DSLR - Video

Alex90 · #1 (**permalink**) 22-09-2010, 10:39 PM

I'm hoping someone or several someones for that matter might be able to give me some information and advice on filming using SLR cameras.

I have done a small amount of research and found cameras that have the video feature, but im unsure of whats what.

which camera's are the best one for wildlife filming? anything below £1500 is an option (although if there is a massive diffference my budget could potentially stretch)

The reason i fancy and slr as opposed to one of the fixed lens cameras is due to the focal length and lenses i already own.

however im not ruling out other cameras and would be interested in comparisons of the two.

With SLR's would i be right in thinking that it is all manual focus when filming?

amount of footage without breaks? i believe its something like 12 minutes on one particular slr (i presume this is digital)?

Digital or tape? i personally think it would be easier and more convenient to work with digital but what are the pro's and cons?

From what i can gather its easier to use the other video cameras than an slr so given that what do you think my best option would be on my budget?

focal length is something that might worry me slightly on the normal video cameras, a reason i like the ability to change lenses.

any help much appreciated

Alex

squishy · #2 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 08:13 AM

Does that budget include lenses? What lenses do you currently own? The mount of the lenses you have now should make a big difference to your choice. If you swap brands you'll have to invest in a new set of lenses, which would eat a chunk out of your budget.

Canon's tend to be regarded as the best for video, the 550D records superb quality 1080p. Also, the new 60D is on the way which will also have HD video. Within your budget you could also get a 7D body, but that wouldn't leave room for buying lenses. The 7D is one of the best crop sensor cameras available at the moment.

Nikon also do HD video, but in the models available at the moment, only at 720p and limited to 5 minute shots. But the D7000 set to release soon will have 1080p. Though a D7000 would stretch your budget if you include lenses.

Remember to budget for a tripod and a smooth head for video as well.

Personally, I'd just go to a camera shop and try out a couple of different models, and pick the one you prefer the feel of.

On a side note, I've just realised you're AlexEames on flickr. I'm Adamhawtin, admin of the Young wildlife photographers group. hello

.

Since I now know you're a canon user with a canon mount 150-500, I'd say look at a 7D, 60D (if you wait a while for it to be released and the price to come down) or 550D.

7D is the 'daddy' of canon APS-C cameras. But a 550D would leave you with enough cash to start chasing up the 300/4 or 400/5.6 I know you're after.

The 40D would make an excellent back up body alongside a 7D, or make a great primary body for stills with a 550D for video.

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 08:29 AM

Hi Alex90

With your available budget why not buy a decent camcorder rather than the limitations of video on on a DSLR?

You'll benefit from good optical and digital zoom or am I missing the point?

I've used a Sony Handycam HC19 for about ten years now. It slips in my pocket easily and I usually carry one of those small gorillapod tripods to help with stability when needed.

There are some good models out there now.

tom00_uk · #4 (**permalink**) 24-09-2010, 02:07 PM

i have shot a few short movies on my 550d, its ok quality, but you need a separate mic unless your going to scrub out the sound. you can hear the lens adjusting in my recording very clearly

SouthwestSnapper · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2010, 11:59 PM

This thread is a little old now, but thought I would add my thoughts as this is my area and there are a few things on here that are not really correct....

Quote:

Originally Posted by squishy

Does that budget include lenses? What lenses do you currently own? The mount of the lenses you have now should make a big difference to your choice. If you swap brands you'll have to invest in a new set of lenses, which would eat a chunk out of your budget.

For video you will only ever be using manual everything, so you can use any lens on any camera, you simply use adaptors...I use old nikkon glass on EOS body for example. NEVER will you use auto focus or need auto iris, its simply not reliable enough when you are rolling and committing to tape/film/card, you must become a master of the manual focus and iris pulls, with practice it becomes second nature......

Some tests have been done and im sorry to say but the 550D will return as good if not better image quality than the 7D, it also has a better LCD screen. It is not as well made and the grip is small, but for video this is an irrelevance as you will not be holding the camera that way, in fact you wont be hold it all you will be on a tripod or some knid of hand help rig..

You need to look into the frame rates, lots of camera cannot return the correct rates for broadcast/cinema and are only for internet..

the 550D, 7D, 5D mk11 and eos 1's are fine now that canon have uprated the firmware..the 550D can also shoot at 50/60FPS if you can live with 720P, this means you can do a half speed slow mo with this camera which is pretty neat...it also has the mega 7X crop which again at a push if you really need to use it can make all your lens 7X what they are already, so a 200mm would be a 2240mm after the 1.6x you already get from the APSc..(i think i got my maths correct?)

''quote''
Remember to budget for a tripod and a smooth head for video as well.
''

Really never a truer word has been said, your tripod head is king with video, a proper video tripod will cost around £8000 and you can spend more, so some very serious investment in a really good head is something you need to look at if you want to film usable footage.. because DSLR are so light you can get smooth moves from a cheap video head...mine for DSLR was around £150 on ebay second hand its not bad..

I would say forget the 7D unless you want to use it for stills as it offers nothing over a 550D...the 60D is a godsend as it has the articulating screen, this is worth the extra cost over the 550D..

Even though these type of cameras still shoot in the rather poor h.264 format which was designed really as a viewing format for Utube etc, the BBC has now done a bit of a U turn and now are happy to take footage acquired on these cameras for use in there programs. As soon as that happened i went out and bought my first Video DSLR a 550D, my mate has the 7D we are both happy with the results...the great thing about using these as video cameras is that you can buy some really good glass for them for peanuts. I manage to get my setup with six lenses, battery grip, remote, spare batts, LED light,top mic, etc etc etc for under £1000..this is just crazy low money for a video camera that can produce 35mm eqse footage. All long as you can live with the short comings and messing a little in post...(too much to go into now i feel)

Hope this is helpful to anyone wanting to shot video footage??

Oh and as regards to sound EVER camera will require off board sound anyway really you can use a cheap £30 top mic as a guide track as with even the top HD cameras they shot planet earth etc on...