What’s in the bag?
I’ve been getting a lot of equipment-related questions lately, so I figured it would be helpful to write a quick article on what gear we have been using and why we are completely happy with our current setup.
- Canon HV30
This is the backbone of our filming operation. Rather than buying a single HVX200 (or similar option), I just picked up several of these little guys. With a little editing love, you can get amazing images out of this camera. And because it is so cheap ($400 or so on ebay now), I can fearlessly lend them out to my friends which subsequently helps me acquire footage much faster. 99% of the HD footage on Post22 is filmed with the HV30. - Century .3x fisheye (GL1 bayonet version)
Century makes a fisheye specifically for the HV30 now, so this might be a null topic. However, I thought it would be worth mentioning that I hacked my GL1 bayonet fisheye to fit onto my HV30. All it took was removing the bayonet mount / threading and buying a few step-up adapters. It looks great, but the new one from Century is a little more sharp. - Canon EOS 7D
Ah the 7D. The camera that makes everything look “like a movie.” I love this thing. There are dozens of great articles out there already on why it’s amazing so I’m going to be short. The 7D is a great companion to the HV30. I’m using this camera increasingly more to film skateboarding, and the compression is good enough to where I can seamlessly mix it into my HDV sequences. Although most of our skateboard filming will still be filmed with the HV30, the cinematic “gloss” that may be present in the newer Post22 clips is all thanks to this camera. - SLR Lenses
Pretty standard, boring stuff here. I use the kit zoom lens and an old Nikkor 50mm 1.4 most of the time. I also have a 16mm fisheye and a 24mm wide-angle that we use occasionally. - Macbook Pro 13″
Much to the dismay of my vision and overall comfort level, every part of Post22 is created with a 13″ Macbook Pro – using only the touch pad. I’m all about portability, so having my entire editing workstation with me whenever I want is convenient. If I fill up my flash card at a spot, then I can offload the footage onto my computer in a few minutes and continue shooting.
The combination of the HV30 and 7D is no doubt my favorite filming rig that I’ve used. At work, we use HPX170s, and as amazing as those cameras are, and they are truly awesome, I still prefer to shoot with a tiny toy-like camera. The portability is nice, but creating high-value videos with a $400 camera is what I enjoy the most.
41 Responses
I have a little panasonic hdc-sd9, its just a lil dh camcorder. and an opteka bay death. It gets the job done just fine for me, with a beautiful shot. While, everyone else is dying over the VXs. Good to know that someone else is doing the same thing as me.
I also use a Macbook. Not a pro but the white one. Its awesome.
That can’t be all your equipment ! You had to take a picture of your CAMERAS with a CAMERA so what CAMERA did you use ! Don’t hold out on us !
Hah, OK. Add 1 Sony Cyber-shot point and shoot cam to the bag.
Fletcher, that’s cool. I can’t cope with the AVCHD format, but it is pretty convenient. One thing I’d recommend is getting a decent fisheye. I’ve had this lens for about 7 years and I’ve used it on a LOT of different cameras. It’s worth saving up for a decent century lens.
i love my hv20 even if it is fucked
I would but I rather save that up for my picture camera, to get a fisheye for it, (Canon XSi)
I don’t have any ability at editing video, I try. But I am fascinated with taking photos, and Im not to bad at editing such pictures.
think about if someone stole that bag. That’s so much money right there. I would cry for you
Perfect mental picture before I go to sleep. But that is a good point. I’ll try not to bring it to sketchy places.
That is my dream setup. What exactly do you do at redhat? I’m so interested in a career that lets me have at least a little bit of time to keep skating/filming/maintain my website.
I do motion graphics / filming / editing. I work full-time and still find plenty of time to worry about my skate stuff.
Right know I have a Canon Optura 50x that kinda gettin sketchy and I think it’s time to make an upgrade. Would you recommend the canon hv30?
Most definitely. I’d just get the HV20. It’s a good amount cheaper and it’s the exact same thing as the HV30 but in silver.
If you are shooting skateboarding then get the HV20 + Century .3x 43mm fisheye combo. It’s a powerhouse and we use it all the time.
or get the opteca 43mm its basicaly an mk2 and its a whole lot cheaper.
James,
would you be interest in shooting some more “adult” videos? Let me know as there could be big $$$$ in it for the both of us!
-Your favorite gym teacher
I am filming hard with a JVC Everio 32x optical zoom with a wide angle lens on it. It get’s the job done in great quality I attached a picture
http://i50.tinypic.com/ml5oc6.jpg
can u send me a good link of one of this for cheap somewhere? trying to get one for X-Mas thanks!
http://bit.ly/6QwweW
opteka $140
http://bit.ly/67Adsh
century $500
I agree with Chad.
The Opteka fisheye has vignetting when zoomed out all the way on an HV20. If there is one thing to spend a bit more cash on, in my opinion, it is lenses.
While cameras evolve constantly, lenses don’t change that much. I’ve been using my GL1 century fisheye for many years and don’t plan on getting a new one any time soon.
What do ya think about the Hv40 compared to the Hv30? How much do you use the 30fps mode?
I don’t use 30p ever. I shoot everything in 1080/60i. I de-interlace to get 30p.
For the most part, HV20 = HV30 = HV40. They are all the same with VERY slight differences.
HV20 – original camera
HV30 – original camera + clearer LCD / new body color
HV40 – HV30 + better 24p mode
what do you think of the hf10? im debating between that and the hv20 and need some opinions.
I’m really digging that 7D big time, I’m strongly considering getting a 5DmkII, then we could coooollllaaaaabbooooooooo
so wait, do you shoot any video with the 7D?
Most of the Raleigh Update clip is shot with a 7D. The reason 90% of the site is shot on an HV right now is because I just got the 7D. I’m guessing the ratio will be about 50/50 in the future.
Wait, so do you film with a picture camera?
yep. james doesn’t want to tell you but this is the real secret behind the new clips…
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/263544.jpg
i am interested in the canon vixia hf200 would you say the hv30 is as good worse or better please respond back
Unless you have a complete beast of a computer, I’d definitely go with the HV30. Editing the AVCHD files that come off of the HF200 is a total nightmare (at least on a Mac). You will need to transcode everything into an editable format before you can even watch the files on your computer so it ends up taking just as long as capturing a tape.
HV30 will give you better quality and it is MUCH easier to edit with. You just capture the tape and edit as you would with any other MiniDV camera. The only drawback to the HV30 is that you will still have to use tapes.
Bottom line, in my opinion the HV20/30/40 is MUCH MUCH better than the HF200.
You know Travis, I bet I could squeeze some good HD video out of that thing somehow.
what’s the make/model of the bag?
film competition only allowing 7d footage.
http://www.can-dofilmfest.com/index.html
what do you think about the Sony HDR-fx7? Do you think its worth putting in the extra money verses a hv30/40?
yeah I currently have a canon gl2 with a 58 mm renox lens. It kinda pisses me off that i spent over $2,000 on my setup and some of my friends do just as well using an HD handycam. I’m thinking about getting a backup camera to shoot second angles on tricks… would you say the HV30 is the best choice?
The trailer looks really good.
I thought the whole thing was HVX or HPX.
I’ve been shooting with a HV30 for about a year (did a documentary on it & some skate clips that came out good) and I have Lumix GH1, now. I run Nikkor lenses, too. Solid film look.
yo james, these comments are hilarious. i was gonna throw in some of your stickers with some shit im mailing to people so i figured id check out your site since i hadnt been in a while. that fisheye looks like its in an awfully precarious position. every time you set that bag down [sometimes more hastily than others], the thing that feels the most compression is going to be that lens, at least the cap, at worst the glass or threading [i imagine]. id stick it where your power supply and drive are, put an extra spacer in there so its snug, and move your power supply and drive to the pocket with the lowepro logo on it, and put the drive in its own padded envelope in the top envelope in that pocket. id also stick a spacer between those bottom two lenses. ive got some extras if you want them. plus, thatd make the video camera more accessible because itd be closer to the top [assuming you close the bag with the zippers at the top]. this is a completely ridiculous post, but ive been drinking schlitz for the past few hours and got totally sidetracked.
rza domestic violence pt 2
see you soon!
what software do you use to edit video?
can you say more on how you mod that century to your hv30. i have the vx2000 century bayo, would this be more challenging?
I’m looking to purchase two of the Cannon-Hv30’s As Well As Two Corrisponding Century Lenses. Think You Could Please Give Me A Location You’d Recommend As Reliably Used Quality?
a bit off topic, but have you found a good backpack to carry cam equipment, laptop, and board?
Great info I adore examples of the articles which were written, and especially the comments posted! I will come back!
what all exactly do you need to make the GL1 fisheye fit on the hv30. ive been thinking about getting one cause my GL2 is getting pretty old and id rather just use the century lens i got instead of buying a new one