FS700 kit bag recommendations

B

brotherian

Member
Hi all,

Just wanted to start a straw poll here to hear what everyone's using to keep their FS700 in. I'm a UK shooter, and I've only just picked mine up. It came with a movcam shoulder/baseplate onto which I'm eventually going to add a top handle and an EVF (probably a Kinotehnik after watching Matt Allard's review on DSLRNews Shooter, or maybe the slightly smaller Cineroid). I'll probably also be looking at some handle grip relocator solution as well (maybe that clock arm that's been appearing on these forums, or simply a rosette bar clamp).

Anyway, all that in mind, I really want to use some sort of bag/case that will accommodate all of that without me having to break it down or build it up at the start/tail end of a shoot. What do you guys use, and do you have any recommendations I should be aware of? I came across the Portabrace Rig bags, is anyone using these or has a good/bad word to say about them?

Thanks for your help!
Ian
 
Hi Ian,

Using the Kata Resource 61 here, very pleased with. FS700 fits in the bag with Kinotehnik LCDVFE and extension handle attached. Lenses go down in separate compartments.foto1.jpgfoto2.jpg
 
Thanks Jeen,
That looks great! Looks quite roomy in there, does it rattle about in there at all (as much as something in a soft-lined case can!)? Also, how do you find the Kinotehnik? My one concern with it is the loupe seems a bit on the big side, is it a comfortable fit if the back end of the camera is sitting on your shoulder?
Thanks again for the pics too, appreciate your help!
Ian
 
brotherian,
I make the mysterious ClockArm you mention. They are expensive to make, the 2 stainless steel USA made rosettes cost me almost 40 apiece with shipping. I can offer a 10% shooters discount tho.

On bags I dislike the visibility of PortaBrace - it kinda says steal me in some street shooting locations, but thats only partially fair. the type of scum who hit camera trucks know what they are looking for and a Kata bag aint fooling anyone. I was shooting the superbowl couple days ago with the media pile and the Portabrace I was using was rented and was medium standard
bag - not for betacam but just a size down. It was about the same overall size but w/o the provision for the eyepiece.

i could not even close it around the matte box (4x5) - could only partial zip, so I'm with you in the bag seacrh and considering a roller type. Why not!

Got a good shot a Flacco despite the bag ;)
2013 Chevy MVP Still (1).jpg
 
Hi Caleb,

Bit of a thread highjack here, but your site mentions FS700 support for the top handle you do, any idea what/when/how much that will be?

cheers
Paul
 
Bags are so personal.

Personally I keep my FS100 90% built on its rig in a really useful box, When I arrive I just grab the camera and dont carry a half empty bag around all day.

I mix that with a billingham packington which contains 3 lenses, cards, sound bits and some filters and also a bin bag or two to wrap the camera in if I get caught in a downpour

going abroad i put the camera body in a second packington and any rods from my rig in my sticks bag

I personally love the packingon bag for many reasons.

S
 
So much talk about bags... just out of curiosity, why do people seem to be more biased towards bags than cases? I love my 1510 Peli, fits in an overhead compartment, stackable ;) and on wheels.
 
Hi Paul, We are making those now and prob a month away from first shipping. It will cost a small additional because Sony has made the top of cam differently. More time consuming part to manufacture.
I'll post pics here in a few weeks. It's coming soon tho, Nice to heart from you!
 
I agree with Morgan that choosing a bag is personal and of course depends heavily on the configuration of your rig. Mine has several configs, but when fully set up sits assembled in a very large bag made for carrying three lights and stands:
http://www.prophotographygear.com/s...dio-lighting-carrying-hard-cases-m-p-534.html
This is a cheap one and Petrol make a much better one complete with interior lighting, but I use this bag to keep the dust off and roll the camera around from the car to the set and not to travel with. I use a Pelican IM2500 for the camera and a couple of lenses and adapters. This case meets carry-on size for airlines. The rest of the camera rig goes in 1550 for the Berkey rig, Chroszeil and filters and another couple of lenses. I would NEVER travel with my camera in anything but a Pelican or purpose built case specific to the camera.
 
here's two FS100's and all acc's;
ready to fly.jpg
left to right;

lightweight sticks = A cam
Lowepro reporter bag = A cam acc's / MB / FF / raincoat / my personal stuff
Lowepro roller = batts / chargers / backup station / specality lenses / mic's
Peli 1 = A cam & glass
Peli 2 = Bcam & glass
NoName bag = B cam acc's / MB / FF / raincoat / my AC's personal stuff
lightweight sticks = B cam

- we leave the camera's built when we are not traveling, and i don't do R-n-G stuff, so no need for fast access, or stealth / security
- normaly those sticks are not used much, they are insurance, i ship in advance a Video20 for Acam, and use the Lbec for Bcam, and use my RonfordF7 for Acam and Video20 for Bcam at home

the cases have been around the world mutiple times with varity of camera's inside.. i have a pile of foam inserts sitting in storage incase i want to put a EX1 or an XTR back in them.... good cases are a lifetime investment
 
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Hi Ian, doesn't rattle at all. It's a perfect fit with the Canon 24-70 as you can see.
I do like the Kinotehnik a lot. It's big but not to big (or heavy). And the screen is pretty sharp. Peaking is not that great though, still using the original peaking from the FS700.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies so far. It's become quite clear that choosing a bag is a matter of both personal taste as well as the manner in which your equipment's going to be transported. Clearly if you were going on a long trip by air you wouldn't want to check a soft bag into baggage, but then a Pelican isn't really able to hold a camera rigged-and-ready to go.

It's quite a tough one, but like someone says, a good bag will last years so it's worth getting it right and considering all the options. I think at some point in the future a Peli would make sense for me - especially as I'm also thinking of dry hiring my camera out to other shooters - but for now I just need something that I can stow it into with all the bits hanging off it.

It's a daft question, but I guess once you have a comfortable rig it's simply a matter of measuring WxHxD to find a bag that'll fit? That does sound a bit duhhh, but because I'm still building up an FS700 kit, I thought it might be possible to find something to grow into. Ideally I guess I should get down to CVP or something to try out a few options...

Again thank you for your responses, has been very interesting reading.

Caleb, thank you for your kind offer. I may just take you up on that, on the other hand I checked out some of your other things and your wooden handgrips look beautiful! It's certainly going to be hard to resist pulling the protected fighter trigger on one of those fellas!

Morgan_moore, do you really keep your camera in a simple plastic box? That's seems incredibly cavalier! I think I'd worry too much about damaging the camera from car to shoot location. Obviously if you can park within feet of where the tripod's going to be then that's great, but I don't get a lot of those shoot unfortunately!

Legrevedotcom, yep the 1510 would probably be my choice if I was happy to break down the rig after/before every shoot. When I was initially researching into the FS700 I came across this vid from NextWaveDV that put me on course initially for a Peli: http://www.nextwavedv.com/sony-nex-fs700-kit-and-gear-walkthrough/

Jeen, thanks for your response. There's a broadcast show coming up in London at the end of the month so I'll hopefully get a chance to see a Kino up close and can have a fiddle with it. I do quite like this modular lark, but it's all about weighing up the pros and cons of each component in your rig - which with a long string of options can become quite an endeavour!
 
brotherian,

Those fighter jet trigger protectors make me a better shooter ;)

Not to start a confessional but I have too many cases, many quite expensive and high end and for some reason I hate them all. I've been using a $10 soft sided beer cooler that zips up and has a nice front pocket. Used it for 2 years solid now.

maybe start small and just buy the absolute cheapest thing that works. yes measure the camera built to the largest measure you forsee toting it in. I have a large hammered alumium panavision case that I can put a fully built camera in with EVF, shotgun and matte box- I also have a soft side of the same size. NEVER EVER use either one.

Why am I even replying - I have nothing to offer to this thread. I need a therapist!
 
morgan_moore said:
Bags are so personal.

Personally I keep my FS100 90% built on its rig in a really useful box, When I arrive I just grab the camera and dont carry a half empty bag around all day.

I mix that with a billingham packington which contains 3 lenses, cards, sound bits and some filters and also a bin bag or two to wrap the camera in if I get caught in a downpour

going abroad i put the camera body in a second packington and any rods from my rig in my sticks bag

I personally love the packingon bag for many reasons.

S
Click to expand...

I agree about not carrying an empty bag around all day. Do you ever use your packington to support your camera? Like one of those Australian foam bags whose name eludes me now...
 
Hello.

I would not stow in an aircraft my camera in a really useful box (RRB) but for daily UK use it is fine;
My RRB has a 600mm length internal and my rods are 580mm so it cant move fore-aft
The box has about 50mm of cushion foam cut to size in the bottom
Its a £25 solution - I guess a £200 peli might be better - but they are heavy and dont stack and also are not transparent to see which box is which - I have maybe 10 RRBs of kit - with that much gear Pelis are not really an option.

in the wider context of my kit, where my redheads (for example) are also in RRBs it is extremely practical as all my kit stacks up in the cupbnoard at the studio, in my girlfriends space limited flat or a hotel room, also my gear stacks in my Boxer van and on bigger jobs where I need to move a lot of kit I can stack 5 boxes on a sack truck and roll them around fast.

I also keep my Packingtons (I have 1 for FS100 bits, one for my nikon D3 stills kit and one for my 5d2 kit) in RRBs

Overall the 'bags in a boxes' solution works very well, as for large shoots working with the boxes works (like dermots pic), and for smaller shoots working with bags works

---

Aly - the Packington could indeed work sort of like a cine saddle


S
 
Just to add something to the thread, i keep cameras in a kata bag, i think the OC74, it's a bit like a suitcase but it just about fits a rig in and it's well padded and can be divided up. I've have a petrol bag too which has bits and pieces in it (on of their doctor style bags) but i find that too deep. I have numerous peli cases for lenses and other bits of equipment. Both the padded foam and the divider system. I have a dedicated dedo lighting bag too. Finally i also have imported peli copies from sino enclosures in china, which are pretty similar to the peli cases but much cheaper.

Overall they all have their place. I find the padded dividers of the Kata useful for cameras and little bits and pieces, more so than the padded foam solutions which are fixed once you've worked out your sections. I remember seeing on kick starter a really cool system for dividing up your bag but i can't remember what that is, keep meaning to look it up.

I also have a range of stills bags, from Domke to my favourite overall, an onabag brixton - i have been through so many 'manbags' it's not true...

Yes, i am a bag junkie...

cheers
paul
 
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