[Marc Chapuis]

Emre – Awesome photo. Wow.

Some great comments everyone. Thanks so much. I have a lot to chew on. I think I’ll try the bean bag cine saddle option first since its so inexpensive and I can keep the gear if it works or maybe rent a van to in addition to get side shots. If worse comes to worse I could hire a steadicam operator.

I was thinking of getting the small HD lipstick camera as was pointed out for on board shots but hadn’t thought out using it from the car. My only trepidation with using the EX3 is possible rolling shutter problems on but this the POV cam might make up for that or I could get one of those Nano Flash boxes that pump up the bit rate and smoothes the RS problems out. I’ll have to def shoot some test footage whatever I do.

I will be shooting this type of footage for a self financed proposal so it needs to look good but I also need to keep costs down as well. You guys have given me a few options.

If anyone can think of anything else chime in.

Thanks again.

[Marc Chapuis]

Sounds like a simple solution. How steady was your footage? Do you have to fix a lot in post?

One solution I was looking at was using a cine saddle but I wasn’t sure how to get rear shots out the side window. I guess the only realiable way is to tie it down to the back and monitor from inside and do the same from the front for the reverse.

How about side shots out the window of a regular car? Using a bean bag or cine saddle or similar? Any suggestions?

[Marc Chapuis]

Steve I like your style!

[Marc Chapuis]

Steve,

Thanks for going above and beyond but since I have one I know that you can’t see this when you’re actually shooting in camera mode outside of the audio status menu and that’s why I brought it up.

Its nice that in the audio menu one can see this but I don’t understand why they don’t have this level of detail on the meters when they are at the bottom when you’re actively recording and not just unmarked bars.

If anyone has other firmware suggestions I would love for sony to get this list and hopefully implement.

[Marc Chapuis]

Great idea.

I’m also looking for a case to just hold everything-blimp/mount/boom/shotgun/field mixer, etc. Just one case that I can throw into my car and go.

I was looking at a pelican case or something. It would be great to have foam in it that would accomodate all this. Is there anywhere one can find this or get it made.

Marc Chapuis
Chapuis Creative

[Marc Chapuis]

I’m glad someone brought this topic up. I’ve also been looking for a but wider as well as longer lens than the stock lens and after researching the lens adaptors I’ve come to the conclusion that they aren’t “there” yet with them for my needs.

Are there other lenses that either go straight into the ex3’s body or that simply use the supplied or other simple screw in adaptor? The stock lens is good but I too am looking for another option that give me more choices.

Thanks,

Marc Chapuis

[Marc Chapuis]

Dave,

Thanks so much for the response. I was just wondering if there’s a way to keep the boom completely wireless between the camera and boom and let the boom operator still monitor the signal independently? That was the whole point in my buying the plug-in so that we won’t get tangled up when shooting run and gun exteriors.

If there was an adapter that could fit between the end of the shotgun and the plug-in that had a mini or 1/4 connection for the headphones that would be ideal. Just one cable going to the operator. Or maybe a duplex cable like you mentioned except the plug-in is on the belt of the operator in a pouch or something and then the other half of the “Y” could be to the headphones? Is there anything out there that comes to mind?

Thanks,

Marc

[Marc Chapuis]

Thanks gents for the responses.

I did see the bracket1 mount as well as the anton bauer battery mount that will accept a screw on adapter to hold a receiver box. The downside I felt that the bracket1 mount has is that its on the front of the camera. Since the EX3 is already too front heavy for my taste that didn’t sound like a good option to me.

The anton bauer gold mount is a good option since it puts the receivers on the back of the camera and acts as a counterbalance to the heavy front end. The downside is it costs alot and I just bought a bunch of sony batteries. The other thing is that it covers up the stock battery mount so you just cant use the bracket minus the anton bauer battery to get the receivers to mount since then you wouldn’t be able to mount the sony batteries.

The solution I found was the BEC bracket.

https://www.thebecgroup.com/ They have 2 great solutions. One is a shoe mount that’s very sturdy. They have a vertical and horizontal mount. You can find them at BH: B&H #BEHSAHORZ

I also found their mounting box B&H# BE201
This little beauty will mount to the bracket I mentioned above and has threads to accept another box so you can stack as many as you want.

Another great thing that BEC has is another bracket that mounts under the camera and puts the receiver boxes behind the camera a touch and out to the right. Its also at BH # BEDVCAMBHD There’s actually a better shot of it at BEC’s website.

What I like about these solutions is that it puts the wireless receivers to the rear of the camera thus reducing the already front heaviness of the EX3. I called Mike the owner at BEC and he told me that the bottom bracket sturdiness has the added advantage of acting as sort of a rear handle since its so solid. The bracket also allows you to still attach your tripod mounting plate. Another thing I like is that on the rear of the camera nothing gets in the way from me using the zoom buttons on the front. The only downside I see with the rear bracket is its price: $224. Since it uses the same boxes as the shoe mount you can stack these to your hearts delight.

I think I’m going to get the shoe mount and use the rear shoe and mount the horizontally. I’ll see how stable that is. If I don’t like it I’ll get the bottom bracket. Hopefully this will work and at the same time take some weight off the front and of course hold 1-2 receivers.

Best,

Marc Chapuis
Creative Director

Chapuis Creative
Dallas, TX

[Marc Chapuis]

Ron,

You know, I’ve done alot of research on this and there are alot of choices. I finally decided on a rycote mount that uses the existing mount. I didn’t want to use the shoe since I would like to have it open for other devices. Its the rycote softie mount for about $119. I also ordered the windscreen with it as well as the pistol grip. With this setup I can use it on the camera, on a boom, or just handhold with the pistol grip. The softie mount acts as a shockmount. The reason I went with this over K-Tek and Sennheiser was cost. For $300 I get more versatility for a lower cost.

So I have these items on order at B&H. Unfortunately the pistol grip is on back order and BH is notorious for not shipping those items separately, so it may be awhile untill I can test it out.

DO me a favor and let me know what you decide. I may send it all back and get the K-Tec if this isn;t to my liking. I just hope the softie mount is enough of a shock absorber. I will probably end up getting the sennheiser zeppelin later on anyway since is so good-unfortunately they dont have a system that mounts to the EX-3. If they had I would have gotten that and then saved up for the blimp.

Best,

Marc Chapuis
Creative Director
Chapuis Creative

[Marc Chapuis]

Guys,

Thanks for the info. All your links were very informative. I may just buy one of those brackets or the azden set-up. I’m a little wary of azden tho. My last set was a crummy VHF plastic gumball prize. I’m hoping that these units are better. Are the actual microphones any good? If I bought one of these systems and then used say a countryman b6 mic do you think it would be a solid choice? Otherwise I’d go with a sony or sennheiser kit, I’ll have to research if they make combo kits.

Thanks again.

Marc Chapuis