GH3 Just ordered a GH3 for video, now what?

T

thercman

Member
Hi everyone! So I just ordered a GH3 and I am pretty excited. Prior to the order I spent countless hours watching video reviews about the camera and trying to compare how different lenses perform on it. So here is a list of what I purchased and I hope I am doing this right...

GH3 body
Olympus 17mm f1.8 (black, pre-order)
Olympus 45mm f1.8 (black)
Audio-Technica AT875 shotgun mic
Auray WSS-2012 Professional Windshield for Shotgun Microphones - (12cm)
Pearstone DUSM-1 Universal Shock Mount
Benro A2573FS6 S6 Video Head and AL Flip Lock Legs Kit

Already own a Tascam DR-100mkii (not sure if I can use the Tascam line out, to mic in on the GH3 or not)
Already own an Electro-Voice RE50N/D-B High Output Dynamic Interview Microphone (in hindsight I should have bought a LAV)

So now I am trying to figure out what I need for IS beyond the tripod. I have been reading other posts and people are suggesting shoulder rigs. I was thinking a glidecam xr1000 might be more useful.

Also, for interviews I need a cage (Fhugen?), lighting (portable, LED), a follow focus (Kamerar?) and view finder (Kamerar?).

With all that said, this set up will be used for my podcast entitled The Planet Matters Podcast. In order to enhance the subject matter I would like to create short videos/documentaries that cover a topic. EX: I might go into the field to cover some hazardous waste running into a stream etc. I am also planning to do interviews on location in the field but mostly in office type settings. Therefore I need to remain portable.

I appreciate any advice you guys could provide.

Cheers,
Greg
 
Wow, the XCAM Sabre looks like it flies pretty smoothly... What do you guys think about Camtree or ProAim gear?
 
thercman said:
What do you guys think about Camtree or ProAim gear?
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Never used it, but it looks like they are the same manufacturer. I am curious about their larger LED lights. Right now I'm investing in the F&V K4000 Daylight 1x1 LED lights because they are cheap and the color is very good. Stay away from the bi-color model, the output is low and the color is not as good as the 5600 Kelvin daylight model. You can buy three units with a case for $1,050.
 
thercman said:
Wow, the XCAM Sabre looks like it flies pretty smoothly... What do you guys think about Camtree or ProAim gear?
Click to expand...

ProAim gear is pretty crap quality. I have a baseplate and 'cage' from them.

Can't say enough good things about teh Fhugen cage especially if you get it on one of their 'deal' prices of $99 or $149.

@TheDingo - I would love to hear your feedback on the F&V K4000. I was thinking of picking up 3x Aputure 528S (spotlight) panel for quick interview setups as I don't use V Lock batteries and have more Old Sony L batts around. I know the output is lower but this is for pure portability.
 
RatLabProductions said:
@TheDingo - I would love to hear your feedback on the F&V K4000. I was thinking of picking up 3x Aputure 528S (spotlight) panel for quick interview setups as I don't use V Lock batteries and have more Old Sony L batts around. I know the output is lower but this is for pure portability.
Click to expand...

Wow those Aputure lights are cheap and compact. You can almost buy 3 lights for the price of one of the K4000 units.

What I would like to know is what's the color like from the Aputure lights ?

I could see being able to pack 3 or 4 of the Aputure lights into a backpack, and using this for an ultra portable interview set-up. Just as long as the color is good.

The K4000 daylight units have good color, very neutral for LED lights, and they are pretty bright. They make for a great fill light when my subject is being lit by bright window light ( not direct sunlight, as it's too weak for this ), but they are still pretty bulky to carry when you are working as a one-man band.
 
jimagine said:
have you seen the new RX10?
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Looks interesting. If the video is good, it could become the handycam of large sensor ( 2.7x crop ) video cameras.

The 24-200mm equivalent f/2.8 lens would be a great range to have, especially if it's parfocal and can hold focus throughout the range.
 
TheDingo said:
Wow those Aputure lights are cheap and compact. You can almost buy 3 lights for the price of one of the K4000 units.

What I would like to know is what's the color like from the Aputure lights ?

I could see being able to pack 3 or 4 of the Aputure lights into a backpack, and using this for an ultra portable interview set-up. Just as long as the color is good.

The K4000 daylight units have good color, very neutral for LED lights, and they are pretty bright. They make for a great fill light when my subject is being lit by bright window light ( not direct sunlight, as it's too weak for this ), but they are still pretty bulky to carry when you are working as a one-man band.
Click to expand...

Don't want to jack the thread so after this post I will take it to messages.

The CRI is listed as >85 and I have read some pretty favourable reviews of these lights. They seem to lack durability but really in an ipad sized plastic light you give up ruggedness for portability. A DP I follow on Twitter just picked up a set of the Aputure 528s. I will ask him. From what I have seen in tests the light might lend towards magenta than green as is usual with LED. I saw these at Henry's (of course with a healhty markup) but didn't have time to play while I was renting a lens.
 
Hi Greg -- c'grats on the GH3 purchase. Helluva camera.

If the 45mm is the only lens you are getting (while you wait for the 17mm), you may be disappointed by how tight it is. With the GH3's 2x crop, you are looking at 90mm FOV. Not impossible to work with, but tight.

For gear, you need three things to be ready to shoot, everything else is fluff: a shoulder rig, a viewfinder and an ND-filter. Give me those 3 and I'll shoot a feature film for you on the cheap. Get the cheap $50 Cowboy rig someone mentioned. The viewfinder and ND will help you nail your shots.

You don't need a stabilizer. Fun for some shots, but you won't end up using it much. Look at most production teams on TV: the camera is on their shoulder. I use a shoulder rig 90% of the time I'm shooting.

Lighting: meh. Use your fast lenses and learn to work with ambient light. (If you do get one light, get the F&V R-300 ring light -- I use it often when I need a little more fill than ambient light gives me.)

Sound: good work. Figure out how to pipe audio back into the GH3 for your audio recorder. The GH3 has a headphone jack, which is great.

Have fun, you have a great setup that is coming together!
 
I've got a half dozen of the 528 spots.
They have a magenta shift and they can flicker at less than 100%.

But, they're like iPads, throw more light than a Light Panel or Cool Light...very punchy light.
And they weigh nothing and run for over an hour on the small FP batteries.
I throw them Giotto stands with tiny ball heads.
They're ridiculous. I carry a full light kit in a small Canon camera bag with custom made soft boxes, two set of batteries for each...just crazy.
I've shot a few TV spots and a ton of film scenes with them...I mean they weigh nothing have no foot print and they're like carrying around a box of Ari 650s.

I saw the potential flicker in my first test and still got 4 more. I just don't dim them in critical conditions and I've never had any on any scenes.
A couple of Filmconvert settings that I really like (like 400x) are the perfect magenta "lift" for them.

They're like toys, but for the money, I have no problem if I kill a few a year for what they offer.
I'm getting a few more.
 
Thanks for all the great recommendations guys...

bprater,

Yeah I was a little bummed that I have to wait for the 17mm. In the mean time I'll play around with the 45mm to see what I can do with it. Shoulder rig, got it! :-)


I am curious, why are the Proaim kits are "junk"? I know they might not have the refinement (such as coatings and rounded edges) as kits 3x the price but if they are mechanically sound why wouldn't people buy these? From what I can tell many of the higher end kits are ridiculously over priced. So why would you spend 3x the money for appearance over function? I would think the exception to this might be a follow focus since it is geared and needs to be more precise.
 
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