The DSLR Cinematography Thread
 

Since no ones really made one before I thought I'd be the first to set one up.

I started out with my trusty old XSi back in 2008 and used it for 2 years before I upgraded to my 7D last June. Was pretty stoked watching Vimeo reviews and what it could do but when I got it I felt so beginner with my shaky videos which took an eternity to edit. I pretty much gave up on shooting video cause my workflow was all over the place.

Now I've decided to go all out and strictly shoot video for the summer, I bought a Rode Videomic (on it's way) and I'm using a Flycam Nano (Glidecam knock off) with:

Tokina 11-16 2.8
Canon 17-55 2.8
Canon 35 1.4L

The Flycam is unREAL for being like $115. It adds a lot of production value and its super smooth. I posted it on the forums before and thought I'd show you guys how it is. (Video at end of thread)

http://cheesycam.com/images/flycam-nano.jpg

I plan on getting an Indislider mini or Konovo roller bearing slider soon for RS meets.

Next on the list too is the Cowboy Studios $30 shoulder mount and maybe the Rig X by Express 35. $300 for a legit no handed shoulder mount and rail/grip combo is a pretty good price.

Vimeo review:


What's everyone shooting with nowadays? Anyone have any hints or tips with regards to equipment? I'm trying to keep the cost down with the indie equipment as you can tell with all the knock offs. I saw Senna's post and his set up is pretty amazing.

www.cheesycam.com is a great resource that I follow religously.

Video I shot the Dubberz Spring UnSprung meet with 2 weeks ago. The wind made some of the shoots slightly slanted but you get the idea. It's impossible to shoot that by hand.


Let's try and make this the equipment and chat thread for new and upcoming DSLR Indie shooters.

there was a review done on flycam and it was a bit hard to keep balanced. The merlin was much better/easier setup, but more expensive. I bought the u3x, it's ok but the bending thing is anoying and can shift the balance if you bend it by accident. I also made a slider from a tile cutter haha

u3x:
http://i.ebayimg.com/24/!CBwwDhgCGk~..._id=8800005007

That U3X looks pretty promising. Wish I saw that when I was on the stabilizer hunt. I like how the gimbal is underneath so you don't get as tired. I can balance my Flycam pretty fast. I thought about sticking earth magnets underneath so I can shift the weights fast to fine tune it. Now I just need some quick release plates. Thinking of getting a couple of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...tem_Quick.html

You ain't seen nuthin' yet! :)
Coming soon:
http://www.marshallmonitors.com/prod...DMI/index.html
http://www.cinevate.com/catalog/prod...6fdda974aa99d7
http://www.cinevate.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=221

What we've seen with knock-off's is that even though they look like they might do the job, they're often more difficult to use, as the balance is off, or the knobs don't tighten very tight, etc... I guess for the consumer, they're fine, but I've seen a lot of pros who bought the knock-offs only to come in and ask about/buy the brand name product, as (for example) the balance of a Glidecam knock-off was totally off centre.

I just bought one of these on eBay. Looks really beefy for the price. Uses standard rod sizes so I can use a plethora of accessories out there.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKjk...SnjMdQ~~_3.JPG

What brand is that? Looks like a Zacuto knock-off.

New toys: Cinevate Deluxe DSLR Rig, Cinevate Cyclops DSLR Viewfinder, RODE Stereo VideoMic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/DSC07983.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/DSC07987.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/DSC07988.jpg

i'm using a 4" car reverse LCD monitor that cost me $19 as my monitor lol. I could of gone with a 7" for $25 but i didnt want it too big. No point in getting a $700 HD monitor as the 5dmk2 doesnt even output HD when recording.


jason: cinevate isn't really low cost. It's great if you're shooting for a business, but if its just for a hobby, it's doesn't really make sense to spend that much money on rigs and sliders.

^^ Really? where did you get it, and what's the resolution?

What I bought was called a Gini Rig. I spent $300 CAD shipped to my door from Korea haha. Counter balance, monitor arm, shoulder pad, long enough rods to mount a 70-200 and a lens brace in case I do run a telephoto. The guy makes a bunch of different ones. Even copying the Target Shooter type Zacuto. Smoking price.


http://shop.ebay.ca/gini-2011/m.html...id=p4340.l2562

More pics (this isnt the exact model I bought but just showing the quality.)


http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4...ropdegrond.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/678...igschouder.jpg

I never said Cinevate was low cost - they're high end for sure. Using low quality gear is fine if you're an amateur for sure, as it probably won't wear out as fast as in a professional setting but the one thing I won't compromise on is the follow focus. The cheap brands have too much play in the gearing.

i did a test shot with the U3X when i got it. I'm still not used to it and can't control the up/down sway too well.



and here is my diy tile cutter slider



both shot with 5dmk2, 24-85mm in the steadicam test and 50mm 1.4 in the slider. L glass was too heavy for the steadicam.

resolution is 1440x272. With the 5dmk2's output with this, it's not sharp enough to pull focus accurately, but it's enough to frame the image with low shots. The 7 inch might be way better for pull focus. But then again for $20 i'm not complaining.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-4-3-TFT-LCD-...#ht_3436wt_905

Use these battery packs to power it:
http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_kw=DC...d=220711103128

and this to attach it to places:
http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_kw=36...d=320656633328

Got my rig from Korea in less then 3 days with no taxes or duty. Phew.

Build quality is amazing for being $300. I first had the Rode on the hotshoe but then put it on the monitor arm for shits n giggles. Looks pretty sweet nonetheless. The shoulder mount isnt the greatest considering it's pretty hard. So I'm going to take that $30 Cowboy Studios shoulder mount and try to mount it to this to try to make it almost completely balanced on my shoulder.

Pics:

Rode mounted to hotshoe

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...518_005518.jpg

Rode mounted to monitor arm

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...C/IMG_2584.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...518_022604.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...518_022630.jpg

Next you'll need a rear LCD viewfinder.

It's on it's way :). I bought this LCDVF knock off for $40 lol.

Oh by the way I emailed Bluestar yesterday and a CSR got back to me in an hour. She said Hollynorth and Panavision Vancouver in Burnaby should carry them. I'm going to drive by on my way home to see if I can pick one up.

Oh, yeah...forgot about those guys. Lorne Lapham may have something like that too.

Found this on RFD's.
7 inch portable battery powered TV. Might be good as a monitor.


http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...-090-_-Product

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/merge...ng-ne-1002610/

^^^ No HDMI input or standard 1/4 inch thread.

Couple friends and I made this a few months ago with a T3i I bought a day before. All we had was a tripod and a camera car and we were only able to film for about 40 minutes before it started to rain hard. Let me know what you guys think! (Comp can't handle full 1080p so I had to settle and edit in 720:()

^^ Pretty sweet.

Was at CBC tonight, noticed this sweet rig. Yes, he was with CBC

http://members.shaw.ca/volvoman/inde...s/DSC_0434.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/volvoman/inde...s/DSC_0435.jpg

Anyone know of a good budget slider? Looked at indiesystems but really like the idea of roller bearings over friction. Might want to rent one this weekend for a day.
Posted via RS Mobile

Jordan, you should come out to one of our car shoots and film us =D

not sure if you guys saw this but decent price

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/multi-f...-cameras-65789

but then I looked into this

http://cheesycam.com/diy-dslr-rig-four-thirds-rig/