Steven Schultz

Hey there, my title is Steven Schultz! I’m a movie photographer and documentary filmmaker based mostly in Chicago, Illinois.

I purchased my first point-and-shoot once I was 13 and received my first DSLR about 5 years after that once I left for faculty. I’ve been a photographer for a few decade now, for much longer than I’ve been a filmmaker, however I believe the 2 disciplines are deeply intertwined.

As you’ll see in my equipment, my gear encompasses stills and cinema cameras, which is a mirrored image of how I function holistically as a visible artist.

Let’s get began!

Practically every bit of drugs I point out right here is one which I’ve stress-tested in all kinds of labor environments. I began on the Canon 60D almost ten years in the past, which developed into the 5D III, then the Canon R, and now the R5 and C70.

I’ve liked utilizing Canon cameras and lenses for all of my digital work.

They work completely for my particular wants, and I believe that’s what each particular person ought to search for in a digicam equipment, no matter model. I’m a giant believer in preserving boundaries to creativity at a minimal, which incorporates refining my digicam equipment to the necessities.

You’ll see a number of forms of cameras talked about (cinema, mirrorless, 35mm movie, and 120 movie), they usually every have a selected objective in my equipment.

Cameras

Canon R5 – that is my go-to stills digicam and in addition serves as a wonderful b-cam to the Canon C70. I shoot loads of my YouTube movies with it, and I really get numerous use out of the 8K RAW as properly.

This was an particularly useful digicam to have available as we filmed our function documentary as a result of we may simply fly it on a gimbal and belief the autofocus to trace our topic, whether or not we have been filming from a automobile, electrical skateboard, or bike.

Canon EOS C70 – this digicam has all the things I need in a cinema digicam with only a few compromises. It’s particularly properly fitted to the kind of work that we do, documentary, quick type, narrative, YouTube, and run-n-gun. The DGO sensor supplies a beautiful picture, built-in NDs are extraordinarily helpful, and the in-body mini-XLR inputs are extremely versatile. 

Mamiya 645AFD – this workhorse movie digicam has influenced my model greater than another digicam I’ve owned. The shape issue is acquainted, and the autofocus is implausible, so there are only a few boundaries between the concept and the conception of a picture.

I’ve put someplace between two fifty and 300 rolls of movie by way of it within the final two years that I’ve owned it, and it exhibits no signal of slowing down. It’s simply one in every of my favourite cameras ever.

Leica M6 – that is the latest addition to my digicam equipment. I had no plans to buy one, however this explicit digicam was gifted to me by my pal, Joe. Within the temporary time I’ve owned it, I can already really feel how it’s altering the way in which I create pictures.

That is my each day digicam, and I’m particularly involved in bringing it on set as I direct or DP to doc the behind-the-scenes of all of it. It is a true legacy piece in my equipment.

Lenses

Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L – my favourite autofocusing lens, interval. I’ve owned it for almost 4 years and have taken over 100,000 pictures with it. I may go on and on about it, however I’ll spare you the studying and level you to my video evaluate of it as an alternative.

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 IS L – that is the lens we use most frequently on the C70. The approximate 22-50mm equal on the Tremendous 35 sensor is ideal for almost each state of affairs. The picture rendering is gorgeous, and the picture stabilization is implausible.

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L – that is the primary 70-200 I’ve ever cared to personal as a result of the dimensions and weight of most 70-200s beforehand deterred me. Not solely is that this new design extraordinarily journey pleasant, however the sharpness throughout the focal vary is phenomenal, and the picture stabilization is unbelievable.

I can get usable handheld footage at 200mm, so it appears like you might be dishonest.

Lights

Aputure 300X – these are a number of the finest lights I’ve ever used. We now have two of them in our studio that we use for all the things from YouTube and social movies to product and business work. The overall output of the sunshine is superb, however the true promoting level for us is the bi-color flexibility.

Aputure MC – these little lights are unbelievable! They’re a type of uncommon instruments that invite you to be artistic and discover methods to make use of them. Nice battery life, full RGB shade, USB-C charging, and tons of artistic choices proper within the palm of your hand.

Mics

Sennheiser MKE 600 – this microphone punches means above its value level. The audio high quality is full and clear, it really works very properly as a growth or on-camera mic, and you’ll select to energy it by way of phantom energy or with a AA battery. Plus, it consists of an XLR-to-3.5mm cable, which supplies you the flexibility to make use of it with cameras that would not have XLR ports, for instance, mirrorless cameras.

Sony TX660 – this has turn out to be one of many most-used mics in our studio. The sound high quality is surprisingly nice, and it’s particularly helpful for weddings due to how small it’s. It is a no-brainer backup audio supply for any state of affairs, and I at all times preserve one in my bag.

Rode VideoMic GO II – I use this as my journey, on-camera microphone. It’s compact and light-weight, and it’s passively powered by the digicam, so I don’t have to fret about batteries. Identical to the Sony, this mic stays in my bag always.

Baggage

ThinkTank Curler Derby – the massive promoting level for me is the four-wheel setup, because it makes touring a lot simpler. Issue within the nice construct high quality, tons of capability, and a number of seize handles, and also you get my favourite carry-on digicam bag. Extremely really useful.

Compagnon Ingredient – that is the closest factor I’ve discovered to an ideal digicam backpack. It matches beneath a aircraft seat, holds an ample quantity of drugs, is constructed with sturdy x-pac material and waterproof zippers, has load lifters and a inflexible plate within the again panel, and a lot extra.

It’s essentially the most comfy, sturdy, and protecting digicam backpack I’ve discovered that additionally appears cool and doesn’t scream “digicam bag.”

Intelligent Provide Co. Sling – for my part, this sling completely marries type and performance. It’s made with rugged, weather-resistant supplies, appears implausible, and simply holds all the things I want for a day trip taking pictures.

That is my go-to lens bag at weddings and my on a regular basis 35mm movie images bag.

Tripods

Peak Design Carbon Fiber Journey Tripod – you recognize the saying, “one of the best digicam is the one you have got with you?” Properly, seems the identical is true for tripods. I’ve by no means loved utilizing tripods, however the measurement of this one has inspired me to deliver it extra locations and subsequently make extra pictures that I in any other case couldn’t have.

{Hardware} & Software program

Apple 16” M1 Max MacBook Professional – I really feel dangerous sneaking this in on the finish as a result of it’s one of the best buy I’ve ever made for my enterprise. If I may have solely made one funding in 2022, it will have been this pc. It would sound dramatic, nevertheless it has utterly revamped my post-production workflow and saved me a lot time.

Adobe Artistic Cloud – Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Professional, and Audition are my most used apps in Artistic Cloud, and I typically faucet into Adobe Fonts as properly. Plus, the included cloud storage is superior for saving undertaking information and paperwork on the go.

Misc.

Intelligent Provide Digital camera Harness & Straps – these are my favourite leather-based straps and digicam harnesses. The break up ring variations look nice on movie cameras, and the straps with Peak Design {hardware} are a complete recreation changer. Simply quietly, you too can get ten % off any Intelligent product with code “SCHULTZ” at checkout.

Tiffen Glimmerglass 1 Filters – I have experimented with a ton of dream filters, however this one is my private favourite. It offers my footage a delicate softness that maintains distinction within the shadows whereas letting the highlights glow only a bit.

Lastly, I preserve a bunch of various just-in-case gadgets in my baggage always, Tylenol, Tums, Band-Aids, Neosporin, face wipes, protein bars, money, and many others.

Thanks a lot for spending your time with me! I hope you discovered one thing helpful right here to use to your individual equipment.

As I discussed on the prime, I firmly imagine that images and filmmaking are deeply intertwined, and it’s the behavior of training each concurrently that retains my creativity honed. In the event you’re ever feeling depleted or missing path, perhaps attempt to introduce a model new artistic outlet into your life, as you by no means know the place inspiration can come from.

In the event you’re involved in extra of my work or have any questions on my equipment, try the hyperlinks beneath!

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