Your Advice On Cameras & Gear For Filming A Tour

[rocknrollchef]

Hi:

We're working with a US band which will tour Europe for most of January 2013, and could use some input/advice on what equipment to use, purchase vs. renting, etc. We're assuming we should bring our own stuff from here, but are also receptive to gear & shooters overseas. And did we mention... this is self-funded, so it's nowhere close to a big budget approach. Here are the questions:

1. We're thinking of using hacked GH2s with older Canon FD lenses, but we're receptive to other brands/ideas.

2. The shots will be either indoor/concert lighting, daytime exteriors or nighttime interiors. We're thinking run & gun, natural lighting throughout.

3. We'll be using a Tascam external recorder with XLR inputs, plus a Zoom multi-track recorder for the band; we have a shotgun mic & lavalier mic.

4. What about cheaper cameras positioned behind the drummer, stage left/right, etc? Flip cams? Go Pros? What?

So... what kind of all-purpose lenses should we be picking up? Buying ourselves, or renting from BorrowLenses again?

THANK YOU

chef

 

[Mike Wilhelm]

What kind of budget are you looking at?

-Mike

 

[rocknrollchef]

We don't really have a formal budget - the travel & lodging is being covered by the production agency for the band - so we're "being creative" with piecing together a little here & there to walk away with some decent footage. We also need to figure out some kind of DSLR shoulder mount, we're not opposed to some DIY action either.

 

[pulpwoody]

If you're going run and gun, I think a DSL would not be the best option for many reasons. First, you are limited in your zoom range with good lenses, since most fast zoom lenses are broken up into two or three different zoom ranges. Second is audio, third is ergonomics.

I recommend a Sony EX1. It doesn't have the shallow DOF like a dslr, but it has everything else, and when you're fully zoomed in, the DOF isn't bad. You can pick these up used for pretty cheap now. The ease of use when your in the dark or really "running and gunning," you'll be glad you have a mini ENG camera.

 

[Sam Mallery]

Is the goal to make a documentary of the lives of the people on the tour, or is the main goal to capture live performances of the band? What is the model of the Zoom recorder that you'll be using to record the band?