monitor to our HD rental kit. The Widescreen multi-format HD electronic viewfinder & production monitor with pixel-to-pixel mapping at 1080 and 720 plus built-in waveform monitor and focus assist features is a solid performer and comes with a custom-fit portabrace case and a set of IDX V-mount batteries and charger in a pelican hard case.

Ideal for getting critical focus in HD on the HVX200 via analog component HD, it can also be fitted with an HD/SDI interface and an optional cable link to be used as an EVF replacement with Panasonic cameras like the HPX500. Available for rental from maniac films.

May 2007 - Sony 801 Viewfinder mod for RedRock M2 35mm adapter

We have been making our RedRock M2 35mm adapter kit more handheld-friendly by adding a modified high quality Sony 801 viewfinder and Ikegami Shoulder pad to the Panasonic HVX200 rig to allow a much more flexible mode for shooting handheld.

"I love the shallow depth of field we can achieve with the Redrock M2" said Mark Brindle of Maniac Films "but handheld work has always been difficult with an external LCD screen for focusing...but with the new Sony viewfinder system and shoulder brace, the whole rig is easier to manage."

For more information on 35mm lens adapters and accessories from RedRock then look on the RedRock website (www.redrockmicro.com) or read our article about Depth of Field and 35mm lens adapters (pdf version).