Gear I recommend
Aloha everyone, Thank you for all the wonderful emails !, I’m glad to hear you are happy with your RedHeads and out there makin it happen ! That’s the stuff that excites me most ! I get a lot of questions about gear and thought you all may or may not find this useful. If you find the following content of value, I hope you enjoy. Those of you that know me know that I research the heck out of every little facet of anything I purchase. Weighing every possible option. Must be the Libra in me ? Instead of reviewing everything in depth I will offer a brief description along with what I like and don’t like about it : )
Update : Better AUDIO – removable MEDIA ( support up to 32gigs ) – Swappable batteries.. You may or may not know this but the Kodak Zi8 is better than the ultra POPULAR Flip HD on so many levels..
I’ve had mine since 2000 and they’re still going strong ! Industry standard for a good reason. This is the last place you want to skimp on quality : )
Canon 5D Mark II – 21mp still camera – 1920X1080 HD video cam !
What I like :
Form factor. This thing is small and I have a nice powerful little tool in my bag at all times. I love knowing that I can grab a 21mp still or shoot HD video any time I feel.
Discreetness. I previously owned a super beefed up Canon XL2 rig, I couldn’t shoot ANYTHING in public without being bombarded ” what are you shooting ?, what’s this for ?, what are you shooting ?” With the 5D Mark II I can have the smallest most discrete lenses on the cam and be in FULL NINJA mode.. People don’t blink an eye. If I want the attention, there’s a TON of accessories for this cam.
Mega Pixels To Burn At 21.1 mp this thing has a lot of potential to create works of art.. here are a few shots I made with the old 12mp 5D and they can be blown up to HUGE sizes.
What I don’t like :
WONKINESS. Even when shooting RAW which should be RAW I can find artifacts in certain shooting situations. Not really a big deal as most humans on this planet will NEVER notice a thing, but still, shouldn’t RAW be RAW ? If you are going for absolute perfection in your stills, and have deep pockets, the Nikon D3x 24.5MP DSLR
is definitely the top dog as of this writing. Still, don’t get me wrong, the 5D2 image is freeking fantastic, it’s just a tiny frustration I thought you need to know.
Canon 7D 18mp still cam – HD 1920X1080 video cam
What I like :
Price. It’s $1000 less than the 5D2. If you don’t absolutely need 21mp and can “settle” for 18, this cam is an incredible bargain.
24p. I don’t mind that as of this writing the Canon 5D Mark II only offers 30p but you might.. If you are a 24p junkie, this is the cam for you : )
What I don’t like:
That I don’t own one.
The Zoom H4n – powerful little handheld audio recorder.
What I like :
Size & Power it’s small, it’s super functional, records in mp3 as well as the higher quality WAV file up to 24bit 96k, all for $300 : ) provides fantom power if you choose to use a separate mic via XLR. Just a must have companion to your DSLR !
What I don’t like:
No timecode. Not a big deal for the short clips I’ve created on this site but could be a bit more difficult to manage with a short or feature film.
Levels dial. Wish they would have included one that could be quickly adjusted on the fly.. You could always add a field mixer for this functionality. I’d recommend adding one either way if you are planning on connecting a shotgun or hypercardiod mic. Portable 3-CHANNEL Field Mixer
Mount to your Zoom H4n to your DSLR with this :
strong>What I like :
Slap it on your DSLR via the hotshoe adapter, the Zoom H4n accepts the other threaded side, done. Easy peasy jap-anesey.
When my Zoom H4n isn’t on my cam it’s on the JOBY !
Manfrotto MDeVe tripod AWESOMENESS – * this will not contain a “what I don’t like” section as I’d be lying if I told you there was anything I didn’t like about it : )
What I like:
I love everything about this tripod, I’ve had mine for years, it’s been everywhere, it’s been subjected to the salty Maui seas on a weekly basis. It’s light, it’s ridiculously functional with the quick adjust ball head and it’s strong as hell. I vouch for this tripod 100%. For your DSLR camera package, I HIGHLY recommend this awesome tool. You won’t mind carrying it around all day too !
Here is an alternate head that can be easily screwed on in place of the video head if you are shooting stills :
Squeeze – Frame – Shoot – THIS HEAD ROCKS !
The Thinktank Street walker :
In mine I have my Canon 5D2, 20mm,35,50, and 85mm lenses, my Zoom H4n, Joby Gorilla pod, Lee filter holder, 6 filters, and a bunch of other stuff and there’s still room for more. + it easily secures my Manfrotto for long motorcycle rides.. Perfect for day treks, it’s my most used backpack. Easy access. Love it.
Crumpler Karachi Outpost – is a beast !
Right now mine is filled with my 4X5 landscape film camera and a ton of analog gear but if traveling with the 5D kit, this thing will easily fit a lot of stuff.. Great for shoots in remote locations or where you’ll be far from civilization.. the bag opens from the back which is very nice as it is impossible to pickpocket if you are wearing it : )
