Probably another what camera thread!! (Sorry)

N

nollietails

Member
K+ for some relevant advice

I'm wondering what camera to get to film with. I already have a gopro HD Hero, which is good for what it does, but looking for something a tad easier to actually frame stuff with and get more aesthetically pleasing shots. I'm looking to film almost entirely skiing. I have some filming and editing experience (I used to make short documentaries, but mostly shooting on MiniDV and Hi8). I edit using final cut pro (I think it's 6 I have on my mac - not looked in ages - the one before studio came out anyway). I do a fair amount of followcams and I want to improve their quality. I also want something that is good for static shooting as-well. Something relatively weather resistant would be good too (my old Canon XM2 is more sensitive than a fat chick at that time of the month).

I have a budget of around $900 (£600) at a maximum, but I'd also like to get some kind of super basic glidecam / steadycam with that budget.

I've been looking at the Canon 550D - but it seems a bit pricey, and actually a bit dodgy. Whilst the reviews online are good, two of my friends who have them both have the same issue where this weird little bar (sort of like a battery bar - but not the battery bar itself) pops up mid-screen and it just stops recording - apparently this is something to do with the write speed (but we tried to fix it by getting faster SD cards - but to no avail).

I think I'd prefer an SLR with HD video capacity just because there seems to be so much more you can do with the lens, focus and field depth of shots, and they just seem to produce really nice looking footage. However I'm not against getting a pure HD video camera that I can then attach various filters to to attempt to get the same effects. I know far more about SLRs than I do pure HD video cameras. If I got a HD video camera I wouldn't want one that records to hard drive - I'd far prefer SD cards (saves hassle and easily interchangable with my gopro and my SLR). I don't really know that much so +K for help even if it's just saying what you film with and the pros and cons. I
 
On my phone, I'll give better response later. Your friends problem is the memory card write speed. We've all been through it
 
Pick up a used or refurbished T2i, Canon 50mm, a fast 16gb memory card, a 8mm opteka or reynon and a manfrotto 190xb with 701 head. You can use the manfrotto as a steadicam by opening all 3 legs and holding by the stick in the middle. That should be a perfect skate set up until you have a little more money to throw around for really Steadicams and better fisheyes. Hope this helps!
 
You can change camera settings to help avoid this.

If you like the looks of a DSLR, the T2i is probably going to be your cheapest option.
 
A standard canon 18-55mm And a Tamron 70-300m AF long lens.

The Tamron is really nice for tripod use from a distance, we used it with my friend's 450d to shoot some kickers a while back when we were away and it came out great. I also have wide angle and super wide angle filters, as well as a mount which allows me to use grading / graduating / polarising filters, which I can attach to the 18-55mm lens.

Would really like to get a macro lens as well at some point.

I'm fairly setup with gear as my old MindDV Xm2 has a 52mm filter thread (so things like the wide angle and fisheye were pretty interchangeable), and I have a decent tripod sturdy enough to steadily and comfortably support the Xm2. Also owning a 450D obviously means getting a canon DSLR of the same / similar level with video capacity would mean everything would be transferable (i.e. it's literally just buy a camera body to get started)...

The real issue I have is as much as i know the 550D/T2i is suited to the kit I already have, the amount of issues I've had in the past with them is making me doubt whether it is worth it. For the money I have obviously I'm not going to get something amazing, but I've been considering just getting a HD camcorder instead - but I'm not sure what to go with on this front.
 
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