saneproduction Offline Upload & Sell: Off
|
Hi All,
I am going to be working a very large project coming up in 3 weeks and I need to make some decisions about gear.
About me/my work
I am a Director/DP/Photographer with many years of professional shooting experience, especially working on commercial sets under continuous light sources such as HMI, Kino Flo, Natural Light and Tungsten for projects that need stills shot in parallel to the main digital cinema camera's video. Our typical camera packages are Canon C300, Arri Alexa/Amira or Black Magic Cinema Camera with speed booster and nikon mount depending on the shoot budget.
The lighting conditions lend themselves to primes and fast zooms as typical light levels are ISO 1600 1/125 and F2.8 and these are the conditions +/- 2 stops the 14 day shoot will be happening in. The scenes are dramatic vignettes that have some education components to them and most the shooting is just people in action. Note I don't have to shoot during the scenes as they play out for video, but instead will have dedicated 15-30 minute windows to shoot several times through the day where I can position the actors where I need them. Lighting will be the continuous lighting we have on set (full grip and lighting crew and truck with the sources listed above) and I don't plan on using strobes.
My Gear
I recently went through a period of around a year where I wasn't shooting regularly for work as my role has shifted more towards the EP/business side of things vs actually shooting (although I still direct quite a bit). As a result of this I sold of all my canon gear (5DIII, 24-70 2.8 II, 70-200 2.8 IS II, 50 1.2L, 24 1.4L II, 85 1.2L II and 200 1.8L) and shot the hassleblad 501 CM for serious work/play and an EOS with adapted lenses for everything else. Over that time I was seeing more need for quality set photography behind the scenes as well as just complimentary capture on set for various uses. In December I picked up a D750, 24-120 F4 VR, 58 1.4, 20 1.8 and 35 1.8 and it has been a real joy to shoot with both for personal and professional work. This leads us to my questions and ask for recommendations...
I need a second body and a 70-200 2.8 VR II at a minimum, but what is the best kit for me and how do I get the best price from a reputable seller?
I have done a lot of research on the D810 vs D750 and a few features are sticking out to me.
D810 - (vs adding another D750)
Cons
Different controls from my D750
Different media (would prefer all one type)
Huge files
Worse low light performance
More expensive
Pros
Huge files
Better AF spread
Better buffer
Side by side live view zoom
Quiet shutter
Better build
Options:
Buy a second D750 and a 70-200 2.8 VR II and possibly a 24-70 2.8
Buy a D810 and a 70-200 2.8 VR II
Buy a used D4 and a 70-200 2.8 VR II
Other options or things I am missing? I am considering battery grips, an 85 1.4, etc but I don't have an unlimited budget here.
I could also rent a backup body and just buy lenses or just rent everything.
Any advice is appreciated
Thanks!
M
|