[Bill Evelyn]

I appreciate all the input here, fellas. Always do.

I inherited an old Lowel kit which is a 5′ by 7′ silk on a frame held by 2 KS stands and 4 poles that form a frame. It’s probably, no kidding, 40 years old. It works well still, but it takes off like a kite in not much of a breeze, and so it’s used mostly in the studio these days. That told me to think small, so I’ve been using the silk frames already mentioned. I did another interview yesterday afternoon, and the small silks worked okay, just barely big enough to handle a medium shot…but there was no wind, and therefore minimal risk.
I did have to adjust it once when the sun tracked off of it.

I have at home a patio umbrella precisely as described here, but of course with the Home Depot fabric and not a silk-like cover. But, even on my deck with blocks holding the platform down, it blows over with enough regularity that my dog won’t go near it.

So, barring getting help to stake down a good size silk, or digging further in my camera’s set-up menu, I guess I simply need to take a more proactive position in the interview site selection process.

Thanks, — Bill

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Thanks, Don. I did look below, but I guess not very well! Looks like I’m already doing what works, and that’s good news…

Best,

— Bill

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Hey, everybody

I had a successful trip with my EX-3. Carried on Delta a few times, and it stowed under the seat in front of me as it would not fit (with the after-market shoulder brace attached) in the overhead bin. No hassle with either carried-on or checked lithium ion V-mount batteries, and all my SxS cards…”zapped” at airport security…all play back beautifully.

I left behind a larger XDcam for the smaller EX-3, and I haven’t regretted it. The images are beautiful, and my back is that much more appreciative of the lighter load!

Thanks for all your help with my many concerns posted here at the COW.

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Thank you, everyone, for contributing. Your help is very much appreciated.

Derek, you’ve not had problems with getting lithium ion batteries on an airplane…everyone else had zero problems? My concern is the IDX lithium ion battery website, which is where the red flag went up about taking them. Does anyone ship their batteries instead? I really don’t want to mess with that…but perhaps better safe than sorry.

https://www.idxtek.com/support/air_travel.html

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Hey, Todd

Any reason why you chose HMI lights? Were they just the largest sources available to you on this particular shoot?

Thanks,

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Hey, everyone

Thank you, as always, for your help. This forum has prevented gray hairs more than once and I do appreciate it.

It’s looking like matting is the best approach as studio space is limited, as is the backdrop. My thinking is hanging paper behind the talent and matt out the “junk” on either side in post. So, now to make that happen…

Are you using a particular software to accomplish this matte? I’m shooting with an XDcam & editing in Final Cut Pro 7.

Thanks, much

— Bill

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

I, too, have used these lights here in the US for years and have been very pleased with their performance. It is rare that I change the lamps. When I worked more with students, however, I did have to caution them to handle the lamps with cloth instead of greasy fingers which might shorten lamp life. And they might also not seat the lamp into the socket, which might not bode well for lamp life.

I also use smaller 250w Lowel Rifa 44 lights, and have found those small lamps are easily prone to destruction if handled roughly. But the 650 and 750 lamps I used with the larger Rifa’s have weathered very well.

For all the Lowel lights I use, I seem to replace the swithes a lot. I guess you can’t have everything.

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Hello, Ty

I have a similar question regarding booms and stands. I am seeking a boom and stand arrangement that has a rather long reach, to be used in a TV studio for recording interviews…musicians play, then chat with a host, then play more. I have been asked to find something heftier that can bring a mic about 12 feet from a stand to a set!

My thinking is that a boom operator would be better than a larger C-stand with a longer boom. Do you know of any booms with that long a reach that can be operated by a person using a hip-belt for stability? Back in the Stone Age, we used a very large boom pole on a heavy mount with wheels…very huge and clunky…like bringing in a brontosaurus…but it did work. I don’t want to do that again, but need the same kind of reach.

Thanks!

— Bill

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Thank you, Tom. That’s exactly what I needed. — Bill

Bill

[Bill Evelyn]

Hey, all

I, too, am looking for a matt box for this camera. Is the Cavision robust, a good alternative for the more expensive Chrosziel? I’ll be the only person using this, so I can take good care of it, but I don’t want to buy something that won’t hold up. Your opinions are appreciated.

Bill