Hey guys,

I'm looking to get into (semi)pro videography and would like to do it from the main door: 4k.

So, the quest for my perfect starting rig is telling me camera is Panasonic GH4 - not sure why but I'm kind of avoiding the Samsung NX1

Requirements are taking footage while traveling, mainly for/of:
- nature: from landscapes to close ups on flowers, as well as animals sightwatching (not birds!)
- city: architecture and monuments, general street shoots
- museums
- beaches and surf, possibly with close ups
- interviews and events, possibly
- of course, some stills as well!
- night city shots, not really needed

Main type of shooting will be run & gun handheld, with occasionally time to set a tripod.
Budget, was 5000 €………….

Don't mind too much if the clips will come up with not a really smooth video, but definitely they have to be acceptable by the average TV watcher folk.

BACKUP CAMERA
As I would do this as a (semi)pro, I don’t have a chance to miss a shot, but also can’t buy myself a second GH4 for the “just-in-case”....

Choice is a MFT like a GH2 or a Canon APS like 550D, both around 300 € used


LENSES

Given those requirements, my pick would be:

- Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 POWER O.I.S
The all around, day and night (till light permits)

- Panasonic Lumix G Vario 35-100mm f/2.8 or Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 35-100mm f4.0-5.6 ASPH MEGA OIS?
I'm not too much sure whethere the latter will be too much slow for my purposes but do I really need 35+ mm after dusk or for the insides?

- A fast lens, mainly for dark interiors and interviews (what else?) like Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f/1.8 - is it worth it for handheld shooting or will I need a shoulder stabilizer or a tripod eventually?

- General backup/all around zoom lens (I'm out in the forest and something breaks up...): Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 POWER O.I.S. or Panasonic Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm f/4-5.8 MEGA O.I.S.
One of the two should suffer of issues while stabilizing...?

Price of the lot (used items where possible): 1500-2000 EUR

SPEEDBOOSTER

Another point to consider is the Metabones Speedbooster - can you guys suggest the alternatives?

I was kind of skipping it, mainly for autofocus (although it seems it got fixed) as well as vignetting.
I would go for the ULTRA version - so I could backup my GH4 with a cheap used Canon APS-C like the 550d... full frame are expensive

Same needs as above so:

Wide angle zoom lenses:
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Canon EF
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Canon EF

Telephoto lenses:
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
or
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon EF
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO OS HSM Canon EF

Fast lens: Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

Generic zoom lenses:
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
Tamron 16-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO Canon EF
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Canon EF
Tamron 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD Canon EF
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 II DC OS HSM Canon EF
Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM Contemporary Canon EF
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Canon EF

Price of the lot (used items where possible): 1700-2000 EUR

AUDIO
RODE VIDEO MIC PRO + windshield
Lavalier: Audio-Technica ATR3350 + Bluetooth Transmitter+Receiver for wireless lav

300 €

ACCESSORIES

The weight is also a requirement, but I would prefer to save on here and invest more on lenses, for now:
- Pro 160-LED which is very cheap, 25 €

- Tripod
A chinese one, maybe 100€? - what about mount an head on 3 walking sticks?!?!?!
Gorillapod...?

- Shoulder rig/Pistol grip
Again, let's save on here: 200 €

- Batteries:
Patona 2A: are they worh it? How many to buy? Say 2+charger? 60 €

MEMORY
Made some math and 100Mbit/s recordings should fit 85 mins in a 64 gigs card. Confirm?

So:
3x 64 GB SD card U3
3x HD 2Tb USB3
Kingston Mobile Lite G2 (move data SD -> HD with cell phone)

410 €

LAPTOP
For editing 4k videos, take 1000 € into account

So my ticket for entering videography would be 5000-6000 € circa with accessories which meets my budget!

Please, feel free to destroy me with your comments :)

Mainly, I'm curious about:
- GH4 vs NX1 vs alternatives for 4k video shooting run & gun handheld
- Speedbooster: is it really worth it?
- What about the lenses?
- Accessories like stabilizers...?

Hello and welcome Enrico.

For a B camera I'd choose a LX100 or a GX8, in order to stay with 4K format.

Your choice of lenses is good. However the 14-140mm is not as good as the 12-35 & 35-100 and not very useful. What about the 100-300 instead?
Working with Speedboster means you have to buy other trademark lens may be boring. Personnaly, my best results was made with m4/3 lenses. What about the Panasonic 7-14mm if you need a wild angle?

For the tripod, I'm not sure that you can have something good enough for 100€. You should invest something around 800€ for a good tripod (carbon fiber) and a video head, like Sachtler ACE-L.

Cheers!

Hello and welcome Enrico.
Thanks Ronan!

For a B camera I'd choose a LX100 or a GX8, in order to stay with 4K format.
Cheers![/QUOTE]
GX8 = out of budget
LX100 = I'll check it out

Your choice of lenses is good. However the 14-140mm is not as good as the 12-35 & 35-100 and not very useful. What about the 100-300 instead?
14-140 is just as "backup": if I'm out in the jungle, and my 12-35 or 35-100 fails, I have something else to use...

Working with Speedboster means you have to buy other trademark lens may be boring. Personnaly, my best results was made with m4/3 lenses.
That is what I was worried about.

What about the Panasonic 7-14mm if you need a wild angle
Do I need such a wide angle?

For the tripod, I'm not sure that you can have something good enough for 100€. You should invest something around 800€ for a good tripod (carbon fiber) and a video head, like Sachtler ACE-L.
I understand that the GH4 can be shaky, but 800 € is definetely out of my budget.
BTW, found this article where Sky News (british news channel) cameramen Andy Portch is saying that he shots with a GH4 and a Gorillapod... News Shooter | Sky News cameraman Andy Portch reviews a year shooting news with the Panasonic GH4 (http://www.newsshooter.com/2015/08/07/sky-news-cameraman-andy-portch-reviews-a-year-shooting-news-with-the-panasonic-gh4/)
of course he also has a Miller 1600 $ tripod, but I'll rather find an old affordable ball head to use with the Gorillapod like the Manfrotto MVH500

Ronan, what about filters to use with the daylight?

I have the 12-35, 14-140 and 100-300 as well as the Metabones EF speedbooster with the tokina 11-16, sigma 17-50, and sigma 70-200.

When I'm doing run and gun and its daylight, I always default to the 14-140. It's a perfect range for NOT having to carry a bunch of other stuff with me.

Now if it's a set or more produced piece, the 14-140 would be the dead last lens I'd use.

I have the 12-35, 14-140 and 100-300 as well as the Metabones EF speedbooster with the tokina 11-16, sigma 17-50, and sigma 70-200.

When I'm doing run and gun and its daylight, I always default to the 14-140. It's a perfect range for NOT having to carry a bunch of other stuff with me.

Now if it's a set or more produced piece, the 14-140 would be the dead last lens I'd use.

Understood, thanks.

14-400 3.5-5.6 or 4-5.6? How about OIS and jittering???

And what about the speedbooster? Is it really needed? Or could I just stick with the 12-35 instead?