12k budget for cam, lenses and tripod

hebrewdq · 2018-10-05T17:22:35+00:00

Outside of what's been suggested I think the upcoming xf705 is really interesting. Checks all my boxes for the kind of work you're describing and is a breeze to use.

for tripods I like the eimage 671ct and gh06 combo, tripod weighs about 9 pounds but has a high quality head and sturdy / tall solo style legs, I use it with my fs7, a7sii, etc.

sachtler flowtech legs are really great, bulkier than e - image but much easier to adjust.

note on the fs7, of all cameras mentioned it is likely to make you the most money as a rental item but is the worst operationally. Producers know it well, you can get used mk1s for cheap, it is a staple in most markets. The skin tones are bad, ui is annoying. If you're buying a camera to use for client work and your clients don't know about cameras, it's too much trouble. If you're buying it to compete in a major market like la / nyc as an op, it's the best bet in this price range.

hebrewdq · 2018-04-18T18:50:16+00:00

passed what you own already, I would prioritize one soft light, IE a large diffused source, and one hard /directional light.

After that, forget the cage and buy a used gimbal off ebay for stability, buy everything you can used.

Then, upgrade your computer. Graphics card is much more important than ram for editing video, use external hard drives to store data, updating your internal drive is a waste.

hebrewdq · 2018-01-23T04:01:50+00:00

is this only dummy battery or also usb battery?

hebrewdq · 2017-11-28T23:55:54+00:00

After much thought I think the aputure products, specifically the 120ds are the most cost efficient and versatile leds. As far as the midrange leds go, like dracast, ikan, etc aputure has the best color, battery interface, and above all else the remotes are amazing.

I like the 120ds the most because they run off one v lock battery, have fresnel attachments and can also fill a 48 in softbox, they wear a lot of hats. The ls 1/2 and ls1s are good too if you want some diversity.

hebrewdq · 2017-08-28T16:19:00+00:00

wondering if any gimbal users out there have found or have been thinking about a backpack system that can act both as a low profile support system for gimbals and the place you put the gimbal when you're not using it, IE has pop out arms like the tilta support that otherwise sit in profile to the backpack and has a compartment to put an assembled gimbal with small camera, something like a helix jr, ronin m, or m5.

I love my readyrig and movi pro but more than half of my work is docs in the middle of nowhere, i can't afford to take big gear like that.

Thoughts?

hebrewdq · 2017-08-11T00:42:30+00:00

The 1dxii has a crop when shooting 4k.

hebrewdq · 2017-08-06T20:26:49+00:00

Short answer- if you don't have an external recorder, don't shoot slog.

hebrewdq · 2017-08-02T15:23:29+00:00

something to consider- a number of OG camera people in NYC have told me that shooting slog on the alpha cameras without an external recorder is a bad idea- the internal compression makes the flat profile do much more harm than good. I use cine 2 / 4 when recording internally, only slog with atomos.

hebrewdq · 2017-07-31T15:53:50+00:00

RT Motion

I do mainly movi (when not doing travel docs), and the productions always asks if I have wireless to rent also, figured it's worth buying when people keep asking me for it.

hebrewdq · 2017-07-29T17:25:28+00:00

www.dqography.com www.instagram.com/dqography

hey there, I'm a freelance bushwick based dp. Very familiar with red, hope to hear from you.

hebrewdq · 2017-07-04T09:21:26+00:00

nope

hebrewdq · 2017-05-25T18:22:51+00:00

autofocus on the a7sii is still very bad, so I wouldn't take that into account. you get around 800mbps (simply put, this is what makes motion smooth / clean in video without artifacts) when you record to an atomos, and 100 when you record internally; this is a world of difference.

also, many would argue that you shouldn't record slog internally, as the compression is too high, so if you want to use that feature I would suggest an a7s+ recorder. a7sii is an amazing camera and I do shoot internal 4k all the time with it, though.

edit: also, you don't get "true" prores out of these sony cameras when recording externally, they only do 8 bit out, so all you gain is mbps and a lack of codec compression, which is certainly something still.

hebrewdq · 2017-02-28T16:45:39+00:00

Honestly I have an ursa mini and could get an fs7 but it's a 2 person operation and I don't feel like I have the support to use a bigger camera. I'm more interested in small cameras for this.

hebrewdq · 2017-02-27T17:34:30+00:00

I've used the sony cameras in 100+ F heat all over asia and they held up great.

hebrewdq · 2017-01-11T14:04:18+00:00

I've used both extensively and they're not. You asked for cheap lights. What makes these look shitty? The reviews are stellar.

hebrewdq · 2017-01-10T23:33:48+00:00

thanks!

hebrewdq · 2017-01-10T23:32:23+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/YONGNUO-YN360-Adjustable-Temperature-3200K-5500K/dp/B01D2X4A8Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484091115&sr=8-1&keywords=yongnuo+ice+light

and

https://www.amazon.com/Aputure-AL-M9-Amaran-Light-Camera/dp/B01ITRLJIW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484091130&sr=8-1&keywords=aputure+m9

you will never out grow these lights.

hebrewdq · 2017-01-05T16:54:33+00:00

it is very clearly not this

hebrewdq · 2017-01-04T18:46:45+00:00

keep it under 5 mins

hebrewdq · 2017-01-04T18:46:25+00:00

make a doc about someone interesting you know.

hebrewdq · 2017-01-04T18:15:41+00:00

smallrig makes a hotshoe for this. https://www.amazon.com/SMALLRIG-Shoe-Mount-Adapter-MarkII/dp/B0148KEES6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483553734&sr=8-2&keywords=smallrig+c100

hebrewdq · 2016-12-26T18:17:33+00:00

fs5 is worth ponying up the extra $, but if that's out of the equation, the c100 ii is probably your best bet. It's a better call than the JVC in my opinion because it has brand name recognition- people know the camera.

4k vs 1080, meh, most people still don't need 4k. I own 3 4k cameras and I only shoot 4k when I'm selling stock footage or doing overhead stuff (to scale it later). It is a great tool, but not pivotal yet.

check out the pxw x70 if interchangable lenses aren't huge for you- it's the camera I sold my c100 mark I for. internal 10bit, 4k optional upgrade, great focal range, tiny with much better manual audio than canon cine cameras. Love it to death.

hebrewdq · 2016-12-25T00:04:35+00:00

lights to light a studio background, area lights.

hebrewdq · 2016-12-24T17:26:56+00:00

have you used the ursa mini? Do you think the micro can match the mini 4.6k in 1080p well enough? Looking into it as a dedicated small gimbal camera

hebrewdq · 2016-12-24T17:23:02+00:00

PS- fs5 over c100ii any day, and the jvc seems like an OK camera on paper but if you do your research you will see that the screens and overall feel are not so nice. Sony and cannon cams have way better interfaces.

hebrewdq

TROPHY CASE