What's Your LS300 Setup?

[Lee Powell]

Here's my LS300 custom 15mm rails setup, installed on the detachable handle. This gives me 15mm mounting points for a follow-focus, LED light, and 5-inch monitor, while preserving access to the microphone mount, audio controls, and handle zoom buttons. The rear monitor mount weighs enough to balance the front mounted follow-focus. The single point of attachment to the top of the LS300 makes it highly convenient, allowing the camera to be mounted directly to a tripod.

[Duncan Craig]

Originally Posted by Dave Rochelle

Steve - What's the make & model of that (slip-on?) microphone blimp/windscreen? I'm currently using a dead cat on a Rode NTG-2, but I like the profile of your cover & it might attract less attention (from kids & dogs).

Pretty sure it's a Rycote. I have the kit too:
14 CM UNIVERSAL CAMERA KIT: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo

[Duncan Craig]

Originally Posted by Lee Powell

The rear monitor mount weighs enough to balance the front mounted follow-focus. The single point of attachment to the top of the LS300 makes it highly convenient, allowing the camera to be mounted directly to a tripod.

Had you considered lowering the bars another half inch or more?
I'm using the camera fairly naked myself, although I've tried various baseplates, the COG always ends up a little too high for my Vinten tripods to cope with.

[Duncan Craig]

I almost started a new thread but I'll post this here instead...

The LS300 has a good, strong top handle mounting system, but perhaps they can sell an alternative top handle for those that need it.

Something containing the XLR connections but with a very low profile, lots more 1/4 and 3/8 threads, and maybe a 15mm rod mount?

The whole XLR section could even be placed towards the back for easier connection to an external mixer.
I'm thinking about this for the times I shoot drama with a sound recordist loomed into the camera, having the XLRs plugged in lower and nearer the back might be nicer.

If I need a handle I could swap back to my standard handle.

[Lee Powell]

Originally Posted by Duncan Craig

Had you considered lowering the bars another half inch or more?
I'm using the camera fairly naked myself, although I've tried various baseplates, the COG always ends up a little too high for my Vinten tripods to cope with.

If I lowered the 15mm rails, they'd collide with the handle's microphone mount. The hardware I had on hand just happened to fit the handle with enough vertical clearance. With everything mounted on the 15mm rails, the camera is definitely top heavy. I don't mind as my tripod can handle it ok, but that's why rails are normally mounted below the camera on a baseplate. My setup is a compromise, but I wanted to take advantage of how quickly the handle (and all my attachments) can be detached from the camera itself.

[Jim Nogueira]

My current set up, with a NanoFlash.

[Duncan Craig]

Those Rokinons are big aren't they? Do they balance OK?

[Jim Nogueira]

I have the T1.5 35mm Rokinon. It's not really as heavy as it looks. Compared to my Nikon lenses (17-55 2.8 and 18-200), it is relatively light and balances okay. It's front heavy, but I can live with it. The Panasonic 12-35 (see photo) is the best as far balance and handheld work.

[Duncan Craig]

I've got lots of glass, but the 12-35 is my usual lens too.
I'm considering a set of 4x T1.5 Rokinons (Samyang) with Canon mount.

[Jim Nogueira]

I'm pretty happy with the sharpness and overall quality of the Rokinon, especially since it came free with the camera! I don't think that you could go wrong with the set.

I bought a used speedbooster so that I could use my Nikon glass. The lens that I am most happy with is the Nikkor 35mm 1.8. Combined with the speedbooster, the low light sensitivity is really good, and it's sharp too. I think that I paid about $175 new for it several years ago, and they're are probably cheaper now.

[Duncan Craig]

Speedbooster are much more expensive these days, but they are electronic devices.

There's some conflicting advice about which Speedbooster to use on the 300 and what VSM setting to use as they don't all cover the entire sensor.

But an older non electronic SB would be perfect for the Rokinon manual lenses.
Do you know the make/model of your SB?

Thanks for your replies!

[Jim Nogueira]

It's a Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.71x NF-M43 mount for Nikon G lenses. It is not the Ultra version, it's one of the older models.

Though I haven't used the SB on a job yet, in my testing, it works well. It appears to add a full stop. Setting the VSM to 80% (MFT), I initially thought that I saw some slight vignetting, but on closer inspection, 80% is the ideal setting for adapting a Nikon DX lens to MFT.

[Duncan Craig]

OK. So an 0.71x SB but with 76% VSM must get you back roughly where you started? But with an extra stop of light. But you are also below the 4k setting?

I've suggest to Aputure that they repackage their new 'Regain' Speedbooster as a dumb adapter, as the base price with the electronics and remote is already very low...

I wonder if the vignette is caused by the adaptor? If so, perhaps a manual modification (Dremel) could fix it

[Jim Nogueira]

Duncan, I edited my reply above, as I didn't see any vignetting at 80% when looking at it a second time.

Yes, I have the camera set to record 1080 30p HD and not 4K. I'll check it with 4K and see how that changes things.

[Jim Nogueira]

I set the camera to record 4K and there is no difference, VSM set to 80% is perfect, with the advantage of the extra stop and being able to Nikon G lenses. There is no real -noticeable- focus or iris change when going from full wide to full telephoto either. It's there, but not drastic as with some lenses I have used.