GH2 Help me spend my money! ~$1k - mic setup and tripod

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phypon

New member
Hi all!

Okay, my head is spinning right now. I've been looking at so much info. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but since I recently bought a GH2 I figured this forum should be acceptable. I have a GH2 and a few lenses (canon fd 50mm, kit lens, nikon 28mm). At first I was contemplating buying another lens, either a canon 24mm f2 or a canon 20mm or the lumix 20mm pancake. But, I need a mic setup. I know sound is very important an think that's the direction I should head into next. I intend to learn and use the camera for short films. It will pretty much just be me working the camera and sound for now and for acting any friends I can have help me out.

So, for a sound setup here is what I've been looking at so far:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/481528-REG/Rode_NTG_2_Condenser_Shotgun_Microphone.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/573091-REG/Rode_WS6_WS6_Deluxe_Windshield_for.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/469810-REG/General_Brand_Boompole_Holder_and_Grip.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/243719-REG/Avenger_A2030DCB_A2030D_Turtle_Base_Century.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/392860-REG/Rode_BOOMPOLE_Boompole_for_Rode_NTG_1.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/488047-REG/Hosa_Technology_GMP_467_GMP_467_Right_Angle.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/600761-REG/Zoom_H4N_H4n_Handy_Mobile_4_Track.html

I know I will also need a longer cable for use with the above links.

Now, I have a pretty crappy tripod at the moment. I'd like to get a new one, but do I go with ball head or fluid head?? Anything decent between $200 - $300? Ball or fluid?? This part is confusing me!

Basically I want a sound setup where I don't need a sound operator and can set it up myself (hence the boom setup). I'm I way offtrack here or am I on the right path? Any recommendations are greatly welcomed. Like I said, I've been doing as much looking for info as I can over the last couple of days and my head is totally spinning right now. Thanks for any input!
 
How about headphones? Pretty important item - HD25s or similar? Ball head OR fluid head? Ball for levelling, fluid head for movement - I assume you mean bowl, as a ball head is for stills - no good for video?

The items you have picked are quite sensible for your budget, I think.
 
Thank you very much for your input. I have a set of decent headphones that I can use. Will certainly do for now. Is there a specific tripod you would recommend?
 
You want an XLR to XLR cable if you are plugging the mic into the Zoom. The NTG-2 kit you listed has an XLR to 1/8", which will work in conjunction with the right angle adapter if you are mounting the mic to the camera (not advisable.)
 
Thanks Ed. I did notice that. I was thinking that I could get a longer, extra xlr to xlr cable and use the one in that kit if I just want to use that mic on the camera for portability reasons. I will look at the specs a bit more but if you know off the top of your head, do I need an xlr cable with female and a male end to connect that mic to the zoom? Is there a maximum length that I should be aware of for the cable (any degradation after so many feet)?
 
XLR M to XLR F. No length limit. I always build my own cables with Canare L-4E6S cable and Neturik X series connectors. Pretty much any shielded cable will work, but I prefer L-4E6S because it has twisted pairs of wires that resists RF interference.
 
I would stay away from that Manfrotto micro fluid head, not worth the money IMO.

I just purchased the Benro S6 head and can recommend it, very nice action for $160. Not the best fit & finish (plastic knobs etc) but it works well and the counterbalance is a big improvement over the Manfrotto 701 I was using before (which is also a good choice for a light camera).
 
I'd stay way from the rode boompole. My own was utter crap, even though it got good reviews...maybe i had a dud. The locking sections were a complete joke, some would lock properly and some wouldn't. Then the top section started to rattle after some use. If I was in the states i would have definitely sent it back. As for the blimp (its not in your list i know)...equally as crappy and I actually sent that back and got a replacement for it...the replacement was better but not great IMO. I use it because i didn't want to waste even more $$ sending that back again. It does the job OK. I have the NTG2 and that's a good mic. Rode has good mics but support accessories for their products suck in my experience. I may have gotten duds...but 3 crappy items ?? Somethings wrong there .I would look into a ktek boompole if I were you. I use my friends ktek and have had no issues and I quite like it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...&sku=326895&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews

its only $80 more than the rode if you can squeeze it in your budget
 
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I just shot a feature film -- 80% of it as a one man crew (camera and sound) using the same set up you´re planing to use. Camera on a tripod (mostly static shots) and boom on a Cstand with a boompole holder.
This is the gear I used (sound wise):
Rode NTG2 mic and Zoom H4n recorder
rode mini boompole and rode blimp
(Camera 5dmkII on a Sachtler Tripod) I consider this to be the bare minimum to achieve a decent sound.
You can do it. But be prepared to move slower than if you had a guy helping you with the sound or with the camera. An articulated boom pole seems quite smart for this type of shooting. I now own a couple of mkh microphones and a sound devices 702t and the sound is at pro level. I regret not having done my feature with this gear, but then again, I didn't see the point of spending money on audio back when I started. The zoom will give you good sound if you use a decent pre amp like a (sound devices) mix pre. The trouble with this kind of thing is that you only realize how good/bad your audio really is on post production. For a sound set up I would get a used Octava 012 hipercardioid (for interior dialogue), a used sennheiser 416T (for exterior dialogue), an aluminium ktek boompole (rode miniboompole gets stuck all the time specially in cold weather) Rode Blimp is fine (Rycote is better), and an used mix pre SD with a zoom h2 or h4n or similiar. For tripod I would get a used Sachtler ACE. I think it's better to buy used quality stuff than new crappy stuff. Gear wise in sound gear you really get what you pay for.

here's a link to the feature I just shot: https://vimeo.com/51687343 using this setup (Rode NTG2 + Zoom h4n + rode mini boompole + holder)

it's called THE BALDLANDS - When Baldness Becomes a Crime.

The Rode NTG2 (or the NTG1) are not a bad mics at all. But sennheiser 416 or Rode NTG3 are much better.
But in the end IMO what really matters is that you get the movie done regardless of the gear you use.
Best of luck! :)
 
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