$10-$15k 7D Package: What to buy?

I'm being dense I suppose (but it does feel good). Nothing is genlocked...nothing is actually synced. There is no timecode being generated or stamped on the 7D. The audio recorder's timecode is not synced to the 7D video, is it? Why generate timecode on the audio recorder? I just don't see that as an advantage that justifies $1000 for a two track recorder over the H4n. Syncing in post will be the same with both audio recorders, won't it?
 
After some more research here is my updated gear list. The items that are tan italics are items I've deemed as optional. Still need to figure out my audio. See anything else I'm missing or should deem optional?


Camera
Canon EOS 7D Body ................ 1700.00

Lenses
100mm f/2.8 Macro USM EF ................ 700.00
10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 EF-S ..................... 800.00
17-55mm f/2.8 IS EFS ....................... 1000.00
70-200mm f/2.8 L IS EF..................... 1900.00
1.4X/2X AF Tele ................................. 250.00

Lighting
LitePanel MicroPro LED ................ 475.00

Stablization
Zacuto DSLR Rapid Fire ................ 551.00
Glidetrack HD Compact ................ 407.00

Support/Follow Focus
Zacuto DSLR Cine Kit ................ 1723.00


Viewing/Monitoring
Zacuto Z-Finder............................................. 395.00
AJA HA5 HDMI to SD/HD-SDI Converter............490.00


Memory Cards
Kingston Elite Pro 32GB Compact Flash ................ 76.25
Kingston Elite Pro 32GB Compact Flash ................ 76.25
Kingston Elite Pro 16GB Compact Flash ................ 42.49

Batteries
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack ................ 59.17
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack ................ 59.17
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack ................ 59.17


TOTAL ....................... 10,763.50
.......................................7850.50 (-italics)
 
I like most of this except... I would go RedRock over Zacuto for Stab. also I would never buy a kingston Card... Sandisk Extreme 60mb/s
 
If you're thinking long term, Cinevate stuff has a LOT of flexibility and are really well built. Because of the flexibility, it can be confusing looking and doesn't jump out as hyper-impressive at first but check out their video university, especially in regards to the Proteus rails system and Pegasus track system. You can see them holding an entire rails/cage rig by grabbing on to just the follow focus! Now THAT's well built.

Stillmotion guys use lots of Cinevate, if you're looking "pro endorsement"
 
I second Cinevate. I'll be going with them. I like the versatility and the fact that their DSLR is just an offset version of their normal rig. When I want to use it with a different camera, I'm not stuck with a rig made only for DSLRs.

Been using a Kingston 133x card - so far, no trouble.

Also, take a look at the Comer CM-LBPS1800 for on cam lighting. Seems like a really good choice.
 
Make sure to send a single dollar to the guy who filmed "Peyra town fair" :)

I'd suggest the Tokina 11-16 2.8
Grab a Canon 24-70 L IS f2.8
and a Canon 70-200 L IS f2.8

That way you have as few lenses as possible, and your entire focal range from 11-200 is at a constant f2.8

Grab an inexpensive 50 f1.8 or the equivalent 35 f1.2.. for those artistic portrait moments if you like as well...

NOTE:
Coming from a production company standpoint (one that uses the 5d almost every day), you want to have the smallest lens kit possible, with the highest flexibility in focal range. Time is always of the essence, and just having to grab fewer lenses makes an enormous difference in time saving. Plus the L series lenses are buff - dropped one the other day, smashed the UV filter out, and the lens was still mint underneath! Top quality!

Other than that, go Zacuto for your support and finder, it's the best stuff out there!!!
We also just got a Manhattan HD LCD plated for Sony Batteries - love it
 
chris f said:
After some more research here is my updated gear list. The items that are tan italics are items I've deemed as optional. Still need to figure out my audio. See anything else I'm missing or should deem optional?


Camera
Canon EOS 7D Body ................ 1700.00

Lenses
100mm f/2.8 Macro USM EF ................ 700.00
10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 EF-S ..................... 800.00
17-55mm f/2.8 IS EFS ....................... 1000.00
70-200mm f/2.8 L IS EF..................... 1900.00
1.4X/2X AF Tele ................................. 250.00

Lighting
LitePanel MicroPro LED ................ 475.00

Stablization
Zacuto DSLR Rapid Fire ................ 551.00
Glidetrack HD Compact ................ 407.00

Support/Follow Focus
Zacuto DSLR Cine Kit ................ 1723.00


Viewing/Monitoring
Zacuto Z-Finder............................................. 395.00
AJA HA5 HDMI to SD/HD-SDI Converter............490.00


Memory Cards
Kingston Elite Pro 32GB Compact Flash ................ 76.25
Kingston Elite Pro 32GB Compact Flash ................ 76.25
Kingston Elite Pro 16GB Compact Flash ................ 42.49

Batteries
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack ................ 59.17
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack ................ 59.17
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack ................ 59.17


TOTAL ....................... 10,763.50
.......................................7850.50 (-italics)
Click to expand...

Very good list. You definitely ned a 10 or 11 wide lens in your arsenal for doc. work. Between the Canon, the Sigma 10-24 3.5 and the Tokina, the only one I used was the Canon, and it was very sharp edge to edge. The constant F 2.8 of the Tokina is very tempting, though, but the range is smaller.

I would second the suggestion of purchasing a fast prime- either the 24 1.4 or 35 1.4. These are the lenses that can make the "money shot" that you're after. Also, if you do get in extreme low light situations, both these lenses would work well as a "standard" lens for doc work. Expensive, yes, but they don't lose much resell value. Don't forget that you're geting 1.6 crop on the lens with the 7D. a 50 1.4 is a good lens, but in practical terms in a 7D its more of a 80. (please, no more its still a 50 talk- ys its a 50, but the sensor crops the image by 1.6x)
 
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