Suggestion for a Safari? at DVinfo.net

Gabriele Sartori · August 3rd, 2004, 11:33 AM

In a few weeks I'll go to Africa with the HD1, we'll go to South Africa and Zambia for about two weeks. ANy suggestion on equipments/techniques?

Thanks
Gabriele

Ben Buie · August 3rd, 2004, 06:05 PM

Are you shooting for business or pleasure?

At the very least buy (3) ND 0.6 filters. They are only about $11 each and will come in quite handy. Also, a circular polarizer would be good to make the sky look that nice bright blue.

With the included lens hood you can only fit 3 filters on the HD10, any more and you will need a 3rd party matte box. A larger matte box might also allow you to more easily shoot with the sun as a backlight.

I think the combo of the ND's with a polarizer would work out pretty well, especially if you are shooting scenery.

Other than that I would need more specifics about what you are trying to shoot.

Ben

Gabriele Sartori · August 3rd, 2004, 06:41 PM

I'm going for pleasure. I will go to Saouth Africa hunting with a friend (although I'll do only video and photo hunting) for a few days, we'll go then to Zambia to see the Victoria falls, we'll then go back to a park (Kruger probably) in South Africa where the photografic opportunity should be better (apparently there are few wild animals in the hunting place).

This is the plan more or less, I wish to film everything I can, animals and nature in particulars, tribes if I'll see any. I'm planning to make may be 10 hours of tapes and then cut a 90 minutes DVD (and HDTV tape) once I'm back at home. I already bought a few ND filters and I've the polarizer. I also have a glidecam 2000 and a tripod. I have to stay light since I'm carry also photographic equipments (2 Nikon digital bodies with all the lenses) but fortunately being 6'2" helps me :-)
ANy HD1/10 specific suggestion or safari specific suggestion is welcome.

Thanks
Gabriele

K. Forman · August 3rd, 2004, 06:56 PM

Gabiele- While you're there, could I talk you into getting some quick footage for me?

Gabriele Sartori · August 3rd, 2004, 07:26 PM

Sure I can, write to my private address:

12345@luxtera.com

substitute 12345 with the first five letters of my first name (spell it right this time;-) )

gabriele

Ken Hodson · August 3rd, 2004, 08:10 PM

Batteries, batteries, tapes, tapes, tapes.
Nuff said ;>)

Will Thompson · August 6th, 2004, 10:42 AM

I would highly recommend bringing along a wide-angle. I recently purchased a Raynox from B&H for a shoot - perfect for landscapes. Only problem is that is doesn't fit under the included matte box. As Ben mentioned, a larger matte box would be useful. One thing I noticed about the Raynox (which is advertised as "High Definition with Zoom-Through") is smearing of light around subjects when zoomed-in. A good matte-box would alleviate that problem, however.

Also since we've been filming with the HD1, we've been using a soft contrast filter with most of our shots. It helps to defeat the edge enhancement some, and improves shadow detail. Keep in mind, though, that you will have to go back and increase contrast when editing to cancel out the "greying" effect of the filter.

Gabriele Sartori · August 6th, 2004, 11:59 AM

I do have a Canon wide-angle from my EX GL1. It is 58mm thread but I've a step up ring. It works, it AFs but I don't know if I've a prejudice, it seems to me that I lose resolution (although the lens was very good on my Canon).
In the past there was people here saying that even HDTV can't be too sensitive to lens quality since the resolution is not that high after all, I tend to disagree with that but who knows?
What is your experience?

Gabriele

August 3rd, 2004, 11:33 AM	#1
Gabriele Sartori Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Posts: 112	Suggestion for a Safari? In a few weeks I'll go to Africa with the HD1, we'll go to South Africa and Zambia for about two weeks. ANy suggestion on equipments/techniques? Thanks Gabriele

August 3rd, 2004, 06:05 PM	#2
Ben Buie Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	Are you shooting for business or pleasure? At the very least buy (3) ND 0.6 filters. They are only about $11 each and will come in quite handy. Also, a circular polarizer would be good to make the sky look that nice bright blue. With the included lens hood you can only fit 3 filters on the HD10, any more and you will need a 3rd party matte box. A larger matte box might also allow you to more easily shoot with the sun as a backlight. I think the combo of the ND's with a polarizer would work out pretty well, especially if you are shooting scenery. Other than that I would need more specifics about what you are trying to shoot. Ben __________________ Ben Buie, Producer "On Our Way Up" - Shot Completely in HDV http://www.onourwayup.com HD Articles and Reviews at HDSource! http://hdsource.highlydef.com

August 3rd, 2004, 06:41 PM	#3
Gabriele Sartori Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Posts: 112	Ben I'm going for pleasure. I will go to Saouth Africa hunting with a friend (although I'll do only video and photo hunting) for a few days, we'll go then to Zambia to see the Victoria falls, we'll then go back to a park (Kruger probably) in South Africa where the photografic opportunity should be better (apparently there are few wild animals in the hunting place). This is the plan more or less, I wish to film everything I can, animals and nature in particulars, tribes if I'll see any. I'm planning to make may be 10 hours of tapes and then cut a 90 minutes DVD (and HDTV tape) once I'm back at home. I already bought a few ND filters and I've the polarizer. I also have a glidecam 2000 and a tripod. I have to stay light since I'm carry also photographic equipments (2 Nikon digital bodies with all the lenses) but fortunately being 6'2" helps me :-) ANy HD1/10 specific suggestion or safari specific suggestion is welcome. Thanks Gabriele

August 3rd, 2004, 06:56 PM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Gabiele- While you're there, could I talk you into getting some quick footage for me? __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

August 3rd, 2004, 07:26 PM	#5
Gabriele Sartori Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Posts: 112	Sure I can Sure I can, write to my private address: 12345@luxtera.com substitute 12345 with the first five letters of my first name (spell it right this time;-) ) gabriele

August 3rd, 2004, 08:10 PM	#6
Ken Hodson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 1,315	Batteries, batteries, tapes, tapes, tapes. Nuff said ;>) __________________ Damnit Jim, I'm a film maker not a sysytems tech.

August 6th, 2004, 10:42 AM	#7
Will Thompson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 75	I would highly recommend bringing along a wide-angle. I recently purchased a Raynox from B&H for a shoot - perfect for landscapes. Only problem is that is doesn't fit under the included matte box. As Ben mentioned, a larger matte box would be useful. One thing I noticed about the Raynox (which is advertised as "High Definition with Zoom-Through") is smearing of light around subjects when zoomed-in. A good matte-box would alleviate that problem, however. Also since we've been filming with the HD1, we've been using a soft contrast filter with most of our shots. It helps to defeat the edge enhancement some, and improves shadow detail. Keep in mind, though, that you will have to go back and increase contrast when editing to cancel out the "greying" effect of the filter.

August 6th, 2004, 11:59 AM	#8
Gabriele Sartori Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Posts: 112	Wide Angle I do have a Canon wide-angle from my EX GL1. It is 58mm thread but I've a step up ring. It works, it AFs but I don't know if I've a prejudice, it seems to me that I lose resolution (although the lens was very good on my Canon). In the past there was people here saying that even HDTV can't be too sensitive to lens quality since the resolution is not that high after all, I tend to disagree with that but who knows? What is your experience? Gabriele