Filmmaking Gear I Liked Way More Than Expected

Summary

In this video, the creator reviews six filmmaking gear items sent to him over the summer, which exceeded his expectations. He discusses how each item, from Condor Blue's camera system to F-Stop's eco-friendly gear wraps, improved his workflow. The video also covers a portable smoke machine and anamorphic lenses from Sur, ending with a new travel tripod from Fall Cam that rivals the FL Tech. The creator emphasizes the quality, innovation, and practicality of these tools for filmmakers.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The speaker receives a lot of film gear but only keeps the high-quality, problem-solving ones.
• 🛠️ Condor Blue gear transforms the speaker's FX3 camera setup, offering a balanced power supply and monitoring system.
• 📏 The F-Stop gear wrap is innovative with its self-sticking, Velcro-free design, making it versatile and eco-friendly.
• 🎶 Audio, the video sponsor, is praised for offering the best deal on high-quality music for independent filmmakers.
• 💡 Aputure's new MC Pro lights impressed the speaker with their brightness, build quality, and weather resistance.
• 🎬 The Sirui Saturn anamorphic lenses surprised the speaker with their quality, portability, and natural flares.
• 📷 The Fallcam Tree Root tripod exceeded expectations, offering a lightweight, durable alternative to the speaker's previous Peak Design tripod.
• 🌫️ Lensgo's portable smoke machine, though niche, is praised for its convenience in run-and-gun shoots.
• 🎙️ The speaker acknowledges how free gear can be hit or miss but is happy with the surprises from these six products.
• 🔋 The video focuses on products that solve specific issues, improve the speaker's workflow, and are likely to be appreciated by fellow filmmakers.

Q & A

What is the main challenge the speaker faces with new filmmaking gear?

The speaker finds it hard to keep up with the constant influx of new filmmaking gear and often receives items that are not suitable for professional use.

What are the criteria for the gear to earn a permanent spot in the speaker's kit?

The gear must either solve a problem the speaker didn't know they had or be so well-made that it justifies a place in the professional kit.

What is the speaker's policy regarding sponsored content?

The speaker clarifies that no money changed hands for the video, and they are not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned. They also mention that the manufacturers sent them the gear with no control over the content.

What is the main issue the speaker has with the Sony FX3 camera?

The Sony FX3 has a small built-in LCD that makes it difficult to monitor and use effectively on professional shoots, especially for focus and framing.

How does the Condor Blue system improve the speaker's experience with the FX3?

The Condor Blue system provides a base plate, rails, and a vmount plate that allows for better monitoring and power supply, making the camera more ergonomic and balanced to use.

What is unique about the F-Stop wraps compared to traditional gear wraps?

F-Stop wraps do not use Velcro; instead, they stick to themselves with a strong bond, are made from recycled materials and C-algae, and have a carbon-neutral manufacturing process.

Why does the speaker prefer Audio as a music source for their videos?

Audio offers high-quality music for YouTube videos and short films at an affordable price, with tools like stem track isolation and AI-powered song matching.

What are the improvements the speaker noticed in the Aputure MC Pro lights?

The Aputure MC Pro lights are significantly brighter, have improved build quality, and are weather-resistant with an IP65 rating.

What are the Saturn anamorphic lenses' unique features that surprised the speaker?

The Saturn anamorphic lenses are small, light, and have a natural flare that the speaker found to be a pleasant surprise compared to other anamorphic lenses.

How does the FeiyuTech TreeRoot tripod compare to the FlowTech tripod according to the speaker?

The FeiyuTech TreeRoot tripod is a lightweight, carbon fiber tripod with a quick locking system and a good head for its size, offering a more affordable alternative to the FlowTech tripod.

What is the main advantage of the LensGo portable smoke machine for the speaker?

The LensGo portable smoke machine is compact, has an internal battery, and is easy to transport without the hassle of spilling liquid, making it convenient for occasional use.