FS100 Kit?

L

lefthandwind

New member
Hey guys,

After getting some recommendations and doing a lot of research it seems the FS100 fits the bill for what i want to do.
Basically i want to shoot a upmarket fishing DVD in australia, in a very similar style to many of the highly visual US Fly Fishing videos like on the Rise Film Tour.

As i'll be shooting inside a boat and some work inside cars for small cutaways i'm thinking something like the Tokina 11-16 in an A mount and also using the kit lens to make up the occasional longer range shot from the shore. I don't really have a good amount of lenses (i shoot DSLR Canon) but i only have my 17-40mm L series and i wasn't sure how that would go on the FS100

Audio wise i'll need some sort of lapel mic and a shotgun mic
Any recommendations that don't kill the budget? I'll be shooting two people so ideally i would like them both with a lapel mic and also recording on a shotgun at the same time? Is that even possible?

Obviously i'll need a tripod for longer range stuff from the shore and a glidecam for moving pictures and maybe some sort of shoulder mount to use in the boat?

What are peoples recommendations for ND filters and is it possible to use a Polarising filter on the FS100/Tokina 11-16mm?

Cheers
LHW
 
Some points - the 17-40 is a great lens with a metabones adapter, IMO the 11-16 is a little wide

You could get a 28-70 to supplement it

You can only record two channels of audio - unless you jerry rig both lavs onto one channel - and hope they dont talk over each other

I have a sanken CS1 mic seems ok and sony lavs - they seem ok but senheiser g3 are little more budget

The typical ND solution is to get a 77m fader (or two) and step your lenses to 77mm

In considering you tripod you want to move from one to the other fast

A manfrotto tripod and a manfrotto 577 on top of the rig/glidecam will help this..

S
 
For wireless audio I can recommend a Samson wireless system with Countryman lapels. The Samson system is decent and budget friendly; the Countryman mics are super tough (great for outdoor situations which might get the mic wet or sweaty).

As for micing 3 channels, I agree with what Morgan said. You can always get a small onboard mixer and run both lapels into one channel and hope your talent doesn't talk over each other. Or you can run a third channel to a Zoom, though you're adding a ton of work on set and in post.

Don't rule out the stock lens. Great range, decent optics, and the stabilizer is fantastic (especially for what you're doing)! Keep in mind that, though this lens is only 3.5, most lenses lose sharpness when approaching super wide apertures. Even our Zeiss Super Speeds lose a noticeable amount of sharpness when wide open. 3.5 is not all that bad.

We just did extensive testing for a reality show we're filming and we fell in love with the FS100's stock lens (sans the autofocus, which is pretty useless in many scenarios).
 
I have worked on a few fishing shows, and in my case a 2/3" ENG style cam with a servo zoom and built-in ND filters useually gets the nod.
 
Ok looking at the show footage it looks like it was shot with 4 different cameras, and much if it had post work done. Likely a 2/3" eng style cam, 5DmkII, GoProHD. Are you going to try to single camera shoot this type show? Most of what I see as a style to their footage is done in post. Why not drop them a line and ask them about cameras? Something along the lines of a Varicam would still be my first camera choice.
 
David W. Jones said:
Ok looking at the show footage it looks like it was shot with 4 different cameras, and much if it had post work done. Likely a 2/3" eng style cam, 5DmkII, GoProHD. Are you going to try to single camera shoot this type show? Most of what I see as a style to their footage is done in post. Why not drop them a line and ask them about cameras? Something along the lines of a Varicam would still be my first camera choice.
Click to expand...


Ill also shoot with GoPro and a dslr but the majority with the fs100

What makes you recommend something over the fs100?
I really like the footage I have seen shot with it. Especially with wider lenses which I intend to use.
 
There is nothing wrong with the footage from the FS100, and it would be a nice B-roll camera with a wide lens. But the majority of the fishing shows I have worked on seemed to be hurry up and wait, then all hell breaks loose. If a single shooter is covering the action, the last thing I would need is dealing with finding framing and focus with a S35mm size sensor and a DSLR zoom lens. Covering 2 subjects fishing my suggestion would be a chase boat for the camera crew, at least 2 shooters, 3 would be better, one covering the wides and 2-shot, the other 2 getting tights and reaction from each fisher. Lectro wireless mic on each on camera talent, shotgun on the wide camera. GoPro mounted to a pole you can submerge to rehash the catch shots.
 
The video you mention is one of the best shot/edited fishing videos I've seen- very impressive.

Impressive fishing too- fly fishing for tarpon, no less!

In the comments, they say they used "Canon Dslr's, Sony Camcorders, and a few other toys."

The sun in the Florida Keys, where that was shot, is very strong. They would have had to use NDs on the DSLRs, either on the lenses or a matte box.
If you have strong sun in your part of Australia, NDs are par for the course.

I would think the AF100 would be well-suited to this. Larger sensor (but not ridiculously shallow DOF), onboard ND and audio.

I'm not sure what you'd need a stabilizer for- the example appeared to be mostly handheld/shoulder mount on one boat and tripod on a second chase boat filming the first boat- at least 2 main cameras with some GoPro, also.
Just guessing, but they probably used 5D on the fishing boat and an EX1 on the chase boat (for the wide zoom range), with a second DSLR on the chase boat, too.

But you'll need a minimum of 2 cameras, 3 is better.

Then lots of color grading in post to achieve "the look".

Good luck with your project!
 
Hey mate,

Yeah i agree it is very well shot and edited.
That is something that is really lacking in Australia at this point.

I've got 2 DSLRs already (600D and a 5dMkII) that i will also shoot with and 3 GoPro HD2s for quick cutaways etc.

Im beginning to think maybe i should save some more and get the FS700 with the inbuilt NDs
I will investigate the AF100 though so thank you for the recommendation.

I am lucky enough to know a guy who used to edit full blown cinema movies (now semi-retired) who is helping me with the edit.
 
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You are doing a project the cost of the camera is little to the cost of your time

Id the the 700 - not only for the nd bug of course the slomo.. which might preroll too (in 120/240) - which could be critical for getting the action?


S
 
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