Michael Carter
Veteran
Big disagree on the FF - even operating myself, adding a couple focus stops (spring steel paper clips, .79 a box) saves huge amounts of time for me. Get gears for the main lenses you use and be ready to go.
My rig has grown over the last couple years - just figure out the minimum you need to do things right. For DSLR (for me) it's a permanently attached loupe, rails, matte box, FF. And a small Marshall screen for the crane or oddball angles. Step two? Get completely second nature with your rig. 90% of my DSLR time, the "camera", to me, IS the above rig. The only slowdowns are lens changes or adding a filter.
I will say that there's a sort of subconscious component to this - maybe just a camera and a strap makes you feel more free/experimental. Also, ask yourself: were the stakes a lot lower on your older footage that seemed more free/creative/spontaneous? Tight schedules, budgets, clients... they can all make you clench up or play things safe.
My rig has grown over the last couple years - just figure out the minimum you need to do things right. For DSLR (for me) it's a permanently attached loupe, rails, matte box, FF. And a small Marshall screen for the crane or oddball angles. Step two? Get completely second nature with your rig. 90% of my DSLR time, the "camera", to me, IS the above rig. The only slowdowns are lens changes or adding a filter.
I will say that there's a sort of subconscious component to this - maybe just a camera and a strap makes you feel more free/experimental. Also, ask yourself: were the stakes a lot lower on your older footage that seemed more free/creative/spontaneous? Tight schedules, budgets, clients... they can all make you clench up or play things safe.
