I grew up in Lower Michigan. Went north to hike and camp whenever I could. Seeing this video brought back a lot of memories. Such a beautiful and varied landscape. Thanks for posting. Tom Loves DIY
Really nice video Matt. I think the bench shot was a little tight but going wider might skew the image a bit on closer shots like that so as always its either camera placement or different lens with the pros and cons that come with each. The rest of the shots didnt feel tight so maybe on those kinds of setups just place the camera further away. Might just be something to play with, which is part of the fun anyway. Good luck wrapping up classes and hope you find a good spot out West. Western Washington is really nice and if you need hike ideas in the Olympics, I can throw you some Gaia links...
Nice little video Matt and great thoughts. 'Buckle down now to make future time for more hikes and video work' - same thing I'm telling myself. Not only do Kraig and Erik capture their surroundings beautifully, they thread it all together to tell a story. I love that. Keep up the good work!
Matt, I’ve loved all of your content, even back when you were “Battle Rattle” and doing a lot of gear reviews. More videos like this would be welcomed. Good luck on boards and starting a job out west!
Great looking footage and wish you well with your filmmaking. Will say that although I am from Scotland I did spend a while living in Orland Park, just outside Chicago many years ago. Atb
I think your filming was super on point. I like wider lenses as long as there's no distortion. I hope you enjoy living on this side of the country. Good luck Matt 😊😊😊!
Great footage, give me more please. My son will be going to Columbia College this semester in Chicago to finish his second Masters. I'm planning on visiting after the Colorado Trail... Looking forward to your content, after your work is finished. Terry
Nice video man! This one passed under my radar for some reason, but I watch all your videos and dig them. Great shots here, I especially liked that first sunlit river. Keep up the good work. I wish I had the time to put into making nicer trail videos. Happy trails homie!
I felt like watching a Kraig Adams hike more than a Normark’s. Erik has a slower pace, he’s more contemplative. I loved this movie of yours, the imaging was gorgeous and you managed good views. As usual nature is the most important, you have to make us feel it’s beat, you’ve got it...👍
I have to agree with the comments that mention telling a story, ideally, with you as the guiding focus of the narrative. None of us, and especially not the camera man, is an impartial objective viewer of the scene. This is the difference I think between consuming the outdoors as a commodity product and being consumed BY the outdoors and integrating into them if only in a small way. I realize this is asking a lot for a weekend romp but a couple of establishing shots at or getting to the trailhead can be used creatively. Nature Porn gifs are great but a journey even in miniature is more compelling for me. We're here on your channel because we like you after all.
Thanks, Matt! Glad you're getting out and trying new things. I'd love to hear more about your ideas for PT and hiking (exercise, stretching, recovery). I think that's a space that is really not explored as much as it could be on UA-cam. I wish you the best with the last bits of schooling and your move out West!
Nice video. I think I’m going to buy the S5. As soon as my refund for a camera I returned is processed. Are you using the kit lens? The shot at the bench is fine. Online we can’t see what you could. It’s an artistic decision. I was glad to see a non GoPro quality shot of a place I’ve never been. I understand the Porcupines are always rough going. I have a niece in Oregon who is a PT. She takes short contracts. Her passion is climbing rock. I have a daughter in Los Angles she is in PT. Recovering from a slipped disc.
Awwww sorry about your LA daughter! You won't regret the S5. The autofocus will pulse at times, but it's not as bad as people like to talk about. The color science is right on the money. The shots you see are the standard profile and completely unaltered.
great video.. very peaceful. went back to look and maybe in that scene you mention it could have been wider or you just place the camera further back. the thing is to mix up your shots so it didn't stand out as terrible. if you are looking for something wider the sigma 14-24mm 2.8 is highly regarded (but it's quite heavy) & could be useful for star footage. otherwise get a nikon adapter & you have a world of great old school wide lenses to tap into. how did the injinji's go? thanks for uploading.
Look Matt, I have been following your channel for the better part of 3 or 4 years. Back when you had made those videos on your KS40. All I gotta say is to follow your passions, and don't get hung up on "copying" others. You know who did backpacking vlogs before Kraig Adams and the Like, Neemor, John Zahorian, Jupiter, Darwin, all these guys borrowed from each other. Backpacking is something that has stayed the same at its core for a millennia, save for the gear getting better. That said I wouldn't feel bad about falling into that vlogger genre. It's up you what you want to do. Anyway I am heading out for my second PCT thru in a few days. Wish me luck!
Nice video!! Glad you are experimenting and pushing limits!! As for your question- I thought the camera placement walking across the bridge to the bench would have been better for the snacking. Then we’d have have a better view of what you were seeing. Camera placement for snacking shot could have been of you
Awesome video! Also from Chicago and planning an early May loop over a weekend up to the Porkupine mountains for the first time! Would love any recommendations or tips for trip planning
You have made some awesome gear reviews - maybe you could make them in the great outdoors 💁 Just got my selv a Laowa 7,5mm F2.0 lens for MFT (15mm FF) Great for landscape 🏕
Nice! I always enjoy your vids! I love the new camera - luscious footage for sure. As regards the lens yes, 16mm at least. And I actually wondered if you'd got an external mic because the sound was pretty good I thought. BTW is that a new KS?
@@MattShafter Looking forward to it! I'm guessing you sent Laurent some DCF for the build? I'm also interested to hear your thoughts regarding the new shoulder straps compared to your previous KS40's straps.
Hiiiiiiiii. I was curious about 3.5oz dcf so I mailed some to him. He doesn't really like it's price/performance but I found some discounted! I think he did it cause I'm a good customer lol
Kraig Adam’s had a sponsorship deal with Panasonic and did a couple of trips with an S5. He decided not to continue the sponsorship and sold off the s5.
@@MattShafter I hear you. I’m trying to decide between the Sony a6400/6600 or Linux S5. The advantage of the Sony a series are smaller, lighter and less expensive lenses.
@@MattShafter now that the gh5ii has been announced would you have considered that over the s5? M43 has much smaller and lighter lenses. I understand that for pure photo/video work the full frame makes more sense today given they’re now the same price. However since our priority is UL I’m thinking m43 is the better option??
@@alexl8328 For me, the objective is full frame quality. I get that UA-cam slaughters overall quality, but I want to start with the best source file possible. I think if both were out, I might go for the S5. I’m honestly waiting for a 10bit version of the Sony A7C that has the better cine colors. Heck, FX3 might be in my future.
COULD the shot have been wider? Yeah, sure. But it didn't need to be. It wasn't a "bad" shot. In fact, I didn't even notice until you mentioned it. When capturing the great outdoors with a camera, you are never going to get it all. Accept that. I have, which is probably why I didn't question the shot as it played through the first time. The equipment made for great quality video. And even the sound is good. Maybe you can get better sound quality, but what you have does not stand out as sub-standard. I'm going to Yosemite next week. I'll tell the gods who hang out there to use their powers to get you there soon.
I'm not a videographer. But I am a professional photographer. And a lense as low as 17mm would create quite the distortion in your shot. So be ready to drop big bucks on that lense if you want to avoid that.
No one else is doing seriously nerdy ultralight videos like you, but now you want to just copy the Kraig Adams video style? If that's your passion, go for it. Maybe find a way to mix the best of both worlds? Cool trip video + nerdy UL stuff instead of HERE'S A STEP BY STEP BREAKDOWN OF HOW TO DO THIS EXACT TRIP like KA does.
Ahhh yes. I am not being clear. The nerdy videos are NOT going away... at all. Still love those. But peppered in WILL be trail vids. Throw in PT hiking vids as well.
I grew up in Lower Michigan. Went north to hike and camp whenever I could. Seeing this video brought back a lot of memories. Such a beautiful and varied landscape. Thanks for posting. Tom Loves DIY
Glad you enjoyed it
Living the stoked life. Enjoy the journey Matt.
Thanks Rob!
When I saw your video, I thought of Eric Normark. The colors are beautiful. Good stuff.
Nice!!! Colors are good! Thanks BB
are you going to do Orthopedic PT? Loved the Video footage. I like the scenery shots vs alot of dialogue that alot of people do. Porkies are awesome!
Ortho is where I will start! Thanks for the kind words!
Really nice video Matt. I think the bench shot was a little tight but going wider might skew the image a bit on closer shots like that so as always its either camera placement or different lens with the pros and cons that come with each. The rest of the shots didnt feel tight so maybe on those kinds of setups just place the camera further away. Might just be something to play with, which is part of the fun anyway.
Good luck wrapping up classes and hope you find a good spot out West. Western Washington is really nice and if you need hike ideas in the Olympics, I can throw you some Gaia links...
I was in the Olympics in 2019... LOVED it. Thanks WK!
Nice little video Matt and great thoughts. 'Buckle down now to make future time for more hikes and video work' - same thing I'm telling myself. Not only do Kraig and Erik capture their surroundings beautifully, they thread it all together to tell a story. I love that. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Midlife!!!
Matt, I’ve loved all of your content, even back when you were “Battle Rattle” and doing a lot of gear reviews. More videos like this would be welcomed. Good luck on boards and starting a job out west!
Woooo hooooo thanks P
Nice section of trail. The video was really good and the quality was really good and some fresh angles.
Thanks Daniel!
Great looking footage and wish you well with your filmmaking. Will say that although I am from Scotland I did spend a while living in Orland Park, just outside Chicago many years ago. Atb
We miss you! Come back! .... I need to get my ass over and do the TGO in Scotland.
I think your filming was super on point. I like wider lenses as long as there's no distortion. I hope you enjoy living on this side of the country. Good luck Matt 😊😊😊!
I hope so too!
Great footage, give me more please. My son will be going to Columbia College this semester in Chicago to finish his second Masters. I'm planning on visiting after the Colorado Trail... Looking forward to your content, after your work is finished. Terry
Thanks!!!!
Nice video man! This one passed under my radar for some reason, but I watch all your videos and dig them. Great shots here, I especially liked that first sunlit river. Keep up the good work. I wish I had the time to put into making nicer trail videos. Happy trails homie!
I am working hard to understand what it takes to make a good trail film. Thanks man!
Nicely done.
Thank you! Cheers!
I felt like watching a Kraig Adams hike more than a Normark’s. Erik has a slower pace, he’s more contemplative. I loved this movie of yours, the imaging was gorgeous and you managed good views. As usual nature is the most important, you have to make us feel it’s beat, you’ve got it...👍
Thanks Chip!!
I have to agree with the comments that mention telling a story, ideally, with you as the guiding focus of the narrative. None of us, and especially not the camera man, is an impartial objective viewer of the scene. This is the difference I think between consuming the outdoors as a commodity product and being consumed BY the outdoors and integrating into them if only in a small way.
I realize this is asking a lot for a weekend romp but a couple of establishing shots at or getting to the trailhead can be used creatively. Nature Porn gifs are great but a journey even in miniature is more compelling for me. We're here on your channel because we like you after all.
Nice feedback! I had a whole set of shots at me getting ready at the motel and getting out of the car but I didn't use them.... noted!
Have done the TGO a couple of times now and a fantastic experience. Hope you get the chance to try it. Atb
Hope to see ya!
Thanks, Matt! Glad you're getting out and trying new things. I'd love to hear more about your ideas for PT and hiking (exercise, stretching, recovery). I think that's a space that is really not explored as much as it could be on UA-cam. I wish you the best with the last bits of schooling and your move out West!
Yessss shortened hamstrings due to flexed knees = hiker hobble! Thank you.
@@MattShafter I've read that several times over and don't understand enough to follow fully. Sounds like a great topic for a video, though! :D
@@AaronBrooks1 Ooops. I mispelled "due" CORRECTED
brilliant work - thank you for sharing!
Thanks Evan!
Nice video. I think I’m going to buy the S5. As soon as my refund for a camera I returned is processed. Are you using the kit lens? The shot at the bench is fine. Online we can’t see what you could. It’s an artistic decision. I was glad to see a non GoPro quality shot of a place I’ve never been. I understand the Porcupines are always rough going. I have a niece in Oregon who is a PT. She takes short contracts. Her passion is climbing rock. I have a daughter in Los Angles she is in PT. Recovering from a slipped disc.
Awwww sorry about your LA daughter! You won't regret the S5. The autofocus will pulse at times, but it's not as bad as people like to talk about. The color science is right on the money. The shots you see are the standard profile and completely unaltered.
great video.. very peaceful. went back to look and maybe in that scene you mention it could have been wider or you just place the camera further back. the thing is to mix up your shots so it didn't stand out as terrible. if you are looking for something wider the sigma 14-24mm 2.8 is highly regarded (but it's quite heavy) & could be useful for star footage. otherwise get a nikon adapter & you have a world of great old school wide lenses to tap into.
how did the injinji's go? thanks for uploading.
Woooooo that's a heavy boi 14-24! I think my future will be 16-35! Injinji's are great, at least after you get them on lol
Look Matt, I have been following your channel for the better part of 3 or 4 years. Back when you had made those videos on your KS40. All I gotta say is to follow your passions, and don't get hung up on "copying" others. You know who did backpacking vlogs before Kraig Adams and the Like, Neemor, John Zahorian, Jupiter, Darwin, all these guys borrowed from each other. Backpacking is something that has stayed the same at its core for a millennia, save for the gear getting better. That said I wouldn't feel bad about falling into that vlogger genre. It's up you what you want to do.
Anyway I am heading out for my second PCT thru in a few days.
Wish me luck!
Good luck!!! Have so much fun!
Beautiful ! Good perspectives for the future !
By the way, when will you post your annual gear list video bro ? Hope it'll be an hour long :)
I am not sure ill make one this year!!! So little has changed! I am blowing up on TikTok now as well. Come find me!
Really nice shots man!
Thanks Paul!
Nice video!! Glad you are experimenting and pushing limits!!
As for your question- I thought the camera placement walking across the bridge to the bench would have been better for the snacking. Then we’d have have a better view of what you were seeing. Camera placement for snacking shot could have been of you
...crossing the bridge. Just my thoughts.
Nice! Good idea
Awesome!!
Thanks SD. My first with a real camera. Get Ready!
Awesome video! Also from Chicago and planning an early May loop over a weekend up to the Porkupine mountains for the first time! Would love any recommendations or tips for trip planning
I'm a fan of the lake, so hit that lake front a swoop up to Mirror Lake!
You have made some awesome gear reviews - maybe you could make them in the great outdoors 💁 Just got my selv a Laowa 7,5mm F2.0 lens for MFT (15mm FF) Great for landscape 🏕
That's true, I could make them if tge weather is good. 15mm is wide!
Nice! I always enjoy your vids! I love the new camera - luscious footage for sure. As regards the lens yes, 16mm at least. And I actually wondered if you'd got an external mic because the sound was pretty good I thought.
BTW is that a new KS?
It's totally a new KS40. I gotta get a new video out about it.
@@MattShafter Looking forward to it! I'm guessing you sent Laurent some DCF for the build? I'm also interested to hear your thoughts regarding the new shoulder straps compared to your previous KS40's straps.
@@MattShafter and the microphone? :)
@@starvetheegofeedthesoul9072 Just the stock microphone
Yeah boyyyyyy
Not even 10 seconds!!!! LOL
When did you get a new KS UL pack? What material is the main body? About to order one myself.
Hiiiiiiiii. I was curious about 3.5oz dcf so I mailed some to him. He doesn't really like it's price/performance but I found some discounted! I think he did it cause I'm a good customer lol
@@MattShafter That's some next level customization. I wish DCF was an option for KS Ultralight. One can hope for the future! :)
@@GreatAmericanHikes I think 3.5oz is disappearing! You see this Diamond hide stuff?
@@MattShafter I haven't heard of Diamond hide. Sounds fancy.
Nice video!
Thanks Ymaid
What pack are you using here? Is it DCF?
I sent Laurent 3.5oz DCF. He doesn't carry it.
What made you decide on the S5 vs the A7SIII? Also, can you discuss the rest of your video set-up?
Kraig Adam’s had a sponsorship deal with Panasonic and did a couple of trips with an S5. He decided not to continue the sponsorship and sold off the s5.
Yes, but his footage with the S5 was AWESOME. The Sony A7SIII is great, but I am a student and it was WAY out of my budget right now.
@@MattShafter I hear you. I’m trying to decide between the Sony a6400/6600 or Linux S5. The advantage of the Sony a series are smaller, lighter and less expensive lenses.
@@MattShafter now that the gh5ii has been announced would you have considered that over the s5? M43 has much smaller and lighter lenses. I understand that for pure photo/video work the full frame makes more sense today given they’re now the same price. However since our priority is UL I’m thinking m43 is the better option??
@@alexl8328 For me, the objective is full frame quality. I get that UA-cam slaughters overall quality, but I want to start with the best source file possible. I think if both were out, I might go for the S5. I’m honestly waiting for a 10bit version of the Sony A7C that has the better cine colors. Heck, FX3 might be in my future.
COULD the shot have been wider? Yeah, sure. But it didn't need to be. It wasn't a "bad" shot. In fact, I didn't even notice until you mentioned it. When capturing the great outdoors with a camera, you are never going to get it all. Accept that. I have, which is probably why I didn't question the shot as it played through the first time. The equipment made for great quality video. And even the sound is good. Maybe you can get better sound quality, but what you have does not stand out as sub-standard. I'm going to Yosemite next week. I'll tell the gods who hang out there to use their powers to get you there soon.
Yosemite, yes!!! Ty Bob. Hrmmmmmmm I might be able get away with no shotgun mic? I'll give it ago anyways and compare. Thanks
I'm not a videographer. But I am a professional photographer. And a lense as low as 17mm would create quite the distortion in your shot. So be ready to drop big bucks on that lense if you want to avoid that.
Yep! Been watching reviews. I don't mind spending $$ as it's only one lens ill need.
Killer video. New pack?
New KS40! Full decked and still only 16.8oz
the george clooney of UL
Where is Amal!!!
I thought it was plenty wide, anymore and I think it would be too distorted.
Yeh, distortion would not be good. The 16-35 is looking ok. We'll see!
There's my boy
Out here loosing school weight!!!
Ya, give a wider lens a try. After all, the land is the other character in the movie.
Yeh. 16-35 will be the future lens I think.
No need for a wider lense if you back your camera up
Very true! 👌
No one else is doing seriously nerdy ultralight videos like you, but now you want to just copy the Kraig Adams video style? If that's your passion, go for it. Maybe find a way to mix the best of both worlds? Cool trip video + nerdy UL stuff instead of HERE'S A STEP BY STEP BREAKDOWN OF HOW TO DO THIS EXACT TRIP like KA does.
Ahhh yes. I am not being clear. The nerdy videos are NOT going away... at all. Still love those. But peppered in WILL be trail vids. Throw in PT hiking vids as well.
His last video was about ziplock bags calm down lol
@@greygardens81 True. Caught me in an emo moment.
HYB
HYB!