Help me please camera gear, used sticky!

rubenl

rubenl

New member
I've done a lot of research, mainly on Newschoolers. I figured, that the canon T2i/550d or the Panasonic gh2 are the cameras to go for me? I can't really explain why, but i really don't like the kit lenses. So i'm willing to spend a fair amount of money on a lens(es). I've talked to a friend (videographer) about the Glidecam. But he told me it's better to start with a good tripod, and get some experience.

Most of my skiing time i spend in a indoor ski facility, also i will most likely go for 2 months to Breck.

I don't want to buy something that i have to replace in a month, so I'm willing to spend around

1250,- USD. I don't mind if it is second hands.

So i'm looking for:

Body

Lens

Tripod

And more, suggestions?

Thanks a lot for the help i really appreciated it!

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? Total around 1000 euro / 1250 USD. I'm willing to spend more money later on.

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?

i've used some HDSLR from friends (Canon 2Ti). I have a poloroid camera, and the camera on my HTC.

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc)

None relevant.

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)

I will probably use it 75% for filming skiing and skateboarding. And 25% for random photo's.

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?

I will probably do most of the shooting.

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)

Start with tripod and get experience, eventually later follow cam as well.

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.

Acer Aspire 5742G

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

4096MB RAM

NVIDIA GeForce GT 420M

Hard drive space 685 Gb

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU P6100 @ 2.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz

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)

Aftercut

---------------------------Optional Section, for those seeking a more intensive upgrade/purchase------------------------

1) Do you think you might consider using a DSLR?

Yes

2) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS?

A bit

3) Do you know the limitations to using HDSLRS?

Not really (cough)

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

Defenetly

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 filming?

I'll do the filming
 
I'll help you since you at least tried to use the sticky and, hey. I'm feeling generous.

A Panasonic Lumix GH2 is going to run you around 800 bucks, so that might be slightly out of your range unless you want to get the rest of the stuff on the cheap. You can find new Canon t3i's for around 500-600 US$ now, so I'd probably look into one of those - the flippy screen will be better for video, as well.

From there, I'd go with a 50mm prime as always - since they are affordable and give you a great image/video in all light conditions. You could go with the 50mm f1.8 ii and save a lot of money, as they could run you under 100$ easily, or you could even go on Ebay and find the better built 50mm f1.8 MARK 1 which was a lens built back in the late 1980's, and many people think it's superior, as it's basically a 1.8, non ultrasonic focusing motor version of the f1.4.

It had an independent focus ring, and a focus window as well. It was better built with a metal mount, and it focuses just as fast. They'd run you around 150 US$ now, but in my opinion, if you can find one for under 150, you should jump on it, because it's a pretty sweet little lens, and easier to focus in video than the f1.8 ii with the independent focus ring. Optically it's downright identical, but it's just built better.

ef_50_18.jpg


As for tripods? I personally use a pretty cheap Tripod, which is a Pearstone VT2100. It's light, it's plastic, and it's basic as shit. It's doesn't use a bowl joint like higher end tripods, so it's not quite fluid in a pan, or as easy to level out, but it's pretty god damn good, especially for 60 bucks. There are quite a few tripods out there that are kinda like it, but it's the one I got because I was highly recommended to it and the price seemed awesome.

I tend to do a lot of video stuff where I'm mobile and moving on my feet, or throwing my gear on my ski bag, so packing light is best for me. I just use weight bags to throw snow or rocks or whatever in it in order to weigh it down if need be. It can kinda handle a larger, heavier rig setup, but if you're just using a camera + lens, it's absolutely all you need if you don't mind having a lighter tripod, or even prefer it as I do.

If you want to spend a little more on a much better tripod, you could go with something like a Matthews M35 or a Bescor TH770. Both are around 160-170 or so, have much more fluid pan and tilt control... they use bowl joints and can level out better, they have dual legs, are all metal, way more stable, and are certainly far more pro and can handle more weight. But if 100$ isn't worth the extra weight and extra whatever, then go with something under 100$

At that point, with all the aformentioned you have something like this going on...

Canon T3i: 500-600$

Canon 50mm f1.8 mark 1 or mark 2: 80-150$

Tripod: 60-160$

This at most would run you around 900 bucks+ shipping, leaving you some money to spend on editing software, a 2nd lens, a camera rig, or whatever else you want.
 
I think your going to have a hard time with only a nifty 50. Look into a better walk around lens like the Tamron 17-50.
 
I put him like 350$ under budget. He could get a used Tamron 17-50 for that much for sure... or He can get something like a 24-85 f/3.5-4.5 for around that much if he wants something with more focal length.

Personally, I'd go with a set of primes if possible for speed and sharpness... starting out with a 50mm and maybe a 28mm.
 
This I was skeptical because it came from China but turned out to be completely legit and super fast shipping
 
This is what I'm doing in a few weeks.

Used Panasonic GH2 (amazon/b&h/adorama)

New Panasnic 14-45 (The 14-45 is the next step up from the kit 14-42)

Those together run around 950

Then you've got plenty of money for a tripod.
 
Thanks for all the reply's and information. Thank you Dingosean for the big effort that you put in the reply, you wrote. I really appreciate it!! You convinced me with the T3i. As for the lens I'll go with the Tamron 17-50. Since I read a lot off good reviews about that lens. And I think it's probably the best lens for me now.

+K for all the help of course, and i hope to put out a edit real soon!!
 
I had one more question (I'm sorry I really don't have much knowledge about lenses). Is the nifty fifty (50mm) and the Tamron 17-50 very similar? Or would i benefit for having both lenses?
 
You would benefit a lot from having both of the lens. The 50mm is cheaper, sharper, and faster, but you got to keep in mind your only getting that one focal length (Which can be shown to you in this video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orbI9-eICBU)

With the Tamron, your getting a huge upgrade from the kit lens, a great walk a round lens (One you can have on all day), and that 17-50 focal length while still maintaining a good sharpness and decent speed.

You would defiantly benefit from have both, but if you could only chose between ONE I would go with the Tamron, which is my personal opinion. Mainly because I like having room to work with when I'm shooting.

Getting both of these lens should be a problem because together there only about $450, which is very cheap for 2 lens. You can find both lens for $450 here (Because I know people will think im way off)

Tamron ($345): (I purchased this one from this seller and I got it within two days with NO problems or extra charges)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SALE-BRAND-NEW-TAMRON-SP-AF-17-50mm-f-2-8-XR-DI-II-LD-DSLR-LENS-CANON-F2-8-/280889852721?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4166570331#ht_2292wt_1156

Canon 50mm ($109): http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU

 
if your doing video i would advise you to get more ram on your computer since editing software will slow it down a lot have at least 4gb i have that much on my MBP and I'm even looking to upgrade to 8-16
 
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