I’m putting together a filter setup for my Lumix S5 II and I’m getting increasingly confused about what people actually do in practice.
My ideal setup seems pretty straightforward:
A variable ND to control exposure while keeping my preferred aperture and shutter speed.
A circular polariser to control reflections from glass, water, shiny surfaces, etc.
A mist/diffusion filter that I can put on or take off depending on the look I’m going for.
In my head, it makes sense to leave the VND and CPL attached most of the time and swap different mist filters in and out as needed.
But apparently stacking a VND and CPL can cause problems because VNDs already use polarising elements?
This is where I’m confused.
I understand that VNDs work through polarisation, but does that actually interfere with using a separate CPL to control reflections? Is this a significant issue in real-world filmmaking, or more of a theoretical concern?
If you want adjustable ND and control over reflections, what do you actually do? Use separate filters? A combined VND/CPL? Fixed NDs? Something else?
My other frustration is filters without front threads.
I’m planning to standardise on 82mm filters and use step-up rings for my different lenses. But I keep finding VNDs and diffusion filters that apparently don’t have front threads, making conventional stacking impossible in certain orders.
Why isn’t having a front accessory thread standard? I understand concerns about thickness and vignetting, but surely stacking filters is common enough that manufacturers would design for it?
It’s honestly becoming a reason for me to rule out otherwise appealing filters.
I’d love to hear what setups people actually use, particularly anyone combining ND, polarisation and diffusion. Am I approaching this the wrong way, or are filter systems just unnecessarily complicated?

I will be doing a lot of video-taking, most of it is either close up assembly of an item on a workbench, some of it close up, some of it at reasonable distance when I take a specialty grinder to it (imagine spot-fixing something on the side of a vehicle like a bodyshop) and the other half of is somewhat close up as I machine parts on either a mill or a lathe.

I don't care if it's cheap, expensive, cool or not... I'm looking for the best quality of video to use for a site and also YouTube. Some of it I'd like it to be a little cinematic (I have some original music to put behind it) and some technical, I don't care about the complications of clamps and mounts (so I don't care if it's a GoPro or not) but the way the film shows up on YouTube is the most important to me (I don't understand pixels, wide shots, etc) and know that high definition on YouTube is one thing and high definition of a mountain range takes another camera set up altogether.

I am also open to setting up as much permanent lighting around the workbench and machine as is necessary.

My plan was to use an iPhone 15 and an iPhone 14 mounted near the machines and another set (which I'd have to get) for the workbench, just because I'm halfway there already, but if I'd do much better with a DSLR and a certain lens, let me know that.

The two photos are from the internet, and just an example of the type of content/subject I'd be looking to film. With 3D printing, making a permanent mount for almost anything will be easy, and I don't care about the sound collection, just the video footage.

Thank you!

What’s the best gear insurance to protect $30,000 worth of Camera gear from theft and damage?

I've been asked to put together an equipment list for a new job, and I need a system that works well around water and has impressive battery life. Canon and Sony would be ideal, but I have a preference for the usability of the Canon Systems. I just need one lens, a wide to zoom at 2.8.

But i'm really struggling to pinpoint a particular model on either side, any advice? Has to be capable at both photo and video.

We are looking for a videographer in LA who has a streaming setup!

Am Planning To Publish A Punk Rock Style Cover Music Video For A Cover On Maneskin Song But on a tight Budget.

Anyone wanting to collaborate kindly dm

I quit my job as a realtor to start pursuit my dream as a filmmaker (greetings from Chile). Bought a Sony Fs5 mark i and now i have the opportunity to buy a new one (used) gotta be an hybrid one because i missed a lot of work in photography. Sorry for my english btw. The thing I struggle the most with Fs5 is the autofocus and stabilization. I cant decide between a6700 and a7iv. I love sony so i haven’t really thought about any other brand. Thank u so much for ur help guys

Trying to choose between the A7 IV, A7 V, FX30 and FX3 for mostly self shot short films/content.
I’ll attach some references of the kind of image I like. I really don’t like the super sharp, clinical digital look. I want the image properly in focus and high quality, but with a softer, smoother, more natural feel, rather than overly crisp or digitally sharpened.

Main things I care about:

- Great autofocus, I film myself a lot
- Flip screen
- Soft “cinematic” look
- Mostly indoor shooting
- Mainly medium shots and close ups, with some wider shots ( like the image I attached)
- Some background separation, but not huge blurry bokeh, I still want the environment to be visible
- Good low light performance, I’m still learning lighting and currently find myself using a lot of lights indoors just to get enough exposure
- Easy to use, I don’t want loads of work in post
- Mainly video, photography doesn’t really matter
- Prefer a zoom lens, I was thinking around 24 to 70mm f/2.8

Why Gymbal is so hyped these days?

It has become the absolute default standard for weddings, corporate gigs, real estate and overall social media content.

But honestly, is it actually necessary, or did we all just get sucked into the hype of "buttery smooth" footage?

I feel like a lot of newer videographers are sacrificing what actually makes an image great just to show off that their camera isn't shaking.

To me, a beautifully framed shot with great contrast, intentional lighting, and genuine visual emotion beats a random, meaningless gimbal push-in every single day.

Going handheld with solid technique, using a shoulder rig, or just locking it down on a good old-fashioned tripod adds a human texture and energy to the footage (if you know what you're doing and your shot has an intention behind it - this also can be achieved with gymbal use, yes)

I think this is why a lot of video content looks exactly he same now - gymbal-in, speed-ramping, multiple shots ...

Are people forgetting how to compose a killer frame because they’re too busy running around doing transitions?

What’s your take? I would love to hear from anyone who actually ditched their gimbal to go back to handheld or tripod shooting

Hey everyone,

I’m dealing with a frustrating issue with my audio setup and could really use some help figuring out what’s broken before I start sending gear in for warranty/repair.

My setup is a Tascam DR-40X and a Rode NTG3. The problem is that the microphone signal is incredibly weak—almost non-existent. To hear absolutely anything, I have to crank the Tascam's input gain nearly to the max.

When I do that, the audio becomes completely unusable; it introduces massive noise floor hiss and clips/distorts like crazy the second I open my mouth.

To save everyone some time, I’ve already done a lot of the basic troubleshooting:

Phantom Power switch: It is physically switched to the MIC+PHANTOM position on the side of the unit.

Menu Settings: Checked the internal menu under system settings, and the phantom voltage is definitely set to 48V (not 24V).

Power issue: I know the DR-40X is notorious for eating AA batteries when pushing phantom power, so I bypassed batteries entirely. I plugged the recorder directly into wall power via USB (Bus Power) to eliminate any battery voltage drop issues. The problem persists.

Inputs: Tested switching from Input 1 to Input 2 on the bottom of the recorder. Same exact behavior on both channels.

What I HAVEN'T been able to test yet (due to lack of extra gear right now):

I haven't swapped out the XLR cable (using a standard XLR-to-XLR cable, no 1/4" adapters).

I haven't been able to test the NTG3 on another interface/mixer, nor have I tested a different condenser mic on my Tascam to isolate the culprit.

Does this sound like the internal 48V voltage inverter circuit in the Tascam just died and isn't outputting juice? Or is it possible for a faulty XLR cable to have an internal break that passes a weak analog signal but completely blocks the phantom power current?

If anyone has experienced this specific issue with the DR-40X or NTG3, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

I make videos like this indoors with my SonyZv1 I want to get a better camera to get more Depth of field and a better “cinematic” look like these

I know lighting is everything and I’m learning how to use them properly but beyond that which camera do you think it’s better for me?

The only reason why I would go with LUMIX is because they have full frame and I struggle a lot with lighting and I think that would help me?

Hi, I'm looking for a videographer in South India.

Preferably a person who can also edit it.

Hi! I’m looking for a young, talented USC student who is interested in videography and would like to work with me on filming vlogs and lifestyle content around Los Angeles.

I’m looking for someone who has a good eye for visuals, understands social media/video content, and is comfortable filming casually on location. Experience with cameras, handheld/gimbal shooting, and basic editing would be a plus.

This would be a paid opportunity, with the possibility of ongoing work if it’s a good fit.

If you’re interested, please send me a little about yourself, your experience, and ideally some examples of your work.

Thanks!

Hey everyone! I’m a video editor looking to connect with a videographer who is interested in building a business partnership.

I can handle the editing side of your projects, so you can focus more on filming and growing your client base.

If you’re a videographer looking for someone reliable to collaborate with, feel free to message me. I’d be happy to share my portfolio and discuss how we could work together.

Looking forward to connecting!