Film Equipment

Hey guys,

Sorry about the long delay, but here is the first of several posts about equipment. This one is about film equipment. This will include cameras, microphones, and some tips for homemade steady cams, and tracks.

Let's start off with camera's. The camera i happen to have is a JVC Everio Hard Disk Drive camera, and it has 16:9 capability, but it can also film in 4:3. This comes in handy, when you need to make something easily and quickly into 16:9. This camera also has 4 video quality settings, and even on the best quality setting, you can get 7 hours of film, and on the lowest setting, you can an absurd 36 hours! That would be a day and a half of filming. Now the battery when fully charged gives you about 3 hours, but its very easy to charge. Now this is just the camera i have. There are plenty more options out there. If you are looking for a great camera for a good price, than the camera i have is absolutely the best one. Its in the 300-500 dollar price range. If you are looking to spend less, there are many options from the Samsungs to the Panasonics, all for under 200. The aipteks may look cool, but i would stay away from them especially if you want to make short films. If you are willing to spend more money, and possibly go over 1000 dollars, the best option there is, is basically any high end Canon. Their best camera is a minidv camera that is actually a couple grand. But if you are still looking at good cameras, the top 3 camera companies would definitely be 1. High End Canons, 2. Panasonics, 3. JVC, with Sony a close fourth, than samsung rounding out the top 5. I would stay away from any other cameras.




Now microphones are an option but they always help. Microphones come in all different styles and shapes and qualities. If you are looking for one to just use to record things onto your computer then the Blue Snowball USB Microphone is a great option for a money conscious buyer. Otherwise go for almost any other midrange option. If you are willing to spend over 1000 or close to 1000 than go for a Royer or Neuman microphone. They are the most expensive, but they are the best quality. Now for recording with a camera, try to get whats called a shotgun microphone. If you just need to record a voice over, or music, use a condenser microphone.




You may have seen in some behind the scenes footage of tv shows/movies, that they use a funky looking camera holder/tripod. Well most likely it was whats called a steady cam. A steady cam is a tripod that uses weights to balance out the camera, and it makes the camera still, that way when you run with it, or move the camera quickly, the film will still be steady. The weight normally can come from normal gym free weights, or even a lead block. The most important part besides the weight, is the movable handle. The handle plus the weights equals a steady shot. If you need any help or more advice on a steady cam, comment down below with your e-mail and I'll give you more advanced tips!



If you need to make tracks for a moving shot. First create some sort of trolly, if you have a camera tripod with wheels, than you can use that. If not, make a small platform with 2x4's and a 3/4 inch piece of plywood, and drill some holes where the tripod legs would be, then put the tripod in the wholes. The wholes are to keep the tripod from moving anywhere. Then if you need a track, I would use small pieces of angle iron and outline your track on the ground. Use one piece of it for one side, than use another piece a wheel's width away from it. There is your track!



Stay tuned for Software Tips next week!