You don’t need van-loads of equipment to make a documentary.People all over the world are pro-quality feature-length films out of their backpacks for relatively little cost.I’ve been working in India as a cameraman, filming for a replica Breitling watches project that will trace the length of The Ganges River.It’s a light and fast operation.We have two directors, a translator, and only the gear we can fit in our backpacks.Last week we were filming up in the Himalayas in below- freezing temperatures.We’re in Haridwar now, shopping for a rickshaw to pedal down to Kanpur, and it’s 85 degrees and humid.We need to be ready for anything, and able to capture everything.
Basically, all you really need are a couple low-profile, light-weight cameras that can shoot 1080x1920p HD video, and the audio hook-ups to bring the video to life.Here are the essentials:1 Canon EOS 5D Mark II with an EF 24-105mm lens and LCDVF replica Cartier watches Viewfinder (The SLR body makes this a great undercover-camera.You just look like another tourist snapping stills, but you’re really shooting 1080x1920p HD video.The eyepiece is key for maintaining the focus, which is often a bit tricky.)1 Panasonic AG-HMC40P Video Camera (Simple to use with awesome auto functions.
It’s light, and shoots 1080x1920p.Best of all: it’s relatively cheap.)2 GoPro Helmet HERO HD Cameras and waterproof casings (I’m in love with these little guys.They shoot surprisingly good video in well-lighted situations, replica Omega watches and you can huck ‘em down a class V rapid and not worry about it!)1 13” MacBook Pro with Final Cut Studio 2 (It’s great to be able to review your footage in the field.Final Cut allows us to even edit short videos to update our blog as we go along.)1 BeachTek XLR-Mini adapter (Key for attaching pro-audio to cams with only mini-inputs)
