Advice on Accessories

[Guest]

Alright, soooo.... I have a list of things that I need/want for my filmmaking "kit." Now, the problem is, I have limited funds and must take these one at a time.

1. Mattebox --
I've narrowed this one down to the Matteblox by Cinetactics, thanks to a few good reviews on here. Reason being, it's cheap but will still suit my purpose.
Price: $145 + $25 for filter holders + $35 for oversize french flag = around $205.
Add in some Cokin P resin filters = $50 for a couple choice filters.

2. Boom microphone (for dialog)--
I've managed to narrow this one down to two mics. The Audio Technica AT835b and the Azden SGM-2X. I can get either of these for around $200, and have read pretty favorable reviews of each one.

3. Steadicam-type Stabilizer--
Between the Glidecam2000 and Steaditracker Xtreme, it's a toss up. Both are around $300. The Steaditracker junior ($199) supports up to 5lbs, but the DVX100, battery, tape, etc pushes around 4.3, so I'd be limited to adding any kind of wireless mic setup or heavier matte box...
I have read tons of mixed reviews on every single low-end steadicam device, and it seems like the kind of thing that you CAN use to get steady shots, but not for 8 hours straight, and not AS nice as the professional steadicam rigs.


Now, for each of these things... there is a cheaper "alternative." So, it's possible to buy one at a time, and use makeshift substitutes while working for the next item. The problem is, I'm not sure which would be the most practical to buy first... my guess would be either the matteblox or the microphone, but I've used $30 mics that didn't sound too bad if boomed just off camera in a medium shot.

So any comments/thoughts/suggestions from people who have been through this... or that own/use some of this equipment, which ones do you use most? etc.

-moore

[Barry_Green]

On Cokin filters... The jury is definitely out on Cokins. Some reviews say that they are simply not comparable to glass filters. When you're looking to save money, you don't necessarily want to go saving money on anything that goes in front of the lens. Then again, glass 4x4 filters can be $200 each, so just make sure you test & compare and are happy with the image the Cokin gives you.

[Guest]

Barry,
Thanks for the info. I have done a fair amount of research on filters, and am aware of the problems with resin filters, but have heard some good things about cokin's (as far as lower-end filters go). I would definitely test, test, and re-test them before I started using them on big projects.
And if they're no good, I'll have to end up slowly collecting some nice tiffen glass filters.

-moore

[Guest]

bump


anyone?

[Zoomforce]

I would go mic first... sound is 1/2 the picture

then get the mattebox.. although the DVX mattebox is kinda useless, you can move the camera or hollywood the flags to accomidate it till you can get the mattebox.

Then get the Glidecam... I got the glidecam 2000 the week after I got my DVX because I thought I had to have it. I use it very very little.


As for filters, I wouldnt even mess with rossin... but speaking of filters, what filters did you have in mind?

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply...

That's actually the order I had in mind. The lack of mattebox can be "temporarily" solved by using cardboard or whatever... but you can't really fake having a good microphone.

For filters, I had a couple of different ones in mind... I was hoping to get something like the Film look kit at ZGC (Black Diffusion FX 1/2, Black ProMist 1/2, Warm Black Diffusion FX 1/4, Soft FX 1 -- $194 for 72mm), but since I've never really used filters, I'm not sure if those would be worth it, or if they're just one of those things that people buy to make their XL1 look more "film-like" hah.

I'm actually really interested in what filters other people use...

-moore

[Zoomforce]

That is a nice filter kit.. but was intended for the XL1 and other cameras that dont have cine-gamma or progressive modes.. nor 24p.

I have personally found the few filters I would use would be ultra cons and maybe a gold fx.
Black promists to me lower the impact of the natural lens of the camera.

In steelart however we used up to 6 filters at a time for a certain effect, and on sleepover we did use a 1/8 promist by direction of the DP. I guess it all matters what you are going for.

[Barry_Green]

The most useful filters are the circular polarizer and the graduated neutral density filters. Circular polarizers are great at controlling reflections. They can also darken blue skies but it's easy to get in trouble with them, too.

Graduated neutral density filters can make a dramatic improvement in your landscape/horizon shots. They're really only useful in a mattebox situation, where you have a 4x5.65 grad and you can slide it up or down in a 4x4 filter holder to position the gradation where you need it.

If you're shooting portraiture, a gold diffusion filter can be wonderful, especially for older folks.

If you want to see some pictures of what filters can do for you, check out these links:

http://www.posteffects.com/usersguide/tiffen/tiffen0.htm

http://www.camerafilters.co.uk/sosclients/slf/catalog.nsf/prgFramePages/Products_Frameset.sosfr

[Devin]

Zoomforce suggested the Gold fx to me a couple months ago and it looks fantastic, I use it more than I probally should. I am going to order an ultra-con now looking at that sample thanks Barry.