buying new equipment tell me if im on track.

A

ad777

Member
alright, i just sold my XHA1 and am planning on buying a t2i among other things.

i already have
me66 mic
xlr cable
h4n zoom
boom pole

here is the list of what im planning to purchase. im planning on getting it all off ebay.

T2i - not sure if ill go body only, kits with stock lenses seem to be the same price on ebay.

2X 32 gig compact flash
Tripod
Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 ef zoom vc
CANON EF 70-210mm f4 ZOOM LENS (its old, can only buy them used)
Clapper
extra Battery
PROAIM Shoulder mount, follow focus, rails
fader ND with step rings

here are my questions

tripod - what should i get? i know i want something that can go up to around 6 feet and has a bowl. i would like the price to be between 300-400. any suggestions on what would be my best bet? also, im talking about tripod+head.

flash cards - any suggestions on brand? i know there is something about cards being rated. if i could get a couple of good brands to trust that would help.

where do i get a legit battery? i see 300 some batteries on ebay for the t2i, but they all look sketchy. any suggestions on brand/where to buy?

how much bigger does the filter size of the fader ND need to be from the lens filter size? 5mm? 10mm?

lenses - i was looking at a cheap 70-300 f4-5.6, but i think the 70-210 is going to do the job and will give me a constant F stop while being about the same price. any objections to this lens?

the equipment will be used for short filmmaking. im a film student and im buying the equipment for the shorts i make outside of class as well as my senior sem project next year.

any and all comments and critiques are welcome. if there is any other equipment that is really useful i should look into let me know.

thanks guys
 
ad777 said:
2X 32 gig compact flash

flash cards - any suggestions on brand? i know there is something about cards being rated. if i could get a couple of good brands to trust that would help.

thanks guys
Click to expand...

the t2i does NOT take compact flash. It uses sdhc or sdxc cards, so get a couple of those :)
 
i got the nikon mount vivitar 70-210 3.5 macro for like $65 shipped. The only bad thing is its push/pull zoom (which def takes some getting used to), but optically its pretty nice and it just looks cool to, lol

vivitar_extended.jpg


For tripods, i really like the davis and sanford pro-vista with FM-18 fluid head.

Its like $169 shipped and comes with a free fold up dolly on b&h right now

I def agree with your choice of tamron 17-50mm but i went with the non-vc and saved a few bucks (think i paid like $260 shipped on ebay). I always use a glidecam, or slider, or shoulder rig, or tripod anyway, so no real need for VC. VC or not, your not gonna go handheld with one of these cameras anyway. (Just food for though, most say the VC is better, but if you want to save some cash, i dont think your giving up all that much)
 
only a few comments:

- don't get Compact Flash cards, the T2i uses SDHC cards. you have to get a speed "class" of 6 or higher. T2i takes SDXC cards too, but they're expensive.

- some of the proaim stuff is praised, some is not. do your research. i think it was something about version 1 of their follow focus.

i've read good things about indifocus rails/supports. i've read bad things about their follow focus, though.

d focus is supposed to be a good one.


my opinion on lenses (long read):

ok, for the past 6-months, i've been researching every possible combination of equipment, cameras, accessories, audio, software, etc. and performance, practicality, and price of each combination. additionally, i took into consideration "aesthetic" or artistic requirements.

i started from the aesthetic requirement. what do i want my end result to look like?

i noticed three generic styles in video production:

1) the reality style: and derivatives

think reality shows, borne identity, and even children of men (to an extent). people refer to this style as "documentary-style", however, i don't think this is accurate. but i do think the documentary style of cinéma vérité influenced the reality-style production.

if this is the aesthetic you'd like, zooms will give you more options to "catch" the action. although you loose considerable low-light gathering ability.

2) the cinematic/photographic style: and derivatives

in these productions, every shot tries to be a beautiful photograph. i think, traditionally, most films fall in this category. films i think are in the same category are:

most sci-fis
most romantic comedies
musicals
anything by the coen brothers
etc. etc.

each of these had planned shots since its conception. there is COMPLETE control over the environment which is being recorded. i'd even place documentaries like "planet earth" in this category. yes, they didn't have control on the ecosystem, but they planned what to do months ahead of time.

if you're looking for this type of look on a tight budget, then i can't see why you'd get zooms. primes are cheaper and could really reduce the cost of lighting (if you're creative). if you get zooms, you'd really need f/2.8. although not really "fast", it's the fastest you'll find for canon bodies. so, these are in high demand, harder to make, thus expensive.

3) the soap-opera/generic corporate video style and derivatives

you'll probably be able to afford zooms and lots of lighting, so its up to you on the lenses.


lenses i'd get if i were you:
sigma 30mm 1.4
rokinon 85mm 1.4

later:
tokina 11-16mm 2.8
 
thanks johnE5 for the tripod suggestion looks like a good afordable tripod.

clearly i didnt do enough research with the cards for the t2i. SDHC class 6 it is.

fahad, as far as lenses go. i looked at getting a prime set like you mentioned, but the truth is i dont plan to shoot below a 4 unless i want to really collapse the DOF or i have no choice due to lighting restrictions. the research ive done suggests that shooting at a 4 or 5.6 is optimal and that most features are shot around this. i just cant see the point of shooting at a 1.4 unless you had no other choice. you'll end up focusing between the eye lashes and the eye. it makes focus pulling almost impossible to do accuratly. i also understand that some people are concerned with the sharpness of zoom lenses vs primes, but from the research ive done it seems the resolution, way its compressed and recorded makes it hard to see the sharpness difference with DSLRs. i hate zoom shots, so im not getting the zooms for that reason. im getting it because i think its most affordable/flexible for what i plan to do. it gives me more control over tiny framing details by just pulling out or in 1 or 2mm. i dont do a lot of run and gun stuff, so most the time i can light to a 4 or 5.6.

as far as PROAIM goes, well ive tried doing my research and i havent found anyone who has boughten it and truly regret it. it may not be perfect, but im on a budget and its not going to be used every day. as long as it dosent fall apart and generally does what its supposed to im good. if the follow focus isnt perfect im prepared to do an extra take because someone messed it up.

not trying to discourage my decisions being challanged. i appreciate the posts, keep them coming. just wanted to put my reasoning so people can see where im coming from and tell me if im crazy, or there's a better way.
 
yeah, the gist is to go with whatever you can get away with price/performance-wise. the tamron is an excellent choice.
 
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