The Three Best Cameras for Convention Coverage
Whether you find yourself in one of the expansive convention centers in Long Beach, Los Angeles, or Anaheim, or in one of the gargantuan convention spaces in Las Vegas, the right gear is crucial to getting the best end product. You'll most likely find yourself focusing on a few staples of convention/trade shows, depending on the client. So what are the three best cameras we would recommend for filming conventions?
If you're shooting with an exhibitor/vendor who has a booth and reps there, you'll most likely be filming their booth, showing off how amazing and unique it is, spotlighting any new products and cool demonstrations they have, filming any special guests, and helping to create online marketing content. You'll no doubt be interviewing sales associates, managers, and various other company employees; you'll also be trying to get man-on-the-street style interviews and soundbites with attendees. With this kind of shoot, you're more likely to be able to have a "base of operations", so you don't have to be so run-and-gun with your gear. Here, I'd recommend the Canon C300 Mark II, you have the ability to shoot all the way up to true-4K, for a really beautiful, functional image. While carrying multiple lenses can be cumbersome, the quality of glass, functionality, and variety will really expand your creativity and range. This is an exceptional camera that provides versatility, functionality, and world-class imagery.
Let's say you find yourself shooting for a client that may be exhibiting, or maybe they're from a trade publication of sorts, and your mission is to get general coverage of the show, and to interview and showcase other companies that may be friends and associates. The name of the game at that point is: RUN AND GUN! You need to be mobile, light weight, and all encompassing. If you've ever been to Times Square, Disneyland in the summer, or any Starbucks when I'm running late to work, you'll have an idea of what it's like at shows such as CES, SEMA, and NAB. Despite science, you have less space to exist in than the area your mass occupies. So, add a camera and hopefully tripod to that, and... well... godspeed. Here, I'd recommend the trusty Sony PMW300. As long as you don't need to shoot 4K, you'll get a great 1920x1080 image that'll look great online, and is easy to work with in post. The camera isn't heavy, it's menu is easy to navigate, and the best part, you have a zoom lens and servo. This camera does have a small plate that extends to give you a bit of a shoulder mount, but it's recommended to have a compact tripod or proper hand held rig.
Lastly: maybe you're a lone-wolf. Let's say you have a blog about something great, and Trade-Show X comes into town, and you just have to go check it out, and get some great video coverage. You don't want to lug around a big camera, you don't want to spend all your beer money on gear, and you really only need some highlights. Here, I have three, low-cost, light weight, compact options that'll do the trick. The Canon 5D Mark II or Sony a7S with a good zoom lens would do great for video and photos! You can also opt for the DJI Osmo which will give you a great, HD image, smooth moves, and won't get you chased out by grumpy exhibitors, because you'll look like every other attendee.
There you have it, the best of the best. If you have an upcoming shoot, reach out to the fellas over at f11 Rentals, and they'll get you set up with the perfect gear for your upcoming shoot. Or, if you'd prefer to have us take care of your Las Vegas video production or Long Beach video production, we're glad to help too!
DJI Universal Controller
FiveSix Productions employs the use of a variety of DJI tools, including the Ronin, the Inspire 1, and the Osmo. While we love them all, and appreciate all that they do to add to our production, we do have a suggestion for the wonderful folks at DJI:
To use the Osmo and the Inspire 1 areal drone, simply download and utilize the DJI app on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, easy enough; this is great for ease of use and access, but is a killer of phone batteries. How are we supposed to holler at all the sweet honeys while flying drones over the Delaware river, if our phone is quickly dying on the Inspire remote? (Real example.) We have what we believe is a great suggestion for a wonderful solution. DJI should develop and sell a phone sized device that exclusively works with DJI tools. The device would be about the size of an iPhone 6 or Galaxy S7, so the screen is nice and big, but not so large it can't fit in the provided holster. The device would be Bluetooth compatible, of course connect to the internet so as to download the latest updates, and would come factory ready to all the applications and software needed to run the parade of dope DJI products. Best of all, with only the task of running your DJI items, there can be plenty of space for a big, long-lasting battery, and it would run super fast because it has just one purpose in life. We can only speculate that if this device cost just a couple hundred bucks, they would sell like hotcakes!
We're not software or hardware manufacturers, and simply are thinking out loud, but hey, dreaming is what dreamers to best. So, DJI folks, there's just one of our many dreams that we wanted to share with you as if we were sitting on your therapy couch. Thanks, friends.