What Camera to get?

mhuddy_22

Member
I realize that you may get annoyed because this question is asked quite frequently, but I was wondering what camera I should get for what I am looking to do. I just saw a 'criteria' for this, so here it is below.

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?

I am willing to spend a max $2000.

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 have filmed my friends skiing a lot, although I have never had my own camera. I probably use my friends cameras more than them because they like the way I film. So basically I do have experience with cameras.

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

tripod

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 mainly want to shoot action sports. (Skiing/boarding, skateboarding etc...)

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 most likely be the only one shooting with the camera.

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)

I will do follow cams (getting a glide cam). I also have a tripod that I will use.

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.

Mac book 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)

Only have iMovie right now, but looking to Upgrade, any suggestions?
 
Get a T3i seeing as your budget isn't the biggest and invest in some better glass

T3i: $499

2 extra batteries: (I'd just get an off brand such as Watson) $45

Vello battery grip: $68

Tokina 11-16: $479

Tamron 17-50: $499

2 nd filters: (depends what density you get) $50

64gb 95mb/s sd card: $75

Total $1750

Then you'd have some extra money for something else
 
13382747:liamrashotte said:
Get a T3i seeing as your budget isn't the biggest and invest in some better glass

T3i: $499

2 extra batteries: (I'd just get an off brand such as Watson) $45

Vello battery grip: $68

Tokina 11-16: $479

Tamron 17-50: $499

2 nd filters: (depends what density you get) $50

64gb 95mb/s sd card: $75

Total $1750

Then you'd have some extra money for something else

Only having a range of 11-50 is seriously limiting... i'd go as far as to say grab a kit lens (55-200) and the 11-16, and a nifty fifty and skip the 17-50 and save up your money for a 70-200 f/4 or something
 
13382850:NrH said:
I'm sorry, but spending $2000 on your FIRST camera???

For years now I've used my parents cameras to film. So I am experienced with filming and now I have my own money to buy one.
 
For editing software, Apples Final Cut is a cheap alternative to Premiere and does all the same stuff, get Apple Motion too for all yo visuals
 
Maybe also consider the hacked Nikon D5200, or the newer Nikon D5500. Nikon got much better for Video Shooting on a Budget and these cameras don't have moire/aliasing problems like the Canon cameras. They also shoot 1080p @60fps instead of the 720p @60fps of the Canon cams, because everyone loves some sweet SloMos in higher res.

For lenses I would recommend to stick with a kit lens at the beginning and try to use it to its max. If you use it to the max you will then soon know what lens you want else, if your style is for example just standing there with the tripod, then you maybe want to invest in a telephoto lens or if you like moving shots with the Glidecam then you'll invest in a wideangle lens.

I also recommend that you take a look at capturing good sound. This is an element which is often underrated but you will soon notice that it can be quite important. For a start you could take a look at the Rode Videomic Go or even the VMP Version running into your cam.

Hope this helped.
 
Back
Top