Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

Hi all:

I am updating my old carbon fiber Gitzo boom pole, it's long and was made for hand booming at distance. What I would like now is a short, ENG type boom pole, mainly for traveling and interviews. Small collapsed size, light weight and reasonable cost are most important. The Røde Micro Boompole look weak, not really a pro solution. I think internal cabling is a must too.

I am fairly settled on the Ktek KE79CCR
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...alue=Ktek+KE79
Seems like it fits the bill. But are there any alternatives that I am missing? This pole will rarely, if ever be used for hand booming as I am a camera op and when we need to shoot moving scenes/walk and talks, we hire a sound mixer who will usually have their own favorite boom pole for doing that.

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

I like Ktek products. I think the boom you have linked KE 79CCR is fine for your requirements. If you want to do it cheap then stick a microphone to this https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...one_Stand.html and use a long cable.

Personally I have the longer Ktek KTK202CCR boom which I had bought for a feature film use. Now I carry it for my doc purposes as well. Elongate it and fix a go pro and get some interesting views as well. However, it is a bit long and not convenient for certain travel.

I use the boom pole to be fixed on a Boom pole cradle https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...le_Cradle.html which is fixed on a stand.

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

I'm using a Ktek for this duty also, but mine is maybe .3 meter longer. I like that length; I think 2.0m would be a tad short for me, but I could make it work. Internal wiring is a good idea, but make sure you don't twist the sections as you extend/collapse the pole, or you'll end up having to fix the kinks you put in the internal cabling eventually, which is a PITA. Easy way it to mark them so you see any relative rotation the sections make and can correct for it right then -- you don't have to fix it if you never have the problem.

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

I've been using something like this for many years for sit down interviews, simple, cheap, and practical......
No need to make things complex, and works like a treat...

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...one_Stand.html

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

Also have a K-tek pole. Specs:
KEG100CC, Avalon Graphite CC base with XLR male connector and an internally coiled cable.
Weight: 1.26 lbs.
Sections: 5
Min Length: 2’-2”
Max Length: 8’-9”

Should fit in a traveling suitcase. The 5 (they also have 6) sections would make it versatile.
It has been used nicely with a Zepplin with a Rycote cover so it is reasonably strong and light.

Have a really nice 16-page boom pole brochure from them from 2011 in *.pdf that explaines all the details and specs

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

I have the same internally wired KEG100CC pole as John. I wish I had gotten the side exit connector, but that's a minor inconvenience. I also have an older Gitzo aluminum non-cabled 16 footer, but it does not get used much and it's heavy. I rebuilt the clutches a year or two ago but it's still a POS IMO. Many boom ops I've encountered prefer an external cable, especially on the longer poles (personal preference).
The KE-79 Traveler is a little shorter ( 1' 8" - 6' 7") than the 100 (2'.2" - 8' 9"} and has an additional section. (6).
For sit-down interviews, I usually use a music type boom stand.. On air travel gigs, I'll borrow a light stand and use a boom buddy or clamp the boom to it. I always carry a 5/8" to 3/8" adapter as well, since muisic boom stands are rather common in churches, schools, ect.

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

I have four boom poles of varying lengths; I do a fair amount of work as a location sound mixer. One of those is a K-Tek KE79CC, which is just like yours but with the cable exiting the end of the pole rather than the side (personal, but strong preference).

I've had this little K-Tek Traveller pole for a long time; I mainly bring it for travel backup use but don't give it any special care and it still works great. Yes, it's short but that's OK in some uses (like hard docs, tight spaces, etc). And the length is good enough for many sit-down interviews. So I recommend it.

Re: Best Travel Sit Down Interview Boom Pole
 

Received the KE79CC and played with it yesterday. Nice quality and the length will work fine for 90% of interview framing. If the producer needs/wants longer, I would be telling them to hire a sound mixer anyway, this is strictly for travel kit for single, sit down interviews. The size and weight of this pole is perfect. For sit downs, I like the cable exiting the back of the pole.

Thanks for the input gents!