drewhosick
New member
Hi there,
I have shot a few weddings and mainly handheld the 7D with some special tricks that most people would have used before(like using the strap to stabilize and many other tricks along with tripod use when not on the move. I also have a skater dolly for a few shots. If I was to be critically honest I need to improve on the run and gun aspect if I'm to be more serious about my work. Without concerning myself about the second shooter or backup camera what I need answers about today surround the stabilization and also lighting in the night situations. I'm trying to get my head wrapper around shoulder rigs. Reading I know one of the things recommended is to use a rig that has weight to balance the weight of the camera on the front. Right now I have a Manfrotto 701 fluid head which I've attached a arca swiss base plate to the quick release plate(so I can attach my camera with the arca swiss plate to it or to my ballhead which goes on the skater dolly during video shoots(or I use on my tripod when I do photography as a hobby).
Long story short, I figure if I get serious I with a shoulder rig or other accessories it will be much easier to go to the Quick Release Plate system because Arca Swiss is hardly seen in the video world it seems. So longer story short, how do these shoulder rigs connect to tripod heads? Is there a quick release plate on the bottom of these rigs so you can easily put them on the tripod and then yank them off to go shoot handheld? As much as I believe in You Get What You Pay For, I also simply can't plop down 1500 dollars for a rig and accessories right now. I also have to invest in a light and I'd like to put some money aside for a new camera down the road. Any recommendations for a rig that is a tad bit less but still has a quick release option from a tripod?
What accessories should I consider. I wonder if a monitor might be stretch for me as well. I've been using the back lcd screen as is so far and it works 99% of the time. I also have a hoodman loupe which I guess I could attach with rubber bands if I had a shoulder rig to make it easier to get perfect focus. Maybe a monitor is worth it. Would love to hear different opinions on this.
Finally a light. Probably the poorest work I get is from the speeches and dancing at night. The last two dances have been in a tent and in a barn which were nice but very low light. I saw myself on a crop sensor shooting with my 50mm 1.8 at 3200 iso and even dare I say 6400 iso. Now the bride and groom understood the situation because the light just wasn't there. I have a rotolight that goes around a video mic but let's be honest, for $150 you get what you pay for. How much better are the LED on board lights? I just need something to help light the bride and groom during dances and light speeches a little. And if I can use it in other situations to accentuate the subject and make it stand out from a darker background, that's a bonus. Do these lights do the job? Will they throw light 10 feet, 20 feet away and get me up to 1600 iso?
Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
I have shot a few weddings and mainly handheld the 7D with some special tricks that most people would have used before(like using the strap to stabilize and many other tricks along with tripod use when not on the move. I also have a skater dolly for a few shots. If I was to be critically honest I need to improve on the run and gun aspect if I'm to be more serious about my work. Without concerning myself about the second shooter or backup camera what I need answers about today surround the stabilization and also lighting in the night situations. I'm trying to get my head wrapper around shoulder rigs. Reading I know one of the things recommended is to use a rig that has weight to balance the weight of the camera on the front. Right now I have a Manfrotto 701 fluid head which I've attached a arca swiss base plate to the quick release plate(so I can attach my camera with the arca swiss plate to it or to my ballhead which goes on the skater dolly during video shoots(or I use on my tripod when I do photography as a hobby).
Long story short, I figure if I get serious I with a shoulder rig or other accessories it will be much easier to go to the Quick Release Plate system because Arca Swiss is hardly seen in the video world it seems. So longer story short, how do these shoulder rigs connect to tripod heads? Is there a quick release plate on the bottom of these rigs so you can easily put them on the tripod and then yank them off to go shoot handheld? As much as I believe in You Get What You Pay For, I also simply can't plop down 1500 dollars for a rig and accessories right now. I also have to invest in a light and I'd like to put some money aside for a new camera down the road. Any recommendations for a rig that is a tad bit less but still has a quick release option from a tripod?
What accessories should I consider. I wonder if a monitor might be stretch for me as well. I've been using the back lcd screen as is so far and it works 99% of the time. I also have a hoodman loupe which I guess I could attach with rubber bands if I had a shoulder rig to make it easier to get perfect focus. Maybe a monitor is worth it. Would love to hear different opinions on this.
Finally a light. Probably the poorest work I get is from the speeches and dancing at night. The last two dances have been in a tent and in a barn which were nice but very low light. I saw myself on a crop sensor shooting with my 50mm 1.8 at 3200 iso and even dare I say 6400 iso. Now the bride and groom understood the situation because the light just wasn't there. I have a rotolight that goes around a video mic but let's be honest, for $150 you get what you pay for. How much better are the LED on board lights? I just need something to help light the bride and groom during dances and light speeches a little. And if I can use it in other situations to accentuate the subject and make it stand out from a darker background, that's a bonus. Do these lights do the job? Will they throw light 10 feet, 20 feet away and get me up to 1600 iso?
Would love to hear your thoughts on this.