Because why would I ever do anything one step at a time? It’s been that way for every other step of this entire journey into photography.

Quick note, this post is going to be almost entirely behind the scenes talking about purchases and the equipment I purchased for this new area I explore.

So as I briefly touched on in a previous post, towards the middle of May, I took the extra money I had been setting aside from unemployment benefits and invested in some new equipment. This time specifically for video. I had been doing my research for a while, and I knew more or less what I would need and more importantly what I could afford.

I was making lists over and over, comparing products and prices. I knew it became trouble when I was keeping myself awake doing it. Watching countless videos of reviews and filmmakers comparing products. Once I knew financially I was secured, thanks to the additional income I was receiving and the stimulus check. Which technically I did stimulate one specific part of the economy for videography equipment sellers. I didn’t think about it too hard and dwell like I usually do.

I made my decision and I made the leap. After several discussions with my significant other who helps keep me grounded with big purchases. I placed the orders on Amazon and about a week later after everything arrived I made just about a four thousand dollar payment to a credit card.

Got some good reward points out of it. Which purchased even more equipment I would need. But more on that later.

I knew the camera would be the biggest part of the purchase. Yes technically my DSLR could do video, but that’s not a video camera. So it would be okay but not great. And as the title of this post and my history suggests, I rarely go into a new venture half cocked. Always Full Cock.

I decided on BlackMagic Design, as they were the most affordable to get into and I read plenty good stuff online. Also a huge part of this was finding a camera that uses EF mount. Or having to get an adapter. Not the end of the world but if I can skip that extra cost all the better. The BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6k was the end result. And even for a few quirks I’ve been learning to overcome, really happy with this purchase.

Some other things I would need then become rig building. Have to find a way to attach everything to the body and keep it stable. So a cage would be the next thing, followed by a handle so I can carry it.

I knew already from online research that the camera absolutely destroys LPE6 batteries like my DSLR’s use. So that was never an option I considered. From the get go I knew I needed something bigger. A V Mount battery. Which would need somewhere to v mount onto, so a plate for it was added to the cart.

Double checking to see what cables come with the plate, ordering more cables. Can’t forget to get a charger for the battery. Sold separately of course and more than I would have guessed for a battery charger.

Moving on to how you connect one thing to the other. Rails. And a tripod mount with the proper connections. It’s at this point that I realize pictures would be really helpful to show what I’m talking about. So earmark that for the future, I’ll do a full breakdown of the camera rig and what I’m currently using. Just as an overview for now, here’s a picture I took of one of the first times I got everything attached.

Cluttered table aside, this was just taken to show a sibling real quick what I was working on. So you get the idea of where I was going.

Using the 70-200mm F2.8 I already owned, other things to mention would be the shotgun mic and audio recorder. Decided I wanted more control over the entire audio experience instead of just plugging it directly into the camera.

Mattebox, the flaps on the front is apparently quite a debated topic. While providing little use and mostly just to look professional. I’ve found a way better purpose for mine in the final build I’m using. It helps balance out the back weight real well. Which I even got some weights to put on the back because the lens was so fucking heavy. In the end, balance is extremely important.

So, a brief overview of the camera rig like I said. Since this point it has changed more, like for instance I needed a way to record without having to actually touch the button. A drawback to this camera is not being able to add the standard attachment for a remote button like their other models have. Didn’t know this going in, probably wouldn’t have changed my decision anyway but I know what I want in my next upgrade… Many years from now.

Workaround for this is an old phone with a bluetooth app. If I’m shooting high frame rate at a long distance where the slightest bump causes awful shaking of the video I pop the phone off and hit the button without touching the actual camera. It works.

Also the lens was another thing that unfortunately had to be upgraded. Pretty fucking pricey upgrade. But for what I was doing, I needed reach and more importantly Image Stabilization. So just before my birthday in June I bit another bullet for a cost and got a 100-400mm F4-5.6L IS II.

Solved my problem of not being able to zoom in enough, also got much better footage without it being so shakey when you’re that zoomed in. Did cost $1600. Worth it.

Rig looks more like that now. Had to get a new tripod that was much more stable than the one I had been using for photography. And a fluid head that would support upwards of 30 pounds. Which from carrying this whole thing back and forth into the forest I would say 30 is about right. I’ve essentially started strength training just so I don’t get so winded when I’m lugging this stuff out there.

Another thing I’ll mention here since I didn’t put it before, almost everything I could get used I did. The camera that wasn’t an option, no used sellers. But the going price for used was like a few dollars from new. So whatever. But the first monitor I bought was used. Didn’t think anything about it, was from a company I had been getting tons of stuff from over the last few years. And everything I had was fine. But it was never electronic, always a mechanical part.

Well the monitor died JUST outside of the 30 day return window. And because it was second hand and through Amazon there’s no warranty. Out $150 for a monitor that I can’t fix. Took it all the way apart and was testing circuits on the motherboard but I’m in way over my head at that point and there’s no guides online for this specific thing. Just wound up getting another monitor, new this time and actually way better quality and price.

Surprise, I think a lot of people during the lock-downs turned to filming content and getting some of this stuff was actually harder to do than I would have guessed. I know things like webcams and headsets were hard to find as a huge portion of people transitioned to working remote. But I didn’t think entry to mid level recording equipment would be part of that. I was wrong. By June I found a much better selection on monitors that were in stock.

That about sums up the purchasing and assembling experience. I’ll talk more about the actual filming in another post as this one is getting a bit long winded.

And then expect a third post about the editing process. Which I have finally just put the finishing touches on… Well, it’s as good as it’ll get. I’ll talk more about it later but I expect to start uploading some videos this week. As a proof of concept, they work. And I’m happy enough with them to keep going. You’ll read and see more soon.