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Carrying video gear while skiing

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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
So i am purchasing a xl2 this winter for filming and i am wondering if any of you guys know what methods filmers use to carry big heavy expensive camera gear.  i have a dakine sequence pack for my dslr stuff, and it will fit a xl1 or smaller but the xl2 is too big.  just wondering if any of you know what seems to work well to transport big video or film cameras while skiing and that protects them from the elements and impact. i would like to just do a pelican case strapped to an external frame, but that would be huge, super heavy, etc. thanks
Oct 5 2007 9:12PM
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fivefourtwo
Posts: 358 - Karma: 122
I purchased a DVX this summer aswell and am wondering what would be a good option, bump!
Oct 6 2007 12:02AM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,030
most of my friends just get an aluminum hard case and fit it into a larger backpack or have 1 person dedicated to filming so he carrys the hard case with them all the time...
Oct 6 2007 12:20AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Check Kata or Lowepro. They both make a pretty huge pack; I don't remember the names exactly.
Oct 6 2007 12:28AM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
thanks guys. last winter i just used my dakine pack with the xl1s and was just fine, but the xl2 is bigger. i think i will look into lowpro or similar.
Oct 6 2007 10:05PM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,633
Right now I have a gl-2, aka much small there than the xl-2. So anyway I have this huge back pack camera bag that works magnificent. If there is anyway that you can fit your camera into a normal back pack with egg shell foam, that will be the easiest. I plan on making a smaller back pack camera bag just so I don't have the hassle of carrying the huge bag around. Just an idea.
Oct 6 2007 11:44PM
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AdrenalineGarage
Posts: 261 - Karma: 244
I tried putting my camera in a case that fit inside my backpack, but I found it really inconvenient.  I would recommend something like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/316876-REG/Kata_KT_BP_502_BP_502_Camcorder_Backpack.html
Oct 7 2007 3:08PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
nice i like that! i wonder if there is a way to stap skis to it and carry a shovel and a probe.  i do a lot of bootpackin, and skinning into filming locations so being able to carry other shit is essential.  
Oct 7 2007 5:17PM
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doublexl
Posts: 8407 - Karma: 27
gl-2z are such an awesome camera.
Oct 7 2007 6:18PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
i wish the gl2 offered 24p and 30p frame rates. if it did i would buy that instead of the xl-2.
Oct 7 2007 7:01PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273

You could just get the DVX; its better than the XL2 and smaller.

Oct 7 2007 7:40PM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,633
Yes it is, I also wish the gl-2 could shoot in 24fps
Oct 7 2007 9:01PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
i was going to go with the dvx, however the dvx's sensor i 4x3 and i want to do all my work in 16 x 9.  granted the dvx offers a 16 by 9 mode, but this is cropping out a large portion of the sensor, therefore losing lots of information.  or it stretches the image.  since the xl 2 sensor is true 16 x 9 i think this fits my desired uses better. also i can get a wide angle zoom lens for the xl 2 whereas the dvx i have to put an adapter on the fixed lens, which i would think blocks a lot of light and probably softens the image, this is speculation, not facts that i know, but i do think a true wide angle would be better than a screw on deal
Oct 7 2007 9:06PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
^THat is true. The fixed lens is the one flaw I see in the DVX as an SD consumer camera.


But there is a bigger variety of lenses for the DVX, not just one Canon wide angle.

but then again, the XL2 can sport SLR lenses without a fancy schmancy 35mm DOF adapter!



I wasnt aware the XL2 could shoot 16x9, that sounds sick.
Oct 7 2007 10:45PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
ya spending 1000 bucks to put 35 mm lenses on a dvx seems a little much. shit for that and a couple 35 mm lenses you are almost in hvx territory.  the only problem with sticking 35mm lens with canons adaptor on the xl2 is the 7x factor. so a 50 prime is like 350 in 35mm. i have been driving myself nuts trying to decide between the xl2 and the dvx, so today i finally just ordered the damn xl2. i was going to go hdv, but i figured i can make sd footage look better than hdv, just cuz of all the wierd interlacing and whatnot with hdv. 
Oct 7 2007 11:22PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
ya spending 1000 bucks to put 35 mm lenses on a dvx seems a little much. shit for that and a couple 35 mm lenses you are almost in hvx territory.  the only problem with sticking 35mm lens with canons adaptor on the xl2 is the 7x factor. so a 50 prime is like 350 in 35mm. i have been driving myself nuts trying to decide between the xl2 and the dvx, so today i finally just ordered the damn xl2. i was going to go hdv, but i figured i can make sd footage look better than hdv, just cuz of all the wierd interlacing and whatnot with hdv. 
Oct 7 2007 11:23PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I dont know man, the HVX is like, $7000 with a couple P2 cards? Im not sure exactly on the pricing, but a DVX with a Brevis setup and a couple lenses should be around $5000, or at least thats about how much my stuff costs.
Oct 8 2007 1:46AM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
i know, i was overstating a little bit. those damn p2 cards are spendy.  i would really like to be on a hvx within the next few years, but in the meantime i am going to shoot the xl2 and see what i can do.  i have a lot of hours on the xl1 and the gl2, so the xl2 should be a pretty smooth transition.
Oct 8 2007 2:11AM
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xnick11
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 171
XL2's are way to huge to carry around with you skiing.

You can get a sick DVX setup like DVX100B, MK2, 503 tripod head, some kind of sick bag to carry it all in.
Oct 8 2007 11:47AM
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PhilBenjamin
Posts: 348 - Karma: 10
Check Out the Kata HB 207. That's how I roll. Pretty decent bag, fits and skis way better than any Lowe Pros.
Oct 9 2007 10:09PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
or, you could grow some balls and hit the gym...
Oct 9 2007 10:29PM
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PhilBenjamin
Posts: 348 - Karma: 10
At one point my Lowe Pro weighted-in(sp) at 50+ Lbs . I had a magazine loaded 16mm, with the HVX, lightmeter, HVX Hard Drive, film cans. Shovel, Probe, etc. I had to ski retallack early Jan and i had only skied two days in the season. I'm sure you can make it up to the park with a XL2, let alone a DVX and a tripod....
Oct 10 2007 10:26AM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
^ i am not filming in the park but, ya if you cant carry an xl2 skiing you are a pussy.  last winter i was carrying a xl1s, d200, several lens, tripod, skins, treckers, shovel, beacon, probe, and other misc. stuff.  the problem this year is that the xl2 is bigger than the xl1 so i need a new pack. i am not concerned with the weight, its just the size of the pack and how much it protects the camera.
Oct 10 2007 1:23PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
that was amazing. 
Personally, i just have a soft case that fits into my pack. I carry 3 lenses, a flash and my cam (its a dd50, so not too big). I trust throwing it down to friends off cliffs, it's fine. Just customize a softcase if you have the time, and maybe add a little bit of aluminum. if you are worrid about cold, get a hand warmer and wrap it in a little bit of material to keep the cam warm (however, this will promote fogging of lenses. )

if you use the hand warmer, make sure it's contained in some material, because those htings get wayyy hot if they are in a really contained space... hot enough to damag a cam.

Last year for our film cam, AJ had a large soft pack that was for the camera, but also had a place to hold a shovel, probe, etc. message 'Dakoulas'.
Oct 10 2007 7:21PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7821 - Karma: 21,843
hahaha I'm such a noob. I have a tiny Canon point and shoot that I put in my pocket and take videos and pictures with when I feel like it. I hate carrying heavy stuff around that makes it so you can't ski.
Oct 10 2007 8:03PM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
ya for sure. carrying my d200 and lenses and flash is not an issue, its just an xl2 in addition to that.  oh and i definitly would not recomend to anyone to use hand warmers to keep a camera warm.  if the camera goes from hot to cold to hot, etc. this causes condensation which is not good for the internals of a camera. especially when you get condensation then it freezes, and expands, ruining all sorts of stuff.  keeps a battery warm, out of the camera is a different story tho.
Oct 10 2007 8:39PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Why strap a heat pack to the camera? just let it gradually get cold and adjust to the outside temperature. It will be a bitch making it go from hot to cold by putting a hand warmer in your pack, plus it will mess up your camera more.

they run fine in the cold.
Oct 11 2007 11:47PM
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MLB
Posts: 4462 - Karma: 298
Two words......duct tape.
Oct 12 2007 12:20AM
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freeridinskier
Posts: 748 - Karma: 10
"keeping a battery...."

that makes more sense
Oct 12 2007 12:36AM
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eastAR5
Posts: 15084 - Karma: 730
ya 4 real...  most pro-consumer cameras are built stronger than you would think - my mini trecker / vx setup, which isnt especially protective has taken many bad hits over the last 5 years and never had any problems.  I've overshot to my face on follow cams deep in the flats,  crashed at high speeds into a fence,  had kids slam into me , had it piled on in car trunks, filmd in 0 degrees for hours.. Just dont let go of the handle, its like a mothers instinct doesnt matter if im  about to face into a patch of ice   ill make sure the camera doenst hit the ground. Lowepro or kata both make good products.



however, when my 100b arrives things will be very diffrent... not every camera can take abuse like a vx1

Oct 12 2007 1:45AM
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