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Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
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Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
You can use an inexpensive light stand rather than a second tripod.
BTW this is why I'm interested in the Edelkrone sliders.. They're designed to be used on a single tripod. Granted you don't get the "full throw" if you use them on the ground. Edelkrone sliders look like a great idea for the SPC Subway Kit though. They can fit in a backpack due to the small initial size Their Plus Pro version can handle a bit more than their Plus V2 Pro SliderPLUS PRO - edelkroneŽ USA Plus edelkrone SliderPLUS These aren't very long sliders though. 2.6'/ 800mm and 2.9' / 900mm respectively for the longest size. But both are designed for stable single tripod use. They mention the spread needed for support in their specs. As to tripods, I'm concerned about video head, leg support combinations. Gitzo GT1542T seems to be listed as a "photo" tripod legs whereas Gitzo GT2531LV are listed as video tripod legs at 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg Granted it could be arbitrary catagorization. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
It looks like Benro just released a travel specific tripod kit
Aero S Series Video Travel Angel Tripod Kits, Single Legs - Benro Starts at 4.1 lbs / 1.9kg and folds to just over 18" / 46cm The larger model looks a bit more viable for me though. 5.8 lbs / 2.6 kg and folds to just over 21" / 55cm Seems new because the product video is dated Sept. 1. Benro Learning Center: Articles and Videos Interesting that the marketing video shows both Blackmagic Pocket and 4K models. I keep wishing for better pan drag control but that just doesn't seem possible in the "travel" weight class. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
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The Gitzo GT1542T, including head and leveller, it ends up as a 2.14kg tripod setup, the Benro is 2.6kg. Not too much in it, although a carbon version would be better clearly. Be interesting to see what the rigidity of the aluminium would be. Some of the aluminium travel tripods I looked at were very wobbly, yet carbon seems to be able to be made more rigid for the same size. If they're rigid enough, when they're available properly would be a good option. At the moment I can only order from Adorama and they want US$80 to deliver to Australia! |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
BTW I found this review of the Benro tripods by Adam Wilt who is always very meticulous in his reviews.
Review: Benro Video Tripod Kits by Adam Wilt Key notes are that these are good for their inexpensive price, that he likes the S6 head but the S4 and S2 less so. He seems to like the legs. It'll be interesting to see the reviews of the new Aero 4 (which has the S4 head). Ultimately unless there's a light head with good pan drag control, there's going to be limitations in a travel tripod. Regarding "reasonable" pan drag controls it would seem that would be the Benro S8 or Manfrotto 502 and you're getting on the heavy side at that point. Of course the Manfrotto 500 head is a good head sans pan drag and probably is competitive with the Benro S6. I have looked at both in person. This seems to be the current lightest Manfrotto 500 heads, legs combination Manfrotto MVH500AH Flat Base Fluid Head/MT190CXPRO3 Tripod Legs/Padded Case Kit. - 5.6 lbs/ 2.5 kg http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1022507-REG/manfrotto_mvh500ah_flat_base_fluid.html and similar weight. Difference seems to be leg stages. Manfrotto MVH500AH Flat Base Fluid Head, MT190CXPRO4 Tripod Legs,Padded Case Kit http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1022497-REG/manfrotto_mvh500ah_flat_base_fluid.html BTW Ryan, it seems to me that I can find light stands that weigh less the tripods and fold down enough. The latter is key though because, yes, some tripods fold smaller but for me weight is the bigger issue. In any case this is why I'm looking at Edelkrone sliders which can be stable on a single tripod. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Here's how the Subway Kit is looking. Audio items in parentheses I normally wouldn't bring unless specifically needed.
The MiniBurst 504 might be an addition or substitution. If an addition it would require yet another light stand though. There's light stands that are about 1/2 lb lighter but I already own these and it wouldn't be much of a weight reduction. Lights include the weight of the batteries. I didn't add weight of the BMPCC EN-EL20 batteries though. I could get the Sigma 18-35 lens and eliminate both the Lumix and the Nikkor 35mm but it's a heavy lens so there's not much change with that. Subway Kit Lights 3 Lowel Omni Stands 2.9 lb / 1.32 kg each 2 Digital Juice MiniBurst 128 9.6 oz / 272 g 1 Litepanels Sola ENG 10 oz / 0.28 kg 1 Airbox Mini Softbox w/ Eggcrate 4 oz / 113.4 g Camera 1 Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera 12.52 oz / 355 g Lenses 1 Panasonic Lumix 12-35 f2.8 lens 10.76 oz / 305 g 1 Metabones Nikon G BMPCC Speed Booster 5.6 oz / 160 g 1 Nikkor 35mm f2.8 lens 8.4 oz / 240 g 1 Nikkor 50mm f1.8 lens 5 oz / 155 g 1 Nikkor 85mm f2.0 lens 11 oz / 313 g Audio Sennheiser EW 100 ENG G3 Receiver 5.5 oz / 156 g Transmitter Lav 5.64 oz / 160 g (Transmitter plugin 6.88 oz / 195 g) (Rode VideoMic Pro 3 oz / 86 g) (Beyerdynamic M88 11.3 oz / 320 g) Tripod 1 Benro C2573S6 Tripod 6 lb / 2.7 kg Maybe 1 Digital Juice MiniBurst 504 30 oz / 851 g 1 Edelkrone 24” SliderPlusV2 3.7 lb / 1.7 kg Roughly 20 lb / 9 kg |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Craig, I have to say you've given me much food for thought about
how I can also lighten my load. Thank you for that. I would like to know how many bags does your gear go into and which ones are they? Also, with the LCD on the pocket being as it is, have you considered an external monitor and if so, which one? |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Still thinking about packing. Just had a gig sans lights.
I had BMPCC in Ruggard bag and a bag with my audio kit inside a Porta Brace and Tripod in its own bag. I may be able to have lights, Light stands, audio in the Porta Brace bag. Tripod in bag. BMPCC in Ruggard bag. Light stands barely fit. Alternately I could put light stand in bag with tripod but that's going to be one very heavy bag, throwing me off balance. I'll need a bigger Ruggard bag for more lenses or equivalent. I have a back pack I can use instead. My aim is to get this into three bags I can carry on the subway. I'm using a Zacuto Pocket Z- Finder. I'm finding I really can trust my focus with it, the peaking and the focus assist. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Craig, I'd suggest you take a look at the ThinkTank bags. They do some larger roll bags that might be perfect for you. Not cheap though, but I don't have a great back so a roll bag is a godsend.
I just ordered a new Benro Aero4 tripod, I'm going to give it a go. It's almost what I was looking for, at 1/4 of the price. Worth trying I think. I'll post up my findings. Slightly off topic, but can you link me to some examples of the shots you get from that lighting kit with the BMPCC? I'm also after a semi-portable lighting kit to use with the BMPCC, and your setup seems to be particularly light. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Please do tell me what you think of the Benro Aero 4. I'm torn between that and the Benro C2573S6 which only ways slightly more but has the S6 head.
So many of my shoots are ENG style that I don't have material I'd show yet with the lights but that may be coming up very soon (poss this week). I'm concerned it may not be enough light in some situations, hence the interest in the Digital Juice MiniBurst 504. I looked at the equivalent iKan lights (and others as well) and found them to be heavier and a rep from iKan told me that with the two included batteries, the light lasts for only an hour. More batteries means more weight. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Well I've had the Benro Aero4 for a week now, had a bit of a play with it, and will be taking it with me on a trip in 48 hours.
I went with the bigger Aero4 for two reasons: 1. I didn't like the size of the S2 head. It reminded me of the cheap 128RC Manfrotto head, which is awful on anything over about 12g. 2. My BMPCC, when rigged up, was higher than the weight limit of the Aero4. Setting up the Aero4, I'm glad I went for the bigger one. The tubes are surprisingly large for the weight, and feel quite solid. No tiny, flimsy tubes here, which is reassuring. The S4 head is TINY! So far it seems ok but we'll see how it goes in proper field use this week. It's quite a lot smaller than my Manfrotto 500AH head. I am not a fan of the pan bar. The only part of the kit that feels flimsy - I may look to replace it with something sturdier and more reassuring, as I don't like the amount of flex in it. Leveller works well in the centre column. One of the legs combines with the centre column to create a monopod, but there always seems to be a degree of... umm... persuasion required to get the centre column back in afterwards. Weight feels good for a tripod of this size, benefit being it was so cheap I can buy another one if I need to, as opposed to the Gitzo solution. Working height is a lot higher than the Gitzo too. Using the S4 sliding head really makes me aware of just how much I love the new Manfrotto heads that offer side load. I like the Aero4 a lot more than I thought I would. It feels very solid, without being very heavy. Sure, the S4 head isn't an O'Connor, and the pan bar may as well be made of jelly, but Benro are onto something here. Benro, if you're listening, so far all I want is: - Make it out of carbon fibre, less weight, more rigidity - Make the pan bar out of carbon too, or something just more reassuring and rigid. When I push on the bar, I want the head to move! - Side load head please! I got a discount on it through eBay's 15th anniversary sales, so paid about AUD$220 delivered, which is great value for a tripod with a levelling base and video head. The real test will be this week. I'm heading to the Philippines for work, and the Benro will be coming with me to support my BMPCC rig and slider for some corporate work and hopefully some timelapse. I look forward to reporting how it goes! |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
BTW regarding the ThinkTank bags, I do have the LowePro CompuTrekker AW. It can strap on as a very hefty backpack and, of course, has wheels and a pull out handle. This is what I'd been using for my Sony PMW-EX XDCAM EX camera.
Lowepro Rolling Compu Trekker Plus AW Backpack LP34704-PEF B&H Now that you've had time with the Aero4 do you find the S4 head adequate? I do wish it were carbon fiber and maybe managed the S6 head. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
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Had a shoot in the tightest of spaces. Usable area might have been 4' x 4' (1.2m x 1.2m) at most!
Had BMPCC and lenses in a smal LowPro backpack. My too heavy Sachtler tripod in its bag (still need to decide between Aero4 and their SF6 Carbon leg tripod). In a 32' PortaBrace bag I had two light stands, two Digital Juice Miniburst 128s and one Airbox inflatable soft box and my Sennheiser Wirecast EW100G3 Mic kit. I used BMPCC with Lumix 12-35 set to 12mm and f2.8. I'd have used a Sigma 18-35 with SpeedBooster if I had the lens instead for a bit shallower DOF. I could have used a Nikor 20mm f4 lens with SpeedBooster which ultimately would be a little faster than the Lumix (would have been about as wide). I had to do a "wrong side" key light since there was no room to place a light on the proper side. I tried the Airbox with the light at 4 o'clock but with no fill light it looked odd. Instead I moved the light right next to the camera at 5 o'clock without soft box so, ultimately, the face looks flat lit. There was an opposite side practical which worked as a bit of a hair/accent light. The tripod was just outside the door. Just enough room for me to stand without falling down the stairs behind me. Yes the entire space was that tight. Left is straight from camera shot ProRes LT. Middle is Grade in FCPX. He looked pale especially against the rich earth tones in the background so I did another color filter with color selection on face and graded that so he looked a bit more flush. BTW I was bothered by the white box on the monitor behind him but to change that we'd have to had cleared out of the room so his engineer (he's a an overnight radio show host) could change it. We determined it wasn't worth the interruption and delay. He was going on the air at midnight and we weren't able to start the shoot until 10pm. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
craig-
wonderful description of your workflow. it always makes good reading to see how others deal with the issues of production. i thought the face grade version was far superior. nor was i bothered by the monitor. in fact, it offered another layer of separation from the background. if it was there, you would have wished it was! thumbs up. be well. rob smalltalk productions/nyc |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
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Small Living Room. Same Gear as above. There was about 4' from couch to wall and about 10' long.
Shot at f2.8 with Panasonic Lumix 12-35 lens at 12mm. Two Digital Juice MiniBurst 128s. Key Right, Fill Left. Shooting on angle so I could increase my distance to the couch. You can see the bricks going slightly soft as they recede on the left. There was no room to move her away from the wall. Even closer to wall than previous shoot. No Grade on Left, Basic Grade Left Center. Face Grade One Right Center, Face Grade Two Right which might be slightly too saturated and dark. Probably going with Face Grade One Right Center. I did a color selection on the face but color was close to the brick which was also selected so I also did a shape mask to preserve the bricks. You can see the kind of crazy cramped conditions I often shoot under and why I need a small SPC Kit. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
If i may add my voice here this is my actual traveling alone kit in downtown Montreal in Canada:
Camcorder bag (Lowepro Roller 2):Sony PMW-200,Sony Wireless Mic(2), Sony Shotgun Mic,Sony Charger, 3 Sony Batteries BPU-60, Sony Small Headphone, Some SxS Cards, Total weight ... about 33. Lighting bag Lite Traveler (Lite Panel), 2 1X1 Led Light Panel, 2 Extension of 30 Ft, 1 Power Bar, and 2 Nano Stand and believe-it or not Total Weight is about 27. I have a smaller bag from Lowepro for DV Camcorders for lighter camcorder traveling who maybe about Total Weight of about 23 but this one is only my estimation of his weight. The tripod if required is about a weight of 9 to add to any combo traveling with me specified above. So any combo kit is a Total Weight of around 50 to 60 plus the tripod if required reach 60 to 70. All weight is in Lbs not Kilograms , can i have a lighter Pro Videographer kit ..... my finding seem No ... |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Daniel have you read the thread? Seems not if you say you can't have a lighter pro kit.
My kit is down to about 20lbs. Look at Ryan's kit as well. Also if those are your weights, you bags must be unusually heavy because the weight for the individual items add up to lower amounts. Your, camera, Tripod, lights are all heavier than needed in many cases unless all your interviews are two people or more. 1x1 panels aren't needed for most interviews in my experience. PMW-200, while nice, could be replaced with BMPCC, GH4 or even PXW-X70. Lighter camera means lighter tripod. This also means much smaller camera bag. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Yes Craig i have read the thread and more than one time believe me or not with great observation.
Your kit is really customize to be as light as possible for specific type of work you do i have note it. My bags are very robust but soft type i cant imagine the weight of total hard-cases , must be heavy. Many bags are around 5 , 7 , 9 Lbs when soft type and hard-case sometime around 13 or more Lbs. My interview many peoples and corporate videos to of the kind you see on Doug Jensen interviews Training. What i was expected from readers here was if at my type of working a lower kit was possible not at any cost. I have found myself in situations to have an assistant required to travel with me instead of getting lighter. I shoot in big room with more than two peoples often who require appropriate lighting Lite Panels do-it. My end results are Blu-ray all the time and i use at least two wireless mic , hope you see my Workflow. Lets conclude my post is about my work type and workflow and it take heavy equipement kit not typical. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
From what you describe your work really seems to require an assistant. At the top of the thread I think I mention I do have much heavier gear and with that, I hire an assistant. At 60-70lbs it may mean a couple of trips back and forth to the car if you're by yourself. If it's a big location, as you describe, it would seem to involve walking back and forth the room as well unless, you have an assistant. Granted I guess you could shot with your kit as a single person but when I have to carry that much gear and, I sometimes do, I hire an assistant for most efficient work.
Note I titled this thread "Subway kit" and a kit your size would be difficult to manage alone on a train or even hailing a cab. It could even be stretch to carry all that with air travel. Once you have a car you can pack, that's a different single person crew which is what Doug Jensen does. Your kit is fine for that. I'm not sure there's much lighter for what you do. 1x1 panels are lighter than the equivalent tungsten lights and a PMW-200 is lighter than the older shoulder mounts. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Your conclusion are right on target i think Single Person Crew is about one or two bags Maximum.
Also the bags should be around 15 to 20 Lbs maximum each and 30 Lbs for two is the ok target. My lighter camera bag is around 23 Lbs loaded but cant escape lighting kit and tripod Workflow. Thank-you about your POV, have a nice editing and shooting day. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Generally I will not do more then an interview on my own without a car. The camera goes into the backpack, tripods and lightstands into one bag and the lights in another. That can easily go in a cab or car service, a bit tough on a train or about half a mile walking. For theatrical or outdoor filming, I skip the lights and have even used my bicycle to get to jobs.
Any job that's complicated I will hire somebody to help. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
Cabs and car service can be a life saver... assuming they can get you there on time. They can drop you off in front of the location so you don't have to lug to fare.
The problem with cars and single person crew is that you have to hunt for parking or use a lot (carpark) and not only does looking for parking take time but either street or lot parking can result in a bit of walk to the location. Once I need a car I usually need an assistant, even if their primary purpose is to simply drop me off at location while they then hunt for parking. Camera and bike, that would probably make something like the Benro Aero 4 a good tripod option. Curious what lights you're using William. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
I have two small kits that I chose between depending on the job presented.
The first is a Lowel ViP three light halogen kit (two spots, one flood) that I supplemented with hardware store bought voltage dimmers. It's compact and great for interviews. Plus the case is soft but sturdy. I have had this kit for a decade. I recently purchased an Ikan IFB576 LED kit with two variable color temperature lights and V-mount battery plates. It provides a good soft light with low heat and set-up fuss. Unfortunately it's bulkier and the stands are in a separate bag. Depending on the job I can pack the camera tripod with the stands so I am back to three bags. If I need my large Manfrotto tripod I have to struggle with two tripods bags. |
Re: Subway Kit and the Tripod Quandary
I have a tungsten kit (Lowel Pro, Omni, Tota) but I'm moving to LED. I was thinking of adding iKan ID508v2 which is a little lighter than the IFB576
ID508-v2: ID508-v2 LED Studio Light w/Light Stand Mount | ikan I'd really like to find even lighter but what I've seen I haven't liked. |
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