“How do you get such smooth video?”, “What camera do you use?” and “How do you carry your drone on hikes?” are among the most frequent questions I receive about our videos and blog. It has taken a while but I finally put together a “Behind the Adventure” video covering many of the common questions I receive and this blog post will go into additional details on the gear not covered in the video. It also provides some more general tips and tricks I’ve learned over the past couple of years documenting our time in New Zealand.
Check out the Behind the Adventure for an inside look into how we film our adventures:
Choosing the right camera
The honest truth is that your ability to frame a shot in an interesting way far outweighs any amount of money you can spend on a camera. In “ideal conditions” (evenly illuminated scene with lots of light) most cameras will give you very similar results. However, there are a few situations where spending more means you can take great pictures and video where other cameras just can’t. The most common of these is low-light situations (usually dawn, dusk or in the woods). Full-frame cameras have larger sensors which collect more light and also allow you to get a shallower depth of field (blurring out the background).than point-and-shoots, entry and mid-level cameras.
I can’t tell you how often I find myself still taking pictures hand-held after sunset while other tourists struggle with their cameras or scramble to set up a tripod. I took the photo below photo handheld at 5:15am last weekend, 45 minutes before sunrise (iso 8000, f5.6, 1/100s). We were on our way to go fishing and I only bothered to snap it because I could do so easily on our way without taking the time to setup a tripod. I love taking pictures run-and-gun style because it doesn’t take up any precious adventure time.
Another critically important factor when I chose a camera was that it had to take great video as well as photos. I wanted everything in one package instead of lugging around a stills camera and video camera. At the time I bought my camera (mid-2013) there was really only one clear choice: The Canon 5D Mark III. While the $2,500 USD price tag was very expensive I decided to make the considerable jump from a cheap entry level DSLR (~$500) to a full-frame because it was really important to me to document our trip to New Zealand in as high a quality as possible and not be limited by a camera.
What I love about the Canon 5D Mark III
:
- The camera is totally bomb-proof. I have frozen it, dropped it, had it out in the rain, subjected it to sandstorms and corrosive volcanic sulphur clouds. It just keeps working thanks to great design and weather proofing.
- Low-light performance. Even though there other cameras out there that are better for low-light it still holds its own for low-light performance, good enough for me to win Photographer of the Year using the 5D for our glowworm time-lapse video.
- Video quality. When I bought this camera it was pretty much the benchmark for quality DSLR video capabilities and even today it still stacks up well with new cameras except in resolution and frame-rate (see below)
- High dynamic range. The 5D has 11 stops of dynamic range. What this means is that a the 5D is good at capturing details in scenes with a lot of contrast between light and dark areas of the photo. This is a major problem for cheaper cameras. Many phones and lower-end cameras try to overcome this challenge by having a HDR mode where it takes multiple photos and combines them for you. You can also do this manually (and with better result) with the lastest version of Adobe Lightroom and a fun little program called Photomatix
What drives me crazy about the Canon 5D Mark III
:
- Video resolution and frame rate. I curse my 5D all the time for not being able to shoot 4k video (or at least 2.7k). I get equally as mad that it can’t shoot 1080p at a frame rate greater than 30 frames-per-second. For most people this probably isn’t a big deal but I want my videos to be in as high a resolution as possible so it looks good on the big screen and slow motion enabled by higher frame rates gives me more editing options.
- Size and weight. The 5D is massive and heavy, mirrorless equivalents like the Sony A7s II help trim the fat off large full-frame bodies.
While I have three lenses for the 5D, I normally only ever take two with me. The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L lens and Canon 70-200mm f/4 lens. It’s an incredible combination of wide-angle and telephotos that allows me to switch back and forth for totally different looks and also ensures I am covered for most of the scenes I would encounter. I use the 16-35mm 90% of the time for landscapes and most video and switch to the 70-200mm when I’m further away from the subject or want to get some nice people photos/video.
While everything about the 5D is pretty awesome if I had to purchase a new full-frame camera today I would go with the Sony A7s II ($3,000). While it has some drawbacks when it comes to lens selection it addresses my biggest pain-point with the 5D (video resolution and frame rate) and the fact that it’s mirrorless and tiny is great!
While the 5D and Sony A7s II are fantastic (but expensive) all around cameras/video cameras, there are also different cameras that are specialized for different purposes, one of the reasons we also carry two other cameras. The GoPro HERO4 Black is a must if you plan on capturing action up close and with little effort. We have a lot of mounts to put it on helmets, bike frames, car dashboards and even carry it in our mouth while surfing. While inside the waterproof case the camera is pretty indestructible which is a great feeling when you are putting it in harm’s way.
Lastly we use a Canon G7 X . I purchased this after getting fed up with the giganticness of the 5D. On big hikes or mountaineering it was just too big, too heavy and unnecessary. At $599 USD the G7X is a more reasonable and takes great photos. More and more frequently we are leaving the 5D at home and taking the G7x just for convenience. It’s amazing what point and shoots can do these days.
What I love about the Canon G7 X:
- Size and weight. So small and so light, I can put it in my pocket!
- Video quality: This is very important for us and the G7x captures amazing video.
- Image quality. This little camera takes some great photos, more importantly it can shoot RAW images which means we can edit them as we would edit our 5D photos in Lightroom
and recover lots of detail in dark areas. It even does pretty well in low-light!
- Articulating Screen. Ok, I never thought it really it would be that useful, but it is! Especially for video or when taking a selfie.
What drives me crazy about the Canon G7 X:
- The telescoping lens is prone to getting dust and dirt in behind it. I should have been more careful putting it in a lint filled pocket at the start, now I am stuck trying to vacuum it out all the time.
- No viewfinder. This takes some getting used to. There is only a screen to preview your photo and in bright light it’s really difficult to frame your shot properly. I find I end up taking extra photos just to be sure I got the angle right.
Our Camera Gear List:
- Canon 5D Mark III Camera
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Lens
- Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L Lens
- HOYA PRO1 82mm UV Filter
- B+W 82mm XS-Pro Polarizer
- Hoya Variable Density 82mm Lens Filter
- Canon 70-200mm f/4 Lens
- Rode VideoMic PRO
- Benro Travel Angel II Tripod
- Peak Design CapturePRO Camera Clip
- LENSPEN DSLR Pro Cleaning Kit
- GoPro HERO4 Black
- Canon G7 X
- Joby GP8-BHEN GorillaPod
Stabilizing video
The aspect that helps differentiate our videos more than anything else is stabilization. Professional video is always filmed with cranes, dollies or fancy body mounting systems that take all add the same element of interest – motion!
As a hobby travel video maker it just doesn’t make any sense to use giant dollies or cranes, but there are ways to remove shake and add motion to videos which are getting easier and easier. I use a counterbalance contraption called a Glidecam to give our videos that smooth gliding feel. This means viewers aren’t distracted by slight shakes in the camera as I walk and are engaged by the smooth motion. Most cameras or lenses these days have some type of built in stabilization system which helps remove minor vibration and shakes but it can’t get rid of large movements, especially from walking. That’s where our Glidecam HD-2000 ($499USD) comes in.
What I love about the Glidecam:
- It just works. It takes a little practice but the glidecam produces great results and it’s easy to use once it’s set up.
- It is robust. The glidecam is mainly just a bunch to steel parts and bearings fastened to the each other so you can bang it around without damaging it.
- Perfect for ‘on-the-go’ video. I love to film as we go, particularly when hiking, the last thing I want to do is stop and setup a scene. The glidecam allows me to run around and try different options all in the flow of the activity. If I see something interesting I just turn on the camera and keep walking, I don’t have to waste time creating the perfect composition in a static frame.
What drives me crazy about the Glidecam:
- Size and weight. The glidecam is big and heavy. I’ve gotten used to it, but it is a lot like carrying a collapsed tripod around everywhere you go. However, you can’t easily tuck it away. The glidecam does disassemble into pieces, but re-assembly requires re-balancing so I often leave it together all day and carry it around over my shoulder or in my hands.
For a heavy camera like the 5D the glidecam is still the best option on the market for stabilized video but for smaller cameras electronic gimbals are making a strong push. Recently, I bought a Feiyu-Tech Wearable 3-axis gimbal ($285 USD) for the GoPro. It’s incredible what this little gimbal can do and the prospect of wearing it mountain biking or other sports where vibration is usually the main hazard is really exciting. If I didn’t already have a GoPro I don’t think I would have bought the Feiyu-Tech gimbal
and instead would have gotten the DJI OSMO. It is a complete unit (camera + gimbal) for $650USD and it is getting great reviews. For anyone looking to improve the quality of their travel videos without getting big expensive and heavy gear the Osmo is calling your name.
Our stabilization gear list:
Taking to the sky – drone style
Drones are becoming more and more popular for photographers and video makers because they are so easy to use and allow you to get perspectives that used to be reserved for high budget movies with helicopters. And when I say easy to use, they are really almost dummy proof.
My drone will remember where it took off from and land itself where it started. If I want to take a drink of water while I’m flying the drone I can put the controller down and the drone just hovers there awaiting further instruction. There are a number of drones on the market but the most popular for a reason is the DJI Phantom series. They are relatively affordable, easy to use and produce great quality images and video. Personally I have the DJI Phantom 2 with 3-Axis Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal ($710 USD) that we mount the GoPro HERO4 on. It works great which is why I haven’t bothered replacing it with a newer model. But if I was to buy a drone today I would buy the DJI Phantom 4 Professional ($1,158 USD). It has a great camera built in that shoots 4K video and RAW stills. Mind blowing!
The main thing to consider before buying a drone is that it’s difficult to take places if you aren’t driving. It is reasonably large, doesn’t pack well because of its square shape and the batteries don’t last long. On day walks Jenna carries a drone backpack and I carry a camera backpack with everything else. On big trips I have to ram it into my big pack and hope for the best. If you don’t have to walk very far from your car, having a drone is ideal for taking cool video.
Our Aerial gear list:
- DJI Phantom 2 with 3-Axis Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal
- 2 Pairs Genuine DJI Props
(don’t buy cheap knocks-offs, you will crash)
- GoPro HERO4 Black
- DJI Phantom 2 Extra Battery
- GoPro Sunshade Hood
- FlySight 7″ Monitor
- FlySight Black Mamba 5.8GHz Wireless Video Transmitter
- Cloverleaf Antenna Set
- DJI iOSD Mini On-Screen Display
- FPV System Controler Mount
Time-lapse magic
I have always been fascinated by time-lapses. But my appreciation grew to whole new level when I first saw Horizons by Randy Halverson (Dakotalapse). I loved the camera motion incorporated in the time-lapse and midway through 2014 decided I wanted to introduce cool sliding and panning time-lapses into my videos.
I did a lot of research on the best (most compact and light) setup and decided to go with the a slider from Dynamic Perceptions – Stage One ($1150USD) and an Emotimo TB3 motion controller ($1199USD). The motion controller allows me to pan and tilt the camera between shots while the slider allows linear and vertical travel of the camera itself. The combination of the both systems produces stunning results.
While making these time-lapses is really fun and also what was used to make our glowworm video it is the heaviest, largest and most specialized piece of gear we carry. That’s why I often opt to leave it at home and just shoot normal (on a tripod) time-lapses on big adventures. It usually depends on how much space I have in my backpack and how many big hills there are that we will have to walk up. Hauling it all the to Mueller Hut for the single motion-controlled time-lapse I took was probably not worth it. On the other hand, if I had not taken it on the Cape Brett Track that video would have not turned out nearly as awesome.
Our Time-lapse gear list:
- Dynamic Perceptions – Stage One
- Emotimo TB3 motion controller
- Anker Astro Pro2 Mobile Battery Pack
- Satechi MTR-M Timer Remote Control
Bringing it all together
Some of you may be doing the math and thinking, “holy cow, all this gear ads up to a lot of money”, and you would be right. I didn’t set out to spend a lot of money on camera gear three years ago but once I got started, my passion grew and so did my aspirations of what I wanted to capture from our adventures. That being said, more than half of our videos don’t use a drone or have time-lapses, and I don’t need either to make great videos, they just add another dimension for incremental improvement. One of my favourite YouTube channels, Yeti Adventure Films makes great adventure videos with no fancy gear at all (a dslr <$1,000 and GoPro).
Fortunately, technology is advancing so fast that the tools needed to capture great video and pictures are becoming cheaper and easier for everyone. I don’t think it will be long before you see a package deal of a DJI Osmo and Phantom drone where the Osmo camera is interchangeable between the Osmo and drone. And you are already seeing great compact cameras like the G7x which delivers very high quality video and stills. You can even get reasonably priced panning heads for GoPros/phones that introduce motion into time-lapses.
I hope you found it useful to understand the equipment I use and why I choose to use it. The other dimension to making great videos, which is probably even more important is editing. But that’s a topic for another blog…
I’ve raced through a lot of topics and have also listed a lot of gear that I didn’t talk to so if you have any questions put them in the comments below and I will happily answer them 🙂
Full Disclosure: This post was not sponsored by any gear companies but does contain some affiliate links
Awesome post! I have one question: how do you pack all this stuff? I saw in the video you use two trekking backpackingtheworld. Do you use something to protect camera gear? How do you pack your drone?
Thanks!
You are awesome and you inspire me to travel more!
Hi Andrea, we don’t use much packing material because it adds additional bulk and takes up space. For the drone we use bubble wrap and everything else we wrap in clothes that are already in our backpack. I also take all the smaller pieces and put them in ziplock bags so they don’t move around too much inside the backpack. For the GoPros we have little plastic covers which protect it form getting scratched while inside the bag.
The filming of this how we film video was of itself beautiful.
Jordan you are so talented, from day one with just a steady cam & copter this was evident, with more strings to your bow now the two of you are a walking film unit.
As organised as this video demonstrates you need to be talent is the intangible ingredient, a follow up on editing further down the line would be enlightening.
I have always loved how you manipulate contrasts, an intimate extreme close up tracking in cutting away to the copter panning away gives your videos a very rhythmic quality.
Nice work both of you, thank you.
Dave, thanks for the great feedback. We have certainly put in some effort over the years to improve and I’m glad you noticed. I think we still have plenty of room to make our stuff even better and we’ll continue to work on that. One thing we always try and keep in perspective is that we want our adventures to be primarily about the adventure itself. Capturing it on video is a side benefit and we try and do as good of a job with it as we can without turning everything into a ‘film shoot’. Jenna and I did a presentation on editing/video structure a few months back and we will probably turn that into a future video/blog at some point. Stay tuned for that 🙂
Love the video! Always faszinating to see how those beautiful videos are made! Good that you are able to combine both the adventure and the shooting. I always find it difficult to find the right balance. In the end it’s often more work than fun.
Enjoy your trips and keep up the good work. Looking forward to see more. Yours Boris
Yes, it’s really a delicate balance. One that I try to stay very conscious of because it’s easy to ruin a trip by turning into a film shoot/work. We’ve found that if we try and plan for extra time it becomes much easier (e.g., instead of a 10 hour day hike we will bring our tent and turn into a two day hike giving us more time to goof off and take pictures/video).
Jenna and Jordan,
Great job with your “filming of the filming”! Although Kathy and I do only point and shoot pics and video and, unfortunately for us, will likely never use the tips gained from this, we would like to say that this film you guys have made is so interesting and well done that it is in itself a masterpiece! We always look forward to what you do and thanks so much for sharing your skill, talent, creativity, adventures, and your fun-loving personalities. Lov ya both, Kathy and Wayne 🙂
Thanks Wayne, glad you liked the post.
Thank you for sharing some knowledge, the tips are greatly appreciated. One question I have is that you mention in the blog that you find yourself using the Canon G7 more often to eliminate some weight. I was curious as to whether you mount it on the glidecam-2000 or do you use a smaller stabilizer? Seems like an awful big stabilizer for such a small camera. I see that most of the youtube videos you list the 5d as the camera used, did you use the G7 in any of those episodes? I guess I was wondering if you had any limitations when using the G7 for video recording purposes that you wouldn’t have with the 5d?
Great question JR! I haven’t tried mounting the G7 on the glidecam yet and I doubt I will. Gravity powered stabilizers like the glidecam are most effective the heavier the camera is and since the G7 is so light it would really be prone to wobble in even the slightest breeze on the glidecam. When we take only the G7 with us it’s usually when we don’t intend on making a full video out of the experience and focus on pictures or we are only filming some bits and pieces that we will use in some type of compilation. On or channel right now there are only a few clips here and there that use the G7 but I have a bunch of stuff in the works with it. It is better for narrative/vlog type stuff because of it’s ease of use which is why I used it for the intro and outro of our YouTube trailer video. And I have used it quite a bit for mountaineering video but as a stationary video camera not gliding around. If I wanted to get smooth gliding shots with the G7 in place of using the glidecam and 5D I would probably buy an electronic stabilizer for it (here are some options: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Configured+for_Mirrorless+Cameras&ci=28767&N=3717223530+3738443540). Short answer is the weight of the 5D is actually helpful for the glidecam and a hindrance for the G7. The lightweight of the G7 makes it more suitable for an electronic stabilizer system where that would be impractical for the 5D. Hopefully that helps and if you have any other questions let me know.
hahaha loved your post. It looks so funny how you guys walk around with bend knees. Looks like it’s well worth it though. Great post, I always love “the making of…”
Just started to read your blog, I m curious about the other posts.
thanks you both
cheers Carmen
Thanks Carmen! I always giggle when I see Jordan doing the ‘glidecam shuffle’ haha
Jenna
How many counter weight plates do you find yourself using to achieve a good balance with the mark iii? I bought a glide-cam not too long ago, and I just started practicing. What a process!
Javier, sorry I missed this comment. I don’t have my glidecam here but I think I have two. With the mark iii you only have two options. You can do have a short stem with more weight or long stem with one less weight. I chose the longer stem with less weight but either will technically work. In general more weight it better but a longer stem will make for more a dampening effect as it slows the sway of the glidecam down.
Hi, I just purchased the GoPro Hero 4 Silver and we are planning to do the Whanganui River trip over 3 days. Just wondering about battery charging and what you guys used? Thanks 🙂
Hi Lily!
We actually just buy extra GoPro batteries – usually 3 so we can swap it out quickly.
You could use an external battery charger as well.
Jenna
> The other dimension to making great videos, which is probably even more important is editing. But that’s a topic for another blog…
Do you have any ETA yet? 🙂
What software do you mainly use for editing?
You folks are an inspiration to start travel video making! 🙂
Hi Christian, sorry I missed a couple old comments on this thread. Agreed that editing is super important. I haven’t done one for editing yet and still have a pretty big backlog of videos. If I get some additional people asking for it I might put one together but you’re one of the only people who have asked. I use Premiere Pro for editing, although I used to used Sony Vegas which is a very capable and intuitive editing software. I only switched because Premiere has more features that I needed at the time. Sorry again for the very late reply.
TB3 motion controllers isn’t made any longer. Any 2nd or 3rd options? I’ve got same criteria for selection as you. Thanks!
Sam, sorry for the slow reply. eMotimo has a new model out called the Spectrum which looks pretty cool. Other companies with comparable products that all seem pretty good are the Syrp Genie, Dynamic Perception (can’t remember name of controller) and Edelkrone. If you haven’t already bought one any of those options are good.
Also, re: timelapses, thoughts on the syrp products for this purpose? syrp.co.nz . I have no affiliation with them. Just looking for a workable solution. Thanks again!
Hi Sam
Syrup are also a popular one that has similar capabilities. There is supposed to be a new version of the TB3 motion controllers coming out soon as well.
Jordan
Thanks! Good to know. I’ll wait a bit on the purchase then.
Hey guys,
I’m a photographer and wouldn’t mind doing some video. Maybe a dumb question when focusing photos obviously as your distance changes so does your focus points, do you use full auto focusing for your videos?
Hi Leanne
No the 5D doesn’t have full auto focus for video, so I set the focal distance and try to keep the same distance from the subject during the shot.
Jordan
I had been hearing that drones had been used for photo and video purposes – I love their versatility. Great breakdown of different types of gear. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Laurie glad you enjoyed the blog and video!
This is a very interesting post indeed!
My main travel camera is the Canon EOS M- have you ever used it before? I like it because it’s similar to many of the Canon EOS DSLRs- it has the same APS-C sensor as many of the DSLRS like the 600, 700D (I don’t know if they are called Rebels in NZ?). I’ve seen video tests against them as well as the 5D Mark II and III and it compares favourably. It’s a tiny little thing that can fit in a small pouch and is so much smaller and lighter than the 5D Mark II and Mark III. I have a number of Prime lenses for it and I love it! I also have a Rode Videomike Pro and external sound recorder.
I bought mine for less than £200, I used to work at a TV Station and this little thing shoots much better video than thebroadcast camera we used then, a Panasonic PD150- okay that was in 2003 and that didn’t shoot HD video but I remember the cost of one of those was around £2000 brand new, I’m amazed at how fast technology has moved on.
When taking stills I used to travel a lot with a Pentax K10/K20 mostly because they are built like tanks, weather resistent, though those two cameras don’t shoot video I’m looking into getting a Pentax K-1 (though I need to read more about the video capability of it) which Is a full frame DSLR and a faction of the cost of other full framers.
well written
but you miss something i guess
please write about what is the best camera for vlogging ?
i write something about vlogging camera on
http://provloggers.com/best-vlogging-camera/
please suggest me what topic i missed on this article
Astra
We don’t do a lot of vlogging, but when we do we use the Canon G7X.
Jordan
great ! i also it personally
Hey ! Jordan i have one more query
what is the best camera for vlogging ?
The G7x mark ii or Sony RX100 mark iv are considered top of the line compact vlogging cameras. Although some people use DSLRs like the Canon 7D.
Great job. Inspired!
Moving to Franz Josef and can’t wait to capture some epic adventures. Not sure how the heck you carry your tramping gear, food, tent, sleeping bag…
Anyway… really nice work. 🙂
Haha I’ve invested a lot in reducing the pack size and weight and amount of my tramping gear (i.e., 800 fill down jackets/sleeping bag and only merino clothing). Food is almost all freeze dried asside from snacks. That’s how I get more camera gear in the pack. It also helps to have huts in NZ so you don’t have to carry a tent and sleeping mat.
My son is interested in photography and I like to gift him some adventures pictures take by me. Am so excited to do this but need a professional camera to do this. Thank you for guiding me with this article I have got the idea to get a new camera that will be suitable for capturing the minute things of the world.
Jordan, I’ve read your comments above about manually setting your focus for each shot as the Canon 5D doesn’t have full auto focus for video (if it did, do you think it would be mostly helpful for the kinds of videos you make?). To make it easier to have a little wiggle room in keeping things in focus (the area around the subject like trees, or the landscape in the distance as well as the subject), is there an f-stop/shutter speed you use more regularly in average lighting? I’m guessing the wideangle lens helps with this as well. Also, do you use any stabilization effects in post? And lastly, how good is the stabilization of the brushless gimbal you use for the GoPro as compared to your glidecam setup (for walking motion)? I currently have a GoPro and Glidcam’s iGlide just isn’t cutting it. Truly enjoy the videos you two have made!
Jon, really great questions. If the 5Dmiii had the autofocus system of the newer cameras (mark iv & 1Dx mii) I would probably use when doing follow shots of Jenna. Setting the focus manually always has a margin. Most of the time I set the focus by locking onto Jenna (using autofocus) and trying to stay the same distance from her. But if the camera could adjust while I move I wouldn’t have to stay the same distance and it would open up other creative options. For shots without Jenna I won’t know if I would trust the camera to know what to focus on and probably wouldn’t use it. A lot of the time I end up with f-stops around 8-10. I would probably be up to 16 more regularly for landscape shots but that’s hard to do with video when you are in the shade without jacking the iso up too high. I only open up the f-stop to 2.8 when I am trying to draw attention to something specific. I sometimes use warp stabilizer at 2%-10% for moving shots and higher for stationary shots. I don’t expect the iGlide works very well because for the gravity based stabilizers to be most effective you need a heavy camera. They will never work well with light cameras like phones or GoPros, better use use a brushless gimbal for GoPros and Phones almost always. Walking will always be a challenge with any stabilizer, the key is to minimize and up down motion of your upper body by being more active with your lower body (modify your walking).
Hi Jordan and Jenna,
One other “gear” question that I have is what kind of computer do you use for video editing?
I just do wee family hiking videos (nothing shared to Youtube, just for us basically), but we are going to NZ next year and I was wondering what kind of laptop I should get to run Filmora on.
Thanks
Hi Fiona, it depends a lot on what format you are filming in. If you are filming in 4K or higher frame rates (e.g., 60 or 120) you will need a computer with more RAM and a pretty good video card. Mac or PC doesn’t really matter as much as RAM, video card and processor. Having a solid state hard drive to have the operating system installed on also helps. All these things work in concert with each other so if you cheap out on one it becomes the bottleneck in editing speed. However if you are filming mostly in 1080p most laptops you can buy (just not the cheapest ones) should do the job. just try and get decent RAM and graphics card without spending too much and you’ll be fine. Hope that helps.
Hello, Jordan
I’m a sophomore in college at the Kansas City Art Institute. My major is film now I was going in as a Graphic Designer but ever since I got into filmmaking this summer I absolutely love it! I was going to see if you could help me out? I’m on low-budget. I was wondering what kind of backpack do you use or what do you recommend me to get. I’m going on a five-day hiking trip with some friends in Yosemite. The only thing I have right now as camera equipment is my camera I use is the Canon t7i with the 18-135mm lens. I’m getting a Neewer Carbon Fiber 24″/60cm Handheld Stabilizer with Quick Release Plate 1/4″ and 3/8″ Screw for DSLR and Video Cameras up to 6.6lbs/3kg and the Neewer Aluminum Alloy Camera Video Cage on Amazon. I was going to see what you thought about camera equipment? if you could give me a list of what I should get, that would be great!
Hi, sorry for the delayed response. I don’t have a specific backpack I recommend, a lot comes down to design. For big multi-day trips I have two 65L packs and I prefer the one that is just one big compartment because I can tetris more stuff in there as camera equipment is often shaped oddly for packing. A whole bunch of different compartments is often inefficient in large packs. However for smaller day trips I also have a bag that has two big compartments. I use one for camera gear and the other for clothes/food which works well in keeping camera gear stuff separate from non-camera stuff. A lot of it will come down to how much gear you have and how oddly it is shaped. Keep that in mind when picking a backpack. There is no “best backpack” despite what people will tell you. It depends on your gear. Regarding your gear selection what you have sounds like a good setup. The quick release is crucial for hiking as you sometimes what to take the camera off the stabilizer to put on the ground or on a tripod or use handheld so that’s a great decision.Also if you don’t have one consider a polarizer. It can save you a lot of time editing if you get your colours right in the camera and the polarizer helps with that.
Hey Jordan, back with another question. I noticed you have listed a variable density filter (guessing that means ND) and was wondering if you use it on the wide angle lens while filming with the glidecam? If not, which filter (UV or Polarizing) do you use regularly? I’m getting ready to purchase some gear for a trip and wonder how important the ND filter is for the kinds of videos you shoot? Thanks!
Hi Jon. For filming on the glide cam I never use the ND filter (and rarely do I use it for video). I do use it for photos and time-lapses sometimes though. Normally I have my polarizer (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PH4ALJY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00PH4ALJY&linkCode=as2&tag=stokforsatu-20&linkId=UB3SEH5L3JDJZ6X4) on for 90% of video shooting unless it’s a cloudy day and there isn’t enough light coming in, then sometimes I’ll take it off.
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Wow, I thought responsiveness would be enough to do the job but I’ll definitely try those AMP. Thnaks for the feedback mate!
I’m looking for an affordable glide cam for the canon g7x mark ii. Which one would you recommend?