Must have accessories for an XF300 at DVinfo.net

Paul Owens · March 21st, 2011, 01:34 PM

I went and did it. I had B&H put an XF300 on hold for me. I had planned to get an XF100 but for what I was going to do the extra zoom and the fact that I can have it now made the difference. What are the MUST have's with this camera? Here's my list.

1. 4 16gig Sandisk Extream cards (I can't afford the Extreme pro or hoodman cards yet)
2. 1 extra battery (the big 975)
3. 82 mm UV filter
4. Rain cover
5. Shotgun mic with windscreen and cable
6. Case
7. Tripod

My first gig is a Lacrosse tournament. There will be 3 1 hour games for me to tape. Would this be adequate?

Glen Vandermolen · March 21st, 2011, 02:06 PM

Congras on your new purchase. I have an 305 and love it.
To add to your list, I have a Sennheiser wireless system. I had to buy the cold shoe mounting system for it, as there's no place to hang a wireless receiver on the 300/305 body.
A 16Gb CF card holds about 40 min. of full HD video. I'm not sure 4 of them willl cover a full 3 hours of shooting.

Paul Owens · March 21st, 2011, 02:14 PM

I had planned to shoot at 25mbps not the full 50. i thought i had figured that at 70 minutes per card. Maybe i should get 6 to be safe. 2 per game.

I'm going to get the Lav set-up next phase. I've got a cheap Shure set that i can use indoors. For this shoot the client doesn't care to hear what's being said on the field. He just wants to be able to hear the hits and some crowed noise all for affect.

Galen Rath · March 21st, 2011, 06:31 PM

A lens controller (LANC) makes life more fun using a tripod.

Tim Bakland · March 21st, 2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen Vandermolen

Congras on your new purchase. I have an 305 and love it.
To add to your list, I have a Sennheiser wireless system. I had to buy the cold shoe mounting system for it, as there's no place to hang a wireless receiver on the 300/305 body.
A 16Gb CF card holds about 40 min. of full HD video. I'm not sure 4 of them willl cover a full 3 hours of shooting.

Glen -- can I ask you about which cold shoe mount you use for the XF300? I'd love to hear what solution has worked for you.

Glen Vandermolen · March 21st, 2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Bakland

Glen -- can I ask you about which cold shoe mount you use for the XF300? I'd love to hear what solution has worked for you.

Sure.
I got the Sennheiser CA2 SHOEMOUNT ADAPTER f/EW RECEIVERS - SECA2 from B&H Photo. It works with a Sennheiser receiver that has a wire belt clip.

Josh Dahlberg · March 22nd, 2011, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Owens

I had planned to shoot at 25mbps not the full 50. i thought i had figured that at 70 minutes per card. Maybe i should get 6 to be safe. 2 per game.

Personally I would go for 32gb cards: it's really nice being able to record 160 mins at full 50mbps without having to worry about swapping/managing cards. That's just my preference.

I also wouldn't contemplate shooting 25mbps with the XF unless you absolutely have to - you're not only throwing away 422 colourspace but also recording at lower resolution: 1920x1080 with 422 colour is the whole point of this camera.

Enjoy!

James Redmond · March 22nd, 2011, 09:16 AM

What is a must have for me is a Nextodi 2700, basically a portable, self contained hard drive that I can transfer my Compact Flash cards to and then reuse the CF cards. I only have 2 CF cards and use the Nextodi as the storage device. Once its on there then I connect the Nextodi to a laptop and transfer the footage via esata to another hard drive so I have it stored in two places.

Good luck, James

Jeff Anselmo · March 22nd, 2011, 05:37 PM

Hi Paul,

I agree with most of the replies here; especially the Nexto (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/613210-REG/Nexto_DI_ND270500G_Nexto_eXtreme_500GB.html).

Also, depending on what other types of projects you'll have (and if you'll be sticking with sports), you may need some kind of shoulder support. I actually have the Tiffen Steady Stick, which works well with my XL2 (yet to try it out with the XF300). But I'm looking to get Olof's shoulder system: Canon 300/305 tripod plate, shoulder brace

Oh, and I'd buy at least TWO extra large batteries.

Best,

Lou Bruno · March 22nd, 2011, 06:11 PM

Hoodman EX KIT PRO: I attach the unit to the LCD and can now place the camera on my shoulder.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · March 23rd, 2011, 12:43 AM

Lou,
Just checking that you don't get any cut-off on the LCD screen, there's no masking at all?

Lou Bruno · March 23rd, 2011, 07:45 AM

Very, very slight. One must move the loupe into position.

I have the SAFE ZONE in the display as well. Works fine. I cradle the camera with my left hand and have it placed on my shoulder. Very light, considering I am coming from a large 18 pound rig in the past.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · March 23rd, 2011, 01:12 PM

Thanks Lou, it sounds like a good buy.
One more question, since I wear spectacles, is there an adjustment for focus so that I could use the eyepiece without wearing them?

Lou Bruno · March 23rd, 2011, 02:02 PM

Yes...there is a diopter. I wear reading glasses. No problem.

Paul Owens · March 23rd, 2011, 02:44 PM

Oops... good thing everyone else is having a good conversation here. I got a deal I just couldn't pass up on a used 4 times (by a buddy of mine) XL H1s with a full kit of gear. He hates to shoot video and wants to get out of it and just edit. I hope I made the right choice. We'll see.

Thanks for the help guys.

March 21st, 2011, 01:34 PM	#1
Paul Owens Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 103	Must have accessories for an XF300 I went and did it. I had B&H put an XF300 on hold for me. I had planned to get an XF100 but for what I was going to do the extra zoom and the fact that I can have it now made the difference. What are the MUST have's with this camera? Here's my list. 1. 4 16gig Sandisk Extream cards (I can't afford the Extreme pro or hoodman cards yet) 2. 1 extra battery (the big 975) 3. 82 mm UV filter 4. Rain cover 5. Shotgun mic with windscreen and cable 6. Case 7. Tripod My first gig is a Lacrosse tournament. There will be 3 1 hour games for me to tape. Would this be adequate?

March 21st, 2011, 02:06 PM	#2
Glen Vandermolen Space Hipster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,596	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Congras on your new purchase. I have an 305 and love it. To add to your list, I have a Sennheiser wireless system. I had to buy the cold shoe mounting system for it, as there's no place to hang a wireless receiver on the 300/305 body. A 16Gb CF card holds about 40 min. of full HD video. I'm not sure 4 of them willl cover a full 3 hours of shooting.

March 21st, 2011, 02:14 PM	#3
Paul Owens Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 103	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 I had planned to shoot at 25mbps not the full 50. i thought i had figured that at 70 minutes per card. Maybe i should get 6 to be safe. 2 per game. I'm going to get the Lav set-up next phase. I've got a cheap Shure set that i can use indoors. For this shoot the client doesn't care to hear what's being said on the field. He just wants to be able to hear the hits and some crowed noise all for affect.

March 21st, 2011, 06:31 PM	#4
Galen Rath Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 323	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 A lens controller (LANC) makes life more fun using a tripod.

March 22nd, 2011, 09:16 AM	#8
James Redmond Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 86	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 What is a must have for me is a Nextodi 2700, basically a portable, self contained hard drive that I can transfer my Compact Flash cards to and then reuse the CF cards. I only have 2 CF cards and use the Nextodi as the storage device. Once its on there then I connect the Nextodi to a laptop and transfer the footage via esata to another hard drive so I have it stored in two places. Good luck, James

March 22nd, 2011, 05:37 PM	#9
Jeff Anselmo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 566	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Hi Paul, I agree with most of the replies here; especially the Nexto (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/613210-REG/Nexto_DI_ND270500G_Nexto_eXtreme_500GB.html). Also, depending on what other types of projects you'll have (and if you'll be sticking with sports), you may need some kind of shoulder support. I actually have the Tiffen Steady Stick, which works well with my XL2 (yet to try it out with the XF300). But I'm looking to get Olof's shoulder system: Canon 300/305 tripod plate, shoulder brace Oh, and I'd buy at least TWO extra large batteries. Best, __________________ --JA

March 22nd, 2011, 06:11 PM	#10
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Hoodman EX KIT PRO: I attach the unit to the LCD and can now place the camera on my shoulder. __________________ Lou Bruno

March 23rd, 2011, 12:43 AM	#11
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Lou, Just checking that you don't get any cut-off on the LCD screen, there's no masking at all? __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

March 23rd, 2011, 07:45 AM	#12
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Very, very slight. One must move the loupe into position. I have the SAFE ZONE in the display as well. Works fine. I cradle the camera with my left hand and have it placed on my shoulder. Very light, considering I am coming from a large 18 pound rig in the past. __________________ Lou Bruno

March 23rd, 2011, 01:12 PM	#13
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Thanks Lou, it sounds like a good buy. One more question, since I wear spectacles, is there an adjustment for focus so that I could use the eyepiece without wearing them? __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

March 23rd, 2011, 02:02 PM	#14
Lou Bruno Go Cycle Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 815	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Yes...there is a diopter. I wear reading glasses. No problem. __________________ Lou Bruno

March 23rd, 2011, 02:44 PM	#15
Paul Owens Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 103	Re: Must have accessories for an XF300 Oops... good thing everyone else is having a good conversation here. I got a deal I just couldn't pass up on a used 4 times (by a buddy of mine) XL H1s with a full kit of gear. He hates to shoot video and wants to get out of it and just edit. I hope I made the right choice. We'll see. Thanks for the help guys.