XDCAM EX1 on the road blog

Eric Pascarelli · February 23rd, 2008, 06:44 PM

Yes. I just bought one. $49.95 including shipping.

Leonard Levy · February 23rd, 2008, 07:34 PM

That little thing looks pretty cool for 19.95.

Have any of you guys tried just using a monopod? I have disliked the shoulder supports because they limit your mobility which is what I prize when handheld.

I've been using a monopod with a cheap manfrotto tilt head on the top that gets tucked into fanny pack on my waist for years now and I love it. The weight is well distributed and I've run for long periods of time with an HVX and a marshall mounted on the HVX. The tilt head is neccessary for flexibility

Nice thing is you can adjust the length easily. It has complete flexibility if you want to be low or even extremely high overhead. You can tilt at an angle (hard with a shoulder support) or do a little boom up with ease. I can drop it to carry at my knee level with no problem and it still helps to stabilize. I can put it down on a table or any surface and either rest or or shoot from there with no hassle. And I can carry it around while I'm working.

For long interviews you can drop it to the ground and triangulate with the weight off you.

I use a giotto quick release and then have the same on on my tripod so I can switch easily.

Nice thing is you can adapt it also to use with a 2/3" size camera also and it will still help considerably.

Cost - about $150 with the quick release. This has saved my back dozens of times.

(just posted this on your blog as well Phil.)

Lenny Levy

John Hewat · February 23rd, 2008, 09:38 PM

Phil,

It looks like the battle footage was all shot using only available light, and given the cloud cover, it doesn't look like there would have been much.

Were you challenged in getting such beautiful footage in those conditions?

Paul Kellett · February 23rd, 2008, 10:39 PM

Yes Gerald,as the others have pointed out,it's on ebay,i've just looked again myself,on ebay .co.uk and .com.
Just type in "shoulder support" in the search bar.

Paul.

Gerald Loidl · February 24th, 2008, 03:57 AM

thanks gentlemen! I just ordered this shoulder support.

regards,
Gerald

Phil Bloom · February 24th, 2008, 09:53 AM

The edit is up on my blog. It's just a fun edit. NOT the finished short film, that is being cut by the director and will be about 7 minutes long. This is just a 2 minute fun tease!

Phil Bloom · February 24th, 2008, 05:03 PM

better version now up with nicer sound and a couple of changed shots. 720p version to follow

Phil Bloom · February 25th, 2008, 02:49 PM

Another new version up with better grading. I do think the adaptor and non adaptor footage match quite well.

Available in letus section as well as blog.

Steve Shovlar · February 25th, 2008, 04:11 PM

Much better colour correction Phil. I didn't like the sky blue in that silloette scene before as the blue was too rich. Now you have toned it down dramatically it looks much more realistic. Less is always more.

Leanard, I also use a monopod and swear by the Manfrotto 561B. Its got a quick release Manfrotto tilt head head and is made for Camcorders.

It has three pull out feet at the bottom and a gimbal down there for tilts. Very smooth, takes the weight and gets completely rid of camera shake.

I own the cheapo shoulder brace and it works fine and is great value. But if you are fairly stationary, but want to move quickly from one spot to another without filming on the move, this beats the shoulder brace by a distance.

http://www.dvcreators.net/?s=561B

Piotr Wozniacki · February 25th, 2008, 06:19 PM

I second that. The Manfrotto 561B has become my favourite support to use with the EX1 (I also have this cheap Chineese thing, and the PAG Orbitor).

Oh, and Phil: marvellous job, as usual :)

Leonard Levy · February 25th, 2008, 10:05 PM

I think I'm using the same monopod but i don't have the one with the little feet at the bottom. Always wondered about that option - maybe mine is a 560?

I tried about 10 shoulder mounts at NAB 2 years ago and hated all of them because they limited my mobility. Then I was on a long handheld doc and another cameraman turned me on to to a simple monopod. The tilt head is what made it work though, I didn't like it without a tilt head.

Steve I didn't quite get what you use the cheap shoulder brace for. I'm wondering if it would be worth it for me. I don't mind walking with the monopod braced in my fanny pack.

Phil Bloom · February 26th, 2008, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonard Levy

I think I'm using the same monopod but i don't have the one with the little feet at the bottom. Always wondered about that option - maybe mine is a 560?

I tried about 10 shoulder mounts at NAB 2 years ago and hated all of them because they limited my mobility. Then I was on a long handheld doc and another cameraman turned me on to to a simple monopod. The tilt head is what made it work though, I didn't like it without a tilt head.

Steve I didn't quite get what you use the cheap shoulder brace for. I'm wondering if it would be worth it for me. I don't mind walking with the monopod braced in my fanny pack.

the cheap shoulder brace takes the weight of the ex1 letting you operate it at the correct height for prolonged periods of time and is very light. you can even let go

Sebastien Thomas · February 26th, 2008, 03:06 AM

Phil, you didn't answer one question :

was it shot with ambiant light only ?

my question :

Did you changed something on the explosion shot ? Did you changed the shutter speed so it is charper ?
Do you like this "action effect" ?
Did you try to get it with normal settings ?

and one more for the road :-)
Are the slow motion 720p@60fps ?

Phil Bloom · February 26th, 2008, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastien Thomas

Phil, you didn't answer one question :

was it shot with ambiant light only ?

my question :

Did you changed something on the explosion shot ? Did you changed the shutter speed so it is charper ?
Do you like this "action effect" ?
Did you try to get it with normal settings ?

and one more for the road :-)
Are the slow motion 720p@60fps ?

Yes all available light!

All the clean EX1 stuff was shot with 1/250 shutter in. Including the explosions. Yes, it's the look I love and suggested to the director for the action shots and no we didn't shoot with shutter off just in case and we had limited explosives.

All slow motion 720p @ 60fps although some slowed down to 50% using twixtor on top of that!

Paul Kellett · February 26th, 2008, 04:35 AM

Phil,i know thw slow motion was shot in 720p,what about the rest ?
Was that 720p/50p also ?
Thanks.

February 23rd, 2008, 09:38 PM	#378
John Hewat Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Posts: 735	Phil, It looks like the battle footage was all shot using only available light, and given the cloud cover, it doesn't look like there would have been much. Were you challenged in getting such beautiful footage in those conditions? __________________ John Hewat Mammoth Media Productions

February 23rd, 2008, 10:39 PM	#379
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Yes Gerald,as the others have pointed out,it's on ebay,i've just looked again myself,on ebay .co.uk and .com. Just type in "shoulder support" in the search bar. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

February 24th, 2008, 09:53 AM	#381
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	The edit is up on my blog. It's just a fun edit. NOT the finished short film, that is being cut by the director and will be about 7 minutes long. This is just a 2 minute fun tease! __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

February 24th, 2008, 05:03 PM	#382
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	better version now up with nicer sound and a couple of changed shots. 720p version to follow __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

February 25th, 2008, 02:49 PM	#383
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	Another new version up with better grading. I do think the adaptor and non adaptor footage match quite well. Available in letus section as well as blog. __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

February 23rd, 2008, 06:44 PM	#376
Eric Pascarelli Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 498	Yes. I just bought one. $49.95 including shipping.

February 23rd, 2008, 07:34 PM	#377
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	That little thing looks pretty cool for 19.95. Have any of you guys tried just using a monopod? I have disliked the shoulder supports because they limit your mobility which is what I prize when handheld. I've been using a monopod with a cheap manfrotto tilt head on the top that gets tucked into fanny pack on my waist for years now and I love it. The weight is well distributed and I've run for long periods of time with an HVX and a marshall mounted on the HVX. The tilt head is neccessary for flexibility Nice thing is you can adjust the length easily. It has complete flexibility if you want to be low or even extremely high overhead. You can tilt at an angle (hard with a shoulder support) or do a little boom up with ease. I can drop it to carry at my knee level with no problem and it still helps to stabilize. I can put it down on a table or any surface and either rest or or shoot from there with no hassle. And I can carry it around while I'm working. For long interviews you can drop it to the ground and triangulate with the weight off you. I use a giotto quick release and then have the same on on my tripod so I can switch easily. Nice thing is you can adapt it also to use with a 2/3" size camera also and it will still help considerably. Cost - about $150 with the quick release. This has saved my back dozens of times. (just posted this on your blog as well Phil.) Lenny Levy

February 24th, 2008, 03:57 AM	#380
Gerald Loidl Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austria Posts: 122	thanks gentlemen! I just ordered this shoulder support. regards, Gerald

February 25th, 2008, 04:11 PM	#384
Steve Shovlar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 697	Much better colour correction Phil. I didn't like the sky blue in that silloette scene before as the blue was too rich. Now you have toned it down dramatically it looks much more realistic. Less is always more. Leanard, I also use a monopod and swear by the Manfrotto 561B. Its got a quick release Manfrotto tilt head head and is made for Camcorders. It has three pull out feet at the bottom and a gimbal down there for tilts. Very smooth, takes the weight and gets completely rid of camera shake. I own the cheapo shoulder brace and it works fine and is great value. But if you are fairly stationary, but want to move quickly from one spot to another without filming on the move, this beats the shoulder brace by a distance. http://www.dvcreators.net/?s=561B

February 25th, 2008, 06:19 PM	#385
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	I second that. The Manfrotto 561B has become my favourite support to use with the EX1 (I also have this cheap Chineese thing, and the PAG Orbitor). Oh, and Phil: marvellous job, as usual :) __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

February 25th, 2008, 10:05 PM	#386
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	I think I'm using the same monopod but i don't have the one with the little feet at the bottom. Always wondered about that option - maybe mine is a 560? I tried about 10 shoulder mounts at NAB 2 years ago and hated all of them because they limited my mobility. Then I was on a long handheld doc and another cameraman turned me on to to a simple monopod. The tilt head is what made it work though, I didn't like it without a tilt head. Steve I didn't quite get what you use the cheap shoulder brace for. I'm wondering if it would be worth it for me. I don't mind walking with the monopod braced in my fanny pack.

February 26th, 2008, 03:06 AM	#388
Sebastien Thomas Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Paris, France Posts: 210	Phil, you didn't answer one question : was it shot with ambiant light only ? my question : Did you changed something on the explosion shot ? Did you changed the shutter speed so it is charper ? Do you like this "action effect" ? Did you try to get it with normal settings ? and one more for the road :-) Are the slow motion 720p@60fps ?

February 26th, 2008, 04:35 AM	#390
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Phil,i know thw slow motion was shot in 720p,what about the rest ? Was that 720p/50p also ? Thanks. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000