Advice on Upcoming Purchase of Equipment

I am US based - the prices are USD.

Take care,

.... Christopher








On Apr 12, 6:42 pm, "DAvid" <davi....DeleteThis@bigpond.net.au> wrote:
> "Manga27" <csa....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1174769639.588241.107310@d57g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > Hey all,
>
> > I'm hoping some experts in here can give some guidance on an upcoming
> > purchase of equipment I'm looking to make to expand my growing
> > multimedia business.
>
> > Right now, I do Graphic Design, Web Programming and Flash / Multimedia
> > Animation. I've worked with FCP and AE in the past, and now I'd like
> > to expand my skill-set to be able to offer Video Production services.
> > As a personal hobby I'd also like to start experimenting with special
> > effects shots, commercial product shots, etc on a green screen.
>
> > Originally I just wanted to get a steadicam and camera, but after
> > seeing the available equipment for the budget filmmaker, I've put
> > together a list of things I'd like to get while still staying below
> > the $10,000 mark:
>
> > $ 999.00 : Canon XL2
> > $ 799.00 : Glidecam 4000 Pro, with Arm & Vest
> > $1199.95: Glidecam CamCrane 200, with 7" LCD, Zoom Controller
> > $1785.00: Glidecam Vista Remote Pan/Tilt Head
> > $1560.00: IndieDolly w/4 sections straight track
> > $ 485.00: IndieDolly, 4 additional straight sections
>
> > Total Cost: Around $6800.
>
> > With this equipment and a green screen, I'm hoping I'll be able to
> > handle local commercials, special effects experiments, and maybe a low-
> > budget indie or two for some friends. I realize I'm probably doing a
> > disservice by getting a Stedicam knock-off, but I've heard Glidecam is
> > an acceptable low-budget alternative.
>
> > Any thoughts?
>
> > Take care,
>
> > ... Christopher
>
> Where are you based and are you talking $10,000AU or US?
>
> DAVO
 >> Stay informed about: Advice on Upcoming Purchase of Equipment 

> > > ....expand my growing
> > > multimedia business.

Then get XH-A1. Well worth the xtra $2K.



> > >........a list of things I'd like to get while still staying below
> > > the $10,000 mark:


Buy these as need arises.


> > > $ 799.00 : Glidecam 4000 Pro, with Arm & Vest
> > > $1199.95: Glidecam CamCrane 200, with 7" LCD, Zoom Controller
> > > $1785.00: Glidecam Vista Remote Pan/Tilt Head
> > > $1560.00: IndieDolly w/4 sections straight track
> > > $ 485.00: IndieDolly, 4 additional straight sections
> > > Total Cost: Around $6800.
> > > Any thoughts?


Yes. Lights! Tungstan will save you lots of money.

Filters.

If you want to green screen... you will need a green screen.

Regards,
Jay Bala.
 >> Stay informed about: Advice on Upcoming Purchase of Equipment 

Jay,

Thanks for your advice. Is the XH-A1 a High Definition camera, and if
not, should I go High Def now or wait for later?

Also, I have some free time in between client contracts, and I'd like
to get started in learning techniques of cinematography, which is why
I suggested that I might buy one or all of the ancillary parts such as
a crane or glidecam. I know you said to buy the as you need to, but
I'd really like to play around a bit - which would you recommend, out
of these:

Glidecam 4000 Pro, with Arm & Vest
Glidecam CamCrane 200, with 7" LCD, Zoom Controller
IndieDolly w/4 sections straight track

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Take care,

.... Christopher







On Jun 10, 7:19 pm, "pixmoviema...@aol.com" <jay1b....DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
> > > > ....expand my growing
> > > > multimedia business.
>
> Then get XH-A1. Well worth the xtra $2K.
>
> > > >........a list of things I'd like to get while still staying below
> > > > the $10,000 mark:
>
> Buy these as need arises.
>
> > > > $ 799.00 : Glidecam 4000 Pro, with Arm & Vest
> > > > $1199.95: Glidecam CamCrane 200, with 7" LCD, Zoom Controller
> > > > $1785.00: Glidecam Vista Remote Pan/Tilt Head
> > > > $1560.00: IndieDolly w/4 sections straight track
> > > > $ 485.00: IndieDolly, 4 additional straight sections
> > > > Total Cost: Around $6800.
> > > > Any thoughts?
>
> Yes. Lights! Tungstan will save you lots of money.
>
> Filters.
>
> If you want to green screen... you will need a green screen.
>
> Regards,
> Jay Bala.
 >> Stay informed about: Advice on Upcoming Purchase of Equipment 

> Thanks for your advice. Is the XH-A1 a High Definition camera...

It is HD. There are others but you mentioned Canon. Fixed lens is
enough for mostly everything. May be a wideangle lens later.


> Also, I have some free time in between client contracts, and I'd like
> to get started in learning techniques of cinematography...

Good, but non of those equipments will teach you cinematography nor
operation. All you need is a good fluid head, tripod, three to four
lights and some filters for now.

Even before you get to that, shoot hand held: On a bright sunny day,
turn on the zebra and 24f, leave the lens at the middle, leave
everything else in auto and shoot anything (cars, trees, leaves,
water, sky, people at a distence...) and play back to anyone willing
to get a headache. If they don't.. then you passed first step.

If they aren't board to death, you passed the second step. Now, if
they thought there was a story, you are a pro! (But it will take
time.)

Learn from this and use a tripod to shoot more, that will be the third
step.

Fourth will be to undertand why auto is no good from all your shots
and the fifth step is to learn manual.

This would be a good time to get a CRT monitor (500+ lines). You will
learn more just by watching your footage on it.

Now you are ready to analyze your composition! And shoot more with
compositon in mind. In fact, this is something you should be able to
do from day one. All you need is a still camera.

Now work on filters. There are even more steps before you even turn on
the lights and color filters. once you turn on lights, you will need a
meter. Now you are ready for green screen experiments. All these would
be almost 101. Some more steps before you get to glidecam, dolly, zoom
control, crane, etc.

But you can skip some of this to the last part of "operator" and there
are classes just for this. After years of experience, you can become a
cinematographer. There are some great DPs started out as operators.
But SteadyCam operators tends to remain that for a long time. Its a
speacilaized field.

I think you have a better picture, by now.

Regards,
Jay Bala.
 >> Stay informed about: Advice on Upcoming Purchase of Equipment