Shooting Driver Interviews with the Fujifilm X-T4

Over last weekend I shot several video interviews with drivers during the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and Michelin Le Mans Cup (MLMC) using a new Fujifilm X-T4 video rig for the first time.

I have spent the last few months investing in the new X-T4 and associated gear with a view of using it primarily for video at the ELMS and MLMC events. To this end I bought a second X-T4 last week and a Smallrig cage so I can attach a 5 inch Freeworld LCD screen and microphones easily.

Here is an interview we shot with Algarve Pro Racing's Gaby Aubry who was interviewed in French by ELMS Communications Manager Sophie Liger.

As you can see in the image at the top of the page, this interview was conducted in the paddock with the X-T4 video rig attached to 3 Legged Thing 'Jay' Carbon Fibre video tripod. The lens used was the superb XF16-55mm f2.8, which was fitted with a Haida M10 filter holder with a 3 stop ND filter fitted to allow a wider aperture to be used in the bright sunlight.

The audio was via a Rode Wireless Go microphone, with the Interview Go adapter for the transmitter.

Lighting was via a Rotalight Neo2 which was attached to a 3 Legged Thing 'Billy' Carbon Fibre tripod. The light was placed to add some fill to the deep shadow on the right hand side of Gaby's face caused by the strong sunlight in the paddock.

The X-T4 was set to video mode using 4K25 with the film simulation set to 'Eterna'. I find 'Eterna' a great base simulation which is easy to colour grade in Adobe Premier Pro in post production.

The only 'gripe' I have with this set up is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone socket on the X-T4 body. I use headphones to check the sound levels to see if there is any distortion or background noise.

The X-T3 had a 3.5mm socket built in but this has been removed on the T4. You either have to use the socket built into the battery grip, but if you don't have a grip, then you can use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter which is in the box. However adapters can get lost or fail, but as a 2019 MacBook Pro user, I am sort of used to using 'dongles' or adapters.

However, in my professional opinion, a 3.5mm headphone socket should've been fitted to the X-T4 from the get go and this is a step backwards from the X-T3 it replaces.

The second set of videos were the interviews with the winning drivers from the ELMS and MLMC races. The video below is of the post race press conference with overall ELMS winners Phil Hanson and Filipe Albuquerque, which was shot against the ELMS backdrop in the media centre.

The set up was similar to the earlier interviews in the paddock with the audio coming from a Rode VideoMic Pro R and the Rode Wireless Go on the camera. The two microphones were fed into the camera audio via a 3.5mm splitter cable which allows for two feeds to be recorded, one on each channel.

The audio feed for this interview came direct from the sound desk, which recorded on a Zoom H2n sound recorder plugged directly into the desk for a clean audio feed. The audio was then synchronised with the camera audio in Adobe Premier Pro and then the camera audio was deleted. However if the desk audio had failed for any reason, the camera audio was still good from the two microphone set up.

CLICK HERE to see all of the interview videos shot using the Fujifilm X-T4 in the ELMS and MLMC.

Last month I used the X-T4 trackside at Le Castellet (see video below) but I haven't had the opportunity to do that here. When the FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship begins next month, I will be using the X-T4 video set up to record the rally cars in action for the review videos I produce for the FIA.

Here is a visual look at the video setup on the Fujifilm X-T4 -