Nothing radical here, I'm in love with the blue star eye cup though. One of the best $8 I've ever spent, and on a superficial level, it perfectly accents the red ring on the lens. The headphone hole is something to think about, I can't stand the rubber flap. I'm also quite envious of the right angle XLR cables... although for now I just pull off the Rode windscreen and put the XLR cable inside it when it's in my case.

I do get a good amount of tape drive and zoom noise with the NTG-2. I would love to find another mounting solution that doesn't involve a hotshoe mount, maybe there's a J-Rod in my future.

Great Thread!

Glen, how long is your XLR cable? That looks to be the exact length I'm after.

Thanks!

Speaking of right angle XLR's I've been using Redco custom cables to get exactly what I want. http://www.redco.com

Here is my new setup. I have two identical setups like this one and am also using an hv20

Canon Xh-a1
Hoodman h300 lcd hood with magnifier
audio technica shotgun mic
right angle coiled XLR
sony large eye cup
glidecam 2000 ( it's heavier but is balanced perfectly and works great!)

So you are using the GC2000, with a quick release? I assume its working well for you? I might want to do that as I have to rebalance each time but I have gotten pretty good at it.

Yes, I only used it once on and off before I decided that i needed the quick release. Its sooo much faster and only takes a second to balance it once you have to put it back on. Definitely worth it!!

What model # is your mic?

Hey Matt, do you remember what size that eye cup is?
Is it the "Oval Long" - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrofiber.html
Or the "oval large"
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...eece_Oval.html

Very good thread, all the pictures are very helpful!

Another set-up
 

Here's my A1's typical set up:

IndieSnap Mattebox
IndiFocus Follow Focus and Rails
old Bogen 3068 Tripod

How do you like the IndiFocus? How well does it work? Are there any problems? Do you have the old or the new gear box? Thanks!

It is the AT875. The short shotgun. So far I really like it !

I believe it's the new geat box since I only got it a month or so ago.

Personally, I feel it's a great piece of hardware. No problems, what so ever, except that it has spoiled me. Once you get used to pulling focus with a Follow Focus, it's hard to go back to a bare camera.

Hi Marcel,

I like your set up. Would you share how long does it take to get you ready for a shoot, etc? These Indi people do also an upgrade for handle grip and shoulder pad, would that go well, what do you think?

Just asking as am looking for a decent matte box solution yet indie

Regards,
Pavel

This is mine with RODE NTG1 :)

I usually keep it assembled in a large hard case. But to assemble it takes under 10 min.

I saw their shoulder mount set up. It would probably work pretty well. I think I would figure out some kind of counter balance system and add it to the shoulder pad to help balance the camera since it is fairly front heavy with that gear attached.

Here is mine, on M2 roids.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...9/DSC02298.jpg

<a href="http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/swineninety9/?action=view&current=DSC02298.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m11/swineninety9/DSC02298.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...9/DSC02298.jpg

[QUOTE=Marcel D. Van Someren;883457]I usually keep it assembled in a large hard case. But to assemble it takes under 10 min.

Thank you for the info. Would you please post a picture of the case and where it is available? I wonder whether it fits on the air plane in-cabin storage space.

Regards,
Pavel

Hey, sorry about the delay. I bought the "Blue StarOval Small Eye Cushion." Here is the link:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...eece_Oval.html

It fits just fine, although the soft foam type backing material gets a little stretched out if you're taking it on and off frequently. It does return to its original shape after a few hours of being left alone. It really makes the view finder more comfortable and easy to use for long periods of time. It breathes well, probably not as well as the chamois version, but plenty fine for me. I suppose you could mount it more permanently or go the Sony eye cup route.

Cheers

That's not a camera! That's a TRANSFORMER!

The only place this case will fit is in the belly of the airplane in the cargo bay. Its a Hardigg case. It's military surplus. I got it on ebay for about $40. I just added the custom cut-out foam.

Here are some pics (The last pic was from the ebay auction):

Or the out of control Police Robot from Robocop:

Hi Marcel,

I noticed two things on your photo's:

1. The rubber wheel on the Indy photo. Did you construct it yourself or is there a solution which they sell for the XH-A1?

2. What brand of tape are you using? (I saw the package, and I don't recognise those colors....) Just curious about that...

Hi Gert,

The rubber friction wheel on the Follow-Focus is from IndiFocus. I got the FF and the rails from them: http://www.indifocus.com/products.htm

The tape is Panansonic, HDV 63min I normally use Panasonic Master Quality tapes but the place I usually get them was out of stock.

My loyal workhorse:

Nice configuration Christopher!
I'm curious about the LCD screen you have there and the mattebox. Can you give us a bit mre information about those?

My setup includes A1 with Rode NT-G2 mic, Varizoom Media Rig Pro and Varizoom VZ-Rock lanc.

Mark

Screen: Toshiba SDP-71. Not color accurate but quite handy for focusing.
Mattebox: IndieSnap! (without frenchflag and sidewings)

Marcel--
Is that follow focus attached directly to your a1's lense? how does it work? Thanks,

--Corwin

it allows you to pull focus without messing with the camera itself. Some crew even go as far as to have a dedicated "focus puller." If you check their website they have a lot of great info. I love this thread!

-JS

John is correct. In this configuration, there is a rubber wheel that uses friction and rotates the lens. It works very well provided both the camera and the FF are securely mounted. When I use it with my 70mm adaptor, then I use gears and a gear ring on the lens. You can get the FF with both so it is pretty flexible.

Matt,

A J-Rod and shock mount will knock that tape drive and zoom noise out completely !

Great thread guys, lots of great ideas for a rookie like myself. Thanks!

Understood, but if the a1 has an electronic lense, how is it usefull to have a follow focus attached, if you can't mark down markings? can you? dose the lense keep its focus at the same point at any speed its moved? what about when you reach infinity? the barrel will continue to spin, making your previous markings useless, no? Shed me some light! im confused! Thanks, this thred is awsome!

--Corwin

The XH A1 allows you to use an assistant to follow focus as long as he can see the readout in the LCD. It's just like having marks on a manual lens. The Sony Z1 does the same thing and is probably a little easier because the LCD is mounted up on the handle and the focus puller can be anyplace. I don't think the marks on a follow focus system would be too useful...although it's easy to set an in and out point and return to them as long as you can see the LCD or VF readouts, I don't think any marks on a follow focus system would stay in the same relative place, but I could be wrong about that.

So far, every time I've needed an assistant to follow focus, he manages to position himself where he can see the LCD. I can turn it and tilt it so he can see it through the gap between the camera and the handle. Not great, but it works. If I did as much dolly shooting as I used to, I'd probably get a camera-mounted LCD monitor for the handle. I think that would be more useful than the follow focus system.

Shooting Birds
 

Hey,

I am having lots of trouble keeping fast moving birds in the picture. When i zoom in, it becomes almost impossible to keep the bird in frame. I am thinking about mounting a archery sight above my shotgun mik. Any ideas from you guys?

I did something similar on a photo camera. I used a laser dot type sight, worked very well.

Oh why not...

Nate.... that's AWESOME!!!!!

Hehe. Thanks!

Please note the DIY adapter, homemade "rails," and messy dorm room backdrop. :)

Hmm, I´ll join.....^^