Preordered a GH-1, Changing my mind

squig said:
VGA LCD glasses in transit. ordered one of these suckers to power it http://www.macally.com/EN/Product/ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=33

there's $10 AA battery USB power packs on ebay too.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Hey, Squig, I kinda like the glasses idea, but these look kinda... ridiculous, no? I mean, they would make you look like cyclops from x-men. Tell me how you like them, and if you figure out a way to make them look normal. Also, can you still see where you are going?
 
I'll let ya know, should be here in a few days. yeah they look stupid but as long as the resolution is good I don't really care how I look. I'm shooting a feature pretty much solo so I need my hands free and I want my setup to stay compact.
 
Thanks squig.


Toenis said:
Maybe one can use JXD 951 / 921 and the like for really really compact external screen?
Those are sub $100 solutions with built in battery that will last about 5 hours. This Ikan is almost like a rebranded Liliput and has that same low rez display as those TV-in media players I suggested. Those players unfortunately have no mounting options.

Cheers,
T
Click to expand...



What do you guys think about this? Would a cheap chinese all in one mp3/4 player and camera like this really be better than the ikan? How good was the ikan kholi? Or anybody else?
 
I would probably try Toenis' route. The MP3 player is pretty cheap on ebay and again, self powered.

If it doesn't have an interchangeable battery you could get two and charge one while the other is down.

For an electronic Viewfinder when coupled with a Redrock Eye Piece and a Noga arm, it'll work out really well. Either way though, you must find a solution unless you shoot at face height all the time. There's just no way around it.
 
Toenis said:
Maybe one can use JXD 951 / 921 and the like for really really compact external screen?
Those are sub $100 solutions with built in battery that will last about 5 hours. This Ikan is almost like a rebranded Liliput and has that same low rez display as those TV-in media players I suggested. Those players unfortunately have no mounting options.

Cheers,
T
Click to expand...
But the resolution is not good at all for focusing. It's only QVGA:320*240. What about using something like this with some sort of external battery; http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/T070...ptZCarQ5fVideoQ5fNavigationQQsalenotsupported

This has a resolution of 800 x 480 RGB and be formatted to 1024 x 768
I've also seen some others for less than $100.00 that has a resolution of 800x600 and same type of inputs.
 
Shouldn't be much different than using an HVX/HPX LCD.

Or no worse than the GH-1's LCD. Which is great for me. But mileage varies.

I'm personally trying to avoid making the camera any larger if it's not specifically to add weight for stability.
 
A smaller rig is not always convenient. Mattebox, external LCD, arm, rails, shoulder pad, grips, follow focus, battery pack, counter weight...

I would not be surprised if my complete production 5D setup is about 13 lbs, but it's a lot more comfortable and easy to use. I can shoot for long periods of time and get video that looks much better, more stable, and higher accuracy focus than anything less.

The gear works for me, not against me. It's much more difficult for me to shoot with a smaller camera.
 
Thanks for letting me know that a smaller rig is not always convenient.

I'm pretty sure I never said that it's the best way to go, but clearly stated that it was my preference. For me... so long as it's stable then it's hyper convenient and a larger package will never have a reason to exist. But that's me.

It'll be great when people start realizing that not everyone is going to work the same way, or wants anyone to try to convince them that their way is great.
 
Just voicing my opinion, Kholi.. Am I allowed to do that? Did not really mean you specifically, do what you like I don't care.

There is a lot of discussion and regret about making the camera configuration larger... But it has many advantages when put into practice. It's a lot easier to nail focus with a large on-camera LCD. It's a lot easier to pull focus on moving subjects. It's a lot easier to have a steady shot with the camera balanced on your shoulder. Etc...
 
The problem is that you're battling another opinion. Specifically trying to go against another opinion. It's a fruitless effort, let people have their opinions if you truly believe in the concept of opinion.

Or preference, as a matter of fact. When someone says they don't like the MKii, you ask them if they're crazy.

Doesn't sound like someone that truly believes in the right to have preference. You're not the only one, either.

AS far as weight and balance goes, let me know when you have footage and stills of an MKii rig that's balanced well on the shoulder. From my experience, with an actual fullblown Zacuto rig and Counter-Weight under the MKii, it's actually a LOT MORE stable using something like the Gunstock arm and keeping the camera lightweight.

But again, that's my experience.
 
.. What?? Are you crazy? I don't even know how to respond to that.

What could I possibly gain from winning anything? This is out of hand... I'm not battling anybody, just sharing my experience so it can maybe help others. Sorry.
 
Ok guys relax. We all work differently and have our preferences. No need to defend those preferences, it's helpful to everyone to hear as many options as possible.
 
Kholi said:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1664228&postcount=7

In this very thread.
Click to expand...
You misunderstood, in context that was to be taken in humor.

This has absolutely nothing to do with you. All I said is that larger rigs have some advantages, and I listed them to consider. I did say it worked well for me not everybody. Next you attack me and put together some silly conspiracy theory.

I agree with Isaac, people should get all the data and not just a single side of it. If I had known it would cause this much trouble I would have never said anything.

Kholi, If you truly feel that way I apologize.
 
Last edited:
Of course everyone's experience will be different but anyone trying to focus the 5d with a super low res screen is in for a butt kicking. Yes, it may work, but I sincerely doubt it will be fun. I had an XH A1 and would focus fine off the screen, but that was on a 1/3 chip.
 
ryansheffer said:
Of course everyone's experience will be different but anyone trying to focus the 5d with a super low res screen is in for a butt kicking. Yes, it may work, but I sincerely doubt it will be fun. I had an XH A1 and would focus fine off the screen, but that was on a 1/3 chip.
Click to expand...

Ok... but it doesn't put out a high resolution signal when you are recording. Urg. This whole monitor thing is a headache.
 
Last edited:
I though about the shoulder mount option for a long time but it just wouldn't work for me. I'm over 6ft and the lead actress in the film is 5ft3. The shoulder rig also wouldn't work for walking and running like the steadytracker does. The more weight I add to the steadytracker the quicker I'm going to be fatigued so I have to keep the on camera weight to a minimum while still having all the accessories I need.

I have a 7" LCD lying around but it's too heavy and bulky for this rig. I'm probably going to go without a mattebox and go with the kholi option of screw on filters and rubber lens hoods. I've been doing it that way for a while now and it works just fine.

I'm also probably going to go without a follow focus, all of my lenses are primes and they have long throw smooth focus actions so I can pull focus with them pretty well. Without the follow focus and mattebox I can leave the rods behind too. I'll probably end up with all these bits and pieces and use them in certain situations but not all the time.

So the ideal setup for me is the MKII with screw on filters and rubber hood mounted on the steadytracker, LCD glasses, headphones, a zoom H4N mounted on the steadytracker replacing a counter weight, sennheiser G2 lavs, an osprey backpack with an f-stop grande ICU full of prime lenses, a lightweight carbon tripod, and the addition of LED lights and a rode NTG-1 for exteme run and gun missions. It doesn't end up looking too obtrusive but is capable of getting pro shots and I can lug it to just about any extreme location I can think of.

A couple of bags of lighting, a boom, an indie slider, a car suction mount, and my vintage miller tripod and that just about completes my gear list for the feature.

I've also just discovered I can put 2 500Gb drives in my macbook pro and setup a 1 terabyte raid woohoo!

disclaimer: this works for me and is my opinion gained from personal experience trial and error and a lot of time and money.
 
squig said:
disclaimer: this works for me and is my opinion gained from personal experience trial and error and a lot of time and money.
Click to expand...
That's a cool setup. I'm going to try and mimick that myself so thanks for that input. I'm looking at the zoom H4N also. Since it's a multitrack what about using some kind of wireless lav mic into it? ALso, I didn't see anything about your anamorphic lens. I'm really interested on how that works for you... If it's good then I might think of picking one up myself.
 
Ian-T said:
That's a cool setup. I'm going to try and mimick that myself so thanks for that input. I'm looking at the zoom H4N also. Since it's a multitrack what about using some kind of wireless lav mic into it? ALso, I didn't see anything about your anamorphic lens. I'm really interested on how that works for you... If it's good then I might think of picking one up myself.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah forgot to mention the anamorphics. so far the optex which is a similar design to the century optics looks a bit soft but I think it will work well for certain shots. The isco I haven't been using much on the MKII yet until I get an adapter that fits tight but if I decide to use the isco I might need to secure it with a mount cause it weighs 2 pounds + lens. panny should be here in a week or so. I'll get around to an anamorphic shootout.

yeah planning on getting the sennheiser wireless lavs and hooking the receivers up to the H4n also maybe putting the rode on a boom with a wireless transmitter too.

I'll keep posting more details of the setup, where to get stuff and how well it all works in the squigs MKII epic thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top