I admit it, I’m a Think Tank junkie! Here’s the problem I needed to solve. I needed four extra hands while working with aircraft and shooting the documentary. It’s my nature, when I hear someone needs a hand, I put down the camera and help. Putting down that gear though in a hangar full of grease and fuel, well, there’s the issue. Then there is a time when I need to shoot in a small space and have the flexibility of pulling out a flash or change lenses. No space for a camera bag, an assistant let alone the time waiting. I tried putting a single case on my pants belt but when I needed to drop it quickly, well there went my pants. That’s when I remembered the Think Tank Belt system!
The belt system works like a charm in this one application (I don’t use it otherwise) providing protection and quick access to the limited gear I carry. I have the Lens Changer 35 or 50, Slim Changer and Flash Mob (not shown) on the Thin Skin Belt (there are a ton of different pockets/pouches which switch out in a snap!). I have all the cases except the Slim Changer tucked behind my back so when I go through small cabin doors, the gear is not only protected but I can skinny through. All of these cases have their own built-in raincoat and extra pockets. The best thing is when I need to take it off and drop it to work, one click it’s all off and safe. It’s such a simple solution to a small problem, but for me, it’s not only a piece of mind but enables the photography to carry on!
“How are you getting your gear around, today? That’s a darn good question! Literally, today I’m flying to a commercial shoot, so I’m going light and complete which is my preferred method. What you see here is the Think Tank Advantage Plus packed with:
The cleaning cloths are over all bodies. There are there to clean the viewfinder and the LCD after each use. My system changes a little from time to time. When I first got the Advantage plus in Dec 2017, it was packed as you see in the video. Things change :-)
The My Passport Wireless SSD is a wireless storage solution that is pretty darn cool! Cutting to the chase, ya, it’s fast! What makes this storage system unique is it’s both SSD and wireless. Why would you want this? Let’s say you have to go light cause you’re shooting with the Z6 System, really light with tight space. You could use the WD 1TB or 2TB (my recommended size) Wireless MyPassport along with an iPad Pro and easily handle all your photo uploads, finishing and sending. The Wireless MyPassport has a built-in SD reader that with the My Cloud WD app, you can do all your normal work with just these two devises. Now is it fast? Here are its specs:
WD My Passport Wireless SSD Specs
Storage Capacity 2TB, 1TB, 500GB & 250GB
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A Port
1 x USB 2.0 Micro-B Port
1 x SD Card Slot
Built-In 802.11ac Wi-Fi Connectivity
Dual-Band Wireless Support
Up to 10 Hour Battery Life
Up to 1.5A Power Output
My Cloud Mobile App Support
Password Protect Important Files
but whether hardwire or wireless, it does fly, way faster than I thought it would be for sure. At the same time, they are rugged! They are about twice the size of the normal 1/2TB drive but with their built-in power, reader and wireless and ability to be dropped (which I’ve done on purpose from five feet a dozen times now), they take a lickin and keep on tickin! I will say they are a specialty drive for sure and their price reflects that but in the field, rugged, fast drive, they are matched by none!
A number of folks have emailed asking me to talk a little about the more esoteric gear we use in filming our documentary, NormandyBound.com. Brent and I gathered some of it up on a rainy afternoon and shot this little video. Now the funny thing about some of our gear, we have to almost fight the guys who are working on “Hit or Miss” so we can use it for filming. One example is the Axler PSR-44 Shooting Riser. Now when Brent said he needed this, I truly had my doubts. This 49lbs riser holds 400lbs and is freakin stable! We all love it!
All of this gear is not what your normal still shooter would have. I wanted to answer a bunch of emails in one email and have a little fun talking about it. Enjoy!
The skies were gray, the plane is gray so I instantly and quickly thought B&W. A WWI French fighter, the Nieuport 17 on the grass with those clouds quickly caught my eye. I grabbed the Z6 / 105f1.4 (@f1.4), got down slightly and went click. Since I have access to this aircraft, it’s a theme I plan on working on. I think there is a stronger image to be crafted.
I just received the new Oben CTT-1000 Carbon Fiber Tabletop Tripod and I love it! This will sound odd (but I am odd), but it’s the cutest photographic tool I’ve ever seen! Besides that, it is just incredibly well thought out, really. Here are the specs:
Load Capacity: 11 lb
Maximum Height: 15.5″
Minimum Height: 4.2″
Folded Length: 10.4″
Leg Sections: 3
Weight: 0.98 lb
3-Section Extender Adds 12″ in Height
Arca-Type Compatible Ball Head
Independent Pan and Ball lock
Includes Quick Release Plate
This list leaves out a WHOLE bunch of great features. The CTT-1000 legs have multi-stages with the last one permitting you to go completely flat. What you see here is the tripod fully erected (but legs not extended) and in this position, it can easily hold solidly the Z7 / Z24-70 and up to 70-200f4. If you open up the tripod to the next notch, it holds solidly the D5 / 70-200f2.8! Next cool feature is if you take the rubber leg tips off, you have metal spikes! Next, the head that comes with the CTT-1000 is a very sweet design able to hold up to what I’ve described. What’s nice about it is that you can go vertical with the head and the locking knob as a bubble level built-in. Did you notice, it’s carbon fiber and the leg locks are aluminum! It comes with a three-section “center” column which I personally wouldn’t use on the CT-1000 but I WILL use. It attaches with the 1/4 20 and can attach to many of our video brackets to hold the monitor better than anything else I’ve found. Weighing less than a pound and able to hold up to 11lbs, This is simply a cool new tool to add to the bag.
