FS5: Working on putting together a run and gun package for work, how does this look?

R

randomname

Well-known member
I'm working on putting together a wish list for a camera kit and was hoping to get some input on what I might be missing. This is mostly going to be for a one man-band shooting a large variety of content, although there will be very little narrative work and not much need to create complicated lighting setups. Unfortunately, my supervisor won't give me a number to try to hit, but I'm trying to get to something they won't balk at, so I'm trying hard to stay under $15K.

Right now I'm looking at:

FS5
Ronin-S
Rhino Slider
Sachtler ACE CF
Manfrotto XPRO aluminum monopod
2 Dracast 1K Bi-Color light panels & 1 Dracast LED fresnel
2 Sennheiser G3s & 1 Rode NTG3

I'm also a little stuck on whether to go with sony lenses or get an adapter and use canon glass (we currently only have a 24-105L) I could also use a recommendation on a shoulder mount.

How does this look as a run and gun kit with good bang for my buck? Is there anything I should be looking at that will make my life easier? Recommendations on cases would also be greatly appreciated.
 
I'd go for sony transmitters recievers. The sony URX-P03-D can be used with two transmitters. And with the shoe it gives you 4 audio tracks.
The rode ntg3 is ok But not as on-board camera. Audio Technica has a better and smaller microphone. (can't remember the name) AT - ???
 
I'd suggest organizing a more complete list - specifically including all the 'little' items. They can quickly run up your budget - and my experience with corporate budgets is that it's easier to get the 'big package' approved than to later come back and have to beg for accessories piecemeal.
Some things to think about --
Batteries (for camera, plus possibly for LED lights)
Memory cards
Metabones adapter(s) -- both speed-booster and non-booster
Lightweight monitor (unless you want to get a monitor/recorder)
BNC & HDMI cables
On-camera light (the Dracast CamLux matches colors well with the other Dracasts - and can be used as a small backlight as necesary.
A couple of articulating arms (different mount styles)
I often use the fold-out 'Cowboy Studio' shoulder support - works well with various cameras
Figure out a single quick-release option that will work with all your tripods/shoulder supports/ monopods / etc -- so you don't need to be changing plates on the camera to reconfigure -- and have an appropriate quick release for each place it gets used. If you're going with a Ronin-S, that plate will fit in standard Manfrotto quick releases (though the Manfrottos don't quite fit in the Ronin)
For the Ronin-S, make sure you have some short, light, flexuble cables. I like using a right angle BNC (male) to BNC (female) to get from the camera to the handle if I'm feeding a cable to a client monitor.
For the Ronin-S I got a Simply Gimbal angled bracket that gives me an extra holding point as well as a way to mount a SmallHD monitor when I want that for ease of operating.

Put it all together in a spreadsheet - including a column for pricing (or 2 or more price columns if you want to compare packages...)
 
My suggestion would be to start small: get an FS5 if that is the camera you have settled on, add a tripod and lenses, then lighting. Hold off on the other stuff until you have had a chance to use the camera and see what you really need. You can give your boss a total figure but take your time, because you may find that there is a lot of stuff you don’t really need with this camera. It is so small and light and versatile. Also, the small stuff you need will become obvious as you begin working. You will need media, a case for the media, cases for the gear, extra batteries, chargers, electrical items, etc.
 
jc01108 said:
My suggestion would be to start small: get an FS5 if that is the camera you have settled on, add a tripod and lenses, then lighting. Hold off on the other stuff until you have had a chance to use the camera and see what you really need. You can give your boss a total figure but take your time, because you may find that there is a lot of stuff you don’t really need with this camera. It is so small and light and versatile. Also, the small stuff you need will become obvious as you begin working. You will need media, a case for the media, cases for the gear, extra batteries, chargers, electrical items, etc.
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This is a great approach if you have a budget you're already working from -- but depending on the size of your company and how they handle purchases, you will probably want to adjust your approach based on the way the company allocates money - and the way your supervisor and those above him work. Too often I've seen situations where the response after an initial purchase is that "You told me what you needed - I got it (or most of it) for you - I can't go upstairs for more money until the next fiscal cycle - So you need to make it work." On the other hand, maybe there's a little extra in this year's calendar budget and your supervisor wants to make sure it gets spent in a good way -- in which case a prioritized list would be helpful to both you and your supervisor. Last time I did this I included columns for both the product codes and the B&H web link for each piece of gear (the company had a corporate account there.) It seems like a lot of extra work, but if the purchasing department is doing the ordering they'll have no idea what the items are, so having that information helps make sure you get the right things!

So now you have two things to worry about... What you need/want - and the best negotiating tactics to get it!
 
Reading threads like this make me so thankful that I own my own company and there is no corporate BS and no one that I have to justify purchases to, except me. I can't even stand it if a friend/colleague questions me about adding a piece of gear.
 
Run&Gun said:
Reading threads like this make me so thankful that I own my own company and there is no corporate BS and no one that I have to justify purchases to, except me. I can't even stand it if a friend/colleague questions me about adding a piece of gear.
Click to expand...

Amen.
 
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