Monitors, Tripods, Lenses, Matte Boxes, Babies, How Much?!! AHHHH!

Richard J. Johnson

Richard J. Johnson

Joystick Member
I am expecting my LEX next week some time ($1300.00) Just got the IndieRAILSpro ($200.00) some other thing from Letus Direct ($50.00)
4 Nikon Lenses, 28mm, 50mm 1.4, 85mm, 100mm ($600.00 keh.com)
I am a working man with 2 kids and a stay-at-home wife, 2 car payments and a mortage and I need a new Tri-pod and external monitor. now here is my question, I don't have the bugdet to get a top notch tri-pod, I could spend $300 tops. any good suggestions. and The big question is, can I skip buying a marshall monitor and get the $500.00 varizoom 16.9 lCD and see the rest of the image that the on-camera-monitor cuts off. and do I really need a matte box? Or should I just leave my family and get all the best stuff? kidding of couse. So sorry for the long post. Getting frustrated with this stuff and becoming broke in the process.
:furious3::crybaby:
 
Sell your kids and spring for the gears man!

Joking aside. I wouldn't spend $300 on a tripod and expect it to hold your setup. Camera, LEX, rails and lens has to approach 15lbs and beyond, not counting a monitor if you decide to get one. I don't believe the IndiRail allows you to move and adjust for center of gravity, so expect a very front heavy rig. A tripod head without a counterbalance spring would just crash and burn as soon as you're not paying attention. I would take the money that you were going to spend on that monitor and put it toward the tripod instead. If you have the 100b, it's already underscan. That $500 Varizoom is low resolution anyway, useless for focus. Not sure what you can do as far as focusing with the DVX though, but definitely make the tripod your main priority.

As far as a mattebox, it should be very low on your list of essential gear. It's nice to have, but definitely not as important as a tripod or even a follow focus or monitor.
 
Huy Vu said:
Sell your kids and spring for the gears man!

That $500 Varizoom is low resolution anyway, useless for focus. Not sure what you can do as far as focusing with the DVX though, but definitely make the tripod your main priority.

Kids, Camera, Kids, Camera,....the choices.

Thanks for the Info. I will put the money towards the Tripod and skip the monitor. If that Monitor is useless for focus what kind should I get? I have a feeling your going tell me "an expensive one" but I can dream and try to buy it in a few months. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
 
The Ikan V8000HD monitor is pretty good for the price. At $750 it's one of the few (relatively) affordable options out there.
 
I'm curious. just what would a good tripod cost for a DVX100b? And what model would you suggest. What would the problem be with a $300.00 tripod?

Thanks
 
Deacon: Well, there's tons of posts pertaining to why not to use a $300 tripod vs a $1000 one. In the OP's case, he's going to have a 35mm adapter on there, so his rig is going to increase in weight considerably. Tripods (heads and sticks) have a certain weight limit they can carry.

Also, there's different levels of smoothness in terms of panning and general motion on different priced tripods.

I'd recommend at least a Manfrotto 501 HDV head and sticks are really up to you. Typically comes in a kit though. I use it and have had no problems with it, but some like it and some don't. It's around the affordable range for you, providing you don't have a lot of accessories on your camera.

filthrich: I agree with Huy Vu - spending money on the tripod is probably the best idea at this point. I know focusing can be a problem, but you may just have to stick with the LCD and attempt it for a little while. I've heard good and bad things about the Ikan, but haven't personally used it so I can't offer much of an opinion on that.

Good luck,

Kegan
 
The DVX has no component out, so S-video is the best that you're gonna be able to get. There's really no point in buying an HD monitor.

At a minimum, I would recommend the 503HDV or the older 503 head if you can find one. There's plenty of differences between a good tripod head and a cheap one, one of the most important being the counter balance spring in the front of the head. That's what going to keep your whole rig from falling over (up to a point). Then there's fluid head vs. friction plates, adjustable fluid drags, weight capacity etc.
 
Thank you. You saved me time and most importantly money. I will be purchasing one of the 503 heads. One last monitor question. could I just use a small consumer CRT, old school TV to enlarge the image and pull a decent focus off of it? I hate to cut corners but I have no choice until gas goes back to $1.00 per gallon. (I can dream)
 
Kegan: Thanks for the comments. Protecting the camera and getting a fluid smoothness are of course essential.
 
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