So I bought a minDV

[AAR.oner]

Originally Posted by dirtfloorcracker

I guess you have your hands above your head the whole time, with the view screen pointing down so you can see it?

yup, thats how we always do it...alot of cams have remote controls that'll gie you control over yer zoom, but pan&tilt still has to be done manually

[saltman]

Originally Posted by onemanguitarband

put a small piece of tape over the RED led for record.

or turn it off in the menu. That's what I did.

[dirtfloorcracker]

Originally Posted by Chachi420

congrats on your new purchase...
now it's time to look into good tripods. I recommend something that will reach at least 7 ft in order to get above everyone's heads (otherwise you've wasted your time and money).
I really like my bogen/manfrotto 475B legs with 700RC2 head...
IMO, a video camera is worthless without a good tripod....

Very helpful info, thanks Chachi! Looks like a good tripod/head combo, thinking about picking it up for videotaping shows. One question, though, in the specs it lists a 74" max height, or around 6.1 feet. In your post you recommend something to reach at least 7 ft to get above heads. Im guessing with the head and cam included, this would this reach close to 7 ft but just wanted to make sure? Just curious about your thoughts on this.

Im certainly open to other suggestions as well, please let me know what you think!

Thanks!

[retired]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

[dirtfloorcracker]

Wow, taller height plus better price. THANKS!

[Audioarchivist]

For extreme stealthy stuff, I got a beanbag pod. A flat 2 inch tall 6 inch round beanbag weighs about 1 pound. Lets camera sit still anywhere, like in a lap handsfree steadies cam if U do handheld stuff too.

For real handheld steadiness, I saw someone that built a device - a 2 or 3 pound barbell was welded to a 2 foot bar with a handle about 2/3 up. This floating pod screwed on like a tripod, lets you run around or whatever kinda like pros have those steadyshot harness devices to walk around...