Wedding setup

Thomas E. Smith · October 21st, 2011, 05:01 PM

I can actually shoot 2 hours on one 16GB on the GH2, but I probably should pick up some more just in case.
Are Transcend Class 10s fast enough for the GH2?

Thomas Smet · October 22nd, 2011, 12:28 AM

Pretty much any class 4 or higher card is fast enough as long as you don't hack the camera. Hacking typically bumps up a datarate to make the quality higher so it needs faster cards. If you don't plan on hacking your camera then class 10 is really a waste. You may copy files a bit faster to your computer but it will not make your footage look any better.

Thomas E. Smith · October 23rd, 2011, 09:25 AM

Thanks. I'll probably just pick up some 32GB Transcends Class 10s on Black Friday since they're actually cheaper than the Class 6 cards. I'm definitely not going to hack the camera for a wedding shoot for stability reasons.

I'm still looking into buying a steady cam for the reception. So far I'm liking the Glidecam HD1000.
I should think it would be OK for my GH2 since the largest lens I'll be using is the Oly 45mm.

Does anyone here use the HD1000?

Jeff Harper · October 23rd, 2011, 11:19 AM

I don't use it, but have read countless reviews, watched many videos, and read every comparison thread I could find.

If you go to the B&H website you will see the largest issue with this and all stabilizers is that many people after initially buying them can't get the hang of them and then blame the stabilizer.

The bottom line is the Merlin is considered to be more pro, and better built, but slightly trickier to balance. The HD1000 is considered a bit easier to use, but some don't like it's build quality, while others say it's very good.

It is the one I would get, but I don't know if you're ready for a stabilizer, but that is up to you. I personally would have my camera gear nailed down before buying a stabilizer, but that's just me.

Khoi Pham · October 23rd, 2011, 12:58 PM

Yeah HD-1000 is great, small, light, unobtrusive, so you can use it in many situation, I use it all the time, I like it so much I bought another one, the key is to spread the weight far apart as far as it goes then balance it right, then practice makes perfect.
The only negative is you will have to rebalance it often if you bang it around a lot, tiny bump can put it out of perfect balance, even when you are using quick release plate, and if you remove the camera and put it back on, it could sill goes off a little.

Thomas E. Smith · October 24th, 2011, 08:05 AM

Thank you both for your suggestions. I think I'll go with the HD1000, but I'm probably going to wait until I after I get the rest of my gear.

I also saw something called the Flycam Nano, but from what I've read it's not built nearly as well as the Glidecam.

Thomas Smet · October 24th, 2011, 01:23 PM

Hey Thomas I'm not sure how many outdoor weddings you shoot but you should really consider getting some faster lenses. I shot a wedding this weekend for a friend. We had a Sony EX1 a Panasonic HMC40 and a GH1 there. I finally broke down this weekend and bought the Panasonic 45-200mm lens. Best Buy was selling it in California for $260.00 which is close to the best price I found on Amazon so I bought it. The lens looked gorgeous along with all my other Lumix lenses but indoors it was next to useless. Granted it was a very dark venue at night but my 14-45 and 45-200 were useless. My 20mm Pancake however saved the day and kicked the living crap out of my HMC40. The only downside of course is the total lack of zooming and the horrendous auto focus on that lens. It bit me in the but a couple of times. Another friend with the EX1 could only stay for the Ceremony.

All of this made me even more think about just ditching both the GH1 and the HMC40 and spending the bucks on a 1/2" chip camera. Yes they cost a lot more but are well worth it. Trying to juggle between the flexible video camera and a more sensitive DSLR is a pain at a wedding. If I did weddings that would really be on my mind right now. Since I mostly do scripted work I'm fine with the GH1 for now but the next time a friend asks me to video tape their wedding I think I might just rent a EX1.

Thomas E. Smith · October 24th, 2011, 01:37 PM

I actually did buy some faster lenses. I posted my newest setup on page 3.
I'm selling my 14-45mm and buying a 14mm f2.5, 20mm f1.7, and a 45mm f1.8. The AF on the 45mm is supposedly lighting fast, so I think it'll work well for the manned camera.
I'll probably keep the 45-200mm for other purposes since I realize that it's not nearly fast enough for indoor work.

Thomas E. Smith · November 7th, 2011, 12:21 PM

I got the 45mm today. Love it so far.

It turned out that the AVTP tripod's tilt was no good, so I had to send it back.
I picked up a Manfrotto 560-B monopod, which I'm hoping to use for the ceremony and to switch between it and a Glidecam for the reception.

October 21st, 2011, 05:01 PM	#46
Thomas E. Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: GA Posts: 41	Re: Wedding setup I can actually shoot 2 hours on one 16GB on the GH2, but I probably should pick up some more just in case. Are Transcend Class 10s fast enough for the GH2?

October 22nd, 2011, 12:28 AM	#47
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: Wedding setup Pretty much any class 4 or higher card is fast enough as long as you don't hack the camera. Hacking typically bumps up a datarate to make the quality higher so it needs faster cards. If you don't plan on hacking your camera then class 10 is really a waste. You may copy files a bit faster to your computer but it will not make your footage look any better.

October 23rd, 2011, 09:25 AM	#48
Thomas E. Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: GA Posts: 41	Re: Wedding setup Thanks. I'll probably just pick up some 32GB Transcends Class 10s on Black Friday since they're actually cheaper than the Class 6 cards. I'm definitely not going to hack the camera for a wedding shoot for stability reasons. I'm still looking into buying a steady cam for the reception. So far I'm liking the Glidecam HD1000. I should think it would be OK for my GH2 since the largest lens I'll be using is the Oly 45mm. Does anyone here use the HD1000?

October 23rd, 2011, 11:19 AM	#49
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Wedding setup I don't use it, but have read countless reviews, watched many videos, and read every comparison thread I could find. If you go to the B&H website you will see the largest issue with this and all stabilizers is that many people after initially buying them can't get the hang of them and then blame the stabilizer. The bottom line is the Merlin is considered to be more pro, and better built, but slightly trickier to balance. The HD1000 is considered a bit easier to use, but some don't like it's build quality, while others say it's very good. It is the one I would get, but I don't know if you're ready for a stabilizer, but that is up to you. I personally would have my camera gear nailed down before buying a stabilizer, but that's just me. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

October 23rd, 2011, 12:58 PM	#50
Khoi Pham Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dallas Posts: 747	Re: Wedding setup Yeah HD-1000 is great, small, light, unobtrusive, so you can use it in many situation, I use it all the time, I like it so much I bought another one, the key is to spread the weight far apart as far as it goes then balance it right, then practice makes perfect. The only negative is you will have to rebalance it often if you bang it around a lot, tiny bump can put it out of perfect balance, even when you are using quick release plate, and if you remove the camera and put it back on, it could sill goes off a little. __________________ Khoi Pham www.proeditproductions.com

October 24th, 2011, 08:05 AM	#51
Thomas E. Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: GA Posts: 41	Re: Wedding setup Thank you both for your suggestions. I think I'll go with the HD1000, but I'm probably going to wait until I after I get the rest of my gear. I also saw something called the Flycam Nano, but from what I've read it's not built nearly as well as the Glidecam.

October 24th, 2011, 01:23 PM	#52
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: Wedding setup Hey Thomas I'm not sure how many outdoor weddings you shoot but you should really consider getting some faster lenses. I shot a wedding this weekend for a friend. We had a Sony EX1 a Panasonic HMC40 and a GH1 there. I finally broke down this weekend and bought the Panasonic 45-200mm lens. Best Buy was selling it in California for $260.00 which is close to the best price I found on Amazon so I bought it. The lens looked gorgeous along with all my other Lumix lenses but indoors it was next to useless. Granted it was a very dark venue at night but my 14-45 and 45-200 were useless. My 20mm Pancake however saved the day and kicked the living crap out of my HMC40. The only downside of course is the total lack of zooming and the horrendous auto focus on that lens. It bit me in the but a couple of times. Another friend with the EX1 could only stay for the Ceremony. All of this made me even more think about just ditching both the GH1 and the HMC40 and spending the bucks on a 1/2" chip camera. Yes they cost a lot more but are well worth it. Trying to juggle between the flexible video camera and a more sensitive DSLR is a pain at a wedding. If I did weddings that would really be on my mind right now. Since I mostly do scripted work I'm fine with the GH1 for now but the next time a friend asks me to video tape their wedding I think I might just rent a EX1.

October 24th, 2011, 01:37 PM	#53
Thomas E. Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: GA Posts: 41	Re: Wedding setup I actually did buy some faster lenses. I posted my newest setup on page 3. I'm selling my 14-45mm and buying a 14mm f2.5, 20mm f1.7, and a 45mm f1.8. The AF on the 45mm is supposedly lighting fast, so I think it'll work well for the manned camera. I'll probably keep the 45-200mm for other purposes since I realize that it's not nearly fast enough for indoor work.

November 7th, 2011, 12:21 PM	#54
Thomas E. Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: GA Posts: 41	Re: Wedding setup I got the 45mm today. Love it so far. It turned out that the AVTP tripod's tilt was no good, so I had to send it back. I picked up a Manfrotto 560-B monopod, which I'm hoping to use for the ceremony and to switch between it and a Glidecam for the reception.