State of the gear - 2023
It’s been 4 years since I’ve last gone through the gear I use to film a wedding and there have been many changes. So here is 2023’s…
State of the Gear
A-Cam and B-Cam
One of the biggest changes I have made to my setup is to change up how I film weddings. To speed things up on the wedding day I have downsized all my gear to sit into one wheel case.
To facilitate this, the big chinky boy C100s had to go, in their place, a pair of Canon R6s.
Filming with a Canon R6 offers a range of benefits for capturing exceptional wedding videos. The R6's advanced autofocus system ensures sharp and precise focus, even in challenging lighting conditions, allowing you to confidently capture every moment. Its high-resolution sensor and impressive low-light performance result in stunning image quality, bringing out the details and colors of your wedding day. Additionally, the R6's built-in image stabilisation and versatile lens options provide smooth and steady footage. All in all I’ve had a great experience for far shooting with the r6
Lenses
Despite the R6 using the newer RF mount system, I still mainly use my range of canon EF lenses on a wedding day:
24-70mm F2.8L - This is the lens that I use on my main camera for the majority of the day. It doesn’t have the range that my old bestie, the 24-105 had, but the extra stops of aperture make all the difference in challenging lighting conditions.
24-105mm F4L - This lens has been relegated to second spot after getting the 2.8. It spends most of the day in the camera bag, but comes out for the ceremony. This would usually be the lens i’m suing to Cath the bride walking up the aisle
70-200mm F2.8L - Absolute beast of a lens, creates a beautiful image but too heavy to use handheld. I mostly use this on the tripod during a ceremony or the speeches.
I have 2 lenses in the RF range that both have the same job, gimbal camera. I have a 16mm and 50mm. Unfortunately I find the 16 to wide and the 50 too zoomed…looks like I need to start saving for the 35mm
Drone
Unfortunately my Mavic Air 2 flew into the woods one day and never came back. Fortunately that means upgrade! This time I have gone for a DJI Magic Air 2S.
This drone is much more capable than is older sibling, offering better stability in flight, better video resolution and an array of self flying modes.
Audio
I currently have 3 main audio recorders that I use for filming weddings:
Tx-650 Small but deadly
Sony TX650 & Tx660
The TX650 and its newer brother the TX660 has somewhat of a reputation among wedding videographers as being amazing audio recorders. They were actually designed as a business tool for recording audio memos, but its small size, large capacity and long-life battery make it incredibly useful in a fast moving production environment, like a wedding. I spend the whole wedding day with the TX in my pocket, ready to be deployed at a moment notice.
Now, the other wedding videographer may kick me out of the club for speaking this heresy, but…I don’t really like the TX-650.
It’s incredibly convenient to use, but for me the quality of the recording is king, and for me the TX just doesn’t have it. Its small mic and low sample rate leaves the audio sounding thin and tinny, needing lots of post processing the sound good. I use it at every wedding, but alway as a backup.
Zoom H1n
The real star of the show for me is the Zoom H1n. Now the zoom is a much more chonky-boy than the TX, but that extra size gives you a much higher quality of audio.
The pair of stereo condenser mics on the top mean that I can plonk it down on a lectern or altar and get a great stereo recording. Pairing it with a rode smart-lav mic means I can stick it on a groom or celebrant, and pairing it with some electrical tape means I can attach it to a wireless mic(which looks a bit gacky, but sounds great)
I have a pair of these as well as the older H1, that come out for every wedding.
Zoom H1n, not as small, but much more deadly
Zoom F2
Finally, the game changer for me. The big audio gun in my arsenal the Zoom F2.
As a wedding videographer, it's important for me to capture high-quality sound in a discreet and efficient manner. The compact size of the Zoom F2 allows for easy placement without being obtrusive during the ceremony and reception. Its professional-grade microphones and high-quality preamps ensure that every word, vow, and speech is captured with exceptional clarity and accuracy. What sets the F2 apart is its 32-bit float recording capability, which provides an incredible dynamic range and eliminates the need to worry about audio levels during unpredictable moments.
I currently use three Zoom F2 recorders, but given their exceptional performance, I am considering expanding my arsenal to include more units. The reliability, versatility, and outstanding performance of the Zoom F2 make it an indispensable tool in capturing the perfect audio for my wedding videos.