Newbie looking for tripod, mic info

Alex DePew

Alex DePew

Señor Schmarty Pants
Hello all, my first post on this site. This site is full of really useful information. I have been looking through a bunch of the posts and gathering info. I am extremely green so please pardon my newbieness. I live in NYC and just got the DVX100b. I have a couple of short film scripts that I want to shoot. In order to make my life easier and to learn the fundamentals of image capturing I have written the script with minimal dialogue. With that in mind...

I don't have tons of money to use to buy the required extras to make an okay shoot an excellent shoot. I can spend around $800 - $1,000 for the absolute neccesities.

I know a tripod is extremely important and there are so many out there (most well above my threshold) that my head has been spinning. The bogen 501 head seems to be mentioned very often to mixed reviews (some love it, some think it isn't good). Not sure which legs to get, but the head seems to be the more important purchase.

I also know that the in camera mic is not to be used. Sound is SUPER important. Like most newbies I thought I would just get a shotgun mic to start with, but as I did my research I started to think that isn't necessarily the best option.

So with the $1,000 (slightly over is okay) budget in mind what would you get?
The tripod may be used on uneven surfaces so no floor spreader.
The mic (for these shoots) will be used indoors for voice over work and some interviewing. I also would like to be able to get some ambience of the subway (no dialogue).

Thanks to anyone willing to help me out. I am very excited to start shooting but want to calmly get what will help my shots come out more professional looking.
 
CineAlta made a good recommendation. I prefer floor spreaders myself, but those loegs look good. The 501 head is not great. I used it for two years and my life changed when I sold it and bought a 503 instead.

For a first mic, get a shotgun. The Audio Technica AT897 is pretty good, but I'm sure there will be other suggestions. And spend the extra cash (if any) on lights.
 
Not sure what you mean by "newer head", but if you ask, Is the 503 head worth spending 100 bucks more than for the 501 ? then the answer is yes, a hundred times yes. The 503 is a genuine fluid head, the 501 is a friction head.

Since you're in NY, gop to the store and try them out, they must have them on the floor somewhere.
 
Monglane said:
Not sure what you mean by "newer head", but if you ask, Is the 503 head worth spending 100 bucks more than for the 501 ? then the answer is yes, a hundred times yes. The 503 is a genuine fluid head, the 501 is a friction head.

Since you're in NY, gop to the store and try them out, they must have them on the floor somewhere.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response. That's where I'm off to now. I am definitely leaning towards the suggested tripod. As for the mic I will check that one out as well as some others. Gonna be like a kid in a really expensive candy store.

Also, need to get a case. Was checking out the ones from Petrol. Anyone praticularly happy with their case? Any ones I should avoid? Suggestions? Bueller?
 
at897 is a good mic, but I think the Rode NTG-2 is a bit better with the DVX and a tad cheaper. It runs a little hotter and seems to have a bit more reach. I've used both and prefer the Rode - GREAT value. If you can swing it the at4073a is probably the best bang for the buck in shotguns (over $500, though).
 
Also, my advice would be to indulge my budget more in sound than support. I'm sure others feel differently, but I think you can get a lot of mileage out of a $300-$400 rig. Spending the extra money on one or two mics (plus mount(s), boom, and wind protection) would go ALOT further in upping your production value than buying an $800 tripod and a $200 mic with minimal wind protection.

I would seriously consider a 501 head, some decent (but not great) legs, and spending everything else on one or two decent mics and their necessary accessories. You can always use a smaller tripod strictly for run and gun work later when you're ready to step up to a a beefy Sachtler rig. Just my .02
 
dustino said:
at897 is a good mic, but I think the Rode NTG-2 is a bit better with the DVX and a tad cheaper. It runs a little hotter and seems to have a bit more reach. I've used both and prefer the Rode - GREAT value. If you can swing it the at4073a is probably the best bang for the buck in shotguns (over $500, though).
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I just got back from B&H and that is exactly the mic I got. The Rode NTG-2 sounded a little warmer to my ears. I tested that one and a couple others including the at897 which also sounded quite good. I held off on the tripod because I wanted to see if there was a consensus that the legs and head combo mentioned above is good. I tried it out and it seemed quite good, but not at all light! I am leaning towards your idea and spending more on sound. I may still get the tripod mentioned above. I'm just mulling it over.

I also need to get a case. Debating between a soft padded one and a hard case. Kinda feel it is better to get the padded case because it is less conspicuous. Especially since I will be filming in NYC.

Thanks so much for the input. I welcome anyone's advice.
 
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A couple more suggestions:

1) My friend swears by this $350 tripod (even though he has access to O'Connor, Miller, Sachtler and Vinten at his production studio). He says it light, stable and great for run-and-gun filmmaking. Give it a try and see if it suits your needs (test diagonal pan, stability with long zoom, and leg stability under torsion).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=376904&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


2) A nice step up would be the Cartoni Focus F101 ($1200):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=366495&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


3) The Sennheiser ME66 mic, with K6 power supply, is a nice setup:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=373969&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
 
Good choice on the Rode! I'm sure you'll be happy with it and it is a GREAT value. I have a hard and soft case and definitely use the soft more often. My soft bag is a Delsey Pro Bag 2:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=280468&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

It's got a good amount of room, is very well built, and (best of all) it looks like a regular overnight luggage bag. Nothing about it screams "expensive camera in here!" even though it functions very well in protecting your expensive camera. I'm sure there are many others that serve the same purpose.

I just bought a used Tamrac bag a couple of weeks ago for $10 at a yardsale that perfectly fits my camera, mic with softie and a couple of extras. That's what I've been using for just kicking around the city (chicago). I used to do that with the above bag, but found it too big for just goofing off and running around. This Tamrac looks beat to hell but is still in good condition and it is more the size of a largish "manpurse" rather than an overnight bag. It's totally taken the hassle out of just going out for an improvised "shooting day". Might be worth putting an ad on craigslist asking for something similar.
 
adepew07 said:
I also need to get a case. Debating between a soft padded one and a hard case. Kinda feel it is better to get the padded case because it is less conspicuous. Especially since I will be filming in NYC.
Click to expand...

My .02 : get a soft padded, as nondescript as possible. You'll need to get a large one anyway to store the cam plus a minimum array of accessories. I have a black Lowepro model they called "Commercial", it's a photo case but you can rearrange (and take out, if necessary) all the Velcro padded separators. Works well.

Don't buy a Petrol case. They're very good but they scream "Expensive camera inside !" :rolleyes:
 
Well since it was bumped :D I will let you all know what I am trying to decide between. I have limited it to the three below. They all have Bogen 503 heads. I am leaning towards the 351MVB which Cinealta first recomended. The other two are lighter. As of now my thoughts for the legs are that they should have solid locking mechanisims and be easily transportable. I also really like the half ball system to level the head without futzing with the legs every time.

I wish I could afford the Cartoni Focus but I still have so much else and limited savings. I also feel I should put more of my funds towards other stuff.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...351MVB2346&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=387808

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...002&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=359710&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
I would say the Sennheiser is the best. However, the AT mic is also close in some respects and quite affordable. I haven't played with the other.
 
Mics

Mics

I would say the Sennheiser is the best. However, the AT mic is also close in some respects and quite affordable. I haven't played with the other.
 
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