FS7: Bag suggestion

planetweckesser said:
Liam - Thanks for the input. I am not a professional videographer - strictly hobby (Cardiologist by trade) but I have been hassle/denied access quite a bit with my PMW-200 and I suspect it will be worse with the FS7K, I couldn't shoot in Vatican City at all and on the grounds of the London Eye to name a few. It doesn't matter if you show ID of another profession- professional camera =professional videographer and you can't argue with these people.

Can you point me in the right direction for getting a permit for China? I would hate to miss out on the opportunity of shooting with the FS7K in China and have to drag out my B cam (PXW-X70).

Thanks in advance for any advice
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Hmm, I see your problem...

You won't need a permit as a tourist, but your issue is going to be convincing people you are a genuinely a tourist, officials might expect you to have a carnet, a work visa and filming permits.

Assuming you get the camera through the airport... ...You'll probably be OK shooting general views in Shanghai and Honk Kong, but you're definitely asking for trouble in the Forbidden City where commercial filming is banned:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2663371/NZ-based-snapper-Beijing-security-alert.html
 
Ben Scott said:
The grounds of the London Eye are private property unfortunately and they make a lot of money out of filming permits and the like. However, you can film buy river taxi that goes right past it really slowly :)
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Good shots from the Embankment, from Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.
 
Liam Hall said:
Hmm, I see your problem...

You won't need a permit as a tourist, but your issue is going to be convincing people you are a genuinely a tourist, officials might expect you to have a carnet, a work visa and filming permits.

Assuming you get the camera through the airport... ...You'll probably be OK shooting general views in Shanghai and Honk Kong, but you're definitely asking for trouble in the Forbidden City where commercial filming is banned:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2663371/NZ-based-snapper-Beijing-security-alert.html
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Thanks Liam - I have never heard of a Carnet (much less how to pronounce it - one uses the French pronunciation) and I already have my application in and it is in process. Without this, I could see quite a mess at the airport trying to get a temporary bond with all the legal hassles. The carnet should work to bypass all that. Now onto filming permits/work visas - you don't happen to know of agencies that might assist in obtaining those?
 
planetweckesser said:
Thanks Liam - I have never heard of a Carnet (much less how to pronounce it - one uses the French pronunciation) and I already have my application in and it is in process. Without this, I could see quite a mess at the airport trying to get a temporary bond with all the legal hassles. The carnet should work to bypass all that. Now onto filming permits/work visas - you don't happen to know of agencies that might assist in obtaining those?
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Personally unless I was shooting for paid by a company I would just grab an A7s (use same lenses) and pretend to be a tourist. Great thing about mirorless is you can use the evf and pretend to take pictures. I hate dealing with Carnets but they are necessary for the shooting professional. I just wish more people in boarder agencies knew how to deal with a Carnet. its astounding.

Really this is all kind of discussion for another thread.
 
A carnet is definitely a good idea. Remember to get it stamped on your way in and out of both the US and China. For permits I always go through a local production house, like AsiaWorks; www.asiaworks.com but it does end up very expensive. Fine for me as someone else is always picking up the bill. Maybe you should work on a strategy for proving you are a tourist. It is the truth after all. You won't need a work visa as you're not working.
 
RatLabProductions said:
Personally unless I was shooting for paid by a company I would just grab an A7s (use same lenses) and pretend to be a tourist. Great thing about mirorless is you can use the evf and pretend to take pictures. I hate dealing with Carnets but they are necessary for the shooting professional. I just wish more people in boarder agencies knew how to deal with a Carnet. its astounding.

Really this is all kind of discussion for another thread.
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I agree with your point about an A7s, and about us getting off topic. And about carnets - major PITA. If he goes in with a DSLR or mirrorless, no need for carnets, permits or anything. Anyway, happy to discuss this in another thread.
 
Liam Hall said:
A carnet is definitely a good idea. Remember to get it stamped on your way in and out of both the US and China. For permits I always go through a local production house, like AsiaWorks; www.asiaworks.com but it does end up very expensive. Fine for me as someone else is always picking up the bill. Maybe you should work on a strategy for proving you are a tourist. It is the truth after all. You won't need a work visa as you're not working.
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Liam - thanks for all the good advice - the idea of proof of being a tourist is good - I'll take along my practice brochure with my picture in it as well as my card and copy of medical license - that and the carnet should suffice + I will be chaperoned by Viking Cruise staff throughout the trip - hopefully that will keep me out of trouble. I do apologize for getting this thread off track so will make no more posts unless it has to do with bags/cases for the FS7. I have found these forums so incredibly helpful.
 
I will just say this about our new Orca 12 bag we just got and that I just packed our system into: it's off the charts great! I have the camera with an on-board mic and dead cat wind screen attached, plus a short zoom lens on the camera, plus four Rokinon cine primes, plus batts, charger, and cards, etc., plus one long compartment for the Sony zoom when it arrives. Carries all of that. Only had to detach the extended control handle, but it's packed in there, too. All very well padded and protected. Excellent materials. And reasonably priced. Move over, Portabrace!
 
Can you post a picture off the Orca bag kitted out. Their Audio bags have been extremely well received so your experience with the camera bag shows those too are going to be an excellent product.
 
After quite a bit of research I bought the 'Camrade Heavy Duty Large' bag. I can put the FS7 in easily with lens, viewfinder+eyepiece, hood, mic + softie and arm attached. In addition I have 4 other lenses, filters, batteries, handicam, recharger, SDI/HDMI cables and go-pro mounts in the bag and still space left.

The benefits of this bag for the FS7 over others are:

1) It almost looks like it was custom made for the FS7. The viewfinder + eyepiece fit exactly in the intended area and the support height can be adjusted
2) The compartment dividers are sturdy, well padded and reach all the way to the top of the bag, so that the stuff you put in doesn't start to fly around in the bag. The size of each compartment can be adjusted.

I'm very happy with it

Some pictures attached below. Note that I put a pad under the FS7 for extra bottom protection. If you remove that, it will sink in even deeper, but even now, the lid will close easily with mic and softie attached.

.View attachment 97356View attachment 97357IMG_4677.jpg
 

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Get yourself a Sony AX100. It's the perfect stealth camera. Looks like a tourist camera but shoots UHD.

planetweckesser said:
Liam - Thanks for the input. I am not a professional videographer - strictly hobby (Cardiologist by trade) but I have been hassle/denied access quite a bit with my PMW-200 and I suspect it will be worse with the FS7K, I couldn't shoot in Vatican City at all and on the grounds of the London Eye to name a few. It doesn't matter if you show ID of another profession- professional camera =professional videographer and you can't argue with these people.

Can you point me in the right direction for getting a permit for China? I would hate to miss out on the opportunity of shooting with the FS7K in China and have to drag out my B cam (PXW-X70).

Thanks in advance for any advice
Click to expand...
 
Here is my setup for FS7 and 4x Leica R lenses inside a Pelican 1510. I have the monitor on left over foam in the middle of the camera. I bought this case for something small and portable.

IMG_2605.jpg
 
Chris Langer said:
Here is my setup for FS7 and 4x Leica R lenses inside a Pelican 1510. I have the monitor on left over foam in the middle of the camera. I bought this case for something small and portable.

View attachment 97662
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I also have my FS7 in a 1510 but with padded inserts instead of foam. I'll probably use a soft bag for everyday use, but the hardcase for travel. Question... Where do you have the arm/handle in that configuration?
 
I don't use the handle on the majority of my shoots so I didn't pack it. If I needed it, I would pack it in a separate bag. If I had to pack the handle, it would have never happened in this case! :D
 
The Orca OR-14 is still in the works, but it will be able to handle the FS7.
20141224_130623_resized.jpg20141224_131929_resized.jpg
This model won't be available until May. Until then, the OR-24 backpack and the OR-12 camera bag are the largest bags available if you're interested in Orca Bags.
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After doing a lot of research, I ended up purchasing the Lowepro Pro Runner 450 AW for the FS7, as I prefer a backpack than a rolling case.

I was choosing between the following bag: EXT INT grams £
Sachtler Bags SC303 Campack Plus Camera Backpack 40 x 34 x 59 32 x 22 x 54 3400g £198
Thinktank Airport Accelerator Camera Backpack 36 x 29 x 52 33 x 17 x 43 2500g £207
Lowepro Pro Runner 450 AW Backpack 34 x 29 x 50 31 x 17 x 47 2700g £119

it ends up being a compromise between size and price, as Lowepro sits in between the Thinktank and Sachtler.

The camera goes in the backpack with the baseplate, EVF and handle assembled, I just need to adjust the position of each part, put on the lens, reverse the microphone, and its ready to go. I was able to put two lens and an additional handle for the baseplate at the bottom. The batteries goes to the front compartment.
 
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