Remote Camera Gear | Ask David Bergman

Remote Camera Gear | Ask David Bergman

Today’s question from Jamie B. is, “During your concert shoots, you put remote cameras around the stage and in the lighting rigs. Can you cover the process and products you use to remotely fire the cameras and the grip you use to mount them? Thanks!”

Go to http://www.AskDavidBergman.com to submit your own photo question, see David’s gear list, and view the episode archive.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:00 What is a remote camera?
01:27 Reasons to use a remote
03:21 Picking a lens
04:14 Exposure
04:54 Remote is a bonus
05:32 Focus
06:35 High-speed bursts
06:51 Floor camera
09:18 Super clamp and magic arm
12:17 Safety
14:08 Hard wiring
15:38 Radio triggers
18:00 Pre-trigger cable
20:31 When to use
21:56 Camera apps
22:22 Outro

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✘ PRODUCTS USED:

Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body
https://www.adorama.com/car5.html?kbid=66043

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
https://www.adorama.com/car1535.html?kbid=66043

Gaffer Tape
https://adorama.rfvk.net/KjYbVn

Manfrotto 496 Center Ball Head with 200PL-PRO Quick Release Plate
https://www.adorama.com/bgmh496bhus.html?kbid=66043

Manfrotto 2909 Super Clamp w/Reversible Short Stud
https://www.adorama.com/bg2909.html?kbid=66043

Manfrotto 244 Variable Friction Magic Arm with Camera Platform
https://www.adorama.com/bg2929.html?kbid=66043

Manfrotto FF3276 Steel Safety Cable
https://www.adorama.com/bgff3276.html?kbid=66043

Canon RS-80N3 Remote Switch
https://www.adorama.com/cars80n3.html?kbid=66043

PocketWizard Plus X Transceiver 2 pack
https://www.adorama.com/pwpx2p.html?kbid=66043

Pocket Wizard cords
https://adorama.rfvk.net/e4RedQ

Pocket Wizard pre-trigger cables
https://adorama.rfvk.net/9WenvE

✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame Digital Camera Body
https://www.adorama.com/car.html?kbid=66043

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens
https://www.adorama.com/car2418.html?kbid=66043

Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Black Aluminum Tripod with MVH502AH Pro Video Head
https://www.adorama.com/bg055xprob52.html?kbid=66043

CLAR Illumi Max 500 High Power 5600K LED Light
https://www.adorama.com/clilmax500sl.html?kbid=66043

Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XL Softbox With Bowens Mount (48″)
https://www.adorama.com/glsbez48octa.html?kbid=66043

Prograde Digital 512GB SDXC UHS-II V90 Memory Card
https://www.adorama.com/pgrsd512gbck.html?kbid=66043

All Prograde cards and readers
https://adorama.rfvk.net/15bjkDw

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Get more information about David’s #shootfromthepit live concert photography workshops at
http://www.ShootFromThePit.com

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Pocket Wizard cable finder

Cable Finder

Platypod
https://www.platypod.com

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22 Comments

  1. @gewglesux on October 29, 2024 at 9:10 pm

    Still love using PocketWizards… seems hold up better that yonguo

  2. @zenphotojourney on October 29, 2024 at 9:10 pm

    I’ve used remote cameras to photograph wildlife. They were triggered by a sensor. It can be tricky to work out all the details, but when you get that shot you’ve been dreaming of its magic!
    I’d tried doing it with animal eye detection auto focus and thought that my camera just couldn’t do that without me there pushing the focus button. I didn’t realize until you mentioned it, but I had the focus function on back button auto focus, so of course, it didn’t work. 😅 Now, I’ll have to try that out again with the right settings.

  3. @jamesspicewilliams8835 on October 29, 2024 at 9:11 pm

    Love this. Great detailed info. Been using this with Godox transceivers. I’ve found it better to use DSLR camera. Cost effective and better, battery life and response time. I’m a one man band and I often run into videographers that like to run in close a hold shots. They don’t play well with others. This is a great option. Thank you for sharing.

  4. @riotrob on October 29, 2024 at 9:22 pm

    Great video (and concert photos). I wish you allowed for more ambient light to better show what you were holding/showing.

  5. @juans5308 on October 29, 2024 at 9:23 pm

    If you have the camera set up to shoot bursts, how does that work when you press the trigger? Do you have to hold down the trigger ?

  6. @howardholtzman1331 on October 29, 2024 at 9:26 pm

    Love the video, very informative. Someday I’ll go to one of your workshops.

  7. @tanweercaa on October 29, 2024 at 9:27 pm

    Excellent detailed video, thanks a lot David.

  8. @markkempton4579 on October 29, 2024 at 9:31 pm

    I saw that old Slik ball head in a PRM video and had to have one. It took a month of monitoring eBay search results, but the seller ended up being one of the major used camera vendors. It sits a little taller than I’d like for a floor cam, but it is solid! I would trust it with my life. LOL

  9. @carlosmozephoto on October 29, 2024 at 9:33 pm

    Thanks David for sharing and Jamie for the query. Very useful for motor sports has for places that is not safe to be there and allowed to place the camera. Cheers

  10. @mtmccornack on October 29, 2024 at 9:34 pm

    Remote shooting has come a long way since eyefi cards… those things literally got me all my early paid gigs with my paparazzi photobooth. How else is someone going to hand branded photos to a client in under 45 seconds before 2016? (Tether cords dont count,even when orange, total tripping hazzards around drunk humans) seems like all cameras remote shoot now tho’ so there is that, This might be time for me to retire the tiny battery powered pocket routers now… might help with multiple camera connections? Hmmm, I’ll be back. I gotta go try something out!

  11. @michaelharmon721 on October 29, 2024 at 9:36 pm

    Another great video David.

  12. @Qbulls23 on October 29, 2024 at 9:36 pm

    Great explanation, as always!! Thank you for the sharing of your immense knowledge.

  13. @chopperjamie on October 29, 2024 at 9:36 pm

    Thanks for answering my question David! I want to shoot volleyball games from overhead and this answered all my questions. I really appreciate you sharing your information willingly!

  14. @brianthomas6500 on October 29, 2024 at 9:36 pm

    I have Canon remote cord extension leads, think they are 10mts. Not looked to see if they are still available, I bought mine years ago. I also have cordless options if needed. One thing I bought years ago and have used, you get 2 small adapters and run an Ethernet cable in between and have camera hooked up to a PC or Laptop. Keep up the good work.

  15. @markkempton4579 on October 29, 2024 at 9:38 pm

    Great tips and refresher. I’ve mostly used a remote behind the soccer goal with limited results. I definitely need to get better at framing and setting exposure. I was generally in a rush before the game to set one up.
    I’ve had more success doing creative shots like team huddles, etc.
    For the goal cam, I use a camera plate from Decade and found that you get a better signal when you get the receiver up off the turf (confirmed by PW). So I used a 12" rod screwed into one of the mounting points on the plate to elevate the receiver. Since I’d gone through that much effort, I ended up mounting a GoPro to the rod as well and got more interesting video than I did stills. I’m on medical leave but when I’m back, the remote is what I’m looking forward to working with the most come spring sports.

  16. @rahalati on October 29, 2024 at 9:40 pm

    Thanks, that was helpful. Can we use the remote to trigger on/off the camera if used for video recording as well?

  17. @GB-AK on October 29, 2024 at 9:43 pm

    Some venues require 2 safety cables for each camera.

  18. @felixrodriguez782 on October 29, 2024 at 9:43 pm

    Another great tip on remote shooting for those have not tried and refresher for those who have. The hardware wire cable which gage is best to use on camera like the 1DX mark III or R5 with the battery grip plus best to secure the camera on the ring spots Thanks David.

  19. @davideaton1416 on October 29, 2024 at 9:45 pm

    I shoot athletics for Murray State University and have begun positioning remote cameras for basketball this season. I have one tucked in a hole in the padding at the base of the basket and just started hanging another to shoot through the backboard. I hope for one or two good shots from those each game and haven’t been disappointed. I’m using pocket wizard plus iiis and they work very well.

  20. @John_1033 on October 29, 2024 at 9:50 pm

    David, do "you" physically get in those high rafters to mount the camera or does a rigging guy do it? If you do it yourself, I am out LOL. I could not be up that high LOL. Great video. Thanks.

  21. @RickMahoney2013 on October 29, 2024 at 9:56 pm

    Wow that is a lot of information.

  22. @_SYDNA_ on October 29, 2024 at 9:57 pm

    I shoot sports and Im trying to learn to activate a remote 5D mkIV using a hand-held R3. That you’ve been able to use the newer R5 as a remote with PocketWizard (PW) is encouraging. I bought a used PW miniTT1 from Adorama’s used shop to use as a transmitter on the handheld R3 and a Flex TT5 as the receiver on the remote 5D. I was looking for something low profile, esp. for that transmitter riding on my hand held. I haven’t been able to get the receiver to trigger the 5D yet (it does light up from signal) but have not tried upgrading the firmware yet.

    1) Do you happen to know if that combo works on these "newer" cameras?

    2) The R3 has much higher burst rate than the 5D. Can I assume the 5D will just skip some shots without locking up? Im assuming running the 5D with the R3 wont break anything.

    Any thoughts? Thanks, by the way, for this updated vid on a useful topic.

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