Blackmagic Forum

Question says it all

I'm going to buy BMCC MFT, But I'm really on tight budget, Hence I want to know BEST way to outfit my BMCC MFT as low as possible which should give decent quality. I'm having idea to do a feature with this purchase. Thanks.

There are already many many threads that cover your question.

Take some time reading through the form and you'll find many many options and choices.

The more you know the better your choices will be.

What's your budget (range)?

What will you primarily be shooting?

Of course, there is no 1 "best" way to configure a camera system.

Even the most basic configuration may include many, many personal preferences and choices. But if you tell us your budget & primary application, we might be able offer some suggestions.

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Peter J. DeCrescenzo wrote:What's your budget (range)?

What will you primarily be shooting?

Of course, there is no 1 "best" way to configure a camera system.

Even the most basic configuration may include many, many personal preferences and choices. But if you tell us your budget & primary application, we might be able offer some suggestions.

-

Thanks, I want to shoot independent feature film for theatrical release and presently my budget is around $5k including camera.

Luctantem wrote:Question says it all

I'm going to buy BMCC MFT, But I'm really on tight budget, Hence I want to know BEST way to outfit my BMCC MFT as low as possible which should give decent quality. I'm having idea to do a feature with this purchase. Thanks.

MFT Version
$2195 – BMCC plus extended battery (from Adorama)
$799 – Sigma: 18-35mm 1.8f
$425 – MFT to Nikon Speedbooster
$179 – 240gb SanDisk x 2

$3,777 total

IANDUNN wrote:

Luctantem wrote:Question says it all

I'm going to buy BMCC MFT, But I'm really on tight budget, Hence I want to know BEST way to outfit my BMCC MFT as low as possible which should give decent quality. I'm having idea to do a feature with this purchase. Thanks.

MFT Version
$2195 – BMCC plus extended battery (from Adorama)
$799 – Sigma: 18-35mm 1.8f
$425 – MFT to Nikon Speedbooster
$179 – 240gb SanDisk x 2

$3,777 total

Sticks will drive that over $5k but would be worth it.

Might consider renting primes instead of buying lenses?

Just curious as to why people refer to the speedbooster as a MFT to nikon, when (if i'm not mistake, which I very well could be) it is actually a nikon to MFT mount, correct?

Ryan Jones wrote:Sticks will drive that over $5k but would be worth it.

Might consider renting primes instead of buying lenses?

Sticks u mean fluidhead plus tripod?

Luctantem wrote:

Ryan Jones wrote:Sticks will drive that over $5k but would be worth it.

Might consider renting primes instead of buying lenses?

Sticks u mean fluidhead plus tripod?

Yep, fluid head makes a huge difference. Recommend looking at the Vinten Vision kits as a budget starting point, awesome gear, balances easily and cheaper than many other pro options.

i would rather buy good lenses.
me also in a similar situation building up from ground "zero". Bought some M42 Lenses on Ebay to get an idea of the whole thing etc...

i also got me a cage for the camera cause its defently need one. first case solved. than tripod. battery etc etc...i would say make some money with it save some elsewhere and get going step by step.
so you can add just what you will need and not extra cash flows in failbuys.
cheers

It would be stupid to blow your budget on lenses - you can shoot a full length movie with just one lens - many great DOP's have done just that. I have the Sigma 18-35 and yes, its a great lens but I film docs and use zooms quite a lot. If I shot a feature fiction film I would use primes - say two Rokinon Cine primes and stay under $800 for the entire lenses.

Beside the camera itself quality of the movie will improve with two items - a rock solid tripod and good audio. You need the best tripod you can afford - this will be used for many years.... a budget tripod is min. $800 with a fluid head that is actually useable. Miller is launching a new budget tripod - Miller Air. Or look at Libecs for that budget.
You need a good all round mic set up and recorder - unless you hire an audio guy with his own gear which is what I would do for a 'one-off' feature. A Rode NTG-3 and say a Tascam DR60 recorder would be good and that is $1,000.

So.... camera, lenses, tripod and audio.... $4,600. Just enough left for a SSD. It's very tight!!

I will add one more thing....

Do not get caught up in buying a cage and hanging expensive stuff all over the place like a christmas tree. Not much of that will add quality to a movie. It just looks good. I know a few Red Epic shooters with $100k budgets that do not even own a follow focus or matte box or even rigs!

Stick with what you NEED... for example its pointless using a good lens with a $20 ND filter. So you need to budget for some essential items like good ND's - reliable SSD's etc.
Same with Audio... a good mic is useless if you are outside and use a cheap wind-muffler or do not use a good boom-pole to get the mic where you need it... next to the actor.

With a 5k budget? Rent, and beg and plead for a discount.

Rigging the BMCC to be reliable on feature film set at 5k is really pushing it IMO. As a Writer/Director, I won't give you advice on what rig/set up to get, cause that's not my area of strength, but my biggest advice is to pursue the avenue which can most efficiently use a 5k budget.

emptymind wrote:Do not get caught up in buying a cage and hanging expensive stuff all over the place like a christmas tree. Not much of that will add quality to a movie. It just looks good. I know a few Red Epic shooters with $100k budgets that do not even own a follow focus or matte box or even rigs!

Yes I think I can put matte box aside, I can manage without it with little intelligence and reg follow focus I cant understand, u need to educate me on that and what u meant by rigs here.

emptymind wrote:It would be stupid to blow your budget on lenses - you can shoot a full length movie with just one lens - many great DOP's have done just that. I have the Sigma 18-35 and yes, its a great lens but I film docs and use zooms quite a lot. If I shot a feature fiction film I would use primes - say two Rokinon Cine primes and stay under $800 for the entire lenses.

Beside the camera itself quality of the movie will improve with two items - a rock solid tripod and good audio. You need the best tripod you can afford

That's very inspiring to read, can you tell me two lens that would cover most of shoot and yes I got to know how a rock solid tripod would bring in great difference, I will definitely look up on that and wouldn't cage be very important and play crucial role safety wise in an accidental fall or drop?

Thanks a lot empty mind.

If you need some more focal length versatility, try eBay for some second hand m42 manual lenses, could save you a lot of money.