I'm a travelling journo who needs to shoot run-n-gun vid content every other trip. My go-to solution for size and expediency has been my iPhone 6 Plus S, teamed with a Rode Filmmaker wireless mic rig and a modified alloy bracket that mounts the phone and wireless receiver to a lightweight tripod.
I chuck in a short-arm Ram suction cup mount and a naked GoPro (usually just a Hero3 Plus - people are giving them away and I've got no worries about killing one or two). A roll of electrical tape, a couple of spare batts and an external mic for the GoPro, and I can shoot, edit and send an HD review vid on the road.
Got DSLRs and all that, but the vid quality out of this set-up is great, it's reliable, and it's super easy to pack.
Other tech stuff - found a GREAT small powerboard w/ two plug points and two USBs at Aldi w/ multiple country adapters for twenty bucks. Brilliant. On multiple-day jobs I'll drag along a small wired Altec Lansing speaker - for overnighters the phone gets tucked under a pillow for a nicer sound!
One pain - I have to drag around three types of USB cable.
MacBook Pro 13" comes everywhere w me, as does Samsung G6 and a set of nice earbuds. Over-ear noise cancellers really are shite to sleep in, but I always bring them on big trips. Use a Kindle app on the iPhone, as well.
For toothbrush look at the sonic chic... the Urban is smaller but powered by battery, whilst the Deluxe is stronger, a bit bigger, and powered by USB. Both great for travel
Hi dravid74,
Really glad I check back in. I'm off to the UK next week (though in Paris now, and I think there are a few Boots stores here as well) so will check out these toothbrushes. I very much like the sound of having one that charges via USB. I have a 4 country trip coming up soon and was not looking forward to researching the power loads and wondering if I would make it to the next country before the brush charge failed.
Kanga, I think you could lose the speaker, unless you really really really enjoy the music that much and cant stand to use the speaker mode on the laptop or phone! For sure, lose the iTouch! Possibly lose the iPad (As you can do stuff on the laptop) - or if not, lose the laptop instead!! (Probably just bring the MBAir since it has much more functionality, and is quite small/light) NC headphones take up a fair bit of space - at least with the earbuds there is a higher chance of sleeping!
Last edited
by DiveTravel at May 07, 2017, 07.07 PM.
Hi DiveTravel,
WHAT! Lose the Fugoo!!! That's a keeper for me I think :-) Because I have the waterproof version, I literally have it in the shower with me, and as Australia is so little on the radar of the rest of the world, I need to catch up with Oz news via the ABC's The World Today or PM. I'm not sure my laptop would appreciate the steam bath! (Also, as YOU may appreciate, as a former Sound Editor, I played rather too many gunshots and car chases etc. at too loud a volume over the years on my headphones, for my hearing to be perfect anymore.)
Partly because I got a points upgrade to Business for the Syd -> LHR leg (yay), I ditched the Bose NC over-ear headphones for this trip. I still have the Bose NC in-ear earbuds for walking around and the return flight. So the headphones might be goneski. Brought the iTouch with me, but have used the iPhone exclusively for podcasts etc, so I think you are right - I won't be renewing the iTouch's passport :-(
I think I still need to have the iPad mini - a much better fit for daily out-and-about use with my lady sized backpack. But it is an older version, heavyish and without a SIM, so I will see what Apple has to offer in the next few years. I have the iPhone SE because of my hand size, but admit to preferring to use the MBAir or iPad for ease of use - keyboard and screen size wise.
If I take up dravid74's toothbrush suggestion, and yours - having ditched the NC headphones and iTouch, I have at least made a few changes to lighten the load.
Robbo032
Robbo032
Member since 08 May 2017
Total posts 2
I'm a travelling journo who needs to shoot run-n-gun vid content every other trip. My go-to solution for size and expediency has been my iPhone 6 Plus S, teamed with a Rode Filmmaker wireless mic rig and a modified alloy bracket that mounts the phone and wireless receiver to a lightweight tripod.
kanga9999
kanga9999
Member since 09 Apr 2017
Total posts 62
For toothbrush look at the sonic chic... the Urban is smaller but powered by battery, whilst the Deluxe is stronger, a bit bigger, and powered by USB. Both great for travel
Hi dravid74,
Really glad I check back in. I'm off to the UK next week (though in Paris now, and I think there are a few Boots stores here as well) so will check out these toothbrushes. I very much like the sound of having one that charges via USB. I have a 4 country trip coming up soon and was not looking forward to researching the power loads and wondering if I would make it to the next country before the brush charge failed.
Thanks very much for the tip.
kanga9999
kanga9999
Member since 09 Apr 2017
Total posts 62
Kanga, I think you could lose the speaker, unless you really really really enjoy the music that much and cant stand to use the speaker mode on the laptop or phone!
For sure, lose the iTouch!
Possibly lose the iPad (As you can do stuff on the laptop) - or if not, lose the laptop instead!! (Probably just bring the MBAir since it has much more functionality, and is quite small/light)
NC headphones take up a fair bit of space - at least with the earbuds there is a higher chance of sleeping!
Last edited by DiveTravel at May 07, 2017, 07.07 PM.
Hi DiveTravel,
WHAT! Lose the Fugoo!!! That's a keeper for me I think :-) Because I have the waterproof version, I literally have it in the shower with me, and as Australia is so little on the radar of the rest of the world, I need to catch up with Oz news via the ABC's The World Today or PM. I'm not sure my laptop would appreciate the steam bath! (Also, as YOU may appreciate, as a former Sound Editor, I played rather too many gunshots and car chases etc. at too loud a volume over the years on my headphones, for my hearing to be perfect anymore.)
Partly because I got a points upgrade to Business for the Syd -> LHR leg (yay), I ditched the Bose NC over-ear headphones for this trip. I still have the Bose NC in-ear earbuds for walking around and the return flight. So the headphones might be goneski. Brought the iTouch with me, but have used the iPhone exclusively for podcasts etc, so I think you are right - I won't be renewing the iTouch's passport :-(
I think I still need to have the iPad mini - a much better fit for daily out-and-about use with my lady sized backpack. But it is an older version, heavyish and without a SIM, so I will see what Apple has to offer in the next few years. I have the iPhone SE because of my hand size, but admit to preferring to use the MBAir or iPad for ease of use - keyboard and screen size wise.
If I take up dravid74's toothbrush suggestion, and yours - having ditched the NC headphones and iTouch, I have at least made a few changes to lighten the load.
Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it!