Welcome to the dark side!
To those who've used battery grips -- have you noticed a reduction in overheating? If so, I think that's a very valuable purchase. If they don't reduce overheating, I don't really see the point. Generic batteries are dirt-cheap, and they take seconds to swap out.
On the viewfinder/z-finder topic: I shot "Antihero" without either. Focusing was never an issue. Then again, I didn't do any follow-focusing. I can imagine, in that instance, a z-finder would be rather important.
I'm intrigued by this guy:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/13/sony-outs-clm-v55-video-monitor-for-interchangeable-lens-cameras/
It's supposed to be inexpensive. But since you can't monitor in HD, would it be any help at all, as far as focusing is concerned? Could it even be a hinderance?
wheat, if you get a z-finder, I recommend finding one that is quick and easy to take off and put on. I actually find many situations in which the z-finder doesn't help one bit (my b-cam operator brought his to a shoot, and we barely used it). Again, though, I wasn't doing any follow-focus, so...
As far as big rigs are concerned, I'm actually not convinced that they're worth anywhere near the premium price. I kinda think glass is a better investment.
Oh, and for memory, two 16GB cards is
more than enough. A lot of people forget that you can quickly and instantly erase bad takes. I'm not talking about the bad take when the actor delivered a performance that you weren't quite happy with -- you should save those, because a lot of times, once you get in post, you realize that what you initially didn't like is actually perfect. No, I'm talking about those takes when you roll camera and audio, and then sit there for two minutes waiting for that airplane to pass, and then the old lady across the street is yelling for her cat, and then a car drives by, and then you can hear a dump-truck backing up in the distance, and then you finally say "cut", without ever getting anything. Yeah, you can erase that. If you are diligent with your memory, a normal narrative shoot would not get anywhere near 32GB in one day.
Lastly, I assume you've considered all other options, but just to be safe I thought I'd ask -- are you at all tempted by the 60D or GH1? I haven't researched it extensively, cuz I'm not in the market for a camera, but the little bits of info I've caught on both of those cameras make me think they
might be a better option.
