5d2 or steadicam flyer ????

[morgan_moore]

This may sound like a strange question and may be in the wrong forum

---

The background

I have and EX1 and Letus and all the nikon lenses, also a d90 and a hend held Merlin Steadicam

I am trying to put together commercial (corporate) short films and clips initially for web/foyer display - Im not expecting broadcast commissions right now

Im not expecting to work with a big crew

Im not expercting my corporate talent to have the dicipline/time for a load of takes

My conclusion is that steadicamming is very cool to do and most important quick and therefore cheap

Another conclusion is that D90 footage is just way too soft to put out commercially

SO..

I could by a steadicam flyer for £5000 ish and fly my EX1/letus

OR

I could spend £3000 ish and get a merlin vest and a 5d2

Additionally I have a lovely 400 2.8 and a 600 f4 that wont mount on my EX1/Letus but will go on a 5d

A merlin and 5d could go in a backpack while shooting on sticks with my EX1, a Flyer could not

A 5d can go to the park handheld - an EX1/LX cannot


Im in the UK where 25p/50i seem to rule, the 5d is of course 30p

SO

If I go down the 5d will I end up with a load of nearly controllable fast devaluating junk (the 5 and small steadicam) that doesnt actually work or produce nice sound - or - will I be a modern fast and efficient operator embracing the technological advancements of exciting times able to bring exciting cinematic footage on a great budget to wonderbound clients ...

[Jeff Anderson]

Steadicamming is anything but quick. It takes a good deal of time to become good and much more to become great. Setting up and executing shots also take a good bit of time. Definitely not soemthing you just strap on and go do real quick. Using the letus on one is going to be a bit of a stretch as having a remote follow focus isnt in your budget.

I'd look at the threads regarding using the d90 on the merlin as well. Not alot of people happy with that combo from what I've read. The merlin is great, but any stabilizer is hard to use with that small of a camera and you are back to the same remote follow focus problem too.

If you really want to get into Steadicam go for it, its really a cool thing to be able to do. Just do your homework as its a huge undertaking if you want to have success with it. I'd also look into a Steadicam workshop if you intend to go down that path. You'll learn alot in a couple of days as well as learn what NOT to do which is even more important.

I really dont think the D90 is too soft for commercial use in corporate video especially for the web. Looks like good SD to me. Thats just my opinion though and can be argued all day long.

[morgan_moore]

Yeah - a proper rig is going to be a money pit unless I make 'operator' my profession and life

I live in a rural area and have clients in my stills business who will pay me for making moving shorts

I dont have a feature dream right now

I understand the small cameras are hard to fly but with pracitce may be able to pull some pretty impressive (to owners of hotels) shots off

When I say quick I mean that interesting sticks based sequences seems to be very stop start and particularly unitiative to corporate subjects with steadi you can do a kind of semi scripted actuallity if you dont expect the champion "Oner"

Even the course - which sounds essential just for health and safety - costs half of a 5d

-------

On the 90 I can only compare to my EX1 - I have never used SD

Testing today I was getting ok footage in flat daylight but indoors has been noisy (manual lenses wide open AE lock etc)

Maybe I should just live with my already overloaded toybox but I am tempted by the 5d whose footage seems a step up and whose size is great for being a B camera

----

I cant even find any technology for radio focus a nikkor

I could of course fly the EX1 bare on the Merlin - to get more DOF and simple AF (!) - without a vest it is a back cracker but a league more stable than a DSLR

I would pair this with the 5d on sticks but then the A footage (sticks) woudl be weak and the B footage have stupid DOF

And there is still the 400 2.8 which is a no go on a Letus

I should have just bought a nikkor/red kit it seems to be the answer if you want spend car rather than house money on kit...

Thanks for comments

S

[Emanuel]

Here's an useful input on subject:

http://cinema5d.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=402#p4222

Hope this helps.

[morgan_moore]

That is an interesting description from an EX1/5d owner

I have ordered a 5d

the ergonomics/weight of it verses a ex1/letus are just so far in favour of the 5d

The loss of sound will be a drawback - will test wich my proper mic attached - I see filming trad interviews on sticks, so the core soundtrack will be proper mic/ex1

I will try flying it 'naked' on the merlin but may need to get the vest if stability is increased by adding weight either by adding weights or maybe a sound recorder/mattbox

A merlin is not a pleasant thing even with a small camera after a while

But it is an exiting prospect - 5d, three primes , a mic and a merlin - all go in a matchbox

S