Transporting a FS700 rig to local shoots

brazzam

brazzam

Well-known member
I have been using a Pelican 1510 to move my FS700, lens, batteries, etc. from my office to shoots for the last year or so and really enjoy it. However, as I've built the kit out more and more with rods, monitors, lens supports and all that stuff, I'm finding that I'm spending more time than I'd like assembling and disassembling the kit at shoots. To the point that I've now been keeping the whole rig mostly assembled at the office and just buckle it into my car when I go (shudder).

Anyways coming from an EX1 background, this is my first camera that uses a rig, so I'm in new territory here. I don't like having my rig just out and unprotected both in my office and on the road to shoots.

How does everyone here go about this? I'd love to see pics of how you have your FS700 and rig packed, if you do it that way. Or is the best practice disassembling the rig between shoots? If so, I'll just get a lot of practice to speed up the process.

Thanks so much for anyone who can give me any insights.
 
There are some nice bags from Portabrace that are shaped well for a kitted camera. Add some chunks of foam if you want some extra protection.
 
I'm using a Pelican 1510, as well. I've managed to set up the kit so that it assembles/disassembles in modules that are (fairly) quickly installed/disassembled.
Module 1 includes the FS700 camera body, baseplate, tripod quick release, 15mm rails, and Berkey top cheeseplate including a handle and wireless mounts, and AB battery mount plate, preassembled as a travelling unit..
Module 2 includes mic. and mic mount
Module 3 includes a 3rd party recorder(Odyssey 7Q or Pix240) that slides onto the rails with a Berkey system mount, the mount is fastened by a quick quarter turn with thumbwheels
Module 4 battery and Dtap cables
Module 5 is a lens w/follow focus

It usually takes me about 5-10 mins to set up....not the fastest, but, I can't simplify it further. Everything is adjustable with thumbwheels, so, no allen wrench drivers are needed.
 
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Porta Brace takes my whole shoulder rig with weights and everything.

Very satisfied and i am now ready to shoot in under a minute.
 
Martin.G said:
Porta Brace takes my whole shoulder rig with weights and everything.

Very satisfied and i am now ready to shoot in under a minute.
Click to expand...

Might I ask which porta brace you got? I'm looking online at several and am having a hard time getting a sense of scale with the different options.
 
For traveling by car I have put almost everything into Tanos Systainer. Initially the come with high quality professional craftsman tools but the are very suitable also for every kind of equipment. They are not as protective as Pelicases but the price is only a percentage. They are stackable and you can equip them with individual protection foam. Another big advantage: if you are back from a shoot put the boxes back into your studio and you are done. For flight travel I have to use a different system but going by car is the more often.

EDIT:
I have the movcam cage always attached on and rig up to the needs of each shots.
Microphone & Odyssey takes less than a minute, so there is no need for me to
go fully rigged to a shooting.

80101389.jpg


how it looks in my cabinet:

tanos.jpg








http://shop.tanos.de/index.asp?idcat=1
http://www.tanos.de/000/En/Home/Partner/Dealers_search.html
 
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I've been through so many bags and approaches. Petrol bags, Kata bags, Pelicases but now i've settled on customising flight cases. So i get a case made up and then do the dividers and partitioning myself. This way i can move a fully rigged camera around. The Petrol bags i've found awkward with the U openings and never opening cleanly and fully. The Pelicases are an awkward size so a custom flight case opens cleanly. I can pad and foam it as i see fit and it's pretty easy to customise with plywood and they're fairly robust too.

When i can take a photo i will, not got it with me right now

It's usually cheaper than the larger pro bags as well

cheers
Paul
 
There was a post on here a while ago from a guy with the exact same challenge. In the end he had a custom box built lined with foam and that seemed to work for him. He had them up for sale and the price seemed very reasonable. You will have to do a search to find it but it is somewhere on here.
 
For 'local' shoots I use a huge 'really useful box' - and foam cut with a saw! The camera sits ready to shoot, just turn it on.

For 'non local' I break the rig put the body in a Thinktank 'carry on' and put my rods/rig in my tripod bag which is checked luggage.

S
 
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