Looking for a support rig for a GH2 kit - or is it even worth it at this point?

[Magic815]

Hi there,

I realize this question has likely been asked hundreds of times at this point, but I was hoping to get some tailored advice for my situation. I've got a pretty simple kit of gear and I've been trying to figure out how I can best round it out with support gear to make it more useful as I attempt to get involved in more film-making projects.

What I have:
- Panasonic GH2
- 4 lenses (Kit 14-140mm, 20mm pancake, 50mm and 28mm Canon FD lenses with adapters)
- Tascam DR-100MKII recorder
- Video tripod (Fluid head on Manfrotto sticks)
- $1500 custom built PC for editing

My immediate goal is to work on some personal narrative short films, but it would also be good to have a decent enough kit to get smaller paid gigs to help pay for those endeavors. (Stuff like Kickstarter videos for people, or small ads for local companies/friends, etc). I come from an editing background, but I've been really trying to transition into directing.

As I envision my gear needs on some project ideas, I keep coming to the conclusion that I need some sort of support rig for my camera. So far, I've been stuck with locked down tripod shots (which look great), but I haven't gotten anything usable from handheld operation of the GH2, and I'd like to be able to infuse some camera movement into my films/projects.

My main hesitation is that I already have a set of gear that is quite aged (and that I've put ~$3600 into so far). And while I'm perfectly fine with the quality I'm able to get out of the camera and recorder for now, I'd hate to invest a lot more money into a kit that will likely be completely outdated in another year or two. However, I can't seem to create quality films solely with my equipment that I have (I don't even want to think about what I'm missing in the lighting and sound department). I seem to be in a 'chicken or the egg' scenario where potential collaborators/clients want to see past work, but I don't have anything I believe of high enough quality. It's becoming more clear that I likely need to create something amazing on my own to prove what I can do.

So that brings me to my main question:
If I was looking to purchase some sort of support rig (whether it be a shoulder rig, monopole, steadycam, etc), but I wasn't trying to spend more than $120-150 - is there anything out there even worth buying? If so, what type of rig would be recommended? Bonus points if its something that can work with the GH2 for now and be useful on future DSLR rigs as I hopefully one day can transition off of the GH2.

I'm well aware of the idea that 'you get what you pay for,' but I have heartburn with the idea of sinking another $500-$1000+ into a kit that may not have much usable life left. I don't need some high end steadycam with vest - I understand that story is king. But I can't seem to shake the idea that I could do a lot better if I could just move the damn camera more smoothly in my films.

I'm a mechanical engineer by day, so I don't mind the DIY options either, but there seem to be five new versions every day. I just don't want to spend my time building a rig that doesn't really help or hasn't been proven by lots of users yet. But if the ~$150 chinese knockoffs aren't that much better than the ~$30 DIY's, that would be good to know too. I definitely understand that at some point it makes more sense to rent equipment, but I'm not quite at the "steady, paying projects" stage yet, and I just need a little help on my kit to get my personal projects elevated so that I can then transition into all of that.

I'd love any and all suggestions you can give me. Thanks!

 

[Alex H.]

Get THIS and a viewfinder loupe for handheld shooting. There is no need to go all-out with big, fancy rigs and gimbals and things when you're starting out. Good stories can be told from a tripod with a little bit of handheld work where needed. You might also want to look at ND filters for your lense as they are rather helpful with outdoor shooting on sunny days.

Otherwise, it seems that the sound department is where you're lacking more. Just the DR-100mkII isn't going to get you much in terms of usable production sound; you have no mic kit with boom pole, shockmount, and windscreen. What about headphones? Though, rather than spending money on the sound equipment you lack, I'd suggest finding someone who knows what s/he is doing with sound, and who has the kit necessary, to collaborate with you.

As far as useable life left, support gear is generally pretty versatile as far as cameras go. It's the camera body itself you may find the urge to upgrade later, and the lenses only if you completely shift gears to another camera manufacturer. If you go with the GH4, or even a good deal on a used GH3, the tripod, the rig, the audio gear, etc., will all remain viable.

 

[Magic815]

Get THIS and a viewfinder loupe for handheld shooting. There is no need to go all-out with big, fancy rigs and gimbals and things when you're starting out. Good stories can be told from a tripod with a little bit of handheld work where needed. You might also want to look at ND filters for your lense as they are rather helpful with outdoor shooting on sunny days.

Otherwise, it seems that the sound department is where you're lacking more. Just the DR-100mkII isn't going to get you much in terms of usable production sound; you have no mic kit with boom pole, shockmount, and windscreen. What about headphones? Though, rather than spending money on the sound equipment you lack, I'd suggest finding someone who knows what s/he is doing with sound, and who has the kit necessary, to collaborate with you.

As far as useable life left, support gear is generally pretty versatile as far as cameras go. It's the camera body itself you may find the urge to upgrade later, and the lenses only if you completely shift gears to another camera manufacturer. If you go with the GH4, or even a good deal on a used GH3, the tripod, the rig, the audio gear, etc., will all remain viable.

Awesome info, and very good points! Do you have recommendations on viewfinders? Would that rig still be useful if I didn't immediately get a VF with it?

I definitely agree on the lack of sound equipment. I quickly realized the audio costs would quickly inflate past my current budget, so I've done my best to network with local people who can help support that side of things. I have some people I can beg/borrow/steal from when it comes time for filming. Same thing with lighting - I don't think it's possible for me to afford a good kit of all the necessary equipment on my own. At some point, needs to become a collaboration. However, I wasn't really finding anyone with support gear for something along the lines of a GH2 - hence why I'm searching to get that little bit now.

What are your thoughts on a monopod? I've noticed that a lot of "best shoulder rig" threads get some people saying not to bother, and instead go with a monopod. My main concern is I'd like to do some simple walk/follow shots for my projects, and a monopod doesn't seem too helpful there.

One other concern with shoulder rigs, is that I'd like them to stay versatile through camera upgrades. I'd most likely not use/own anything myself larger than a GH4, 5D MKIII, or BMPC, but it'd be good to know if something would work with a BMCC, C100, or some of the large sensor stuff if I was going to spend a lot of money on it. Is there typically a "line" somewhere where the rig drastically changes between camera types?

 

[Alex H.]

Viewfinder loupe = additional point of contact = added stability for handheld shooting. Without it, you're swinging a camera in front of you with only a little more support.

r.e. monopods: they're okay for some things, but I personally find them not as versatile. There are some shooters who swear by them, but your mileage may vary. For walking shots, handheld can be very difficult without a gimbaled stabilizer like Glidecam or MoVi, but those are expensive and take lots of practice to get right.

Walking handheld shots also take practice, but with a wide lens and a bit of rehearsal it can be done.

That shoulder rig will be fine for all those cameras. If you move up to something like the C100, though, you may start to outweigh the usefulness of that rig. GH4, 5DmkIII, BMPCC... all should be fine.

 

[DPStewart]

Dude....I've got the same camera/lens set as you.

OK, I gots LOTS to say on this.

Yeah, that mini rig posted above is pretty cool, but those don't work once you start walking. Add a manfrotto monopod to your arsenal - those specifically because they have feet and a ball-joint at the bottom. That makes a HUGE difference! You can push the camera forward and rotate it around for all kinds of cool shots with ZERO setup time! Just poke it into the ground, hit record, and start pushing it around your subject. It's not "dolly" cool, but it's dirt cheap and instantaneous.

Get an Audio Technica AT897 mic. It's cheap, runs a long time off of 1 AA battery and will give totally professional usable audio. Sure, not as good as the $600 Sennheisers, but those are only 10-percent better for more than twice the price. Boom poles can be had cheap and/or improvised.

That Tascan recorder is fine for your needs, I think what Alex H. means is "don't use its onboard microphones". And he's right...don't...for DIALOG. Although it will be killer for collecting sounds FOR your productions - like street ambience, the sounds of other environments, and sounds of people doing things - like Foley or other activities. I use it for everything EXCEPT dialog and it's fantastic. Plug a good mic into it for dialog and you're cookin'.

PM me and I'll find links to all the inexpensive shoulder rig parts I've found. I can't remember them right now.

--> --> And get a Metabones FD-M4/3 Speedbooster! It will add years of life to your GH2. (You are running LPowells's Flowmotion or some similar stable hack I assume.)

~Cheers

 

[Magic815]

Dude....I've got the same camera/lens set as you.

OK, I gots LOTS to say on this.

Yeah, that mini rig posted above is pretty cool, but those don't work once you start walking. Add a manfrotto monopod to your arsenal - those specifically because they have feet and a ball-joint at the bottom. That makes a HUGE difference! You can push the camera forward and rotate it around for all kinds of cool shots with ZERO setup time! Just poke it into the ground, hit record, and start pushing it around your subject. It's not "dolly" cool, but it's dirt cheap and instantaneous.

Get an Audio Technica AT897 mic. It's cheap, runs a long time off of 1 AA battery and will give totally professional usable audio. Sure, not as good as the $600 Sennheisers, but those are only 10-percent better for more than twice the price. Boom poles can be had cheap and/or improvised.

That Tascan recorder is fine for your needs, I think what Alex H. means is "don't use its onboard microphones". And he's right...don't...for DIALOG. Although it will be killer for collecting sounds FOR your productions - like street ambience, the sounds of other environments, and sounds of people doing things - like Foley or other activities. I use it for everything EXCEPT dialog and it's fantastic. Plug a good mic into it for dialog and you're cookin'.

PM me and I'll find links to all the inexpensive shoulder rig parts I've found. I can't remember them right now.

--> --> And get a Metabones FD-M4/3 Speedbooster! It will add years of life to your GH2. (You are running LPowells's Flowmotion or some similar stable hack I assume.)

~Cheers

Awesome info as well! Yea, I've definitely been considering a monopod as well. Is it this one you're recommending?: link

I'll keep my eye on the Audio Technica AT897. For larger projects where we'll be using a boom pole/and mic, I've been able to get by with the beg/borrow route from other filmmakers in the area, so it hasn't been as pressing of a need for me just yet. I definitely agree that the DR-100MKII is not good enough on it's internal mics alone. For dialog, I've used it with borrowed mics/boom poles.

With your speedbooster idea, I've definitely had my eye on that for a while. I'd love to get one, but have to be cognizant of my continual spending on this hobby at the moment, haha. And yes, I am running LPowells' Flowmotion v2.02.

In the same vein as the $60 polaroid rig linked above, what are people's thoughts on this one: Spider Rig. I don't have a follow focus, monitor, or any of those other accessories. I'm just trying to get my camera to shake less when I move around. It seems like it'd be good for dipping my toes into rigs (as I figure out how often I would even reach for this style of stabilization), but I see that the joints/hardware in it are pretty low quality. I was considering getting it, and then doing some DIY work to help it out. (Following some of the suggestions: here).