Greatest time savers on video shoots

[zerocool22]

Hi,

Now NAB is coming along pretty soon, I fear the GAS is starting again to peak my interesting in shooting once more. So this time I might create a list of things that I want/need before I yolo in again. But I feel a bit older, and I want to simplify my life and want to save time each shoot. 

- Improvement on DR
- Improvement on color science
- 4K full frame 60FPS
- internal ND's: My next camera should have internal ND's again, it saves so much time searching, mounting VARI-nd's or matteboxes. So prolly my main requirement.
- Good internal audio: I don't like dragging along my Zoom H6 along anymore, so recording audio straight into camera might also be a big thing for me. (at least panasonic has an addon for their mirrorless cameraes).
- Good internal monitor, this is one of the main attractions of enjoying a camera for me. I don't feel motivated shooting with a camera while the internal monitor sucks. If it is a good monitor I am so more hyper to start editing. If not, then I will keep postponing it to the last minute.
- good battery life, I don't like changing battery's every 30 minutes.
- body on the smaller end, as it easier to mount on sliders, gimbals, tripods etc.
- if the body is too small, it will endure lots of micro jitter so in that case I will need some IBIS.  
- recording onto SD or cfast (as that is an medium I have lots of cards for). 
- lastly and least important is AF I think. 

 

Maybe I am already missing some stuff that you guys think that is a huge time saves, please let me know! (also hope someone will launch an affordable 600W COB light)

cheers

[MrSMW]

In no particular order...

Tools that simply 'get out of the way' as much as possible which can be summarised as:

1. Little or need to faff about with them, - they simply do what you expect and need them to do.

2. Reliable ie, don't shut off due to overheating etc and don't need to be nannied in that regard.

3. Portability both in terms of amount of kit and the portability/set up/use of each bit of it as part of the whole.

4. Probably more personal to me than many others but the ability to burn my LUT directly into the files is less of a timesaver on the shoot, but is pretty big overall for the entire project.

5. Fast and accurate AF for me is a must for about 5% of my work but that 5% is critical so dictates I need fast and accurate AF.

6. Minimal lens swaps so generally zooms beat primes for me for simple convenience.

Stuff I don't care about:

A. Internal ND. Yes it would be nice to have, but no biggie for me spinning a VND as and when.

B. Hi res LCD. Yes, I'd prefer it to be but as long as it has decent enough clarity and brightness for super sunny days and as long as I trust the camera based on what I can't see...

C. Full frame video. I'd be quite happy with a dedicated APSC/S35 system, but even happier shooting FF open gate 6k 30p as at present. Stills, less so. I'd struggle now to go back to anything less than 45mp FF for photo.

 

[PPNS]

1) good directors who actually know what they want and are flexible if whatever they want is outside the scope.

2) as many good crew members as you want who are better at the technical minutae than you.

3) realistic planning and budgetting from production

[MurtlandPhoto]

For me it's all about reducing my doo-dads and streamlining operation. 

1) Great AF

2) Great LCD/EVF

3) Built-in exposure assist tools

4) Versatile lens — I use the Samyang 35-150mm for event work. It's marvelous.

5) Quick transition from stills to video

6) Good battery life OR cheap small batteries OR both 🙂

7) A nice half cage and handle

8). Record button on the front or assignable to the lens

9) Wireless mics with small transmitters — PicoMic is awesome!

10) Open gate is nice

BONUS since I can't stop talking about the S1Rii it seems. I'm excited that it has lower base ISOs so I don't have to reach for my VND as much, but it also has great high ISO performance for indoor, apparently.

[QuickHitRecord]

I have my two C70s dialed in so precisely to my needs that even after ~5 years, I can't imagine replacing them. One of them is built up for handheld operation, and the other is stripped down for travel. So, I really don't need anything else at this point.

That being said, an updated version of the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 in RF mount would be a no-brainer for me. They could even use the same glass from the older version and just update the AF.

[kye]

Understand the genre you are making, what works in the edit and what doesn't.

Most discussion of camera features is just noise coming from people that don't know what matters to them and what doesn't.  

[IronFilm]

On 3/2/2025 at 11:16 PM, zerocool22 said:

Now NAB is coming along pretty soon, I fear the GAS is starting again to peak my interesting in shooting once more. So this time I might create a list of things that I want/need before I yolo in again. But I feel a bit older, and I want to simplify my life and want to save time each shoot. 

Get yourself a gear cart! 

Doesn't have to be a fancy industry standard Inovativ film cart.

Doesn't even have to be a little lightweight Rock-n-Roller cart on the cheap. 

Just simply one of these garden trolleys (you can even get fold up versions!) that are as cheap as dirt could do the trick for you! They can be total game changers when it comes to carting your gear around shoots, and making your life easier, with the time you save. 

[MrSMW]

1 hour ago, IronFilm said:

Just simply one of these garden trolleys (you can even get fold up versions!)

Yes. I got my fold up off Amazon for under €70 and it has been one of the best purchases of my career for sure.

Instead of 3-4 trips from vehicle to venue, it’s been a single one each way.

[MurtlandPhoto]

5 hours ago, IronFilm said:

Get yourself a gear cart! 

 

Doesn't have to be a fancy industry standard Inovativ film cart.

 

Doesn't even have to be a little lightweight Rock-n-Roller cart on the cheap. 

 

Just simply one of these garden trolleys (you can even get fold up versions!) that are as cheap as dirt could do the trick for you! They can be total game changers when it comes to carting your gear around shoots, and making your life easier, with the time you save. 

One of these is getting delivered today. $450 on amazon. I’ve been searching for a lower-tier production cart with the right balance of features, weight, payload, and price. I hope this fits the bill.

 

[eatstoomuchjam]

5 hours ago, IronFilm said:

Just simply one of these garden trolleys (you can even get fold up versions!) that are as cheap as dirt could do the trick for you! They can be total game changers when it comes to carting your gear around shoots, and making your life easier, with the time you save. 

That was my thinking in September of last year.  I picked up one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PN5RR9D?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

Good, solid cart - the little extend-o-platform on the bottom makes it great for tripods and light stands and the enclosed top is great for throwing in a bunch of cameras/bags.  The big sturdy tires are nice for things like rolling over rough terrain/curbs/etc.

[MrSMW]

1 hour ago, MurtlandPhoto said:

One of these is getting delivered today. $450 on amazon. I’ve been searching for a lower-tier production cart with the right balance of features, weight, payload, and price. I hope this fits the bill.

Worst case scenario, you could always offer your services as a budget funeral director.

 

[MrSMW]

Mine is more like this:

 

 But came with less vegetables.

[MurtlandPhoto]

Initial impressions of the cart if anyone is interested. I'm pretty happy with it! It weighs probably 40-50lbs total. The wheels are super smooth and removable; it glides over everything, but when not loaded up the swivel wheels can shake a bit. Probably due to its lower weight of the cart itself. The whole thing folds up nicely. Everything feels sturdy enough—not at all "real" production cart quality, but not that price either. It says it can hold 400 lbs. I don't know if i'd want to load it up to that, but certainly 50-75lbs per shelf would be fine. The only thing that worries me is the top shelf. It's fully removable and it clicks down onto the frame with heavy duty plastic clips. I wouldn't load up the top shelf too much for fear of sheering weight snapping the fixtures. The middle scissoring framing also means you have to load the middle shelf from the ends. Not great, but probably necessary design to keep the weight down but the payload capability up. It's not super wide. I was hoping to fit my 1510 case sideways, but alas it overhangs by a fair bit; probably will need to strap it down sometimes.

 

 

[IronFilm]

On 3/7/2025 at 4:39 AM, MurtlandPhoto said:

One of these is getting delivered today. $450 on amazon. I’ve been searching for a lower-tier production cart with the right balance of features, weight, payload, and price. I hope this fits the bill.

 

Wow! Let us know how sturdy it is. 

Give us the link to it too! (although I fear the shipping to NZ would be more than the price itself...)

On 3/7/2025 at 4:59 AM, eatstoomuchjam said:

That was my thinking in September of last year.  I picked up one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PN5RR9D?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1

Yup, shipping costs to NZ is greater than the price itself  😢 😭

On 3/7/2025 at 11:25 AM, MurtlandPhoto said:

The wheels are super smooth and removable; it glides over everything

How is it off road? On a well maintained dirt / gravel road? Or on a lawn? (mowed, not super long grass)

On 3/7/2025 at 11:25 AM, MurtlandPhoto said:

The middle scissoring framing also means you have to load the middle shelf from the ends. Not great, but probably necessary design to keep the weight down but the payload capability up

That was my first thought when I saw the scissoring design, it probably helps a lot with the structural integrity, while still allowing  you to fold it up compact.