GH2 Filmschool Student/ Starting Filmmaker gear list

[Flaixbeauneur]

Hi everyone


First I'd like to say that I am myself a filmschool student (after working 5 years as a pro commercial photographer in Paris) and I am making a list of things to buy to be able to make some shortfilms outside of school. Unfortunately I am not allowed to borrow my school's cameras for non-school projects untill year 3.

I think the list (which has to be completed) could help some young filmmakers that are on budget too. Feel free to give your comments on the list and post the things that you feel are missing.

I am only filming fiction short films. No documentary or such things. So this list my not apply to somebody who wants to make docus, but it will apply to someone who want to create "cinema-like" movies.


Camera : I was thinking about the Panasonic GH2 because of the price range and the 24p. Other choices in the same price category : Nikon D7000 ( great camera, built almost like a pro camera ) and Canon 60D.

Lenses : This is one area where I feel you shouldn't buy cheap. It is though to find the best lenses for each camera but since we will be working with manual focus, older lenses will work perfectly. I think you can find a Zeiss prime kit (m42) for around 1000€ used. As a photographer I used only primes (24,35,50,85,135,200) so that is why I wanted to use primes for my video work as well.

After that I'm pretty much lost....

For the sound : I was thinking : H4 + boompole from ebay and a good mic.

For the rig, I really dont know what to buy. I'd like a shoulder rig that I can also use on tripod with of course a good follow focus unit.

For the viewfinder, I saw a thing on ebay that you put on the screen of the GH2 but I cannot find it anymore.

I would like to also get an external display for me to be able to see what is going on when I am not the camera operator.

My budget is around 3500/4000 €.

What would you recommend ? How could you help me ?

Thanks in advance,

F.

 

[twotonepunkkid]

Buy the GH2. Personally, I'm a bit of a Canon fanboy, but I think you'll find that Nikon just isn't on par with the rest of the video cameras in the market (fewer video modes, lower quality, etc.) The 60D is also a great camera, but it line-skips and has a smaller range of lenses because of the mirror. The GH2 is a truly fantastic video camera for the price. You're spot on about lenses. You can easily buy old cheap crappy looking lenses, but this is where you invest your big money. I'm not sure you can find a zeiss prime set for just a grand, but you can probably find a few on ebay for a few hundred bucks each. Don't rule out some of the good m4/3 lenses like the 20mm pancake and the 14-42 or the 14-140 kit lenses. The H4 and the H4n are probably the best portable solution for audio recording right now. And you can find shotgun mics and boom poles pretty cheap on ebay as well. As for a viewfinder, check out the LCDVF which is pretty much the same as the Z-finder, but cheaper. You should also check out indistem (ultracompact) for a very afforable shoulder rig with a c-bracket and a tripod mount on the bottom (I put my quick release on that so it's very easy to mount to the tripod). Jag35 also makes some cheap shoulder rigs, but If you have the money look at zacuto and redrock. As for a monitor, you can look at marshall, manhatten, and smallHD if you have $400-1000 to spend, or you can go with a Lilliput 668 or 669 for around $200 or less on ebay or coollcd.com Also, don't be afraid of looking around the forums and marketplace here for some pretty good deals on used gear and tips on where to find or build your own.

Hope that helps!

 

[Flaixbeauneur]

Ok, first thanks for your answers.

Here is the updated list :

- Camera : GH2
- Lenses : 14mm and 20mm + Nikon adapter for my lenses.
I really have problem deciding which lens to buy. I like primes and would like a equivalent to a 35, 50 and 85mm.
- ND : Still don't know which to buy
- Shoulder rig : i like the straight rig from jag 35 as i would get the LCD and follow focus unit directly with it. but the products from indisystem are not bad either. Still cannot decide yet.
- LCD 7" Monitor from Coollcd.com if I take another rig than the jag 35.
- Zoom H4
- Boompole from Ebay
- Mic : Still havent decided yet
- Viewfinder : Hoodman EX Kit Pro
- Mattebox indisystem
- 4 1000W hotlights from calumet
- Fluid tripod head from ebay

I think that is all.


What am I missing on this kit ?

 

[Pharao]

You're missing a lot. Ever thought about not going completely nuts?

I wish I wouldn't stereotype you guys, but I've seen it too many times that semi-rich people buy s**tloads of equipment without ever really using it on more than one project a year on average. If you decide on putting together a kit I'd say start small and when a project comes along, buy what is needed for as long as it's needed and resell it when you're done shooting (it's called 'free rental'). If possible buy second-hand. Get a GH-1 without kit lens off Ebay instead of a GH-2. Forget about matteboxes, viewfinders and lcds - it's really not necessary. You can also do without sound equipment. Make a film told in pictures without dialogue and add music in post. Use available light. Make a great little simple film instead of something complicated which will turn out awful anyway...

And spend good money on high quality food. You'll get more out of it than a mattebox, viewfinder, lcd and wireless keyboard/mouse together.