Customer experience: videographer Veikka Hännikäinen's experiences with equipment in demanding conditions in Northern Norway
When it's time to head out on a filming trip and you want to ensure you have the best possible equipment, Kameravuokraamo.fi is an excellent choice. In this article, I'll share my experiences with their services and the gear I rented, which made my two-week filming trip to Northern Norway possible.
Sony a7s3 Rental: The Perfect Choice for a Filming Trip
I chose the Sony a7s3 -camera thanks to its excellent sensor. It's the same sensor found in Netflix-approved FX6Yes From the FX3 camera, but thanks to its compact size, I can fit the whole set better into one backpack.
The camera's 12MP FullFrame sensor offers a wide 15-stop dynamic range and high light sensitivity, allowing details to be preserved in both bright and dark areas. This 15-stop dynamic range is comparable to that of traditional film, which gives images a cinematic feel.
The camera also supports 4K video recording with 4:2:2 10-bit colour depth, offering precise recording of over a billion colour tones. This makes colour grading more flexible and accurate, preserving the naturalness of colours and reducing noise in low light conditions. During my travels, I had to film in extremely challenging conditions, sometimes against the light on a mountainside or at sea in the dark from a fishing boat. As a one-man team filming video, it's important to capture moments reliably and impressively. The difference in quality was very noticeable when adjusting the video colours at the editing desk. Watch the video for an example of how the colour world of a fishing boat was created.
The large pixels, 15-stop dynamic range, and high-quality colour capture are indeed the best features of this camera. An absolutely perfect camera for run-and-gun style shooting on the go.
I rented the Sony G Master series 24-105mm and 70-200mm Sony G Master 24-105mm F4 lenses.
In the description, I mostly used Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS optics known for their versatility and optical quality. This lens covers a wide focal range, suitable for both wide-angle and telephoto photography, with an f/4 aperture providing consistent performance throughout the zoom range. The optical elements reduce distortion and chromatic aberrations, ensuring images remain sharp and detailed.
I'm used to describing things normally myself. Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM II -obtiikalla, so I was waiting to see how this lens would feel. I was excited about the extra zoom, but I was a bit worried about what might be missing if I couldn't always open the aperture wide to f/2.8 when I felt like it.
After two weeks of shooting, my opinion had matured sufficiently. I hardly ever found myself wishing for a wider aperture at the expense of losing the extra zoom. The situation might be different if I were shooting something more sedate, where I’d have the time or even the opportunity to change lenses. In the harsh weather of Northern Norway, shooting speed and reliability were key criteria. With this lens, every shot was sharp, and I was able to quickly capture wide, medium and close-up shots of every subject.
Sony 70-200mm F/2.8 G Master lens
As the second lens, I used Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II -optics, which is an excellent choice for situations where a slightly longer focal length and large aperture are needed. The f/2.8 aperture allows for a beautiful bokeh effect and low-light performance. The lightness of this new version is surprising, you have to experience it for yourself!
I mainly used this lens on my trip to photograph birds and distant landscapes, particularly in time-lapse mode. This is the perfect zoom lens; I can’t think of a single downside. The lens is light to carry around, and I find myself taking it with me easily, even though I know I won’t always need it. When shooting handheld, the stabiliser works really well, making photography with this lens even more enjoyable.
Peter McKinnon ND filters
I used these lenses with PolarPro Peter McKinnon 77mm Signature Edition II Variable ND 6-9 stop -filters, which are a reliable choice for controlling exposure. These filters do not affect image colours or sharpness, making them an excellent addition to professional photography. These are indeed arguably the best ND filters on the market, and not without reason.
Cheap“Amazon”Having used filters previously, I can no longer return to them with a clear conscience. With these PolarPro filters, there are no dark spots in the images, nor do the colours bend strangely across different parts of the image. The filter also has its own “lens protector” which means the ND filter doesn't have to be removed from the camera at all if you don't want it to. The filter also comes with a good storage case, which can be easily used without touching the filter's glass. Fingerprints don't easily get on this!
I rented a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone.
Drone selector DJI Mavic 2 Prothanks to its high-quality Hasselblad sensor, which guarantees excellent image quality. This drone is a true “value for money”-selection, and it performed brilliantly in all conditions. The Mavic Pro 2 flies stably even in strong winds, which is important in the conditions of Northern Norway. Furthermore, its sufficiently long flight time and advanced flight characteristics make it a highly reliable tool. The drone also came with PolarPro and DJI's own ND filters. Both worked without any problems, I personally used the original DJI ones the most for some reason.
I also had the Smart Controller with me, which is the DJI controller with a screen. With it, you don't always have to bother putting your phone into the basic controller, as it has a bright screen that's bigger than a phone, ready to go. This was my first time using the controller, and I have to say, I'll be taking it with me in the future too! The screen's brightness and size made filming much easier, especially in bright sunlight.
A newer version of this drone can also be found at Kameravuokraamo.fi DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine Premium Combo. It has three significant improvements compared to the drone I had on hire.
First, a camera with a larger sensor and higher resolution, plus two zoom options. The camera's dynamic range and colour accuracy have been pushed even further, meaning it would perform better even in challenging lighting conditions.
In addition to the camera, it has nearly twice as long flight time. With the 2 Pro, you can fly for about 25 minutes on a single battery. While that's already quite good, with the 3 Pro it's possible to fly for up to 46 minutes on a single charge. Especially in the mountains and other challenging conditions in Northern Norway, this would have been a good addition.
Thirdly, obstacle detection has been significantly improved. This makes flying safer and easier, especially in complex environments. In challenging locations, such as near trees, this would have been particularly good.
Although the DJI Mavic 2 Pro was a perfectly adequate drone, I would strongly consider renting the DJI Mavic 3 Pro next time for these three reasons.
Equipment Pickup and Condition
Picking up Kameravuokraamo.fi's equipment was effortless, directly from the heart of Old Porvoo, although a convenient postal service was also available as an option.
The equipment was in excellent condition, as if I had been given brand-new gear. All devices were charged and the memory cards were empty. I was able to get straight to work and felt confident for an extended filming trip.
Competitive Prices and Excellent Service
Kameravuokraamo.fi offers highly competitive prices, making it affordable and appealing to rent professional-grade filming equipment. Rental prices depend on the equipment and the length of the loan period, allowing for flexible pricing to suit different needs. Additionally, you can request a quote for a larger batch of rental equipment, making the costs of bigger projects more manageable. This price-quality ratio makes the service an excellent choice for both individual photographers and corporate clients who need high-quality equipment at a reasonable price.
Can only recommend, thank you!
Veikka Hännikäinen
Video Producer, Helsinki
