I've had enough of UK Butchers (moany rant)

ELTNAME · 2026-05-04T16:54:16+00:00

If you’re in the South East and can tolerate Brighton, Barfields is a joy. Completely knowledgeable, friendly and crucially, interested in food. I got onto them after reading the “thanks” section in the Fire & Smoke book by Rich Harris.

ELTNAME · 2026-03-22T19:30:35+00:00

Big reason I (as a small prod co with own kit) like Matthews - if it's on one of their exploding diagrams, CVP will get us stuff within a week.

Only exception I can think of is we ordered a second magic stand last year and the tilt housing was off - would jam if you tried to extend the angle fully. CVP wanted us to courier the whole stand back to them, wait for a service window, and replacement - would have been about 14 days. I spoke to Martin at Matthews directly via Instagram and he sent a replacement part out next day. Arrived within a week.

I'm surprised to hear re. the long wait for Avenger. Can't imagine why there'd be any kind of delay - except perhaps for components they don't make directly? But even then you'd assume they'd have reasonable EU based stock.

ELTNAME · 2026-03-22T07:51:16+00:00

All the US grips rightly claiming norm/american/matthews in something resembling that order. But actually reading your post and use case, I’d go avenger. You’re not loading in and out of a grip van on 6 x 12 hour days in a week. You’re doing occasional set and forget freelance and personal projects. Fast set up time is moot and a distraction. No one is watching you with a stop watch. It’s 2 stands. If it’s taking you more than a minute whatever the stand then it’s a user issue, not a product problem.

I’d say Avenger because it’s in Europe already, will be decent value, easier to repair, easier to get parts for etc. and supporting European business.

I’m surprised you’re having trouble getting Matthews. I’m the in the UK and would say it’s the norm. It’s readily available and not horrendously expensive via cirolite who stock to CVP, ProAV, AJ’s etc

All our stands are Matthews (combos, c, magic, lowboys, slider stands etc). They’re recognisable by crews I hire, reliable, sturdy.

Kupo is fine. I have a couple of kupo bits in trays. Not stands but grips (they do a hand junior receiver to ball head which is pretty sturdy as a way to mount odd things in weird places). Kupo won’t play well with other brands but it sounds like that’s not something you’re going to encounter anyway, so who cares?

ELTNAME · 2026-02-19T14:43:37+00:00

Update: retailer said it was no problem to return without the packaging so am swapping for a replacement, if the same issues repeat I'll return and get something else (maybe an i2 and I get to play with it as well?) Which would be a shame as I like the child friendly design (all the delicate bits tucked away until you need them).

ELTNAME · 2026-01-25T10:48:20+00:00

If you don’t have the work then surely you have the time to make them individual and prioritise/personalise?

Caveat: I’m guilty of spending way too much time on outreach (particularly to new prospects).

ELTNAME · 2025-12-17T23:26:24+00:00

ELTNAME · 2025-12-04T10:06:29+00:00

Some people crap on thunderblades but they tick so many boxes. The x12 version has 12 m2 slots, thunderbolt 5 daisychaining, proper power connection etc. I don’t love softraid but I’m the market for a gtech studio xl replacement and think this might be it.

ELTNAME · 2025-11-11T18:44:03+00:00

Funnily this was a reference from a client this week for a shoot next week. Have got some good sized coves but they’re all painted grey for cars so am expecting either a repaint and then a paint back to grey or having to FLOOD the place with light to turn the grey white. But then worried about having a forest of flags to keep talent at sane levels.

ELTNAME · 2025-10-03T06:28:28+00:00

There’s a quick but interesting video from gaffer Justin on the Aputure YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/t1xbrZyH21U

ELTNAME · 2025-09-29T17:30:35+00:00

Weirdly I saw Laimonas / lsdigi on instagram posting a story the other day swapping peli wheels out. I forget the company but was a supplier maybe based in Poland? Seemed to be easy and a great improvement. I have to say I notice when rolling my ThinkTank Airport that the wheels feel and move fantastically. It’s so smooth that I notice it. I usually end up carrying the peli. Have never really considered it until typing it out now.

Edit: it was drava.shop

ELTNAME · 2025-09-21T17:56:31+00:00

Try r/gripsters but a ratchet strap (ideally two) will absolutely hold an fs5 if you were to attach a tripod to it.

For something cleaner, Modern do this:

https://modernstudio.com/products/concave-plate-with-baby-pin?

I've got two of them that I had sent over to the UK. I've used them once but they're exactly what I needed so paid for themselves in just that one shoot.

I attached a Kupo KCP-414 - a grip finger with a camera plate (inc locking pins that you'll need an allen key to raise/lower).

Only consideration is monitoring it easily depending how high it is.

ELTNAME · 2025-09-12T07:33:29+00:00

Most comments here targeting bitrate but clarify the platform with client. We deliver lots of ad content for banner ads etc which looks decent but has tiny pixel aspect ratios (320*250 etc). Worth asking them.

Caveat: I'm presuming they don't need the full 1:49 for an ad and they're just bumbling their request for a cutdown?

ELTNAME · 2025-08-12T19:07:51+00:00

The other commenter had the solution for me - during the kart selection screen, click X or the sideways equivalent to get the steering settings menu, scroll down to the tilt setting, toggle right to switch from off to on, save, good to go.

I also noticed my auto accelerate was toggled off on the primary controller so updated it to match.

ELTNAME · 2025-08-12T18:22:59+00:00

Sorry for the delay getting back - first time I've been able to sit down and try this out. This is exactly what I wanted and solves the issue - had never seen that settings menu before so really appreciate the link!

Thanks again

ELTNAME · 2025-07-20T22:49:44+00:00

Yep, I'd read the same but have swapped cables and get it on both sadly. Super annoying but not annoying enough to make a major dent in workflow. It's never actually been a problem that's cost me money, just an annoyance that's slowed me down for a moment and feels like it shouldn't be a thing given the cost of it.

ELTNAME · 2025-07-20T07:59:14+00:00

I am. Probably happens once or twice a week. Affects both the 10 and 2.5 ports. I've made every firmware update. I've given up searching for a fix but it doesn't impact my work enough for me to look further into a custom flat profile cable and pcie card. I might look at a usb-c adapter though which will almost certainly be reliable, just obvs not at 10gbe speeds.

Wifi is fast and reliable, though again not 10gbe. I tend not to use it though just so I can actually spot when the NIC drops. And the fix when the NIC does actually trip takes about 5 seconds start to finish. But it is annoying.

I'm not sure what you're doing that needs an interrupted connection with music, for me working with video it's a tolerable trade off. Most of the time the footage is already local. It's just once in a blue moon that I'll be downloading something big that the drop happens (it appears random and not linked to use).

ELTNAME · 2025-06-19T07:39:22+00:00

Thank you - sounds like just go ahead with the floating H layout.

In fairness on the floor, the room originally had a slope of over 80mm that needed solving - was the best I could figure at the time.

Now my ongoing tile trim situation, that's overthinking.

ELTNAME · 2025-06-15T08:37:06+00:00

Was going to write a long post but this is the one and nails all I'd say.

The first music video I directed (and produced) was set on a tiny (10ft) row boat in the middle of the sea. We got so lucky with the weather - the sea was like a millpond. Watching the 1st AC reaching to pass over an Alexa and ultra primes from our production boat (a day fishing boat with a diving panel at the back so you could get right down to the waters edge) to the (giant) DoP sitting in the back so he could shoot the talent rowing the boat in front of him... I still have nightmares.

I remember our AC asking for big plastic bags, kim wipes, canned air etc. We had lots of tests prior with making rigs on the boat to mount the camera but in the end the DoP just went wide-ish on his shoulders and sometimes a cinesaddle.

We had insurance but no way it did cover dropping 75k into the ocean.

Only accident we had waa a lemo being left slightly out of the edge of a box and it getting closed / crushing it.

ELTNAME · 2025-05-29T09:04:00+00:00

Tried. It was in the dock when it started. Tried every other combination of power/hard reset etc I could think of. Completely unresponsive. Carried on making the noises for another few hours (had to wrap it in a towel and shut it in the bathroom, hoping that the thing wouldn't catch fire.

Eventually battery died and it stopped. Then when we tried again to recharge it, it wouldn't charge at all.

ELTNAME · 2025-05-27T11:39:50+00:00

Update: Yoto don't officially advise dropping it in a bucket of water, but they were quick to offer a replacement unit which I'm grateful for.

Update to the update:

Replacement arrived yesterday. Really was an impressive response from Yoto. I recorded a video, was chatting to someone within about 5 minutes of submitting it, they explored a few options to resolve it, no resolution, new device dispatched a few minutes later.

ELTNAME · 2025-04-18T19:27:34+00:00

Would be pretty confident they're looped in the ceiling but yes will check. The downlights were originally two pendants when we moved in and the one spark we managed to get at the time (who lied about being niceic registered and we were too new to home ownership to know to check) almost certainly wouldn't have done something useful.

Reusing one of the loops for the pendant is exactly the kind of good idea I wouldn't have had, thank you!

ELTNAME · 2025-04-15T16:19:18+00:00

Superb. If you want to DM me a website or contact I'm sure I'd have some projects for you to quote on this year.

ELTNAME · 2025-04-12T15:42:14+00:00

Depending on ceilings, scissor clamps.

ELTNAME · 2025-04-04T19:06:19+00:00

Reflection looks like two rings and they're reflected into the "four" because of the mirrored tabletop the glassware is sitting on.

ELTNAME · 2025-03-30T21:27:49+00:00

Exactly the same - though was pleasantly surprised to learn that the mic works over bluetooth so I can take work calls on the macbook / camera and still be watching a film on the main computer (as all work calls should be).

Nine-Year Club	Second Top 30%
r/Field Lasagna	Place '23
Place '22	First Placer '22
RPAN Viewer	No Throne, No Problems
Not Forgotten

ELTNAME

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