Documentary set up, w/ S-Log

bill totolo

bill totolo

Veteran
I'm shooting a documentary feature with my F3 in July.

For those of you shooting doc's I'd love to know what works best and what you've discovered doesn't work.
I'll have to travel from Los Angeles to Philadelphia with whatever setup I arrive at.

The director wants the most filmic delivery possible, which to me, means using S-Log and an off-board recorder. A limited theatrical run is anticipated.

Here's my initial thinking, I've asterisked the items I already own:

F3*
S-Log update*
ProLock Nikon mount*
RPZ 18-70*
Tokina 11-17 2.8*
Zacuto EVF*
Zacuto Universal baseplate w/ extension rods*
Shoot 35 Follow Focus*
Zacuto Zwiss plate*
A/B Gold mount plate*
(4) A/B Dionic batt's*
(5) Sony BPU-60 batteries*
Sony dual battery charger*
Hot Rod Cameras hand grips*
Vinten 5LF head+tripod*
Sony SBAC-US10 SxS card reader*
Oconnor O-box matte box*
Panchro IRND filter*
(4) 32G Sony SxS-1 cards*
Berkey cheeseplate w/ extension*
ThinkTank Airport International V2.0 travel case*
Zacuto ZAmerican arm*
Renting LightPanels 1x1 Bi-color LED lights.
AJA Ki Pro mini with (3) 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro CF memory cards*

Thanks in advance
 
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I'm super happy with the Atomos Samurai. I do a ton of doc work. Lowest power consumption, easy to operatoe - new firmware update is solid, and light weight. And they are quick to update firmware and receptive to needs.
 
samsung 470 ssd drives - 128gb version. recommended for the pix 240. works fine. newest firmware update is crucial. used it on a job with ice fishing - also fell into the snow yesterday with my camera and samurai getting snowy - all is still working. also shot with it in a yoga studio that was probably 100 degrees farenheit. nothing went wrong
 
eddavid said:
samsung 470 ssd drives - 128gb version. recommended for the pix 240. works fine. newest firmware update is crucial. used it on a job with ice fishing - also fell into the snow yesterday with my camera and samurai getting snowy - all is still working. also shot with it in a yoga studio that was probably 100 degrees farenheit. nothing went wrong
Click to expand...
I laughed out loud in sympathy at that one.I'm sure I can find this on my own but what record times do you get w/ the 128g drive?
 
in case you haven't seen it, there is a SWEET app for iphones called Kata Data. it calculates storage space required using various codecs and cameras. so you can plug in settings like "ProRes 422HQ 128gb" and it pops up with 1.74 hours of record time. I didn't think I would use it that much but I actually use it a TON. especially now that I am planning on getting S Log and recording in Avid DNxHD 220, I need to know how many drives I need for a days shoot. pretty sweet.
 
you can get it for mac os x . I get about 2 hours at pro res 422 on a 128gb ssd card. at pro res hq i get i think 1hr 15 min. something like that. Off to shoot and fall in the snow more tomorrow with it.
 
ProRes HQ is easy to calculate. Take the number of gigs, move the decimal left two places and that's how many hours. For example a 500 gig drive is 5.0 hours and 128 gig is 1.28 hours.

Surprisingly its pretty accurate too.
 
I decided to go with everyone's recommendation and get the ThinkTank Airport International V2.0
I'm pleased with the design, build quality, and lifetime guarantee.

Here's my packing job:
ThinkTank.jpg
 
eddavid said:
also shot with it in a yoga studio that was probably 100 degrees farenheit. nothing went wrong
Click to expand...

Only 100 degrees? Obviously you're not shooting in the south west during the summer. Most cameras are rated at 104 F, and can go a little farther. I had an XH-A1 completely freeze up and refuse to work after a half hour when shooting a pro paintball team in California. The real problem is if the ambient temperture is over 110F. Blowing air on it is only blowing hot air.

I was in Blythe, CA (by death valley) when it was 126F in the shade, and there was no shade. Cold packs and moisture, yikes!
 
128000(MByte)*8=1024000Mbit
for 60i: 1024000(Mbit)/60(sec/min)/220(Mbit/sec)=75min
for 24p: 1024000(Mbit)/60(sec/min)/175(Mbit/sec)=97min

a) 128GB drive is not exactly 128000Mbyte- after formating
b) 220Mbit is highest bitrate for ProRes HQ used for 60i

In reality (after formating+audio) it means you have between 65 and 85min of recording time depending on fps.
 
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