Need Advice for Travel with HVX

L

LearningVideo

Well-known member
I would really appreciate the help. I am going to Europe and I was thinking about the following. I will be attending a conference in Italy and then traveling to different cities to take footage.... lot of footage. During the conference, the footage will be taken inside with probably bad lighting but with lot of windows. External footage will be taken outside so no need for light.


1) I cannot take my Lights with me. So what shall I do? Shall I buy on Camera light to help? What's the recommendation.

2) I really cannot take with me the Tripod. There is no way I can take that. I am really really tempted, while recording the speakers, to simply put the Camera on an elevated table and leave it pointing to the speaker to one direction.

3) While taking footage outside... I do not know what to do. Just probably shoot the scenes. Should I consider a shoulder mount or something?

4) Unfortunately, the conference will be all recorded with DV tapes... YES I know I know... I am not using the camera with its potential. But what shall I do with the footage from outside? wouldn't be nice to take the footage of the landscapes, needed for music videos and a documentary, in HD? Maybe I should just get two 4GIG P2 cards and P2 store?

5) I will be taking the 1510 Pelican case for airport travel... that's nice. However, this case is ultra heavy for travel within each city. It will be nice to have a SOFT, light and cushioned case...

6) Any electricity concern and adapters and stuff do I need to worry about that?


I am still learning about video and your help will be greatly appreciated.
 
As far as lights are concerned... check to see if there are any rental houses in the city where your meeting is taking palce... or nearby. Rent some lights while you are there. You'll be a lot happier.

Why can't you take your tripod? Next to the camera it's the most important tool you can use. Find a way to take it with you. Put it in a flight case and check it as baggage.

If you are shooting outdoors... get a polarizing filter. They work best if you keep the sun at a position at 90 degrees from the direction you are shooting.

If you want a soft case there are plenty on the market from Petrol, Kata and Porta Brace among others.

Yes, you will need transformers in order to power your battery chargers.
 
Tripod - don't leave home without it. There are many tripods under $50 that will be more than adequate. I own a $3000 Sachtler but when I travel abroad on shoots with my HD 100 or VX 2000 I take my $ 40 Velbon tripod. Very easy and quick to set up and offer more than enough support for either camera. So long interviews, speeches, closeups, zooms, pans are all a piece a cake. And they are small enough to throw in a carry on bag. Take atleast one AC light. Many lights made for the US will work in europe if you replace the bulb with a 220 volt bulb and attach a outlet adapter. Or you can buy a step down transformer which may or may not work with your light - I've had many blow up the minute the light was switched on. A small on camera DC light also is essential. Also remember to take atleast one hand held / shotgun / lav pro mic. You'll never know when you might need one. Your HVX battery charger, as well as almost all other chargers and adapters on the market work on all voltages. Check the adapter to see if operating or input voltage is listed as 100 volts to 240 volts in which case all you need are the cheap outlet adapter plugs sold by Radio Shack. Hope this was helpful.
 
Thanks for the great advice... so in other words, let me summarize what I need to get:

1) polarizing filter

2) Cheap Tripod: I have $100 sony tripod. I am going to see if it can carry the HVX.

3) Case or/and bag: I already have Pelican 1510... but in traveling within the city, it will be nice to have a soft case to carry this.

4) Audio: I have shure lav pro mic... I need to check the adapter for electricity.

5) I need to check the adapter of NTSC HVX if it is compatible.

6) On Camera DC light for HVX... Any recommendations?

7) may need to rent some lights as well.

8) recording media:

a) DV tapes only for everything

b) Laptop + DVCRack beta with external USB 2.0 Harddrive to move data from laptop to harddrive (I have to see if the beta works well to do this... I wonder if I can buy a license now to use it professionally if it WORKS now).

c) two 4GIG-P2 cards with P2Store + laptop + external harddrive (can you move data from P2Store directly to an external harddrive without the need for laptop)?

d) all of the above

I need some preparation and equipment stuff.
 
Travel equipment

Travel equipment

Here is what I took with me on a 32 day trip through Africa, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Bulgaria -- and it worked great:

Petrol PBPC-1 (N) http://www.digibroadcast.com/products/13/PBPC-1_(N)_Caboose.htm

Little carry case that has pull-out handle, rollers and can hold your laptop.

3 batteries

Polarizing Filter and UV 82mm

Shure Lav mics - never used though

Varizoom -- was key

Manfrotto 055Mf3 Tripod -- very light magfiber and compact.

No problem with a universal adaptor such as the Tumi multiplug adaptor which worked in every country --never had to work about voltage issues.

Macbook - which I dumped to via camera and firewire cable. Although the PCMCIA reader would've been great. Backed up to Firelight drives.
 
I too was about to travel to the UK and was thinking of taking my HVX. Was wondering about custums.
ATA Carnet?
I have used them before, but with a much larger BetaCam Pkg.
 
I never got stopped by customs with the petrol bag - just kept everything low-pro - I put the tripod in one of those bags that you can get at kmart that holds those fold-up lawn chairs to make it more discreet. The only times I get stopped by customs are when I have large pelican cases or the hard cases for my 35mm and HD cams.
 
Can I ask, is this a payed job? or are you a delegate at the event?

Just wondering as your asking some very basic questions and if I were the end client would be rather uncomfortable with hiring you for the actual event itself. I do hope your not doing the job for next to nothing, just to get experience or the promise of more work. Doing so may well have created (A) a false economy where ever you are based (B) some other more experienced operator with proper rates has lost out on the opportunity of doing what sounds like a very good job and (C) if word gets out in your area then your reputations at stake.

Now, if you are just a delegate and have seen the opportunity to improve your filming skills then I apologise for the above and wish you a happy and successful trip.
 
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I've always like backpacks for travel. Most will fit in the overhead bin. They are easy to carry through airports and since i find that when i travel i end up walking a lot a backpack is the perfect fit. Of course I am also a little partial to what backpack I like. Cinebags cb-20 DV backpack. you can't really beat the price for what it offers. then again I may be a little biased, you should check it out for yourself. Ohh it will even carry the smaller tripods that were reccomended here.
 
I have been traveling for the past 5 months with my HVX and this is what I did.

I bought a compact Giottos tripod for less than $200, it actually fits in a big travel suitcase along with 2 or 3 Lowel Rifa lights that when collapsed also fit in the suitcase, even with the light stands. The lights range from a Rifa 44 to a Rifa 66. And I still have enough room for my clothes. As for the camera I always take it carryon in a portabrace case.

Joe
 
I've been in Chile making a documentary for 2+ weeks now and I've managed to be fine with only a backpack to carry everything in besides my Manfrotto tripod, for which I bought a cheap $15 case from Mike's Photo that houses it perfectly - just put it in my suitcase, paid the overweight fee, and took it. It's full size and definitely worth taking, though I didn't know if they'd consider it 'a blunt object' and not let me take it on the plane so I just packed it at the bottom of my suitcase and sent it as cargo with no issues.

Otherwise, been using a Swiss Army Maxxum backpack with extra padding I had (not ideal but fits laptop, cam, mike, portable hard drive, headphones, and all cords and chargers easily). An on-camera shotgun mike is a good idea, as well as small hard drives to back things up to. I brought a 4GB P2 card and combined with the 720/24pn native modes has served me well enough so that I shoot 10 minutes, offload 5, repeat, but I was doing documentary which doesnt always require continuous shooting.

I haven't used it yet, but if I had all the $$ you're talking about I would skip the P2 store and just take a firestore, so you can record the conference however you'd like. That solution may end up costing you a lot less, but not saying its fullproof just throwing out an idea. Good luck, and get an adaptor from anywhere but the airports if you want to buy one for less than $10!! (but get one or two!!)
 
Update

Update

Hello everybody:

This is an update. I would like to thank you all for your help and suggestions. I have ordered the following:

1) petrol back-pack: PCBP-1
2) B+W UV filter
3) HOYA 82mm CIRCULAR POLARIZER FILTER
4) BESCOR LED-10 10w LED LIGHT

I have done the following:

1) I checked the HVX charger and it is compatible with Europe.
2) But Shure receiver charger is not compatible with Europe electricity. I wonder if I can order special charger for it.
3) I have not tested the sony tripod but I will be doing so. The Sony Tripod I have is VCT-D680RM (its load capacity is 6.6 lbs). I wonder if it can hold the HVX200. The BHP salesperson suggested the VCT-870RM (its load capacity is 8.8 lbs)
4) I am working with possibly renting some lights in Europe. I wonder which lights should I rent?

concerning the format. I have narrowed them down into 3 possibilities:

1) I can simply use DV tapes

2) I can use 4GIG P2 Card + P2 Store (P2 Store is important for outside shooting)...

a) I am assuming that P2 Store is battery based
b) That its charger is compatible with Europe
c) It will be very nice to transfer P2 store content into external harddrive without the use of a PC. Or even better.. if there is a device that allows you to connect a P2 to an external harddrive without the use of AC power or PC.
d) I still need to use DV tapes for lectures.

3) I can use 2 4GIG P2 cards with P2 store. No need then for DV Tapes.

I wonder if I can bring with me a power strip from the USA so that I can connect multiple devices to the power strip, and only worry about one convertor (not power convertor but more of electric plug convertor)... would power strips from the USA be compatible with 220V?

Thanks.

P.S. steadicamsteel, this is not a paid job
 
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Another Update:

I have tested the small sony tripod on the HVX200 and it worked beautifully. Of course, it is not as professional as the Bogen 516 which is true fluid head. But it does the job and it is only 6 lbs in weight.

I am waiting for the backpack to come so I can try out to carry everything. I hope it won't be heavy.
 
David,

it is the VCT-D680RM. I know some will laugh at it. But I really need low weight because I will be travelling with planes, trains and airports.
 
Here the best bag for travel:
http://www.kata-bags.com/Item.asp?pid=287&cid=65&perentId=1&ProdLine=1
Enough room for the camera, accesories, laptop, ipod and passport. Get the optional Kata trolley, fit the bag perfectly. Then I have a smaller bag about the size of the camera for when you visit the city... As far as tripod, I will quote an ABC photojournalist friend of mine who has to carry a very heavy digibeta camera around the world as his job... "THE WORLD IS A TRIPOD". If you look around there is always a wall, and edge, a branch, a cafe table etc.... you can lean on and get your shot.
 
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