New vlogging gear
I’ve been really pleased with my vlogging gear. Learning how to produce videos for YouTube has been a whole new challenge and after briefly flirting with using my iPhone I took the plunge and upgraded my video game by buying the Nikon Z30 the day it was released. It’s been the perfect companion. It’s held my hand and guided me on my journey. Like a great friend it’s never let me down, it’s always been there for me and we’ve had a great time together. I’m going to do a final thoughts video about it soon though because it’s about to be replaced.
But why is it leaving my camera bag?
A good question, with a good answer (I hope). First of all, why should you buy the Z30 if you are vlogging?
Well, it’s small and compact, it weighs next to nothing.
It has a range of lens of different focal lengths.
It’s easy to use, especially if you are a Nikon user (which I am).
It’s amazingly robust for something so small, light and packed with electronics. Trust me I know. I’ve watched or heard it get blown down on a tripod at full extension three times. I’ve also dropped it half way up its body in freezing cold water for a few seconds, with the socket covers open and it’s continued to work flawlessly.
It produces excellent results, both for video and stills (it’s been the back up to my Z7ii). I’ve used it mostly for video but I shoot the thumbnails on it.
So why have I replaced it and what with?
Well actually the ‘what’ came first which then made me think about the why. I didn’t really know that it needed replacing but it has. It’s been replaced by the DJI Osmo Pocket 3
And it’s all Garry Sugdens fault!
I’ve just come back from the North Yorkshire coast where I spent 3 days photographing in Garry’s company. And he had one. All well and good, I carry a Pocket 2 with mic and it works ok. I’m not a big fan of arm out vlogs, I like to mix it up a bit, which I hope you enjoy when watching my videos but I have to admit that it’s useful having something to hand when walking to a location in the dark to set up the vlog and introduce the audience to your location. However, the Pocket 2 is not great at this because the sensor is so small and I often find myself grabbing the second tripod and pulling the Z30 out of the bag for these occasions. Which slows you down and doesn’t produce great quality footage either. I’ve worked around it. I’ve used noise reduction, I’ve waited until there was better light or I’ve accepted that the quality wasn’t the best but the story will carry it through… Until I saw the Pocket 3. The bigger sensor, the newer technology, the quality the thing produces is amazing!
At the moment the quality from the Pocket 2 in any kind of light is only ok. I find the screen really difficult to see, I haven’t learned the various swipes and settings and it’s been a back up video camera with occasional use if I’m tired. The main man has been the Z30.
But using the Pocket 3, and watching Garry use it has got me looking at it jealously. It has a bigger sensor, it has a bigger screen, it’s easier to use, it feels really well made and sturdy. I’m in love. There are two things that I hate about using the Z30. First of all I carry two tripods, one for the Z30 and one for the Z7ii. Yes the Z30 has stabilisation but it’s awkward holding it out at arms length and keeping the horizon level. So I carry ‘Billy’ who it has to be said has seen better days and will soon need replacing. The other thing I hate is the Z30’s face tracking in low light or sometimes in good light. I often turn to look at the scene in front of me and when that happens the Z30 refocuses…and then again, and then again. Often I don’t notice this until I get into my editing software, which is too late. I then have to either discard the footage or add some b -roll over the sound. The battery life is also poor so I’m reluctant to watch it all back in the field.
The Pocket 3 smashes all three problems. The gimbal ensures that the horizon always stays level allowing me to use it more often hand held. I can fit an Arca-Swiss plate to the bottom and put it on the Z7ii tripod easily enough to get me that variety and I have a range of smaller, light tripods that I can use and carry. I don’t need to replace Billy or carry him.
I can control it, and see what it’s recording on my phone via an app perfect if I’m a little distance away.
And the focussing! Once Face track is locked on it doesn’t let go, even in low light. Low light that the Z30 struggles with
The battery life also, with the battery grip, will also last me two vlogs at least and I can charge it with a USB charger (which admittedly I can with the Z30 at a push).
And the quality is fantastic with the 1 inch sensor and it does time lapses and motion lapses and follows me when I walk and I can move myself to the side of the frame to show you the background and it still tracks me. And did I mention I won’t need to carry another tripod? And it shoots in D-log and facetracks at 60fps.
It’s perfect, I think.
It arrives on Monday and I’ll use it in Scotland so watch out for the footage. Unlike Thomas I’ve found DJI gear to be ultra reliable. Let’s hope it’s the start of a new romance.
The Z30 will stay in the car just in case I ever break the Z7ii when I’m out on a shoot. Enjoy the rest old friend.
