Mini = Portable? lets build a scenario

Owen Meek · April 11th, 2008, 09:31 AM

i am interested in the Mini SI-2K solution as it can be taken to places where the DVR body combination may bring a flinching effect on the subject.
i have the Asus W7s notebook, and the specs seem to match the requirements perfect.

what i have understood thus far, is, i can basically hide the main processing unit (laptop) in my bag and no one will know i have got hollywood in my hands.

scenario: since all the controls are now tucked away in my bag, i will need a wireless trigger device (maybe even a wireless 5 button mouse) for program specific controls for the most essential features. [PAUSE]/[F.STOP UP]/[F.STOP DOWN] (please fill me in those parts that i have missed. i have intentionally negated shutter control as the f/stop can be used for exposure control)

then i will need to hook myself up to a viewfinder like this? http://www.myvu.com/Products/shades/
this may not be a solution for critical focusing? but can it be an ample guide for exposure metering?

im probably missing a chunk of information here, but is this scenario achievable?

Jason Rodriguez · April 11th, 2008, 10:41 AM

Hi Owen,

There is already a trigger mechanism, and there is a second multi-stage programmable button that will let you swap through different functions on the camera (such as exposure meters, focus zoom, etc.) . . . you can program the multi-stage button however you need. So with these two buttons, you should have about 90% of the work done for you.

So yes, the laptop in your back-pack should work fine, although there still could occasionally be some heating issues depending on the out-door environment (i.e. really hot).

I would purchase a fast laptop, like something in either the 2.5Ghz or 2.6Ghz range . . . I know the specs say 2.33Ghz, but that's minimum . . . with the new processors out there, having more processing power available for some overhead is better, especially when shooting at 2K resolutions.

Bob Grant · April 11th, 2008, 06:36 PM

One could 'hide' the mini in an old VHS camcorder body. A bit of work with a Dremel tool would do it.
For the DVR I'd imagine the same boards as in the full camera could be used to build a backpack friendly PC. Rather than fan cooling perhaps heat pipes could feed a small radiator that was discretely outside the backpack. It could take the form of a water bottle in a mesh holder. Instead of a spinning disk a SSD could be used to record to.

Chris Lakes · April 13th, 2008, 11:04 PM

If you plan on putting a laptop in a back pack, maybe try putting some of those ice packs at the bottom or beside the laptop. When we were filming in the desert we had a few problems with the laptop overheating until we raised it on a laptop stand and put ice packs or cold pop cans underneath it. This worked until we could rig up a fan.

John DeLuca · April 14th, 2008, 12:17 AM

So the camera head plus mini rig, start stop switch and EVF tethered to a liquid cooled laptop hidden in a backpack…..Sounds like a sweet set up :-)

-John

April 11th, 2008, 09:31 AM	#1
Owen Meek Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 70	Mini = Portable? lets build a scenario i am interested in the Mini SI-2K solution as it can be taken to places where the DVR body combination may bring a flinching effect on the subject. i have the Asus W7s notebook, and the specs seem to match the requirements perfect. what i have understood thus far, is, i can basically hide the main processing unit (laptop) in my bag and no one will know i have got hollywood in my hands. scenario: since all the controls are now tucked away in my bag, i will need a wireless trigger device (maybe even a wireless 5 button mouse) for program specific controls for the most essential features. [PAUSE]/[F.STOP UP]/[F.STOP DOWN] (please fill me in those parts that i have missed. i have intentionally negated shutter control as the f/stop can be used for exposure control) then i will need to hook myself up to a viewfinder like this? http://www.myvu.com/Products/shades/ this may not be a solution for critical focusing? but can it be an ample guide for exposure metering? im probably missing a chunk of information here, but is this scenario achievable?

April 13th, 2008, 11:04 PM	#4
Chris Lakes Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 28	Ice If you plan on putting a laptop in a back pack, maybe try putting some of those ice packs at the bottom or beside the laptop. When we were filming in the desert we had a few problems with the laptop overheating until we raised it on a laptop stand and put ice packs or cold pop cans underneath it. This worked until we could rig up a fan. __________________ www.marsunited.com

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April 11th, 2008, 10:41 AM	#2
Jason Rodriguez Trustee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 1,075	Hi Owen, There is already a trigger mechanism, and there is a second multi-stage programmable button that will let you swap through different functions on the camera (such as exposure meters, focus zoom, etc.) . . . you can program the multi-stage button however you need. So with these two buttons, you should have about 90% of the work done for you. So yes, the laptop in your back-pack should work fine, although there still could occasionally be some heating issues depending on the out-door environment (i.e. really hot). I would purchase a fast laptop, like something in either the 2.5Ghz or 2.6Ghz range . . . I know the specs say 2.33Ghz, but that's minimum . . . with the new processors out there, having more processing power available for some overhead is better, especially when shooting at 2K resolutions.

April 11th, 2008, 06:36 PM	#3
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,062	One could 'hide' the mini in an old VHS camcorder body. A bit of work with a Dremel tool would do it. For the DVR I'd imagine the same boards as in the full camera could be used to build a backpack friendly PC. Rather than fan cooling perhaps heat pipes could feed a small radiator that was discretely outside the backpack. It could take the form of a water bottle in a mesh holder. Instead of a spinning disk a SSD could be used to record to.

April 14th, 2008, 12:17 AM	#5
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 490	So the camera head plus mini rig, start stop switch and EVF tethered to a liquid cooled laptop hidden in a backpack…..Sounds like a sweet set up :-) -John