GH2 Sexiest (and practical) GH2 rig with SmallHD DP6 monitor

H

hubgam

Active member
This rig I "built" (the system is the Bulldog by Indisystem) has dual audio system with a Marantz 661 recorder and G2 Sennheiser wireless. The monitor is a DP6 by SmallHD (by far the best monitor I've ever tested), carbon fiber rails, FF, and shoulder pad with attachable weights if needed. The entire rig as configured in the pictures attached weights only 12 pounds!

Everything is adjustable: you can angle and swivel the monitor in any direction, bring it up or down and/or closer to you, adjust the angle, width, and position of the front grips, as well as slide the shoulder pad back and forth. It feels extremely solid and it works great (if you are not walking) even with a non IS lens like the one on it (Canon FD 50mm f1.4).
You can even tilt the recorder upward (like in the picture) or tilt it down (sideways). In either position is "out of the way" and the rig is perfectly balanced on your shoulder.

That's what we use when we shoot the Santa Fe Tv Show with the new GH2.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Carlo Zanella
The Santa Fe TV Show
gh2_rig1.jpggh2_rig2.jpggh2_rig4.jpggh2_rig3.jpg
 
I like it a lot! That is a pretty small package for what it is capable of. What format do you shoot in? 1080p @ 24 FPS, 1080i, 720p @ 60 FPS? Is this show broadcast anywhere or is it internet only?
 
that is nice and small and run gun style. one question: I'm trying to figure out your audio setup from the pics? Seems that you are funning the wireless into the camera but you also have an xlr plugged in to your recorder, but where is it going? nice trailer video on your site. excellent. do you find audio in camera good for most jobs or are you relying on recorder?
 
mpgxsvcd said:
I like it a lot! That is a pretty small package for what it is capable of. What format do you shoot in? 1080p @ 24 FPS, 1080i, 720p @ 60 FPS? Is this show broadcast anywhere or is it internet only?
Click to expand...

Internet only. But starting next month, we will start uploading it in 1080p. I use 1080p24, 720p 60 for slomo, and, for run and gun, 1080i

Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
 
rubberbandito said:
that is nice and small and run gun style. one question: I'm trying to figure out your audio setup from the pics? Seems that you are funning the wireless into the camera but you also have an xlr plugged in to your recorder, but where is it going? nice trailer video on your site. excellent. do you find audio in camera good for most jobs or are you relying on recorder?
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind comment on our show. I enjoy producing it and we all are having a lot of fun. In this particular set up, the G2 wireless is going to the Marantz, and I sync it with the on board audio of the GH2. In a controlled environment you can actually fly the G2 directly into the GH2 with satisfactory results, but if you are in a public place or anywhere with a lot of bkg noise, no no...The GH2 is an AMAZING camera. I am loving the color of the GH2 a lot better than our EX1s, but it's still no replacement for the Sony in many applications. In post I usually find myself matching the color to the GH2.

Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
 
Jonathan12uiz said:
what kind of mattebox is that?
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It is the lens shade that comes with the EX1!!!!! LOL!! With a 77mm step up adaptor, it clamps on it just fine, and it does block unwanted light to hit the lens...Works great for me. When outdoor, I just put a clamp on square filter holder to fit gradient filters, polarizers, or additional ND filters if needed (and I take that shade off).
 
Wow with that rig you'll have no problems with folks taking you seriously. I have not been over at DVInfo in a bit but it's good to see you now using the GH-2 with the EX.
 
Ian-T said:
Wow with that rig you'll have no problems with folks taking you seriously. I have not been over at DVInfo in a bit but it's good to see you now using the GH-2 with the EX.
Click to expand...

As long as I don't take the GH2 off the rig...
icon11.png
. It does indeed work great with the EX. I still think there's a little bit more detail on the EX , but for the price, the GH2, in my opinion, is an amazing deal!

Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
 
hubgam said:
In a controlled environment you can actually fly the G2 directly into the GH2 with satisfactory results, but if you are in a public place or anywhere with a lot of bkg noise, no no...

Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
Click to expand...

Not sure if I understand right. What I am hearing you say is that in an environment with lots of background noise you have to use the Marantz ... SO YOU CAN MONITOR? Because otherwise what would you mean? I'm sure the sound is very similar on both the recorder and the camera codec in terms of quality even with background noise. In fact eh Marantz probably picks up more. So with background noise, you hear in headphones and tell whoever is making the noise to pipe down, or you just lower the mic level? If you were just using the camera audio you could not monitor and thus not know about that annoying whatever click clack in the background to tell them to turn it off? Thanks for your help.

I am pondering using the new Rode Video Mic Pro and pipe it straight into the camera and leave on one click on mic level and add the 20 db boost on the Rode. I love the sound of the Dolby in camera codec. But only drawback is monitoring to me, which I may be able to work around using my Sony UWP wireless transmitter and receiver to monitor when using lav kit (and I could plug Rode into it). Tryinhg real hard to get away from syncing sound as I find it does not always work and lots to remember to turn on and off both every time if shooting by oneself as I do.
 
Looks a very functional rig! I find myself with so many extra parts around after trying to find pieces that work together to make the perfect rig (for me, not necessarily for anyone else).
 
rubberbandito said:
Not sure if I understand right. What I am hearing you say is that in an environment with lots of background noise you have to use the Marantz ... SO YOU CAN MONITOR? Because otherwise what would you mean? I'm sure the sound is very similar on both the recorder and the camera codec in terms of quality even with background noise. In fact eh Marantz probably picks up more. So with background noise, you hear in headphones and tell whoever is making the noise to pipe down, or you just lower the mic level? If you were just using the camera audio you could not monitor and thus not know about that annoying whatever click clack in the background to tell them to turn it off? Thanks for your help.

I am pondering using the new Rode Video Mic Pro and pipe it straight into the camera and leave on one click on mic level and add the 20 db boost on the Rode. I love the sound of the Dolby in camera codec. But only drawback is monitoring to me, which I may be able to work around using my Sony UWP wireless transmitter and receiver to monitor when using lav kit (and I could plug Rode into it). Tryinhg real hard to get away from syncing sound as I find it does not always work and lots to remember to turn on and off both every time if shooting by oneself as I do.
Click to expand...

With background noise the GH2 compressor does not work well: every small pause the actor or whoever is that you are recording does, the compressor will bring the volume up again making the audio recording very annoing to fix in post (or unuseable). The Marantz is a professional recorder you can use in complete manual mode, way better than the audio quality of the GH2 (of coarse, connected with a wireless system, NOT the on board stereo mic, if that's what you meant). If you are recording in a quiet environment however, the compressor action is not so evident and the audio becomes useable (I am no talking about codec compression, I am talking about the audio compressor built in - GH2). Here's an example of GH2 with the Sennheiser system connected directly into the camera: www.vimeo.com/18122422 in a pretty quiet environment.
Hope this helps.


Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
 
bronxjragon said:
Looks a very functional rig! I find myself with so many extra parts around after trying to find pieces that work together to make the perfect rig (for me, not necessarily for anyone else).
Click to expand...

Minimalistic. That's my theory. The rig is afterall, pretty straight forward, but, it carries a lot of stuff without the weight and size...
 
hubgam said:
With background noise the GH2 compressor does not work well: every small pause the actor or whoever is that you are recording does, the compressor will bring the volume up again making the audio recording very annoing to fix in post (or unuseable). The Marantz is a professional recorder you can use in complete manual mode, way better than the audio quality of the GH2 (of coarse, connected with a wireless system, NOT the on board stereo mic, if that's what you meant). If you are recording in a quiet environment however, the compressor action is not so evident and the audio becomes useable (I am no talking about codec compression, I am talking about the audio compressor built in - GH2). Here's an example of GH2 with the Sennheiser system connected directly into the camera: www.vimeo.com/18122422 in a pretty quiet environment.
Hope this helps.


Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
Click to expand...

Yes this helps. I am testing the GH2 in my quiet home and getting good results from mic straight into camera. But I won't be actually filming for a while. I film outdoors and in noisy environments. That is when the stuff hits the fan if you know what I mean. So glad you already tested out. I did not know about this compressor in the GH2 codec. I thought it was pure manual now, but it sounds like some kind of hybrid, giving us some manual control but also the cam retaining some control. If I can't get rid of dual synced audio as I hoped, then I will just have to find a better way to sync in post. I am thinking to announce the number of new audio clip into the camera when I turn it on. Its just a pain. I don't find singular software to be excellent. Good yes, but not great. Your videos are really beautiful. Looks like a lot of fun.
 
rubberbandito said:
Yes this helps. I am testing the GH2 in my quiet home and getting good results from mic straight into camera. But I won't be actually filming for a while. I film outdoors and in noisy environments. That is when the stuff hits the fan if you know what I mean. So glad you already tested out. I did not know about this compressor in the GH2 codec. I thought it was pure manual now, but it sounds like some kind of hybrid, giving us some manual control but also the cam retaining some control. If I can't get rid of dual synced audio as I hoped, then I will just have to find a better way to sync in post. I am thinking to announce the number of new audio clip into the camera when I turn it on. Its just a pain. I don't find singular software to be excellent. Good yes, but not great. Your videos are really beautiful. Looks like a lot of fun.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Glad to be of help. We all learn from one another, that's why I love this forum!
On the Santa Fe TV Show we do have a lot of fun indeed! And the GH2 makes it even better.

Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
 
peripatew said:
Have you used the ball grip with bulldog at all? I'm debating a Bulldog or a Express35 rig.
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I use the ball grip on long session. It does help not to get to tired when you pull focus all day. I am not familiar with the Express35, but I love my Bulldog: solid, well built, light, extremely configurable - in fact in mine, I took the top handle off to make room for the monitor and make it even lighter, and all made in USA! To me that's a +

Carlo Zanella
www.santafetvshow.com
 
You mentioned something about not walking with the rig, does it not handle movement well? I'm wanting a rig to help with stability while moving.
 
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