Suggestions for Small, Light, Travel Boom Pole for Interviews?

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Hi all:

I am updating my old carbon fiber Gitzo boom pole, it's long and was made for hand booming at distance. What I would like now is a short, ENG type boom pole, mainly for traveling and interviews. Small collapsed size, light weight and reasonable cost are most important, long reach is not. The Røde Micro Boompole looks weak, not really a pro solution. I think internal cabling is a must too.

I am fairly settled on the Ktek KE79CCR
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/sear...InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps&typedValue=Ktek+KE79
Seems like it fits the bill. But are there any alternatives that I am missing? This pole will rarely, if ever be used for hand booming as I am a camera op and when we need to shoot moving scenes/walk and talks, we hire a sound mixer who will usually have their own favorite boom pole for doing that.
 
I have an aluminum K-Tek Traveler pole very similar to the one you're looking at. I think it's the same model or a predecessor. Had it over 10 years. I mostly use it for backup, but it works well, travels compactly (just over 1.5 feet long), and isn't very flexible. Long enough for sitting on a C-Stand for 2nd camera (for most set ups), nice collars, well made, etc. Mine is also internally cabled, though I have the male cable exit at the bottom for the pole rather than at a right angle out the side; personal preference.

K-Tek also has a model that's slightly longer collapsed and about a foot longer extended... Well, a couple options, it looks like:
https://ktekpro.com/product-categor...-graphite/?q=ktek&_boom_extended_length=short

Ambient, PSC, and a couple other companies also have some short poles, IIRC. But they're more expensive and not sure they'll provide much of a real advantage unless you're looking at a long day with your arms in the air. Though I mainly use longer carbon K-Tek poles...

And to your point, when I've tried some cheaper boom poles, such as the Rode, they seemed fairly whippy to me.

Since you're in LA, maybe swing by Location Sound or Trew Audio and try out some poles, or maybe Samy's for the lower-end options...

Anyway, you'll probably be happy with that K-Tek pole.
 
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Thanks for the feedback guys. I ordered the Ktek KE79CC, it was under $200.00 I can't see dropping serious money for what will just be for mainly sit down interviews. Ktek makes solid stuff, now I just have to figure out a case as aluminum extension tubes don't work very well then they get even slightly dented.
 
I haven't managed to bend the tubes on my KE79 (I'm pretty sure that's the exact model I have), and I don't give it any special care. It's stronger than my old LTM titanium poles (that I only use for stunt and stand duty).

Petrol used to make a boom pole travel tube... Had a plastic (PVC-ish) pipe inside a fabric cover and top...It's fairly nice (I still have it), and mine would fit a 9-foot pole but not a 9-foot pole with an Ambient quick release on top (so I don't use it these days). I mention this so if you do find or fashion a tube yourself, leave a little length in case you add a quick release to the end of the pole and so you can easily cram in the female connector and cable (since you're getting a cabled pole).

The other boom pole cases I see are fairly expensive and long (since they're designed to hold expensive and long poles :-) ), and then there are various bags. But for short poles I mainly know of these, and they might be overkill. Maybe think of making your own?
http://www.alfacase.com/boom-tube
 
K-Tek makes the KBLT cases, but the small one might even be longer for the KE79cc. It was more designed around the K152CCR. However, you can also put other stuff in it, like a shock mount, wind screen, headphones, cable, and other stuff, so it might be nice for that.

If you are looking for something really low profile, I know some people make their own out of PVC pipe or look at fishing pole cases. There is a company that I think is called Boom Tube, or something like that, that makes cases out of PVC pipe but has a nice latch on it to secure the top.
 
Jim Feeley said:
I haven't managed to bend the tubes on my KE79 (I'm pretty sure that's the exact model I have), and I don't give it any special care. It's stronger than my old LTM titanium poles (that I only use for stunt and stand duty).

Petrol used to make a boom pole travel tube... Had a plastic (PVC-ish) pipe inside a fabric cover and top...It's fairly nice (I still have it), and mine would fit a 9-foot pole but not a 9-foot pole with an Ambient quick release on top (so I don't use it these days). I mention this so if you do find or fashion a tube yourself, leave a little length in case you add a quick release to the end of the pole and so you can easily cram in the female connector and cable (since you're getting a cabled pole).

The other boom pole cases I see are fairly expensive and long (since they're designed to hold expensive and long poles :-) ), and then there are various bags. But for short poles I mainly know of these, and they might be overkill. Maybe think of making your own?
http://www.alfacase.com/boom-tube
Click to expand...

Yep, still working on how I will protect it for transport. My problem is weight. The duffle bag the boompole will ship in weighs 11 lbs. When I add up tripod, tripod head, slider, light stands, various grip accessories, boom pole holder plus clothing for two weeks (thinking of just three changes of clothes and do some laundry there), I am already maxed out, I may have to leave the slider home. So this works into a boompole protector, most of the rigid ones are heavy. I can just go with a boompole bag and perhaps cover it in a few of those Domke 19" Neoprene protectors. I made my own from PVC for my long carbon Gitzo years ago but that holder is heavy and probably weighs three pounds since I used the heavier black PVC. Not sure, but whatever approach I take needs to be light, really light as I am almost over 50lbs already. Flying really makes you strategize your weight and what you take, I don't want to check a second bag because then I have to also bring a Rock & Roller cart to carry those two plus my carry on and backpack, it all snowballs.
 
I know weight is a consideration when flying, BUT if only a few pounds is stopping you from getting it all in one bag(I understand not wanting to deal with multiple bags), do it. I have NEVER had a problem with or been questioned by a client with bag charges. When I flew all the time and only had my personal suitcase, because my gear was already on-site, and it was over weight, you better believe that charge showed up on the invoice(I've also had plenty of times I did have some gear crammed in my personal bag, too). If you are traveling for a client, those incurred charges are THEIR responsibility, ultimately. Remember, the whole reason you're on a plane and traveling to begin with is because you are performing work for them. I don't take advantage of clients or bad situations, but I'm not going to make my life any harder just to save them a few bucks on an invoice.
 
I use a White River fly rod case for my KEG100CC (perfect fit, like it's made for it). Cordura covered PVC. Has survived many trips through airline baggage and all kinds of other abuse. See my 2011 post (w pics) over at the JW Audio group. http://jwsoundgroup.net/index.php?/topic/8603-boom-pole-case/

"Bass Pro Shops- White River Fly Shop Rod Tubes
1000 denier Cordura® material over a tough PVC protective tube. These lightweight, airplane friendly rod tubes are outfitted with YKK zippers, and are lined with nylon for additional padding. 6 sizes, from 29" to 60" (2.5" id) ($23-25 cheap)"
 
Run&Gun said:
I know weight is a consideration when flying, BUT if only a few pounds is stopping you from getting it all in one bag(I understand not wanting to deal with multiple bags), do it. I have NEVER had a problem with or been questioned by a client with bag charges. When I flew all the time and only had my personal suitcase, because my gear was already on-site, and it was over weight, you better believe that charge showed up on the invoice(I've also had plenty of times I did have some gear crammed in my personal bag, too). If you are traveling for a client, those incurred charges are THEIR responsibility, ultimately. Remember, the whole reason you're on a plane and traveling to begin with is because you are performing work for them. I don't take advantage of clients or bad situations, but I'm not going to make my life any harder just to save them a few bucks on an invoice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. No problem with extra charges, we paid over $3,000.00 in baggage overages going to Morocco last year, client was with me and they put it on their Amex. The issue is size and weight and number of bags, not only at the airport, but once we are in country, we will be hopping in and out of a lot of taxis, vans, setting up here, there and everywhere, the whole doc is about movement and retracing footsteps. So not wanting to take more than my backpack, a carry on and a big duffle is much more a factor of hassle than money. I did two weeks of shooting in NYC last year, two person crew and I walked all over Manhattan, in and out of taxis with myself, my producer, Rock & Roller and five cases plus camera backpack, it's exhausting. So my goal is to knock down my traveling doc setup to just the backpack, carry on and one checked bag. It is just better all around and it can be done. I need to spend less energy on being a pack mule and more on shooting.
 
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Rick R said:
I use a White River fly rod case for my KEG100CC (perfect fit, like it's made for it). Cordura covered PVC. Has survived many trips through airline baggage and all kinds of other abuse. See my 2011 post (w pics) over at the JW Audio group. http://jwsoundgroup.net/index.php?/topic/8603-boom-pole-case/

"Bass Pro Shops- White River Fly Shop Rod Tubes
1000 denier Cordura® material over a tough PVC protective tube. These lightweight, airplane friendly rod tubes are outfitted with YKK zippers, and are lined with nylon for additional padding. 6 sizes, from 29" to 60" (2.5" id) ($23-25 cheap)"
Click to expand...

Good tip Rick, I'll check that out.
 
I've traveled all over the US with a light stand & a cheap Rode boompole for sitdown interviews and it's worked fine.
If traveling overseas I might consider simplifying using a COS11d on everything & not worry about taking the boompole.
 
I use one of the short K-tek aluminum poles for my carry bag which condenses down to under 24" and fits in a larger sized Portibrace camera bag. I just leave it loose in the bottom and it has worked out fine. I have a longer pole also and had some 2" schedule 40 PVC pipe threaded on each end and use caps. I cut some high density foam to carry the pole inside the pipe; works great.

Grant
 
The K-Tek case is boss, but also costs over $200. And both it and most fly-reel cases I've seen will be way too long for the compact boom pole you're considering. Though let me say I love finding cases designed for other uses and transmogrifying them for our needs.

So maybe a pool/billiard cue case, like the ones designed for the cues that break down, would work?
Or some sort of 2-foot long case to carry something or other... But some plastic plumbing pipe and caps with foam in the ends will probably work fine, too....

Anyway, let us know what you end up doing...
 
puredrifting said:
Yep, still working on how I will protect it for transport. My problem is weight. The duffle bag the boompole will ship in weighs 11 lbs. When I add up tripod, tripod head, slider, light stands, various grip accessories, boom pole holder plus clothing for two weeks (thinking of just three changes of clothes and do some laundry there), I am already maxed out, I may have to leave the slider home. So this works into a boompole protector, most of the rigid ones are heavy. I can just go with a boompole bag and perhaps cover it in a few of those Domke 19" Neoprene protectors. I made my own from PVC for my long carbon Gitzo years ago but that holder is heavy and probably weighs three pounds since I used the heavier black PVC. Not sure, but whatever approach I take needs to be light, really light as I am almost over 50lbs already. Flying really makes you strategize your weight and what you take, I don't want to check a second bag because then I have to also bring a Rock & Roller cart to carry those two plus my carry on and backpack, it all snowballs.
Click to expand...

I also use a K-Tek KE79CC (love it by the way!) and I just wrap it in one of those 19" Domke neoprene wraps for travel/storage.
 
Run&Gun said:
Amen. For years I've told people we are part pack mule and glorified furniture movers.
Click to expand...

I did monitor mixing for the summer after college, and we did stage, lights, and sound. We lugged the the stuff around, built the stages, set up the lights on truss...all that stuff. The company was called CSS Audio. We joked it stood for "Construction Seldom Sound Audio". Being a drummer, I was used to this because as a drummer you spend 90% of your time lugging gear, and about 10% of your time playing.
 
craftyphotons said:
Here's what it looks like wrapped up in the Domke wrap:

View attachment 121789

Works great on a nano stand as well!

View attachment 121790
Click to expand...

Wow, we are in alignment! I just received the Ktek KE79 in the mail, I have the exact same Matthews plastic grip head, boom pole holder and I just got my Domke wraps from UPS. Great minds think alike, right? ;-) I ordered a fly rod case from Bass Pro, their website made it look like I was ordering the 29" version yet when I got the receipt, I somehow ended up ordering a 48'' long version. I called them, they said too late, it already shipped. I'll give it to my Father In Law, he fly fishes and would probably appreciate it. I think the Domke wrap approach is great.
 
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