GEAR BUYERS’ GUIDE
ULTIMATE KIT FOR...
We look at the best accessories for three of the most popular cameras used by independent filmmakers CINEMACAMERAS
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
I f you own one of the latest Super35 cinema cameras, then you have the basis to create incredible films, good enough for Netflix and Hollywood, as well as commercial clients’ YouTube and Facebook accounts and everything else in between. Although cameras like the Panasonic EVA1, Canon EOS C200 and Sony FS7 II might be usable right out of the box, they can still be improved by rigging themup with various accessories. Some of these are to improve the handling – or perhaps make up for some design niggle that only surfaces after extended use. Others can actually improve the footage you record by unlocking higher-quality images or audio. So, we take a long look at three of the most popular cinema cameras that we have significant experience with, with lots of feedback from regular users added in. Here are some of the must-buy bits and pieces you should consider flashing the cash on.
If cash flow isn’t a problem, take a look at this Vocas rig kit for the Canon C200, which features a very high-endmatte box, top handle, camera cage, follow focus, viewfinder kit and pretty much everything else you could ever need tomake the C200 into a camera that can do everything – including the handle extension kit, which really does make the C200 work far more ergonomically. Instead of an actual kit, all the components are bought separately, so you only need to buy what you really want. The heart of the system is the newUSBP- 15Mark II baseplate, which has the cage and top cheese plate bolted to it, to provide lots of mounting options for accessories. There’s also the quick-release dovetail plate, whichmakes for fast attachment to tripods and is adjustable for easy balancing. There’s also a safety lock to avoid accidental opening of the quick release. This rig uses Vocas’ high-endMB-436matte box, which has one fully rotatable 4x5.65-inch or 5.65-inch square filter frame, and one fixed. It comes with a French flag and internal eyebrows for maximum lens flare reduction, and fits lenses up to amaximumof 143mm in diameter. There’s a retro-style walnut palm support and focus knob, which offers different gear ratios for fast ENG or slower cinema use. The rotation direction is reversible. There are 15mm lens supports and the Vocas handgrip system for going handheld. The 15mm viewfinder adapter can bemounted on the original handgrip and has a 15mm rod tomount any NATO accessory. The top handgrip kit has an adjustable and reversible handgrip position, multiple cold- shoe attachments, 15mm top rails cheese plate, detachable 15mmviewfinder bracket and pins for attaching a carrying strap. CANON EOS C200 VOCAS COMPLETE C200 SYSTEM £5382/$7092 vocas.com
ACCESSORIES
ZEISS LWZ.3 21-100MM LENS £8484/$9900 zeiss.co.uk
Canon obviouslymakes a huge range of EF-fit lenses, fromcheap and small stills primes to expensive cine lenses. But a benefit of the Canon EFmount is that many other lensmakers also sell optics to fit. And you’d go a long way to get anything better andmore compact, given its range, than the Zeiss Lightweight ZoomLWZ.3 21-100mm lens. It’s a true cine zoom lens that’s designed to be as parfocal as possible and avoid focus breathing. And it has the unique Zeiss look and quality, plus the T* coatings to avoid ghosting. It focuses as close as 0.8metres and has a front diameter of 114mm, so can be fittedwithmany cine accessories. The lens features nearly 300° of focus rotation that provides for accurate focus pulls. If your aspirations are potentially to use evenmore high-end cameras in future, the Zeiss can be converted to a PLmount.
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2019
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