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One man band digital capture and large monitor/iPad camera monitor setup suggestions

Nick Burchell

I’m putting together an on-location setup incorporating a second monitor and/or iPad in addition to a laptop, and looking for best kit and best approach advise. Most of my budgets do not allow me to hire a DT, just a first assistant. 

Two main scenarios I'm looking at here. 

1. Shooting interiors, exteriors and architecture. All on tripod, moving room to room. Monitor mounted on camera cage as camera monitor.

2. Shooting corporate on-location work. Environmental portraits, worker lifestyle/documentary, general location spaces. Mix of on-tripod and hand held. Monitor used both mounted on camera as camera monitor and as screen for AD/client to review images as they’re shot. Possibly having a separate on-camera monitor that get’s removed for hand-held work then iPad for AD. 

Three different ways of using the same rig. 

1. The monitor/screen/iPad mounted on camera to be used as a camera monitor (camera on tripod). Tether into MacBook Pro running Capture One, using the camera mounted monitor (camera on tripod, camera in cage, monitor mounted on cage) as a screen for composition. Ideally having additional battery power for both the monitor and the camera (options Accsoon and Nine-Volt V-mount or PowrBloc). What is the best way to connect the camera to the monitor/iPad on the camera? HDMI? Other?

2. The monitor/screen/iPad setup for Art Director or client to hold and see images in Live View as shot. iPad ideally, remote connection.

What is the best case or cage to use when having the AD/client hold what is now, with the 2024 iPad Pro, a $2K+ iPad?

What is the preferred way to stream the captured images to the iPad either from the camera or from the MacBook Pro? Is C1 Live the best solution here or should I be looking at a Teradek/Hollyland style solution? I can be shooting in challenging locations without access to their WiFi or with potential for interference, such as industrial and heavy tech locations with many computers and servers and with some distance between me and the AD/client.

3. For real "run and gun" situations or when shooting personal work, I'd be shooting directly into Capture One mobile on the iPad, no laptop in the mix. Here, ideally, I'd like to have the case or cage used in the above scenarios slung over my shoulder so I can quickly and easily refer to the images. It would be great to have additional battery power for the iPad, maybe the Nine-Volt PowrBloc (how to attach to iPad case?), but I don’t know if it’s feasible to use a usb-c splitter to both power the iPad and tether the camera into the iPad at the same time.  

I'm about to purchase the new 2024 13" iPad Pro (my current iPad is the old Lightening adapter). While scenarios 2 and 3 above would be best solved with an iPad, I'm open to suggestions on other more suitable, and potentially cheaper, monitors for the on-camera setup. I’m also not sure of the best solution to have that on-camera monitor show live view. HDMI? 

Cameras  are Canon R5 and Fuji GFX 100S. 2023 M2 Max MacBook Pro on Sonoma and I have the full, updated Capture One with Live. I use Nine-Volt tether cables, block and PowrBloc along with the Inovativ skeleton style minimal Digi-plate for my laptop. I'm considering the Nine-Volt V-mount adaptor for additional power for laptop, monitor and camera so I can avoid having change camera batteries constantly.

Suggestions appreciated, especially the best way to use Capture One to show shots coming in on the client iPad and what the limitations might be when using Capture One Live on location.

Thanks!

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2 comments

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    • Edited

    Hello,
    Nick, your detailed breakdown of your needs makes it easier to recommend suitable solutions for your one-man-band setup. Here's a breakdown based on your scenarios.

    Small field monitors (5-7") from Feelworld, SmallHD, or Atomos are popular choices for their size, weight, and image quality. Look for models with HDMI or SDI connectivity compatible with your cameras. Kynect
    Connect your camera's HDMI output to the field monitor for live view. You can then tether your camera to the MacBook Pro using a USB-C cable for tethered shooting and image review in Capture One.

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  • Nick Burchell

    Many thanks! Agreed, I think a Atmos Shinobi is going to be the simplest choice for the on-camera monitor.

    I'm now looking at best solutions for wirelessly connecting the client iPad. It seems there's two options to connect to that wirelessly:

    A mobile hot-spot

    or 

    Wireless transmitter like the Hollyland Pyro H (same idea as a Teradek)

    The mobile hot-spot, while allowing me to use Capture One Live to the client iPad, allowing the AD to rate images as they come in, gives me pause because it relies on a good cellular signal, which is not always guaranteed. 

    I believe the wireless transmitter is going to mirror the Capture One screen from the MacBook Pro, it's not running Capture One Live, so the Art Director can see the shots come in, but as its a mirror, they won't be able to rate? 

    Do I have that right?

    Again, in an on-location situation where I'm looking for a simple, reliable wireless connection, what would you suggest as the best solution to connect to that client iPad?

    Thanks!

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