BBC Long Way Down & Claudio's V1 at DVinfo.net

Jonathan Richards · February 5th, 2008, 08:10 AM

Hi All,

Just spent a month sat next to Claudio von Planta on an expedition. He's the guy who filmed Long Way Round, Race to Dakar and Long Way Down (amongst other things).

He has an interesting V1 rig. His approach to his camera is that it is a tool that has to be modified to suit his needs, hence some interesting mods to it.

I have hi-res production photos if you'd like to see them?

Thought you might be interested!

Cheers

Jonathan

Martin Mayer · February 5th, 2008, 08:30 AM

In what way it is modified?

Jonathan Richards · February 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM

Here's a couple of pics

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1202222143

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1202222143

Sherif Choudhry · February 14th, 2008, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the pictures - but cant tel whats been "modified" - do you know what mods he made?
|Sherif

K.C. Luke · February 15th, 2008, 07:58 AM

May be the battery had been "modified" to used on the light and cam.

Leslie Wand · February 15th, 2008, 04:40 PM

can't say i see any 'mods' other than brackets, and something hanging on the back of a normal battery.

however, his attitude is spot on. the camera is a tool. if you need to modify it there are endless ready-made brackets, shoulder mounts, adaptions available for most popular cameras.

if you have to modify the electronics, then you've obviously bought the wrong camera for the job in the first place.

curiosity - i don't see any filter on the lens. surely a nd / uv might help protect the lens from sand / dust / etc/.?

leslie

Jonathan Richards · February 15th, 2008, 06:14 PM

Principally there is a new bracket manufactured for the top handle. This has a new cold shoe on it at the rear and mic bracket to move it back out of the way. Then there is the plastic cover for the audio control (which actually broke off during the expedition).

Also, there the Hawkwoods battery adapters for the SWIT light and the velcro attached head torch.

He uses a UV filter on the wide angle adapter also. Never using the eyepiece means he can gaffer tape that up as well.

Then the camera is generally covered in bits and pieces of velcro to attach things like the tethered lens cap and extra mic packs and so on.

D.J. Ammons · March 18th, 2008, 08:31 PM

What kind of mic is under that deadcat?

Jonathan Richards · March 19th, 2008, 02:42 PM

It's a Rode NTG2

Jeff Zimmerman · March 19th, 2008, 03:14 PM

Noticed he had a headlamp LED on the front of the camera. Was that sufficient enough for the V1U? Was the footage at all grainy?

Jonathan Richards · March 19th, 2008, 03:21 PM

Generally, he used the headlamp torch for real guerilla stuff. As a backup in small spaces like a car. Yes, the footage was a bit grainy in low light. Nowhere near as bad as an A1 though. With the SWIT light on, the footage was fine. Nice and clean.

February 5th, 2008, 08:10 AM	#1
Jonathan Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 107	BBC Long Way Down & Claudio's V1 Hi All, Just spent a month sat next to Claudio von Planta on an expedition. He's the guy who filmed Long Way Round, Race to Dakar and Long Way Down (amongst other things). He has an interesting V1 rig. His approach to his camera is that it is a tool that has to be modified to suit his needs, hence some interesting mods to it. I have hi-res production photos if you'd like to see them? Thought you might be interested! Cheers Jonathan

February 5th, 2008, 08:30 AM	#2
Martin Mayer Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 416	In what way it is modified? __________________ Martin at HeadSpin HD on Blu-ray

February 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#3
Jonathan Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 107	Here's a couple of pics http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1202222143 http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1202222143 Attached Thumbnails

February 15th, 2008, 07:58 AM	#5
K.C. Luke Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 173	May be the battery had been "modified" to used on the light and cam. __________________ Edit on Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium CS5 Mac 64BIT

March 19th, 2008, 02:42 PM	#9
Jonathan Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 107	It's a Rode NTG2 __________________ Jonathan Richards -- Cameraman, Editor, Motion Graphic Artist Mobile +44(0)7939 512215 mail@jonathanrichards.tv

February 14th, 2008, 07:06 PM	#4
Sherif Choudhry Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London Posts: 222	Thanks for the pictures - but cant tel whats been "modified" - do you know what mods he made? \|Sherif

February 15th, 2008, 04:40 PM	#6
Leslie Wand Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: upper hunter, australia Posts: 1,410	can't say i see any 'mods' other than brackets, and something hanging on the back of a normal battery. however, his attitude is spot on. the camera is a tool. if you need to modify it there are endless ready-made brackets, shoulder mounts, adaptions available for most popular cameras. if you have to modify the electronics, then you've obviously bought the wrong camera for the job in the first place. curiosity - i don't see any filter on the lens. surely a nd / uv might help protect the lens from sand / dust / etc/.? leslie

February 15th, 2008, 06:14 PM	#7
Jonathan Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 107	Principally there is a new bracket manufactured for the top handle. This has a new cold shoe on it at the rear and mic bracket to move it back out of the way. Then there is the plastic cover for the audio control (which actually broke off during the expedition). Also, there the Hawkwoods battery adapters for the SWIT light and the velcro attached head torch. He uses a UV filter on the wide angle adapter also. Never using the eyepiece means he can gaffer tape that up as well. Then the camera is generally covered in bits and pieces of velcro to attach things like the tethered lens cap and extra mic packs and so on.

March 18th, 2008, 08:31 PM	#8
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	What kind of mic is under that deadcat?

March 19th, 2008, 03:14 PM	#10
Jeff Zimmerman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton, Colorado Posts: 386	V1U Headlamp Noticed he had a headlamp LED on the front of the camera. Was that sufficient enough for the V1U? Was the footage at all grainy? __________________ Jeff Zimmerman • Love what I do • Colorado + North America www.m3films.com

March 19th, 2008, 03:21 PM	#11
Jonathan Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hull, UK Posts: 107	Generally, he used the headlamp torch for real guerilla stuff. As a backup in small spaces like a car. Yes, the footage was a bit grainy in low light. Nowhere near as bad as an A1 though. With the SWIT light on, the footage was fine. Nice and clean.