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EPIC-M , DISNEYWORLD & FAMILY MOVIES

michael zaletel

michael zaletel

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I'm on a flight to Orlando with my family accessing REDUSER via wifi gogo Internet service on US Airways. I decided to bring my EPIC-M along capture these special memories for my small children to watch in 4k when they are older.

There are unique considerations and challenges for a trip like this related to outfitting and shooting with EPIC-M many of which I have solved in the last few days with the help of friends and others I will likely have to solve over the next few days. This thread would be a great place to discuss solutions for ultra-portability and convenience when gear and weight must be kept to an absolute minimum and when you are completely on your own with your EPIC-M.

I've listed my own personal criteria priorities below:

1. Everything for my EPIC-M "family movies" package MUST fit in a single, carry-on bag or case small enough to fit in an overhead bin.
2. The Carry-On bag should be inconspicuous to minimize attention from strangers and when entering theme parks.
3. Screw on variable-adjust ND filter for daylight conditions where mattebox and larger filters are not practical
4. Small Lenses
5. EVF and Touchscreen LCD with
6. LED Light for nighttime
7. Quality audio on camera
8. Setup from bag and shoot in less than 1 minute.

So here's a list of the gear I am bringing with me in the single, small carry-on bag.

1. EPIC-M Body + SSD
2. DSMC Side Handle
3. Duclos Tokina 11-16 mm lens
4. Fader ND Mark II (2 to 8 stops) Filter
5. RED RPZ 17-50
6. RED EVF (Original)
7. RED Touchscreen LCD + Compact strap-on hood
8. Zoom H4N with stereo to two 2x-mono 1/8 cable & AA Batteries
9. Unreleased Compact Top-Handle/19mm-Rod/EVF-Mount Combo
10. Cowboy Studio LED CN-160 + Sony Compact Battery & Wall Charger
11. REDVOLT Charger + (4) REDVOLT batteries
12. 4 128GB REDMAG SSD Drives & RED STATION REDMAG


YES, this all fits in my small carry-on bag with appropriate foam and padding for protection. The same bag I've used for the past 6 years with my HVR-Z1U + wide angle & telephoto lenses kit I recently sold on eBay. Great bag.

I am really looking forward to this vacation with my family. I know the EPIC-M wasn't made for this purpose but capturing their childhood experiences in 5K will mean the world to them 20 years from now. Thanks RED!

I'll post more soon... Let me know if anyone has any questions.

-michael zaletel
 
Just remember, Mike Seymour wasn't allowed into Disney with his Epic-M. it was "too professional"
 
Precisely why I am taking a different approach. Old, small bag, stripped down, etc. Plus I'll be with my family. We'll see!

-michael zaletel
 
michael zaletel said:
Precisely why I am taking a different approach. Old, small bag, stripped down, etc. Plus I'll be with my family. We'll see!

-michael zaletel
Click to expand...

true, but didn't he strip it down to fit in his satchel? I think he just had the body in one bag, lcd and batteries and lenses in other people in the groups bags.

Anyways, capturing images of your kids in such a resolution will pay off so much when they're older.
 
slap a canon sticker on that thing and you'll get in no problem...

but seriously, i would build it so it looks exactly like a dslr and if you need extra stuff once you're in, put it in your kids pockets.
 
paulherrin said:
slap a canon sticker on that thing and you'll get in no problem...

but seriously, i would build it so it looks exactly like a dslr and if you need extra stuff once you're in, put it in your kids pockets.
Click to expand...

Here's my plan. No LCD, No EVF, No REDMOTE, Duclos Tokina 11-16 (which is tiny) and RedVolt Battery in DSMC Side Handle. I'll put that in a really small bag and leave all the other stuff in my HVR-Z1U bag. I've never had trouble bringing that bag in loaded with pro accessories.

Thoughts?

-michael zaletel
 
Zac C said:
Just remember, Mike Seymour wasn't allowed into Disney with his Epic-M. it was "too professional"
Click to expand...

He didn't disguise himself. He should have worn a goofy tourist type hat and slathered a bunch of sunscreen on his nose..then he
would have had no problem.
 
Steve Das said:
He didn't disguise himself. He should have worn a goofy tourist type hat and slathered a bunch of sunscreen on his nose..then he
would have had no problem.
Click to expand...

Clearly Mike Seymour looks much more professional than I do! I was planning on a Mickey Hat and Hawaiian shirt but the extra, white sunscreen on the nose is a solid tip!

-michael zaletel
 
Michael, great idea, hope you post some footage afterward!

One thought I had was about recording audio externally. Seems to me that you'd be better off attaching a tiny camera mic and dealing with the outcome. Reason is you'll be scrambling to shoot stuff during all the chaos, plus paying equal attention to the family, you may end up not getting audio half the time because you are about to miss a moment and have to just start shooting whether ready or not. Just a thought.

Let us know what the experiece was like after you get back as I've often thought about doing this as well.
 
jimhare said:
Michael, great idea, hope you post some footage afterward!

One thought I had was about recording audio externally. Seems to me that you'd be better off attaching a tiny camera mic and dealing with the outcome. Reason is you'll be scrambling to shoot stuff during all the chaos, plus paying equal attention to the family, you may end up not getting audio half the time because you are about to miss a moment and have to just start shooting whether ready or not. Just a thought.

Let us know what the experiece was like after you get back as I've often thought about doing this as well.
Click to expand...

Hi Jim,

So, my plan for audio is that I am attaching the Zoom H4N to the top handle with the stereo mic facing forward (sort of like HVR-Z1U) and then I am going out the line-out with a stereo 1/8 to 2x-mono 1/8 into channel 1 and channel 2 on the front of the EPIC-M. Therefore, I am monitoring and recording 2 separate channels of audio (from the great H4N stereo mic) into the EPIC on the R3D files AND simultaneously recording back-up audio on the H4N.

The H4N REC light on top of the unit flashes when it is outputting audio to the EPIC and the Original EVF shows the audio levels so I should be able to notice between the two if I forgot to activate the H4N.

We tried attaching a few small mics but had some problems I can talk about later perhaps. Can't wait for RED to release those little button mics for the front of the EPIC. I agree those would be perfect and safer than having to remember tapping the REC button on the H4N or having to attach the H4N in the first place when in a hurry.

How does that "sound"? ;)

-michael zaletel
 
not a camera tip since I know nothing about getting high end cameras into a disney park.. but my brother works there so I went to go visit not to long ago and my disney tip of the thread is: make sure you see each parks evening show. My favorites were Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.
 
Louis Maddalena said:
not a camera tip since I know nothing about getting high end cameras into a disney park.. but my brother works there so I went to go visit not to long ago and my disney tip of the thread is: make sure you see each parks evening show. My favorites were Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios.
Click to expand...

Excellent tip indeed Louis. If I make it in (and stay in) with the EPIC-M, I will try to capture some 300fps 2K footage of the highlights and post here when I get back.

-michael zaletel
 
Hey Michael, "sounds" like you have thought it all through! Sounds like a perfect solution. So you just switch on the Zoom at the same time as the Epic and get them both recording. Sounds good!

michael zaletel said:
Hi Jim,

So, my plan for audio is that I am attaching the Zoom H4N to the top handle with the stereo mic facing forward (sort of like HVR-Z1U) and then I am going out the line-out with a stereo 1/8 to 2x-mono 1/8 into channel 1 and channel 2 on the front of the EPIC-M. Therefore, I am monitoring and recording 2 separate channels of audio (from the great H4N stereo mic) into the EPIC on the R3D files AND simultaneously recording back-up audio on the H4N.

The H4N REC light on top of the unit flashes when it is outputting audio to the EPIC and the Original EVF shows the audio levels so I should be able to notice between the two if I forgot to activate the H4N.

We tried attaching a few small mics but had some problems I can talk about later perhaps. Can't wait for RED to release those little button mics for the front of the EPIC. I agree those would be perfect and safer than having to remember tapping the REC button on the H4N or having to attach the H4N in the first place when in a hurry.

How does that "sound"? ;)

-michael zaletel
Click to expand...
 
Steve Dent said:
Pro tip: as filming can be very immersive, be sure to keep the camera in the bag at least half the time or the family will be pissed.
Click to expand...

Steve. You are SO right. Thanks for reminding me though. I think the hardest part will be not filming with my iPhone (or checking email or REDUSER) when my EPIC is in the bag. I should probably check my iPhone and EPIC in with a a supervising adult half the time.

-michael zaletel
 
I took the family to DisneyWorld in December '09. Took a 7D with me, no trouble with that one. ;) The camera mostly lived with the EF-S 15-85 semi-crappy zoom on it the whole time. I would have definitely taken the EPIC if I had it then!!! But I would have only taken it a few places -- like the fireworks show at EPCOT being the primary. For every day and playing around in the parks, going on rides, no. Wouldn't want to lug the EPIC. It's incredibly small for what it is, but it's still a heavy chunk of metal and very solid for it's size. As much as it might look it, it's still nothing like carrying around a DSLR.

crap... where's that Scarlet 8X when you need one, eh?
 
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how are you going to see what you're shooting without the evf or monitor? you just gonna wing it with the histogram and other displays? that's pretty ballsy! do tell!


and on a side note, somebody should make a disguise VHS housing for red cameras...

inp1985.jpg


i'm serious... that would be a really good idea!
 
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