Comments on: Purchasing a Digital Cinema Camera Package: a Complete Guide from Ryan E. Walters

By: blog | leopold fuchs

blog | leopold fuchs — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 21:29:07 +0000

[...] purchasing digital cinema camera guide ryan e. walters [...]

By: Philip John

Philip John — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 01:07:11 +0000

Thanks Ryan this was the best that I have read. Having gone into this business over the last six months or so I have been in a real quandary over what camera…what price do I pay…what extras will I need…etc…etc… Much to my surprise most shops I have been to don’t really help that much. I have been looking at the BlackMagic but your candid information has really helped come a long way to making an informed decision. Thanks again mate..Cheers Philip (Sydney Australia)

By: Purchasing a Digital Cinema Camera Package: a Complete Guide from Ryan E. Walters | FilmMaking Hub | Scoop.it

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:14:15 +0000

[...] Things are moving fast in the world of digital cinema. Just a few years ago DSLRs were about the only affordable way to get a cinema quality image, but now we’ve got plenty of camera options under $20,000 that would have cost well over $100,000 just five years ago. We’ve already shared with you a rather comprehensive RED buying guide, and now we have a wonderful digital cinema buying guide from Ryan E. Walters. He covers everything you need to know about putting together a camera package, and gives personal experience about the package he is planning to put together. [...]

By: Shawn Strong

Shawn Strong — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:57:26 +0000

Greetings Ryan,
Great article. Very understandable. I was contemplating getting the BMCC at a point but overall it would make sense for me. I do mostly music videos and will be doing more short digitals soon. I came from a Canon 7D, which got stolen then upgraded to a GH@ which I now use and love. Looking to get a GH3 as well. My work is all HD and my clients are more than fine with that being their distribution of their work is the Internet. I did want to ask you from what I just stated of my works, what would be the best light meter for what I do and I do do occasional photo work as well? This would be my 1st light meter and do not want a cheap nor expensive meter. If it has to be on the expensive side, then it has to be worth it and I know your expertise can help. Thanks…

By: Purchasing a Digital Cinema Camera Package: a Complete Guide from Ryan E. Walters - NoFilmSchool | Steve Troletti Photography and Environmental News

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 13:51:33 +0000

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By: Purchasing a Digital Cinema Camera Package: a Complete Guide from Ryan E. Walters - NoFilmSchool | Steve Troletti Nature and Wildlife Photographer | Scoop.it

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 13:50:24 +0000

[...] Things are moving fast in the world of digital cinema. Just a few years ago DSLRs were about the only affordable way to get a cinema quality image, but now (Super extensive! [...]

By: Purchasing a Digital Cinema Camera Package: a Complete Guide from Ryan E. Walters - NoFilmSchool | Books, Photo, Video and Film | Scoop.it

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:38:06 +0000

[...] Things are moving fast in the world of digital cinema. Just a few years ago DSLRs were about the only affordable way to get a cinema quality image, but now (Super extensive! [...]

By: Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:45:30 +0000

My personal opinion is that post is NOT the place to do filtration. Filtration is needed with all cameras. :)

At the start of the article I mentioned that these were bare bones packages that you could shoot with. Stripped down to the absolute minimums. Not pretty, but you could go out and record imagery. You’ll also notice that I left out a follow focus, rails, and some other accessories that many people like to have, but is not essential to recording images. In the package that I put together for myself, you’ll see a lot of additional accessories that are not in the other packages, but they are the tools I like to use. :)

By: Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:34:19 +0000

Thanks. :) My point in sharing the principles and all of the examples was to show them in action. That way anyone can take the principles and apply it to any situation, camera, or rig. Everyone’s preferences and shooting styles are so different that this could go on ad nausiuem. :)

By: Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:28:55 +0000

Thanks. :) To answer your questions:

Gold Mount VS V-Lock:
Over the years I’ve had better success with the Gold Mount. In my experience the pins and the lock on the V-Lock wear out quicker, and become loose. Gold mont has always been rock solid for me. The B4B batteries have worked well for me. I was originally introduced to them by my local rental shop. They don’t have the fancy display that AB has, but I haven’t missed it. :)

Total Accessories:
Camera, Monitor (5.6″ TV logic), Audio (JuicedLink), in the future I’ll be adding the TV logic EVF. Everything is powered via D-Tap with a voltage regulated AB plate from Letus.

7×7 VS Video 18
Just a matter of what I found on eBay in the price range I wanted to spend. An 18 would have been nice. :)

By: Dexter

Dexter — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 05:44:25 +0000

Great job in this breakdown. It give us an idea on how others would shoot with the various digital cinema cameras. At the same time cross reference as well my personal views with the other experts.

I have a question here though, you took out the lens filters. Are these considered options now with the powerful workstations around that can give the look in post?

By: chop

chop — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:18:37 +0000

cool article. would like to see this continued with other cameras and maybe other scenarios. Like narrative vs event/eng. either way, great work

By: Marshall Harrington

Marshall Harrington — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:15:37 +0000

Great article that has me rethinking a few of my thoughts. I personally won’t buy most of my equipment until the camera is in my hands. Especially the brand new stuff. There could easily be new gear in the market by the time I get it.

A couple of questions though:

First, on your intended battery solution. I see you like Gold Mount in the Anton Bauer over V-mount connections. What led you to that decision? How do they stack up against Anton Bauers themselves?

That gets me to thinking about the total load. what’s the complete list of devices you see powering at one time? How will you connect to all of these?

Second, why specifically the Sachtler 7X7? Say over the Video-18 or ???

By: Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:54:01 +0000

Check craigs list. Those kind of rental package that you’ll get for that rate will not be great, and most likely it will not be updated, have missing / broken parts, etc. I’ve seen people in my area offer $100 / day for them and their camera package- that is a sad way to go, as you could make more flipping burgers and not have to spend the cash on buying a fancy camera …

By: Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:50:26 +0000

Thanks. I’m glad you liked it. :)

Yep, the BMCC will be fun, and painful to work with all at the same time! It seems like by the time computers catch up to the data our cameras throw at them, we have new cameras that throw even more data at them … I can remember when my computer had a hard time with compressed HD … oh well … at least we are progressing. :)

By: Ryan E. Walters

Ryan E. Walters — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:47:53 +0000

Great point about the batteries. And it will suck even more power away if you need to draw power for your accessories / monitors … it is a power hog for sure, and that should not be over looked. :)

By: mentatDUKE

mentatDUKE — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:22:39 +0000

Tannz,
Where can you rent an Epic, Scarlet, or Alexa for 1.5k for 20 days? Was this a typo?

By: Razor

Razor — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:23:33 +0000

I appreciate the way you broke this down into logical steps. It’s a highly informative and well written article Ryan; well done sir! I too am looking forward to the pleasure and the pain of the BMCC. I feel it’s a historical, and challenging journey I cannot pass up. Bring it BMD!

By: Daniel Mimura

Daniel Mimura — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:43:11 +0000

With the R1MX don’t underestimate the battery requirements. I figured having 4 IDX 93 watt hour batteries would work as a starting point, cuz I already have them from my steadicam…figuring that, you know, 93 watt hours is like roughly a third of a 140 watt hour battery, so it’ll run for like an hour instead of an hour and a half. Not so! The R1 is very high amperage. I got my camera the other day and a 93 watt hour battery will last 20 minutes.

And I’ve learned that it’s bad for the batteries too…it over stresses them.

I’ve used 2 of those batteries on a 24v Moviecam SL on steadicam rig with a video tap and 2 monitors and lasted well over half the day…so I just assumed I’d be okay with the R1, which after all, is only a little 12 volt thing…but no, it’s not the voltage or wattage, it’s the amperage. That thing is a power hog.

By: Juhan-i

Juhan-i — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 04:11:34 +0000

http://cinematographie.info/index.php?/topic/3013-les-cercles-de-confusion/page__p__9503&#entry9503