You want to make sure you know what you’re doing when you use a camera. Or, at least, you want to have essential info about the camera you’re using in case something goes wrong.
The digital cinema pocket guides help you do just that by providing easy reference within the chaos of a shoot. And today I’ve unleashed a big update for them won’t want to miss:
Learn More About the Pocket Guides Here
Note: If you previously downloaded the guides, you should’ve received an email with an updated download link. You don’t need to re-download the guides from the page above. If you don’t see the email, be sure to check your junk/spam folder, and if it’s still not there, get in touch with me.
Half of the Pocket Guides and Cameras Updated
While there are no new cameras added in this round of updates, half of the existing pocket guides have received big upgrades that brings them up-to-date with their latest firmware builds.
This update is strongly recommended for all users of the cameras listed below.
Overall, 15 pocket guides were updated:
- ARRI Alexa XT
- Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera
- Canon 5D Mark III
- Canon C100
- Canon C300
- Canon C500*
- GoPro Hero3/Hero3+ Black
- GoPro Hero3/Hero3+ Silver
- RED Epic
- RED One
- RED Scarlet
- Sony F5*
- Sony F55*
- Sony F65
- Sony FS700
* Updated to comply with firmware that is yet to be released (scheduled for December 2013)
This may seem like a minor update, but many of the pocket guides listed now have more info and more accurate info than ever before. In the chaos of a film set, that can’t be understated.
(Also, please note the GoPro Hero3 pocket guides now include the new Hero3+ models.)
Still, I know new cameras and new pocket guides is what gets you excited and they’ll be coming soon.
You’ll just have to wait a little bit longer because the most important upgrade today isn’t actually for the pocket guides, but for the way they’re distributed…
A New, Better Way to Get the Pocket Guides
Today I’m proud to be launching a brand new page for the digital cinema pocket guides.
It’s a significant improvement over the old pocket guides page and it brings that section of the website right in line with the new Black and Blue design ethos.
It also brings with it several new features including the ability to preview, purchase, and download individual pocket guides as well as stronger security measures throughout the whole process. I’d like to highlight some of those now:
Preview the Pocket Guides Before Downloading
The most oft-requested feature, you can now preview each digital cinema pocket guide before deciding to purchase and download it. By clicking on any of the pocket guides on the page, you get a limited preview of the mobile version as well as a screenshot preview of the full size pocket guide.
Like what you see? Add it to your cart and take a look at the next one.
Get Only What You Need with Individual Purchases
In close second for most requested feature is the ability to purchase the pocket guides individually. Many readers found it impractical to download the entire library when they really only needed a handful of the guides. Now you can choose only those cameras you want and download them separately.
Choose to Pay with PayPal or a Credit Card
When I released the Digital Cinema Pocket Guides, I experimented with many shopping cart platforms. Some only accepted PayPal, while others only accepted credit cards and yet others took credit cards, but only through PayPal. It was a convoluted mess I’m happy to have cleaned up.
At checkout, choose to pay via PayPal or credit card using the same seamless shopping cart.
Strong SSL Security Throughout the Entire Process
The pocket guides page and the checkout pages are now secured all-the-way through using HTTPS/SSL encryption.
And not just any SSL encryption, but the strongest, industry-standard Extended Validation SSL certificate available. It protects all data with 2048-bit encryption and includes a $1,000,000 warranty that covers any losses you might incur. This is layered on top of the secure measures the payment platforms – PayPal and Stripe (the credit card processor) – use to encrypt their data.
What does this mean?
From the moment you visit the pocket guides page to the moment you receive the email with your download links, your data and information is secured, encrypted, and protected.
All you have to do is look for the little green padlock in your browser’s URL bar to know it’s working.
Other Notable Improvements
Download Files Individually: All pocket guides are now distributed as individual PDF files instead of one giant ZIP file. The ZIP is still available, but being able to download each PDF as needed is helpful for users on phones and tablets who may be accessing the files from spotty data connections.
Generate Invoices: When you receive the download links for your pocket guides, you’ll be presented with the opportunity to generate a PDF invoice for tax purposes or for filing in expense reports.
Dedicated Changelog: The pocket guides changelog is now online so you can keep track of changes and releases from wherever you are. Read through the complete changelog here.
A Word on Pricing…
When I first launched the original pocket guides years ago, I gave them away as a gift to the filmmaking community. As the library grew from three guides to thirty, I transitioned the pocket guides into a pay-what-you-want model. As of today, I’m shifting yet again to a more traditional pricing model.
So here’s the deal…
All of the pocket guides cost 99 cents each. For the complete library bundle, it’s only $14.85 – or about 49 cents per pocket guide.
That’s it – simple and easy.
So why am I changing the pricing? Well, offering the pocket guides as individual downloads is a significant investment of time, money, and resources. I’ve also been tepid to add more cameras to the library because of the amount of work it can be to maintain them.
The new pricing will help offset all of that while still keeping the pocket guides affordable.
For those who already got the pocket guides, you’re grandfathered in with updates. So if you managed to snag them for free, you got a great deal! If you were one of many to pay for them, I cannot thank you enough for supporting The Black and Blue. Hopefully you feel it was a great deal, too.
Download Your Pocket Guides Today
If you’ve downloaded the pocket guides in the past, getting today’s update is as simple as checking your email inbox. But if you’ve yet to get them, starting with the most up-to-date pocket guides is a great way to make sure you’re ready for a solid slate of work in the new year.
So, grab the cameras you need for only $0.99 each or upgrade to the complete library bundle for $14.85 and get them all at the link below: