Camera RIG for interviews

[xaviergut]

I have to conduct a series of interviews; this is my interview rig:

Camera A:
-Lumix S5 ii x
-Lumix 85mm f1.8

• samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
• ƒ/1.7
• 6mm
• 1/61s
• ISO 250

This camera will focus on the main person of the interview.

Extra gear:
SmallRig cage blackmamba
SmallRig V Mount Battery VB99.
SmallRig V Mount Battery Plate.
Kondor Blue Dummy Battery with D-Tap cable
Atomos Shinobi ii, 5" Camera Monitor
Rode wireless pro microphone
SmallRig Top Handle
Samsung SSD T7 Shield 2TB
SmallRig SSD Holder
Manfrotto befree tripod
SmallRig Video Head Mount with Arca Swiss Plate

The VB99 battery will be used for the camera using the Kondor Blue Dummy Battery connected with the D-Tap input and will be used for the Atomos Shinobi ii monitor with a USB-C cable.

Camera B:

-Lumix S1Rii
-Lumix 24mm f/1.8

This camera is designed for a wide, more contextual shot. That's why I'm going to use a lens with a wider angle of view.

Extra gear:
SmallRig cage
Neewer DMW-BLK22 Dummy Battery
SmallRig NP-F Battery
SmallRig NP-F Battery Adapter Plate
Lexar Professional Go SSD
Rode Shotgun microphone
Manfrotto tripod

Unfortunately the Lumix S5iix does not have Bluetooth support for Timecode, so the Atomos UltraSync BLUE can not be used to synchronize the image from the two cameras (another reason to get the Lumix S1iie). I want to use the Time Code of the Rode Wireless Pro, but I'll have to do the waveform synchronization with DaVinci Resolve Studio:

On the S5IIX the Rode's Timecode (LTC Audio) will allow to automatically sync high-quality audio from the transmitters to the video. The S1Rii will record the reference audio with the internal microphone. In editing the idea is to sync the Rode's internal audio with the S5IIX video using the Timecode. And after that to align the S1RII video using the Waveform against the already synced audio from the first camera.

 

[Nevyn72]

Really nice rig Xavier!

 

[CharlesH]

Really nice rig Xavier!

I agree, this looks like quite a good rig for interviews.

My only question is, I have yet to find a suitable Arca Swiss mount and plate that works well with a video tripod. Anything I've tried I have not liked. Maybe hated is a better word. Xavier, have you had better luck with Arca Swiss and video?

 

[xaviergut]

I agree, this looks like quite a good rig for interviews.

My only question is, I have yet to find a suitable Arca Swiss mount and plate that works well with a video tripod. Anything I've tried I have not liked. Maybe hated is a better word. Xavier, have you had better luck with Arca Swiss and video?

Hi Charles, I bought this SmallRig Video Head Mount Plate with Leveling Base CH20-4170 with an Arca-Swiss plate because it can be used with the SmallRig cage for the S5II and S1Rii. To be honest, it's not the best video head mount in terms of vertical and horizontal movement, but for interviews where the camera is fixed, it was a fairly inexpensive (€68) and compact solution.

 

[CharlesH]

I bought this SmallRig Video Head Mount Plate with Leveling Base CH20-4170 with an Arca-Swiss plate ...

I tried that and another one or two. I agree this can work if the camera is fixed.

 

[xaviergut]

Regarding the lighting, the series of interviews will take place in an artist's studio, and I will position the interviewee parallel to and near a large window with white roller shades that faces north, so that changes in light intensity, whether sunlight or cloudy, will not affect the camera's exposure or white balance temperature. For fill light, I have a LED softbox that I will placeabout two meters high and at a 45-degree angle on the other side of the interviewee.

Regarding exposure, for video I always use the 180° rule, so I'll use the lowest possible ISO, and on the main camera (S5iix) I'll use an aperture of approximately f/2.5 on the Lumix 85mm f/1.8. I'll bring an ND filter in case there's more light than expected; the interview is at midday, but I've already done some tests and I don't think it will be necessary. For the secondary camera, I'll use a smaller aperture to get more context in focus with the Lumix 24mm or 35mm f/1.8 because I don't want the ISO on the S1RII to get too high. For both cameras, I'm not going to bother with a V-Log profile and I'll just use the Lumix's Natural profile, which I love. Rec Quality will be MOV 4k 25p 422/10-L and for focusing I use AFC human Eye/Face detection in area "1-Area" in both cameras.
Maybe I will bring my wife's S5ii just in case... but what really worries me is the audio.

 

[CharlesH]

... but what really worries me is the audio.

The only question I see with sound is whether you will get good sound sync using the internal mic on the S1RII. This should work okay but I would test it. Who is your customer? If it is something critical, I might use ProRes.

 

[xaviergut]

The only question I see with sound is whether you will get good sound sync using the internal mic on the S1RII. This should work okay but I would test it. Who is your customer? If it is something critical, I might use ProRes.

My customer is an artist. We want to make a documentary. I have not used yet the waveform synchronization with DaVinci Resolve Studio, this is what worries me. But I have complete confidence in the Rode wireless pro microphone.

 

[Nevyn72]

My customer is an artist. We want to make a documentary. I have not used yet the waveform synchronization with DaVinci Resolve Studio, this is what worries me. But I have complete confidence in the Rode wireless pro microphone.

I never had issues with waveform synchronization with good audio. Works as a charm

 

[CharlesH]

I never had issues with waveform synchronization with good audio. Works as a charm

I agree, if you have okay audio from both cameras waveform sync with DaVinci Resolve works really well.

 

[xaviergut]

Thank you both, John and Charles, so much, that gives me a lot of peace of mind