A friend of mine let me borrow a Cinevate Simplis Dual camera support for a shoot I did a while ago. I presently don’t own a camera support system, and it was a pleasure to do some handheld shots with such a nicely made piece of gear. I was expecting the Cinevate to be really solid and versatile, and it was, but what surprised me was how compact it got when you folded it all up. With a nice HDSLR, a good external mic, the Simplis Dual and a backpack, you have a formidable little kit for capturing high-def cinema vérité.
I really want to buy one of these for my own kit, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. It’s tricky. I really love owning solid, pro-level gear, but sometimes I’m tempted by really affordable options like the Cowboy Studio Moviekit.
Hey Sam,
I really enjoy your Youtube reviews and I’m glad to have found the link to your blog. Thanks for the review comparing the Rode Videomic Pro with the NTG3. Although the Videomic doesn’t sound as good as the NTG-3, I wanted something small to use with my GH2 when I am out and about and it sounds good enough. Your video helped me make up my mind to finally get the Videomic Pro.
Just wondering if you’ve seen this trailer for a film shot entirely with a GH2:
https://vimeo.com/33025136
It looks beautiful. What I found really interesting was that the only shoulder mount he used was the $29 Cowboy Studios Shoulder Rig that everybody seems to rave about. You can see it in action in this behind the scenes video of how the film was made:
https://vimeo.com/33406122
It’s amazing what a hacked GH2 can do. Are you still using yours?