DSLR Run and Gun Documentary Solutions?

J

Jamie DeWolf

Member
Hey there. So I've been contracted to do three documentaries and will be shooting all with the 7D. Solo. Can't afford an HVX right now and need to do the best I can with this camera. I love it otherwise, but it's definitely pushing the limitations like crazy. One, sound is a huge paaaaiiiin. I have an H4N and a NTG-2 microphone but what solutions have you come up with to record sound SOLO and MOVING? I mount the mic on the hotshoe, but has anybody figured out a good solution to also mount the H4N as well to the camera? I've been having difficulty finding something that does both.

And getting focus, hand-held is tough. I shoot with the Tamron Wide Angle and stop down, any other strategies to help or gear? I'm in high schools recording writing workshops with an extremely mobile teacher who's moving all over the place and getting precise focus is kind of crazy. My gear list is below...

Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
LCDVHF
Kit Lens
50mm 1.8
Indi RailsSm
NTG-2
H4N
 
I can
pull focus
shoot stable shots
mount a zoom
monitor focus
operate fast by sticking to the zoom lens
while travelling ulta light

3.jpg


smmNandrea.jpg


in use in a doco situation

An external mic would be added by a simple up bar

S
 
you should get a simple rail system to mount some sort of follow focus and the H4N onto, probably your best bet for what you seem to need
 
hey, here's a blog posting i just did about how i do sound on eng/docu shoots. its pretty simple.

http://manglervision.com/post/428426204/hdslrworkflow

rode videomic on camera(for better guide track or decent wild sounds), sennheiser wireless on subject, zoom recorder and transmitter in pocket or mounted to cam setup, WEAR HEADPHONES, stick a big card in the zoom and just let it roll. if you're using plural eyes 1 long audio clip makes it much much easier in post.
 
I primarily do documentary work that requires me to travel on foot. So mobility AND functionality is quite important. I keep a backpack with accessories I might use out on the field and mount/dismount them according to the situation.

What I use for field work:
RedRock Shoulder pad
RedRock DSLR Base Plate
RedRock 9 inch rods (x3 short)
RedRock 3' link offset accessory
RedRock FollowFocus
RedRock grips (x2)
RedRock Loupe Accessory
Hoodman Loupe (bleh)
ProAim mattebox for 4x4 ND filters
Rode VideoMic

When mounted on a tripod, I use more equipment, but for mobile field use - I've found this to be really comfortable for me.

Sorry for the weird pics. They were from my buddies cell phone.

In this pic, I'm on the LA metro train, which is ALWAYS packed - so having a compact rig is a plus.
27052_1380633961140_1390656732_31048932_1796190_n.jpg



When the rods are pulled out a bit from the shoulder pad, it sits ergonomically in front of me, and on my shoulder.
23668_1380690882563_1390656732_31049075_4223282_n.jpg
 
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I'm having similar concerns, a band I know rented a cottage to records their album during april and they want me to document the whole process. If I understand correctly, the H4N must be activated separately from the camera and I'm worried this might increase my "response time" when I need to catch something. It seems the beachtek DXA 5Da might be a better solution in my situation since it records directly in-cam... Am I right?
 
I use a captain stubling, works well for me, can put the h4n on the hot shoe of the camera or use the redrock micromount to clip it to the rods.

I also recommend picking up a magbag2, I got one on a whim before a shoot b/c I knew I'd be using a slider and would need more weight. Also got a cammock. Turns out the later isn't too good, but I did find out the magbag2 is just the right size to fit a taken apart stubling in it, which is great b/c it's small enough to fit on the top of my camera bag - my trusty Domke F-3X.

That combo works so well for me b/c it's small and discreet but I can take everything I need.

Hoodeu - yeah you are right, you will have to press record on both the H4N and 5d seperately, but it's not that big a deal tbh. Alternatively you can just use the new 5d firmware, when it comes out on 17mth March, w/ something like the Sennheiser MKE 400 on camera. I'm thinking about getting one myself now we'll have manual audio at 48khz, as I do like everything small.

Currently I have an Edirol R-44, which stays in the Domke, a H4N and a H4. I didn't really NEED the H4N but I wanted the 4-channel recording for situations where I don't want to operate the R-44, or don't have a helper etc, can use that on-camera w/two wireless lavs plugged into it for the 4-channel source, or if I'm filming a band I can get the desk + ambient sound. Plus the h4 has drift which blows.

The MKE+new firmware seems an appealing option from a size pov, though I'll have to see it in the flesh first. Part of the problem with all this stuff is being able to monitor the audio, for example my needs when filming a band in the streets or docu stuff etc is 2x wireless lavs and ambient, if nothing else. Sometimes when I have help I can use the Edirol R-44 which is amazing, but it's not really practicable when on my own b/c I can only monitor one thing at a time.

The new firmware might allow some flexibility there b/c I can put the MKE on the camera going into the 5d and say the H4N in my pocket for the wireless stuff, watch the meters on the 5d and listen to the h4n. You' d have to be careful b/c the 5d's meters don't look like they show during recording though, so you'll need the headroom for increased volume.

That being said, there's no much difference to my current method of using the h4n on camera hot shoe, going into the 5d through the headphone slot. I can 4-channel it to get the on camera + 2 lavs on the h4n anyway, so the 5d source is a backup. I suppose the only real consideration is a) if you need a shotgun on camera, less important for my when doing music as I want a wide pattern (lavs cover specifics) and b) if the size/weight is substantially less.

I do have a rycote hotshoe extender. One immediate thing that I'm wondering is if the mke-400 can work with my litepanels micropro light. The h4n and litepanels doesn't work. I have a Hama bracket thing but it's not an ideal solution.
 
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