Larry Sanbourne

Hi, I'm doing some work that requires extreme portability and need a tripod that fits in a backpack, is super lightweight, and will lift a lightweight camera (iPhone 15, or something similarly sized but better…) to about eye level. Non-professional colleagues have success with consumer-grade tripods like Pixel Maker T3, and I'm just wondering if there's something lighter, more stable, or otherwise better. Many thanks, -L

Thanks so much for your reply. Sounds like I need a spot meter. Here's an example some of the lighting we had recently. In the very far shot, some of the light on the organ loft is created via the color grade, since it wasn't differentiated enough, but this should give you some idea. It is hard to imagine where we would have placed additional lights since the loft was so small? Some of our sessions occurred at night, which of course will make the color grading super difficult on the edit. Would any portable lights have been able to help with this despite the massive amounts of daylight pouring? An example before grading:

Hi all, I've spent the past week researching options before getting back to you. First, clearly lighting has an enormous impact that I haven't fully appreciated. I've been reading and learning a lot. But lighting a small organ loft with even vaguely portable lights seems extremely challenging if not impossible (?). I have been learning about very portable things like https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/flex-cine-bi-color-mat-1-x-1, and less portable things like umbrellas and such, but it remains an immense challenge especially when I'm also trying to position mics properly. I've been learning about Panasonic BHG1, which is expensive but has Ethernet for power. This would be ideal except that sometimes we have to have cameras on different levels of venues (e.g. a mezzanine for a wide-angle shot)... I'm considering upgrading to iPhone 15 for my personal phone and at least getting used to log grading with that, trying to work on my lighting skills, etc. For recordings at the end of the month I may rent a Sony FX30 from borrowlenses (no BGH1 there alas) and see how that feels... Will report back. Meanwhile, if anyone has any advice at all on lighting, or even just how to learn about it, that would be amazing.

Hi Jon, Thanks for your straightforward and helpful advice!! I'm trying to work up the courage to buy 3 Sony FX30s (or 2 FX30s and 1 A7SIII). Do I need something with fans to handle 4K recording for 2 hours? Is there anything cheaper you would still recommend? I anecdotally like the Canon color science but don't know if they have something like FX30/A7SIII. There's also Panasonic BGH1, for multicam control, image, and power on 1 Ethernet line -- any experience with that? It would be tough for a mezzanine shot or whatever, but otherwise sounds amazing. Lastly, is there any portable way I can improve lighting in a sizeable but darkish church (umbrella softboxes, Westcott LED panels, etc), or would I need theatrical lights? Thanks again, Larry

Hi, I'm an audio engineer and musician needing a portable, easy-to-setup video setup for pro-quality classical recordings, sometimes while performing. 2–4 musicians, fixed positions, occasional unmanned single-camera livestream later. Aimed at YouTube and social media. Looking for recommendations for 3 cameras that are: 1. Portable for 2-month trips 2. Easy to setup - Since I'm also doing audio and might be performing too. 3. Remote start/stoppable without going to each camera 4. Low-light friendly for dim venues 5. Can do log footage 6. Records up to 2hrs 7. Bonus - DSLR-quality stills for social media (at least from one camera). 8. Wireless - we might put cameras up in mezzanines etc. and can't have enormous HDMI cable runs. FYI for sound I'll run Schoeps mics into RME Babyface Pro + 12Mic -> MacBook Pro. I have MixPre-6 II but its preamps aren't as good. I'd record timecode as audio into Babyface....or just clap if people think timecode would be too complex to setup while I'm also performing and positioning 3 cameras. Cameras I've considered: Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera $1295 — no autofocus, no app Sony FX30 + 18-50mm lens kit $2,350 — no ProRes Osmo Pocket 3 ($500) — Log footage, looks much better than previous generations; PTZ is great for putting in strange spots high up. I assume the footage is still consumery. Panasonic G85 HERO12 Black ($400) — prob still consumery Sony a6400 + 16-50mm $1000 iPhone 15 — maybe a6400 ends up looking better for similar price and offering remote control via Sony app? Thank you so much for your help! Larry