Avoiding the "camcorder" look on the prosumer camcorders.

C

Ceric

New member
It is always hard to be taken 'seriously' when you go out and record something in the public, with a good camera that looks like a regular Joe-The-Tourist camcorder. People have this expectation that you either need to have a camera that is bigger than your palm or be a DSLR with a big fat lens before you are taken seriously out in public.


What would be the biggest add-ons to a prosumer camcorder in order to make it less camcorder like?


Lens hood, wide-angle lens and a mic?
Matte boxes are far to expensive and un-necessaries, however they would give you an instant recognition out in public.


I am using the TM-700
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You can drop large amounts of cash on a shoulder rig with matte box, 35mm adapter, lenses, filters, follow focus, and external monitor.

Or, you can let your work speak for itself and not worry about the camera you're carrying. This question has been asked many, many times, and there are differing opinions. However, if you're more worried about how you look to others than you are about what's being recorded, you're handicapping yourself. A matte box can be very useful, though it isn't crucial. but even if you stack all the above-mentioned stuff on your camera, it's still a TM700 under all the accessories... so there's no point in purchasing any of that just to disguise your camera. If you can get a good image out of your camera as-is, don't worry about the rest.
 
A proper stabilizing rig is very useful, along with good audio gear. For long medical lectures I shoot with a HS700 with a BeachTek passive XLR adapter and a Sound Devices MixPre to feed the BeachTek unit. For quickie setups I will just use the HS700 and an Olympus LS-11 digital recorder on a tiny tripod that is positioned close to the presenter, and then synch the Olympus audio with the video in post.

Never buy gear for looks. Only buy it for functionality.
 
TheDingo said:
Never buy gear for looks. Only buy it for functionality.
Click to expand...


This, the good thing is that some of that needed gear can help your little camcorder look more "professional".

For example i sometimes use a Canon HF S21 to shoot events and with a JuicedLink preamp, shotgun mic, wide angle adapter, lens hood, shoulder mount/stabilizer and LED Light or monitor if needed it makes the whole rig more professional looking to everyone else but the importat thins is that every piece of equipment has a real and important purpose.

quick example:

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Yeah. Cut shapes out of MDF, find interesting looking greeblies outta model kits, spray-paint them black and glue them to your camcorder. It'll do zip-doo nuthin' to improve your actual product but maybe people will take you more seriously, while you're working.
 
Sad Max said:
Yeah. Cut shapes out of MDF, find interesting looking greeblies outta model kits, spray-paint them black and glue them to your camcorder. It'll do zip-doo nuthin' to improve your actual product but maybe people will take you more seriously, while you're working.
Click to expand...

Someone needs to do this.
 
someone posted this once, print two copies of this picture and glue them to both sides of your camcorder, make sure to always have your client only on your left or right


arri_alexa.jpg
 
What's your definition of being taken seriously? What are you trying to do... or what impression are you trying to make?

That answer is pretty important... environment, and circumstances.


If people know why you're there and what you're trying to do, they'll take you as seriously as you take them... well... most people anyway.
 
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