In the fickle world of the tech enthusiast, where favourite gadgets come and go, the test of time is the only sure way for a device to prove its mettle. So we asked real gadget lovers to show us the products they can't live without.
Name
Liz Smith
Occupation
Cinematographer
Location
London, UK
WHY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY
P&S Technik Mini 35
Why did you buy it?
The Mini 35 is an adaptor that lets you put a 35mm-film lens on an HD video camera.
What does it do for you?
It turns amateur-looking shots into very cool and impressive ones.
I use a low-end high-definition video camera -- the JVC HD100. It costs about £5,000, which is low-end in terms of pro equipment. HDV doesn't have the same quality as 35mm film, but I can't afford to invest in a film camera. The Mini 35 lets me up the value of my HDV camera. It works like a shutter -- it spins around and gives you that film look.
Film has a higher quality and resolution than digital, also it's a chemical process so it has a different aesthetic. When you blow it up there is a huge amount of information available -- if you're shooting in areas of good and bad light, it will show detail that you just wouldn't get with digital.
Would you recommend it to others? Why?
Yes, definitely. Digital video is never going to look as good as 35mm film, but this gives you the film look for a fraction of the cost.
Name
Liz Smith
What I do
Cinematographer
Where I live
London, UK
Outside Interests
Going to the cinema, travelling, eating out
If you could design and create your ultimate product, what would it be?
A robot administrator that could deal with all those things that I find annoying, like phoning call centres and dealing with my bank
What tech insider secret do you find most useful?
Don't let the tech take over. No matter how many gadgets you have, if the creative vision is not there or if it gets lost under a sea of technology, your film will inevitably fail
Do you have three you can't live without? Click here
