[Derek Hall]

Related question(s) – why is it not possible to dial up the desired colour temperature? Why can it only be done using a card?
It seems a big oversight from the camera manufacturers. Instead of ‘cheating’ the light, or ‘cheating’ with the colour of the card, it would be great to do a normal white balance with white (or 18p.c. grey?), then adjust the displayed Kelvin reading according to preference.
For example, if you are in a room with fluoros and a skylight, or whatever, do a normal white balance, then manually adjust the result in say 100k increments to make the picture warmer/cooler as required.
I know the colour temperature works in more directions than simply warmer/cooler, but this sort of control would be a good start.

[Derek Hall]

Swit 8″ LCD range.

[Derek Hall]

I guess you could have a profile with everything standard except for a 5600k white balance preset but that feels like a rather inflexible workaround. What I don’t understand is why it’s not possible to bring up the white balance and simple dial it to whatever value you want, say in 100k increments. That seems the most logical way to control it. If that was possible, you could take a normal reading, and the simply dial it to a warmer or cool setting.

Re. the Tortlerig, I had a look at that but from my POV it defeats most of the reasons for going handheld, e.g. being able to quickly work at floor level, or at an angle, or to manouver into difficult spaces etc. Having the backpack and the pole thing over my head would negate most of the reasons for coming off the legs. But I appreciate the suggestions – it’s good to suss these things out.

[Derek Hall]

The MX-5000 matte box looks interesting and a real good price. However a problem with the EX1 is that the lens barrel is directly under the swing-out LCD and handle, so the difficulty is making sure that the matte box and especially the rotating filter stages are clear of the LCD screen. I wish they’d kept the LCD on top like the Z1.

The reason I went for the Petroff is it enables the LCD screen to swing in/out and still operate the filter holders. Also it fits nicely with the Century Optics lens adaptors so it solved all the issues I was having with finding a good matte box with rails.

The Petroff is both plastic and aluminium, mostly plastic. The flag is aluminium and has slide-out wings to increase the width. Another advantage of the petroff is it requires no tools to adjust, has easy fit adaptor rings, and all the adjustments can be made with a quick turn of the plastic wing-nut things. It is more expensive so it’s not a good budget item.

I’m still waiting for the Century Optics wide angle adaptor to come off the assembly line so I’ll let you know the results when I have it all together.

[Derek Hall]

I’m using a Storm iM2750 and really like it. Almost identical to Pelican but better wheels and hinges IMO. (Don’t like the Thermodyne casing or handles which easily become loose after time.) The EX1 will fit in the shallower Storm iM2720 but the 2750 is deep enough so the camera will sit in the case with the matte box mounted, with plenty of room for a wide angle adaptor, batteries and charger, several SxS cards. I use a Kato case for other accessories.

I often use a Lowelpro camera backpack which also works really well for going through the bush or up mountains etc. but you need a big backpack if you want to include matte box and accessories. Better to have an assistant with another backpack for the extras. I’ve taken the Lowelpro up mountains in Madagascar, through jungle in Cambodia, and down bauxite mines in Turkey etc. and it’s never let me down. Has a built in rain cover and comfortable to wear.

Regarding travel, it’s different for domestic and international flights. For domestic flights, the carry-on size is way too limited, so I recommend having the smallest possible hard padded case, strip the camera down so you just take the bare camera and SxS cards as carry on. Put everything else in check-in luggage.

For international travel I put the camera in the Lowelpro backpack which fits in the large aircraft overhead lockers along with laptop and wide-angle lens; everything else in check-in baggage. The Lowelpro also has a front pocket big enough to carry a few glass filters, a small toilet bag and a book to read.

I’ve had a lot of hassle in the US which you just have to accept, for example they decided my tripod head was a suspicious item and they put me in a glass cage and took it away to be tested for explosives. All you can do is be cooperative and patient no matter how frustrating it gets.

Make sure your insurance is adequate. Entering and leaving the US, as well as domestic flights, your luggage needs to be either unlocked or have the special TSA locks that security can open if you are not there with the key. Even so, the equipment can set off alarms and I’ve had my check-in luggage opened twice, with everything messed up in the case and the strap broken etc. Again, you just have to live with it and make sure your insurance will cover any loss or damage. The worst things for triggering security alert are shotgun mics and holders, boom pole, sound mixers, tripod heads and legs.

One advantage of the Storm and Pelican cases is that even if you have to leave them unlocked (if you lock them security will break open the case) at least the catches do not open accidentally, and these cases definitely protect the gear from rough handling, as well as from water etc. if the aircraft is loaded/unloaded in the rain.

Also whats good with the Storm is the handle which extends from the base and the wheels. (Oh yes, you can choose your colour scheme!) With hard cases, always go for slightly bigger because there’s nothing worse than discovering it’s slightly too small.

For travel the basic rule is to organize your baggage so you can keep the camera, laptop and media in your possession at all times. You can always drop into Macy’s for extra shorts.

Hope this helps.

[Derek Hall]

Have you tried using a set of tinted cards to cheat the colour temperature – this might be easier than setting up profiles. The cards mean you have a consistent offset whatever conditions you are balancing with.

[Derek Hall]

Okay I found the EX1 Clip Browser version 1.1 at
https://www.sony.co.uk/biz/view/ShowContent.action?site=biz_en_GB&contentId=1193315622075&site=biz_en_GB

– the one on the CD is version 1.0, maybe 1.1 is the answer.

[Derek Hall]

Interesting config Caleb and a testimony to how long a good set of sticks will last. I’m using Lacie Rugged 250GB drives for field storage and still finalising desktop storage – I’m testing a LaCie 500GB eSATA/FW800 which has performed better than expected so far.

My laptop is WindowsXP so I’m testing mediafour’s MacDrive utility to transfer SxS media to the LaCie rugged field drive and transfer that media into the Mac/FCP system. As soon as I’ve rehearsed an easy/reliable workflow I’ll double up on storage so that I have a duplicate set of all project media/rushes.

As for archiving, I think that’s another thread or forum.

Derek

[Derek Hall]

Thanks, yes that does seem to fit (just). I’d like to keep the Petroff but will look at options.

Also – I can solve the tripod head clearance issue by sliding the baseplate nearer the rear of the camera, however that puts the centre of gravity some way in front of the baseplate position, which isn’t ideal.

Derek

[Derek Hall]

Sorry I meant Sennheiser ME-60…