Canon 5d Mark II upgrade?

[Austin P.]

I'm in a bit of a pickle here and figured I would see what other people had to say about it:

I shoot video(Panasonic dvx100B w/ Redrock adapter and Canon FD Lenses) and photography(Canon 40D w/ a bunch of EF Lenses).

I was considering selling my DVX and all the accessories plus my 40D and buying the 5D Mark II for both photo and video. I was previously considering just upgrading to the HVX200 but I cant really afford to buy that plus the $2,700 .3x fisheye adapter (For action sports since that's mainly what I shoot) plus upgrading my Redrock which would cost all together about $8k+. I can't really afford that.

So now I'm thinking if i upgrade to the 5D I upgrade my video and photography equipment all in one plus its less equipment for me to carry around all the time. I read about ways to work around to make it fully manual which makes me want to do this even more. I will also sell my DVX and all that and 40D so I'll have some extra money afterwords to spend on extras for the 5D like maybe a new lens and/or the Redrock cage and matte box for it.

But here is my only main concern:

Since the Mark II only shoots 30p, that means its terrible for slow motion. I used to shoot 60i with my DVX and time remapped it with Twixtor. Not being able to properly slow down footage is kind of a big problem for me but it's the only thing holding me back.

Anyone input? Comments? I HIGHLY appreciate it.

[misha]

I love my 5d mkII! still working out the kinks in low light shooting/WB and learning fcs color, but all in its a great cam.

[phoric]

Since I got my 5d mk2, my other cameras, Letus adapters, etc have been sitting collecting dust. My reasons are similar to yours, in that I can't always carry multiple cameras around to do the job, since I enjoy taking both still and video.

Some considerations:

If you intend to ever take video by hand, without using a tripod (such as when walking around) you will want image stabilized lenses. Without IS or a solid support, the slightest movement results in some seriously shaky and unusable footage.

The work-arounds for the manual controls work okay, but it's annoying and takes some practice and discipline to go through all the steps every time you start recording a new clip. This is no good for run-and-gun situations when you don't have time to setup. If you need lots of manual control, at all times, without interruption, or if having to re-setup your settings for each take is too much to handle, then look elsewhere. If you can deal with these annoyances, you don't need to film continuous clips longer than 12 minutes, and your targeted medium allows for 30p, then this camera is definitely worth it.

If you require high-speed, then just start saving and wait for the new Red products to come out (or rent/buy a Red One). The 5d Mark II's video features will hold me over until I can get a Scarlet, after which point I'll probably just use the 5d for stills (which it excels at).

[egproductions]

The work-arounds for the manual controls work okay, but it's annoying and takes some practice and discipline to go through all the steps every time you start recording a new clip. This is no good for run-and-gun situations when you don't have time to setup. If you need lots of manual control, at all times, without interruption, or if having to re-setup your settings for each take is too much to handle, then look elsewhere. If you can deal with these annoyances, you don't need to film continuous clips longer than 12 minutes, and your targeted medium allows for 30p, then this camera is definitely worth it.

Exactly my feelings and well said to boot. The only thing I'll add is that in reference to wanting slow motion. You might not be able to do a clean interpelated 50% slowmo but by importing 30P footage str8 into a 24P timline you will get a true 20% slowdown.

[Lee Wilson]

Since the Mark II only shoots 30p, that means its terrible for slow motion. I used to shoot 60i with my DVX and time remapped it with Twixtor. Not being able to properly slow down footage is kind of a big problem for me but it's the only thing holding me back.

Anyone input? Comments? I HIGHLY appreciate it.


Slow motion is not too hard to get from 5D footage (although I agree with you when you suggest it would be easier with an interlaced 60i signal):

Here is a clip I shot the other day (very slow!): http://www.vimeo.com/3024785

[Austin P.]

That looks pretty good! What was your process?

[joe 1008]

Lee, I liked that clip!

[Lee Wilson]

That looks pretty good! What was your process?


30p footage imported into After Effects.

Footage then interpreted as 25p in a 25p comp/timeline. (basically 30fps footage being played back a little slower at 25 fps).

This is then time-stretched to 200% (making it half speed) with the quality set to high so that After Effects uses it's pixel motion algorithms (and not the 'cheaper' frame blending).

This was then rendered as a quicktime and then re-imported, placed on a new timeline and stretched to 200% once again - but this time just using the lower quality frame blending (which is much faster to render and as the footage was already moving slowly it looked no different to the high quality/slower setting).

I hope all this makes sense !

[Lee Wilson]

Lee, I liked that clip!

Cheers.

[Austin P.]

Thanks a lot! It seems to work pretty good except for footage with really fast motion in it. I guess I'll go through trial and error with this but it seems to be going down the right path.

Thanks

[phoric]

Footage then interpreted as 25p in a 25p comp/timeline. (basically 30fps footage being played back a little slower at 25 fps).

So you're just dropping the original 30p clip into a After Effects project which is setup at 25p?

[egproductions]

Well thats the other thing. If you are going to be doing interpolated slowmotion, you are supposed to set your shutter speed accordingly while shooting. If want a 50% slowdown of 24P footage you should be shooting at around 1/100th of a second not 1/48th. This is obviously something that is hard to control on the 5D.

If you are looking for specific settings the 5D is not for you. If you want a great picture and are not overly concerned about the technical then you should consider the upgrade.

[phoric]

Read through the 5d's technical limitations with video here before taking the plunge:

http://www.cinema5d.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=187

[benn]

I own both: the HVX200 and the 5dMK II. The 5D MK II will never replace a videocam, if you want a professional soundwork and I would be afraid to make a
complete job with it, but since I use the 5D MKII I never used my SGPro 35mm adapter because the 5D Quality is in this price range unbeatable and the HVX has a poor existence now as well, because the lowlight-qualtiy of the 5D is simply amazing But the handling is stressful. Its hard to use it without a tripod.
If I try to make "serious" work,I use a monitor for focussing, otherwise you become crazy. But I am lucky with my decision to buy this cam. The gamble paid off
Benn

[Lee Wilson]

So you're just dropping the original 30p clip into a After Effects project which is setup at 25p?

Basically - yes.

But first you must tell the footage that is it to play a little slower at 25p (this is the interpret footage stage).

[Lee Wilson]

Well thats the other thing. If you are going to be doing interpolated slowmotion, you are supposed to set your shutter speed accordingly while shooting. If want a 50% slowdown of 24P footage you should be shooting at around 1/100th of a second not 1/48th.

Not necessarily.

Always be cautious of any statement or espousal containing unqualified phrases like "you are supposed to". :)


If you are looking for specific settings the 5D is not for you. If you want a great picture and are not overly concerned about the technical then you should consider the upgrade.

Agreed !

[Lee Wilson]

I own both: the HVX200 and the 5dMK II. The 5D MK II will never replace a videocam, if you want a professional soundwork and I would be afraid to make a complete job with it, but since I use the 5D MKII I never used my SGPro 35mm adapter because the 5D Quality is in this price range unbeatable and the HVX has a poor existence now as well, because the lowlight-qualtiy of the 5D is simply amazing But the handling is stressful. Its hard to use it without a tripod. If I try to make "serious" work,I use a monitor for focussing, otherwise you become crazy. But I am lucky with my decision to buy this cam. The gamble paid off
Benn


100% agreed !!