SONY a6400 Camera Rig (to rig or not to rig?)

I have had the Sony a6400 for about 18 months now and I really enjoy this camera. I have been really impressed with the photo and video quality of this compact mirrorless camera. The camera itself is awesome but to do some of the shoot that I want to be able to do and to do some freelance shoots I quickly discovered that I needed to add some accessories to this camera. So it was time to RIG up the camera. I actually enjoy the process of building a camera rig, although I do not enjoy the costs! I built a rig that would work for me when I was doing larger shoots, but for my own personal videos I enjoy a smaller set up. So that is what this videos is all about, should we rig up our cameras or is a simple setup better?
Thanks for watching.
Dave
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Twitter: @ItsDaveDavies
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The gear I use, and try not to ruin.
Cameras
DJI Pocket 2
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Freewell ND Filters for the Pocket 2
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Sony a6400
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Sony a6600
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Lens
Sigma Lens
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Sony Lens
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DJI Osmo Action
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Drones
DJI Mini 2
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DJI Air S2
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Freewell ND Filters for Drones
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Gimbal
Ronin SC
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Ronin SC2
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[@DavidDavies]

So how do you like to setup your camera rig? Do you like making a big rig with a bunch of accessories or do you like a more simple camera setup?

[@KDHildreth]

The problem with using an external monitor on the a6400 is you lose face-tracking when shooting 4k which IMO is a big negative as the face tracking is really good, you can shoot 1080p but the quality of the 4k over the 1080p is significant especially if you are editing in 1080p and downscaling the footage in software (the downscaled 4k is night and day better than the native 1080p)

[@namaste6101]

This video was so informative and funny. Thank you so much!!

[@gregfyn]

Great pro and con video. We do many types of filming and streaming and opted to buy two a6400s because sometimes we have a 2 camera set-up. We have one we leave rigged up mostly for tripod use and the other unrigged so it's easier to use with our gimbal or slider.

[@DavidDavies]

Nice that sounds like a good idea with the a6400.

[@woeliemedia3691]

Thanks for another good explenation. Im interested in the a6400 to upgrade my main camera from DJI pocket 2 and use that one for B-roll

[@DavidDavies]

Thanks, the a6400 works really well with the pocket 2. Good luck with the upgrade

[@nunoandradebluesdrive]

rigg....always look cool.

[@EJGentleman]

Great explanation. If you break it down - this applies to MANY mirrorless cameras being used for video rigs.

[@DavidDavies]

Thanks EJ, you are correct it can work for mirrorless or even DSLR cameras.

[@micheleolla2645]

Great video and i can notice the quality or your skills, good job. I got a a6500 myself though still in learning curve process for videography (A or B roll doesn't matter). Also i am gearing up according to family budget (like yourself mentioned ahahahah)

[@DavidDavies]

Thanks Michele, the 6500 is a great camera, I almost purchased that camera, then out of nowhere they released the 6400.

[@SHS_Productions]

This guy... lol. I love it. Good info and cracked me up. Thank you.

[@Jimmyageek]

Great

[@MarkLangner34]

Is that considered a matte box on the lens ?

[@benknight2826]

What lens hood are you using? Thanks.

[@thomastarpey9328]

What kinda of matte box is that

[@professionalpotato4764]

I used Sony a6600, a7S2, A7iii at work for a while, but hated the 8 bit codecs. How do you manage working S-log in 8 bit? It never worked for me, even with perfect white balance, X-rite cards to match colour in post. There's always something wrong with magenta in Sony cameras. I like the E-mount versatility, and simple upgrade path though, hopefully Sony will release 10 bit cameras soon. A7S3 is way out of budget unfortunately.

[@DavidDavies]

I hear you, I am not a big fan of 8 bit, the cameras I use for work are professional cinema cameras and normally I shoot in Slog 3 and they are great to colour. For my own personal stuff I like using the Sony a6400 but I know it's limitations. I too am hoping to get the A7s3 at some point, but it is much more expensive.

[@professionalpotato4764]

@@DavidDavies It's amazing how much you got out of the 8 bit though. I have a question, when you're colour correcting the footage, do you use x-rite cards? And if you do, will you try to match the colour chips if it means something in the scene will change colours, or do you try to find a balance by maintaining the original colours and getting the chips close to the vectorscopes?

[@matthewphillips5483]

The only way to get good color is to make your own LUT for your setup using vectorscopes (like in Davinci Resolve). The 8-bit has nothing to do with color trueness. You can have 10-bit that still has inaccurate color shifts.

[@professionalpotato4764]

@@matthewphillips5483 It's not about colour accuracy. It's that 8 bit can't even survive basic calibration according to x-rite cards and vectorscopes. A LUT wouldn't solve anything. Things often look fine due to KZbin compression but on the computer the amount of artefacts is insane.

[@MorozoVladislaw]

@@professionalpotato4764 overexpose +1.7

[@sethv.3529]

wait so how much was it?

[@nurulazhar8462]

Sir what lense do u recommend for vlog for a6400 with oss I got 6400 with sigma 16 but the thing is its too shaky while I still save money for buying a gimbal. I want to start a new yt channel here

[@DavidDavies]

Hey Nurul, yes the 16mm is a great wide lens for the a6400 put you are correct, without any ibis or oss on the lens it can be hard to vlog with it. I have had luck with the 18-105mm f4, it has OSS which helps a bit. It helps to shoot the widest. I still find it a bit shaky if you are walking and talking at the same time. I have gotten better with practice. Good luck.

[@nurulazhar8462]

@@DavidDavies thank u very much

[@fightinthecommentsection]

Have you considered adding v mount battery pack?

[@DavidDavies]

Ya I have considered the v mount, I have several v mount batteries. My big issues is the weight and size. I love keeping my rig small but those v mount batteries will power things forever!

[@gwm-btdbattlesagar.ioandmo9988]

may i ask what lens that is in the thumbnail?

[@DavidDavies]

That lens is the Sony 18-200mm power zoom. It's not a popular lens but I love it.

[@gwm-btdbattlesagar.ioandmo9988]

@@DavidDavies thank you!

[@dominicgray2187]

Is your b roll footage handheld?

[@dominicgray2187]

Specifically the clips around 4:30

[@DavidDavies]

For this video those shots were on the Ronin SC gimbal, I do shoot a lot of handheld, but for those shots I just got the gimbal so I was trying it out.

[@dominicgray2187]

@@DavidDavies okay gotcha! I was going to say I can’t get nearly that smooth in handheld haha. Great vid by the way!

[@DavidDavies]

@@dominicgray2187 ya I can't shoot handheld that smooth either!

[@dpixvid]

Seeing you work in broadcast I would guess your clients would tend to believe you. If not a rig separates you from a photographer instantly, gives you pro panache so to speak. I used to work in broadcast & when I shot mos with a big ENG cam I was treated as a pro in public(almost laughable). The stuff my producer could get people to say on camera??? You walk in with a minimal camera the public they routinely don’t see you as a pro. Good for discreet low profile shoot, but in an interview or corporate gig big difference. My take.

[@DavidDavies]

Ya I agree with you Daniel. I have also been on shoots where there has been a camera crew with such a huge setup, it takes them forever to setup then tear down. Sometimes it's great to have a small setup, get in, get the shots, and get out.

[@Lightredmedia]

kids are expensive