Mark Fixes Stuff behind the scenes channel update thumbnail showing the filming setup

People often ask what I film my videos on, and the answer surprises them: not a DSLR, but iPhones. In this short behind-the-scenes update from March 2020 I show the filming setup on my bench, mid-way through recording an Atari Lynx screen replacement, plus a bit of a chat and a community question.

What do I film on?

At the time, the bench setup was an iPhone 7 Plus and an iPhone SE, both shooting 4K at 30 frames per second, using an app called Filmic Pro. An iPhone sensor is good quality, and because it is physically small the minimum focus distance is short, so I can get right in close on electronics. DSLRs are big and clunky by comparison, and their minimum focus distance is much further away.

Mark Fixes Stuff iPhone filming setup above the repair bench in 2020
The 2020 bench setup: two iPhones shooting 4K

Behind the scenes on the Lynx screen replacement

On the bench was the BennVenn screen replacement for the Atari Lynx, with the guide alongside and the usual mess of tools. Something I do not mention in the main video: my Lynx adapter does not actually work, so I powered the Lynx from my bench supply at 12 volts, as the original Lynx supply is unregulated and actually puts out about 12V. You can drop it to 9V without any significant effect beyond less heat, but this Lynx has a dodgy screen and I wanted that extra heat from the voltage regulation circuit to coax the old screen into a working state for a proper before and after.

Atari Lynx with BennVenn replacement screen kit and guide on the Mark Fixes Stuff bench
The Lynx screen replacement in progress
Atari Lynx powered from a bench power supply at 12 volts
Running the Lynx from the bench supply at 12V

Channel news

With my regular work gone, I was very grateful to everyone who had started supporting me on Patreon: it will not pay the mortgage, but more support really does mean more videos. I had also been updating this website with links to the latest videos, and asked for ideas on how to make better use of it. Next up after the Lynx video was the Spectrum super build.

Community question

What is your earliest gaming memory? It can be anything at all. Let me know in the comments on the video.

Related

The finished Lynx videos: BennVenn Atari Lynx II LCD screen installation guide and the no-solder drop-in Lynx LCD. For the rest of the bench, see my top 13 tools.


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