Gear For the Mountains.

Written By Nicholas Brooks

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the World. Whatever it is, the tools you use along the way dictate how your creativity is elevated.

Don’t worry about having the most expensive or professional gear. Worry about your relationship with your gear. I could drop a RED camera and a handful of cinema grade lenses into your hands, and if you don’t know the when’s from the how’s, its worthless. However, if you are practiced and learned on a simple point and shoot, your own drive becomes your limit. I have a few simple rules when it comes to choosing the best gear for your situation.

  • Be clear.

  • Be confident.

  • Don’t overthink it.

The beauty of Glacier National Park is it’s constant evolution. Throughout the course of one Glacier National Park Elopement, you can deal with a dozen weather patterns, two dozen lighting shifts, and the ever so constant animal encounter . The goal for my gear is to be as adaptable as Glacier National Park itself. If I am confident in my gear, the quality will take care of itself. It always does. The best camera gear for Elopement Filmmaking is highly variable. Approaching my fifth season of Elopement Filmmaking has brought a heaping pile of experience. Most of that in the mistakes I’ve made and had to learn from. Therefore, along with my comprehensive list of gear I will provide my reasoning behind this years picks for the gear that will elevate my filmmaking in the mountains. Here is Filmmaking Gear I am using for the 2023 Glacier National Park Elopement Season. (Broken down into five Categories)

Camera

  • Sony A7IV - Primary Camera

  • Sony A7Sii - Secondary Camera

  • iPhone 14 Pro - Tertiary and BTS Camera

  • DJI Mavic Air 2s - Drone for out of the park filming

Lenses

  • Sigma Art 24-70 f2.8 - Paired with the Sony A7IV

  • G Series 12-24 f4.0 - Paired with the Sony A7Sii

Audio

  • Rode Wireless GO II - Connected to the Sony A7Sii

Stabilization

  • DJI Ronin RS3 - Housing the Sony A7IV setup

  • Peak Design Tripod - Housing the Sony A7Sii setup

  • DJI Ronin S - Backup Gimbal

Accessories

  • True Smart Knife

  • Backcountry Bear Spray (Obviously)

Lets Dive in Deeper

C A M E R A S

The Primary Camera - Sony A7IV

  • Chosen for it’s simplicity and versatility. The Sony A7IV delivers everything you would need for high quality, run and gun elopement films. It’s been called the “Jack of All Trades”. But why would I choose this camera? What do I need in a camera for elopement filmmaking? My clear answer is reliability. I need a camera that can do as much of the worrisome work for me as possible so I can focus on keeping my footing and getting the shot. The Sony A7IV uses the larger NP-FZ100 Sony battery so I can have extended battery life without the need of adding a battery grip. One of my main concerns is overbearing myself with gear. The less attachments I have to keep track of in the mountains, the better. On a typical shoot lasting 6-8 hours, I only need to swap out the battery once. And sometimes not at all. Clearing up my bag and my need to keep track of extra batteries while moving from location to location and hiking through rivers and pines. On the technical side of things, the Sony A7IV delivers a wide array of quality so I can cater towards many different clients needs. The Sony A7IV provides 4:2:2, 10 bit, 60fps video in both 1080p and 4K resolution on a 7K sensor. Delivering a sharp image even with the 1.5x crop in 4K 60. And for those special moments when I can manage to get a couple in the water during the sunset, the Sony A7IV offers 1080p at 120 fps for those ultra smooth shots. The A7IV provides both S-Cinetone and SLog recording to ensure the ability to work with professional color grading and deliver a true cinematic film. And most importantly for the run and gun situations, the absolutely incredible autofocus the Sony A7IV delivers. With the customizable presets, I can have all the filming modes I would ever need at the turn of a dial. My presets go as follows.

    • M or manual mode is always set at 1080p 60 fps, 4:2:2, 10 bit.

    • One (1) on the dial is set for 4K 60 fps, 4:2:2, 10 bit.

    • Two (2) on the dial is set for 4K 30fps, 4:2:2, 10 bit.

    • Three (3) on the dial is set for 1080p 120 fps, 4:2:0 8 bit.

    Finally, on the films that need a rush order, the Sony A7IV dual records a proxy video in camera at either 720p or 1080p to make editing an absolute breeze. And the weather sealing is a nice touch when the park decides to harbor it’s own hurricane. This camera is built for convenience through simplicity and versatility. Making me confident in it’s ability to provide couples with their dream Glacier National Park elopement film.

The Secondary Camera - Sony A7Sii

  • This camera is my baby. Let me get that out of the way. I have had my Sony A7Sii since I was 16, and it has been my daily driver for every project I have worked on. I would not be where I am today without that camera. It feels amazing to be able to upgrade bodies and retire that camera to a tripod. For the past three to four years my A7Sii has fought rain, mud, wind, and the occasional wedding dress being tossed onto it. And I am happy to say that it is still kicking. It has been the definition of a workhorse, but it belongs on a tripod with a nice wide lens on it now. The Sony A7Sii is the perfect lightweight companion to the Sony A7IV. Along with the primary camera stationed on a gimbal, I film a secondary shot on a tripod of each elopement ceremony. Filmed in 4K 30 fps, it is crucial that I have backup footage of every ceremony for two reasons. It is common that after the elopement, the couple will reach out to me to ask if they can have a shot of just their ceremony. Which I have been happy and able to provide. But BIG NEWS, I will be providing the simple ceremony shot free of charge with every Glacier National Park Elopement Package moving forward, delivered within a week of filming. The Sony A7Sii also acts as my backup camera. The familiarity and quality that the Sony A7Sii provides for me, makes it the perfect backup camera just in case something happens. Nothing is more important to me than making sure a product is delivered no matter what. There is a theme evolving that consists of making sure all of my gear has backups and secondary solutions to the unpredictable environment of Glacier National Park. Moving forward I would love to officially retire this camera in the 2024 season. Moving the Sony A7IV to the new tripod and backup camera and Purchasing the Sony FX3 as the primary daily driver.

Tertiary and Behind the Scenes Camera - iPhone 14 Pro

  • I have found myself in situations over the years where having an additional device to capture another focal length or angle of a situation would have saved the day. Choosing to add my phone to this list of gear falls under the, “don’t overthink it” category. I’m sure you have often thought to yourself, “I need one more camera… just in case”. And for me, my phone is perfect. I have a camera that provides both 1080p and 4K resolutions right in my pocket. But it is more than just that. The importance of social media within a thriving business has never been higher. For me, my phone provides a dual service during a Glacier National Park Elopement. I set it up with my tripod camera to surprise the couple with a single shot of their ceremony. In one motion I can have a high quality shot directly on my phone for social media. Bringing a sense of relief to the constant push needed for successful social media. Simplicity. Along with the ability to always have coverage of the most epic moments in just seconds having a backup to my backup camera provides a peace of mind that is unmatched. Reliving my worries, and elevating my ability to focus on providing a high quality, truly unique film to every couple who elopes in Glacier National Park.

Drone For Out of Park Filming - DJI Mavic Air 2s

  • Disclaimer! I will never fly my drone in Glacier National Park and do not support the use of drones in any National Park. I will be more than happy to film outside of the park to add dynamic storytelling to a film. Montana is full of beautiful mountain ranges and for the couple who wants that extra bit of flavor, I am happy to provide several options. Including stock drone footage of Glacier National Park, additional adventure sessions. And footage from my extensive personal library.

L E N S E S

Sigma Art 24-70mm f2.8 - Paired with the Sony A7IV

  • The 24-70mm f2.8 is simply the best of all versatile lenses. But it is specifically useful in an environment like Glacier National Park. Elopements happen fast, and having the ability to go from a wide angle to telephoto like shots in a matter of seconds in crucial to telling a thorough story. The 24-35mm range is perfect for large sweeping shots of the couple, dwarfed by the mountains of Glacier National Park. The 50-70mm range pulls the depths of the mountains and skies right behind the couple. Perfect for intimate moments, high quality ceremony shots and important detail shots. Pairing this lens with the Sony A7IV is crucial to the filmmaking experience. The pairing of these two machines create tack sharp images with incredible autofocus abilities. Again, making more time for me to focus on composition and creating a comfortable experience for the couple.

G Series 12-24mm f4.0 - Paired with the Sony A7Sii

  • The 12-24mm f4.0 is chosen for its sense of security. When paired with the A7Sii as the tripod shot, I can ensure that the full range of the ceremony is captured. This lens goes very wide with no distortion and can be converted into a 18-35mm with the Sony Super-35 mode. This lens being a G series means it is crystal clear, providing a sharp image that when paired with the 4K ability of the Sony A7Sii means I can punch in in post production without losing any noticeable quality. This lens is also incredibly light, making it perfect for windy days up in the mountains.

Film Lenses?

  • I did not include this section in the list on purpose. It’s hidden sort of like an easter egg. I have a wide variety of vintage film lenses. And I would absolutely love to film an entire elopement on them. It would require the right couple. There would need to be an understanding that these lenses are old, softer and not as reliable. But the results would be absolutely beautiful. I would love to give the right couple a killer deal if they are willing to work with my creative vision on this. If you or someone you know are looking for a film on a budget. Please reach out to me by using the “Book Now” button on the top of the page.

A U D I O

RODE Wireless GO II - Connected to the Sony A7Sii

  • This is one of my biggest upgrades for this year. I am transitioning from standard recorders with a lav mic to a wireless transmitter system. The issues I ran into with traditional lav mics are loss of quality and loss of files. I am tired of having audio be such a worry. The RODE Wireless GO II solves all of my problems and more! I will be connecting the RODE Wireless to my Sony A7Sii stationed on the tripod, syncing the audio directly to the video files. Making editing and a quick delivery of the ceremony video almost instantaneous. The RODE Wireless GO II compact size is crucial to hiding the mics in the lines of the groom and officiant outfits. And by far my favorite part, the RODE Wireless GO II has an internal 7gb storage system in each transmitter for backups to ensure I walk away with usable audio no matter what. Both the transmitter and the receiver have incredibly long lasting rechargeable batteries. So worrying about keeping track of my triple A batteries is a thing of the past. Big sigh of relief.

S T A B I L I Z A T I O N

DJI Ronin RS3 - Housing the Sony A7IV Setup

  • The Ronin RS3 a clear choice for an upgrade from the Ronin S. To clarify, I have the RS3, not the RS3 Pro. The biggest difference between the two is the weight capacity. The RS3 has a capacity of 6.6lbs compared to 10lbs on the RS3 Pro. Compared to my previous gimbal, the Ronin S, the RS3 is more compact with the same 12 hour battery life. The RS3 allows wireless connection to the Sony A7IV. I can control the entirety of the camera from the gimbal. Saving me time and saving the gimbal extra stress on the motors from manually changing camera settings. The Ronin RS3 lock into place automatically when not in use, making traveling from location to location safer for both the gimbal and the camera. Providing confidence that I am keeping my gear in great condition that will last for many seasons.

Peak Design Tripod - Housing the Sony A7Sii setup

  • This tripod is hands down the best investment I have ever made. I have had this tripod for over a year now, and let me say… the money is worth it 10 fold. No more bulky tripod, giant ball heads or plates. The Peak Design Tripod sits effortlessly in my bag and compliments the rest of my gear perfectly. I can set up my entire tripod shot in less than a minute. With a 20lb weight capacity while only coming in at 2.8lbs, this tripod is perfect for packing into the mountains and securing the ceremony shots I need for my Glacier National Park Elopement films.

DJI Ronin S - Backup Gimbal

  • My Ronin S is nearly 4 years old, and still running perfectly. I have watched the wind knock it over in parking lots, and dresses fall onto it. And it still kicks! But having to keep track of a poorly designed wire just so I can remotely record, is not future proof. This gimbal will stay in my gear as my backup or second shooter gimbal. This is the perfect starter gimbal for anyone looking to buy!

A C C E S S O R I E S

True Smart Knife

  • Having a solid pocket knife is very important to me. I found that my standard single blade knife was not necessarily ideal for run and gun videography situations. So I sought a knife that had three qualities.

    • Sharp

    • Multifunctional

    • Discrete

    The True Smart Knife has a great blade on it. Nothing special, but it gets the job done. I have to constantly cut loose strands off of suits and dresses. The True Smart Knife is very multifunctional. Described as a 15 in 1 multitool. I feel very confident in needing to make and adjustments to my gear. The “prybar” is especially useful for adjusting tripod mounts and 1/4 20 bolts. The knife is also very compact for a multitool, making it less obnoxious than pulling out grandpas swiss army knife looking for the scissors.

Bear Spray

  • Need I say more?

After Thoughts

In the upcoming week I will be updating this blog with affiliate links and providing a discussion board for any questions that may come up. This Friday I will be releasing a video on YouTube discussing this gear in person and showing real world setups. Be sure to subscribe.

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Thank you for reading.

Nicholas Brooks