new 7D setup for Doc work. Opinions wanted.

You have a good list here.

However, since you sound like you have a reasonable amount of budget to deal with, I would consider getting 2 7Ds.

It would provide backup in case of overheating or failure. It would also enable you to switch quickly between a wide lens (say the 17-55) and a longer lens (say the 70-200).

If you haven't found this field report, you should take a look at it:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=189986

The guy that wrote it seems to be shooting in the style you're aiming to shoot.

-X

Great link!!

I notice that he was saying that he would only take two main lenses, a Canon 10-22mm and a Canon 24-105 F4 IS L lens. Interesting choices.

I guess you could then add the 70-200mm F4 IS L lens for the long shots.

Lots of decisions to make.

I don't think that I can swing 2 7D bodies. Good idea though.

Daniel Weber

Nice list.

I've had the Tran and the Voice Tech, the Voice Tech is better.

You may also want a polarizer for the others also, or at least a step up so they can use the 77mm polarizer. Polarizers help in keeping down flare and bringing out the sky, although isn't the Fader ND a polarizer. I have no experience with the Fader ND, however I understand it is a stacked circular and linear pol. My concern with it centers on it containing two polarizers for less than a single B+W pol.

And...you may want to take a teleconverter. Just shooting animals in my backyard (I'm on just under 2 acres), I find the 200 a bit short. You may also want to throw a macro, like the 60mm canon in the bag. I don't think any of the lenses in that group is a macro, although the 70-200mm may have a relatively close focus.

I'll vote for two 7Ds.

What happen if your one and only camera craps out when you are in the middle of nowhere? Kinda crazy not to have a spare. Pare down on some of the gear and get a spare body.

My 2 cents.

So here is what I picked up:

Canon 7D (we will pick up a second one next year)
Canon 70-200 F4 IS L
Tokina 11-16 2.8
Canon 17-55 2.8 IS
Sigma 30 1.4
Zacuto Z Finder (found one in stock at Abel Cine when I stopped by on Tuesday)
Zacuto Rapidfire
(6) Canon batteries
Zoom h4n recorder
Rode video mic
(3) Kingston Pro 32 gig 133x cards
FW 800 CF Reader
Fader ND filters for each lens
and the last item was a Tamrac Expedition 7x backback

I am still on the fence regarding the backpack. I don't like the fact that the laptop is in the top flap, making it very heavy in the front of the backback (the part farthest away from your shoulders). Also it doesn't have as much room as I would like after I get all the gear in. I think it might be to big for a carry on on certain airlines.

What does everyone here use for carrying their gear around??

Daniel

Looks like a very sensible kit. Congratulations!

-X

So here is what I picked up:

Canon 7D (we will pick up a second one next year)
Canon 70-200 F4 IS L
Tokina 11-16 2.8
Canon 17-55 2.8 IS
Sigma 30 1.4
Zacuto Z Finder (found one in stock at Abel Cine when I stopped by on Tuesday)
Zacuto Rapidfire
(6) Canon batteries
Zoom h4n recorder
Rode video mic
(3) Kingston Pro 32 gig 133x cards
FW 800 CF Reader
Fader ND filters for each lens
and the last item was a Tamrac Expedition 7x backback

I am still on the fence regarding the backpack. I don't like the fact that the laptop is in the top flap, making it very heavy in the front of the backback (the part farthest away from your shoulders). Also it doesn't have as much room as I would like after I get all the gear in. I think it might be to big for a carry on on certain airlines.

What does everyone here use for carrying their gear around??

Daniel

Hard drives, hard drives, hard drives. Back up your data, twice. Hard drives are cheap, you do not want any disasters.

Oh, and consider a LitePanles LED light, just in case you need to film something at night - it dubs as a flashlight, too. And it runs on 4 AA batteries.

I have a Tamrac Cyberpack 8. I like it. it holds the laptop in the back.
http://www.tamrac.com/5258.htm

Oh I have lots of hard drives. I always take two Lacie 500 gig rugged drives. Each drive gets a copy of footage before I wipe the cards.

I also have a lite panel as well, though it is the old one that takes Sony batteries. I need to purchase the battery plate for it.

I will check out the bag you mentioned, though I am leaning towards the Think Tank bag.

Daniel Weber

I took the Tamrac bag back today and picked up a Think Tank Airport Acceleration bag. A little bit smaller but more room and I love the pull out laptop bag. There were a couple of Think Tank models that could of worked, but the Acceleration seemed to fit my needs the best.

I leave for Ghana next week and I will give an update on how my system worked when I get back right before Christmas.

Daniel Weber

good luck out there! looking forward to the report.

Thanks!

I am in Senegal right now after spending 4 days shooting in Ghana.

I have had some overheating issues, but I think that I am learning to work with it.

The images from the camera are awesome.

I will post a full report once I return late next week.

Daniel Weber