Cameras.

hsavage

hsavage

Member
not really sure how this works but i was told to answer these questions and post it in here.
It would really, really help people give you good advice to answer the infinitely open ended question, "what camera should I get?", if you answered these questions first before making a thread. If you copy/pasted and answered them each individually in your thread, that would be awesome. If this could be a form you had to fill out when you submitted that thread (which gets posted several times a day) it would make life so much easier, but for now, READ THIS FIRST!
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1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future? max 2500

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own? little dslr experience some video experience.

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc) none.

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc)ski edits only.

5) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming? no i would only be using it.

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc)All shots, follow cams, stills etc.

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great. 15' macbook pro.

7) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout)Final Cut Studio

---------------------------Optional Section, for those seeking a more intensive upgrade/purchase------------------------
1) Do you think you might consider using a DSLR?Definitely

2) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS? Very little

3) Do you know the limitations to using HDSLRS?No.

4) Are you willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR, and how to shoot with manual lenses?Yes

5) Again, do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filmingI will be the only one filming.

Am very curious to know the difference between filming with a dslr and a sony professional camcorder.
 
You have a couple of options with 2500 max.

HDDSLR: t2i or 60d would be my recommendation, that leaves you with some cash for glass, support and mics. Get a body, with like a 11-16mm, 50mm, maybe a cheaper normal-tele or some primes with a tripod and glide cam(must for hddslr follows) and you're set.

Video Camera: there are a bunch of choices here, most notably IMO is the hmc40. TC (traveling circus) shoots with this camera, it creates a great image and you can find one for about 1600-1800. + tripod and glide cam(unless you got a steady arm) and you're set.

There are also other cameras you could check out, sometimes you can find a used hmc150 or hvx200 for 2500 but then that leaves you with no more money for support stuff.

You could also consider a smaller, cheaper camera like the panasonic tm700 or the canon hf10/100 (or whatever it is) they're more in the 700-1500 range and might be better for your budget, if you don't need a full blown camera.

I saw your other thread, asking about the dinky sony NEX10u or whatever it is, its garbage, don't even waste your time, its not exactly "professional". If you want a "professional" camera, stick with a hddslr or the cameras i mentioned above. None of them are really "pro" they're "prosumer" (profession consumer) since they're under like 5-6 grand.

My personal suggestion, what I would do if I were you: I would either buy a t2i/60d with some nice glass and support, learn how to use it well, do research and make the best video i can OR i would get the hmc40 with support, do my research and create a similar image as the t2i, just in a different way. So they will create a very similar image but the HDDSLR will just be harder to get used too and less "natural" to use.
 
as a bandwagoner who bought the t2i and all that jazz, i would add my testimonial and say get it. also opens up options if you want to get into photography. thin DOF is so satisfying
 
if you got that cash get a refurbished T2I body for about $550, then get a nice prime like a 50mm f/1.8 for like $100, 70-200 f/2.8 for $1189, and then use the rest to spend on tripod and glidecam
 
He would need a lens for the glide cam, he would need at least a 17mm lens or less.
 
Im even more confused that you'd tell someone to buy a sony dslr over canon or nikon.
 
Any reason you chose the 60D over t2i/t3i? You could save an easy 300 bucks on that.

As far as glass goes, you probably want 3 (maybe 4) lenses

- Fisheye (optional, I'm not a big fan of them...)

- UWA - As Evan said, something around the 15mm mark

- 30-50mm prime

= Telelens

My suggestions:

- Fisheye, Rokinon 8mm. Super price, someone is selling it right now on here for 200$ or somthing

- UWA - Canon 10-22; I like this one better than the ever so popular Tokina 11-16, but that's just me

- Mid range prime, get two:

Olympus OM Zuiko 28mm f/3.5 - 50$, awesome piece of glass, quite wide

SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 - 100-150$. Awesome lens. Get one

- Telephoto, Canon 70-200 f/4. Don't bother with the f/2.8, because you're not shooting indoor sports. It will just be heavier and a lot more expensive. If you want the IS: That's up to you!

And as for the Sony guy: I loathe Sony DSLR-wise. They feel like shit, look like shit and the stabilizer in the body is SO annoying, the thing just jerking around all the time.

Apart from that: The amount of Sony glass (by Sony) that's good/decent is really small. Canon and Nikon both make SICK lenses, whereas the best Sony lenses are probably Sigma's with a Sony mount...
 
Your sir. are one very helpful nUser. the reason i decided on the 60D is because after much research it seemed that the 60D is just easier to navigate in terms of filming purely compared to a t2i.
But im not 100% sure about that just what a few comparisons i read said.
 
sony has continuous auto focus in video mode

so there's that...

(and don't say it's not important because almost every edit shot on a dslr is out of focus)
 
Get A 17-40 f/4l something a little wider and maybe a few primes in the 50+ range. Then spend the rest on stabilization and accessories
 
get old MF primes on ebay. its easy to find lenses desinged for the old M42 mount, and M42 to canon adapters are only like 5 or 10 bucks

helios 44-2 is a good place to start
 
What do you guys think about something like the dikon d7000 vs the 60D because of the autofocus during filming? is maual focus difficult for follow cams eyt?
 
its all bs, no dslr will ever have good autofocus like a video camera.

and with follows, you're probably using a wide angle, so your DOF is already pretty deep, stop it down to 8ish and focus it to infinity (or a little below, since you're not shooting the nebulas) and you have a nice deep focus.
 
Ok i have a question. I ordered my 60d which came with a 18-55 and 55-250... Now my question is whats the best way to run a dslr for follow cams? what lens should i get for that/rig setting etc? thanks :)
 
Well, i was filming with my friend at our local dry ski slope (i live in the UK) the other night I just focused the camera on something that I thought would be about the distance my friend would be when I was follow caming. Set the camera to something like f.10 and the footage was really nice, and in focus. In terms of keeping the camera steady I have an opteka x-grip which isn't the best but is better than nothing while i save up for a glidecam. Although with most of my shots with it i have put them through the smoothcam plugin in final cut and it looks really smooth. So ye to sum up i would definitely recommend the sigma, but also get a glidecam as i hopefully will soon.
 
The wider the lens, the bigger the DoF (general rule of thumb, not always true ofc.) It's really easy (and pretty hard) to have stuff NOT in focus when shooting really wide and at f/8 or something like that. As the Heath already said, that's the way to go.
 
Except that it's fucking worthless... It does have AF, maybe useful when shooting snail... that's about how fast it is...
 
i have the sig 10-20 and follows pretty easy. i have a glidecam 2000 and usually stop it down around 9 and dont have a problem. going from follow with kit to follow with the sigma is 100X better
 
Oh no thanks. Iv been fiddling with my friends camera until mine arrives and i tried that out. Worked great I just thought Id see people different preferences.
 
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