Equipment needed to self film hunts.

Peplin Creek

5 year old buck +
Looking to maybe start self filming deer hunts. Recommendations wanted for a camera? 1080p or 4K under $1000. Must have accessories and anything else one would need to get started and have good enough equipment to make it enjoyable and worth the extra effort.
 
I guess it depends what your goals are. I use a cheap Sony handycam on a stabilizer bow mount. I just want good enough footage to show the guys back at camp after hunting, so definitely not studio quality for me!
 
Looking to maybe start self filming deer hunts. Recommendations wanted for a camera? 1080p or 4K under $1000. Must have accessories and anything else one would need to get started and have good enough equipment to make it enjoyable and worth the extra effort.

I have not filmed archery hunts in quite a while so I won't recommend specific equipment. I will say this. For archery hunting, there is too much risk of something going wrong and wounding a deer if I'm screwing with a camera. I typically pic a shooting lane where I hope to get a shot and point the camera there. I used a tree mounted arm to hold the camera and a remote to start it. This initial position is in case I'm surprised by a deer that is in range before I see it. If I see a deer headed my way at a distance, I will pan and zoom to get footage. Before the deer gets into range, I'll position the camera with the right zoom level pointed at the shooting lane I expect to use. Once a deer gets into range, I forget the camera and hunt. Either I get good footage or I don't. I won't risk a wounding.

For hunting from a blind, especially turkey hunting, I like to use two cameras. One is a cheap camera (at least HD) with no optical zoom. I set this camera as a wide angle view. I use a second camera with an optical zoom on smooth head on a tripod inside the blind. I use it to get footage as needed. There will be times when my ability to pan and zoom and track game while trying to shoot it is pretty ratty. When I post process, I cut to the fixed zoom camera when I have bad footage on the other. This allows for a seamless video. You can also get neat video if you're turkey hunting from a blind by using a decoy and a gopro type camera with a remote and placing it at the decoy.

If you want to zoom, don't count on digital zoom. You lose resolution when you do this. If you want to zoom you'll need a camera with a good optical zoom. As for resolution, I'm not sure if/when 4K will have enough content to become ubiquitous. One thing that you can do is to use a 4K camera with a wide angel lens and digitally pan in post processing cutting it back to HD. There are limitations, but it is an interesting concept.

My brother-in law was messing with a gopro type camera that had a small tripod with a couple very quiet servos for pan and tilt. It was controlled from a cell phone.

Don't mess with a camera that attaches to your gun, bow, or even hat. There is too much shock and vibe for these to produce good results.

Thanks,

jack
 
I was thinking a setup with camera and camera arm.
 
You may want to look at a Sony FDRAX33. It has optical steady shot image stabilization which is nice while filming the recovery. Muddy I believe still makes a decent small camera arm called the "Outfitter". Remember you will need to get a fluid head. A decent fluid head will cost a bit but is worth it in the end.
 
You may want to look at a Sony FDRAX33. It has optical steady shot image stabilization which is nice while filming the recovery. Muddy I believe still makes a decent small camera arm called the "Outfitter". Remember you will need to get a fluid head. A decent fluid head will cost a bit but is worth it in the end.
Does the FDRax33 come with a multi port for a lanc controller?
 
Does the FDRax33 come with a multi port for a lanc controller?

the camera uses a USB port and not a lanc. You may be able to find adapters for it
 
You may want to look at a Sony FDRAX33. It has optical steady shot image stabilization which is nice while filming the recovery. Muddy I believe still makes a decent small camera arm called the "Outfitter". Remember you will need to get a fluid head. A decent fluid head will cost a bit but is worth it in the end.
Fluid head is by far the most important part to get quality footage.
 
Any recommendations on the fluid head?
 
Peplin you've got some good suggestions here and I'll throw in my 2 cents. To get started you will need a camera with several extra batteries and cards, shotgun mic, tree arm, fluid head and lanc controller. I would get the camera first so then you will know what size tree arm and fluid head to get, you don't want to get an arm and head rated for 4 pounds and your camera weight 8-9 pounds and self filming you want to go as light and simple as possible. I would look used for a camera if I were you, you will most likely be able to get way more camera for your money as opposed to new, check out the FB group called Outdoor Videography Classifieds because there will be lots of cameras and some complete setups on there for good prices as seasons close and hunters are upgrading their gear.
As far as specific gear I have always been a Sony guy and never had any problems but that being said Canon has some good offerings too, I would stick with a video camera over a DSLR because they are much easier to film with. 1080 or 4K will be fine either way but try and get a camera that has the option of filming at a minimum of 60 fps to give you the option of slowing footage down in post if you want to. On a tree arm I would look at the Muddy's and 4th Arrow, some of the 4th Arrow arms come with a fluid head but I'm not sure of the quality of their head. I have a couple of Manfrotto fluid heads and they are super smooth and not crazy expensive if you buy a head separate. For a good inexpensive mic look at the Rode Videomic, it's a nice mic for about $100. For a lanc controller I've always used Manfrotto, just make sure your camera and lanc combo work together and trust me you don't want to try and film without a lanc.
I have filmed with a partner for the last 7 or so seasons and it looks like I may be doing some self filming next year so I'm pretty sure I am going to sell my big camera with all of the accessories as well as my big tree arm and fluid head and go to something much smaller and more manageable, I self filmed a few hunts late this season and it's a lot of work with big equipment.
I know a little about it just from experience but not a ton so if you have any questions I'll be glad to try and help.
 
Top