Nikon D3s Video User Group

[Michael Erlewine]

I see some D3s video activity here at DVXuser, but I wonder if there are other places on the web that those of us interested in using the D3s for video work could exchange ideas and techniques. If you know other places where discussion is taking place on D3s video, please let me know.

I know that for many readers here, video on Nikons is just a toy or, worse, a joke, and I have heard that comment often. However, I believe otherwise and am selling some extra photography equipment, and just received a second D3s today, so am now working up scenarios for using two cameras, which solves some issues.

For one, it solves the 5-minute (2 GB) limit on the D3s by staggering the timing so that one camera starts and stops video, while the other is filming, and then the second camera does the same. The cameras leap frog through time and you always have two-camera video except for brief moments.

Since it is difficult to zoom smoothly with the D3s unless you have expensive and bulky equipment like rails, a follow focus, etc., I am looking at just switching back and forth between the two camera shots to provide variety. The switching could be done post-shoot or (using two operators) live, giving each operator the chance to reframe their shot.

Aside from some concert work, most of my interest is in studio work, such as producing music-related videos, short interviews on timely issues, and various tutorials on one topic or another. I am working to make the minimal equipment I have produce acceptable results.

I just built an 11 foot wide by 7 foot high set for an actual stage curtain (deep red) and erected it in our studio. It will be used to shoot music videos of musicians that we am working with and look like a theater, complete with a bank of colored-gel stage lights. Now I just have to light the rest of it!

Anyone else looking at this type of use?

[Zim]

The 7D has caused many people around here to trash Nikon. Even if the 7D is flawed too, it doesn't matter. They can't think straight yet. I've seen some great video from the D90, D300s, 7D and the D3s. I've also seen bad video from all of them. These video DSLRs are nice and can make some great video. But you have to watch what you are doing. Good luck and now that you have two of them lets see more of your work.

[Michael Erlewine]

Here is a peek at the set we are putting together. This is a large 40’x20’x15’ high room that triples as a library, live room for recording audio, and now a video studio. Here I have built a set using an actual theater curtain that is 11’ wide and 7’ high. Don’t take the lighting seriously. I just turned on a couple lamps to get some light. The lighting will begin carefully in the next day or so.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13655164@N00/4169460217/sizes/l/

This is one set of two being built for doing videos for musicians in a music collective I am working with. Not ‘”music videos,” but videos of music that include the simulation of actual stage lighting (note the Par cans up above). The dress dummy was kind enough to volunteer her help. In the foreground is a Nikon D3s camera ready to rock.

Here is one of two Nikon D3s cameras we are working with. Right now it has the new Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR II lens on the front and the Zacuto Z-Finder LCD eyepiece on the back. It sits on a Sachtler tripod.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13655164@N00/4170221516/sizes/l/

[Tracey Lee]

The 7D has caused many people around here to trash Nikon. Even if the 7D is flawed too, it doesn't matter. They can't think straight yet. I've seen some great video from the D90, D300s, 7D and the D3s. I've also seen bad video from all of them. These video DSLRs are nice and can make some great video. But you have to watch what you are doing. Good luck and now that you have two of them lets see more of your work.

Zim, if Nikon would give us full manual video control then i would sell my 7D the same day to get a D300s. The image from Nikons just feels more film like to me. Nope can't explain it, it just does.

[Isaac_Brody]

The 7D has caused many people around here to trash Nikon. Even if the 7D is flawed too, it doesn't matter. They can't think straight yet.

Please keep the drama out of this thread.

[Zim]

I know what you are saying and you are not alone.


Zim, if Nikon would give us full manual video control then i would sell my 7D the same day to get a D300s. The image from Nikons just feels more film like to me. Nope can't explain it, it just does.

[greymog]

I am very interested in Nikon's look, and the lack of 1080p in a camera (especially a DSLR) doesn't really concern me, as in beirut, we finish everything to SD.

It really blows, cause manual control is all I wanted, and every time I open a Nikon thread, it's the same person just defending Nikon. I'm sorry but I have to say that and I'm sure I'm not alone, but I was just getting into this and we hear about how Nikon is awesome just cause it is.

We are not trashing Nikon, we are trashing the lack of manual control in a tool.

I really wish I can find a nikon thread without said drama.

That said, the D3s still is short on the framerates, as is now available on 3 models of dslr, soon the fourth if 5d gets the firmware soon.

I like Nikon's image, it's my personal favorite in how it saves things in the highlights. But without being able to expose, it didn't work for me (had a nikon shot 3 things with it so i actually tried it before the verdict).

I'm currently in between a canon 1d, and now a nikon d3s. Have held and taken several photos on a d3x must say its mad. Nikon's menus and controls are the ones I'm used to. Twould be nice to be able to expose on a d300s manually.

As per original post, If I would go for two cameras wouldn'e shell out 5000 on each, but ahving a 7d and gh1, the strength of this technology is in that you can afford two lower end models and use them in tandem.

The reason I'm liking the flagship models (d3s and 1d) is that they can see in the dark almost (high isos) and that the jello is almost cured on the 1d so they say. I wonder what the jello is like on the d3s, I saw the trains video and it was pretty impressive for jello.

But 5000 is too much, and it's a photographer's tool end of day. Original poster justified this, as i have the impression photos were the priority in purchase of the cameras.

[Michael Erlewine]

Greymog:

See post:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=193152

I am reminded of the old blues lyric “Lots of people talkin’, but mighty few people know.”

That seems to be the case right now with the Nikon D3s. We all have to just do some more experimenting with the camera. It seems to have all manual controls available in Manual mode as the link to the post above suggests and that is encouraging and, while I am not a hardware tech and can’t speak to the nuts & bolts of it, I have been slapping lenses on the thing and it seems to do what I need to have done, which is all I am worried about. I like and am used to the functionality and ergonomics of Nikon, and I don’t have to tell readers about the Nikkor lenses. They are great!

I have had a long string of prosumer camcorders, and still have a couple of Sony VX2000 laying around here. I sold my HVX200. My problem with those camcorders is the lack of interchangeable lenses made me feel cramped or smothered, when I am used to having fantastic low-light Nikkor lenses of all kinds at the ready. I need wide angle and macro and all of that. I am used to it.

Cost? Right, the D3s is expensive, but my history of Nikon cameras goes back to the beginning of digital Nikons, the Coolpix 950, the D100, D200, D300, D700, D3x, and now the N3s. I am used to Nikon quality, build, and images. As I like to say, it is the old shaver and the shave analogy: all I need is a shave. If the shave is good enough, I will leave it to the rest of you to argue about the specs of the razor.

So far the Nikon D3s is all I need, but remember: I am not a photojournalist, but do most of my work in a studio where I can control the lighting or outdoors on a tripod in macro mode , etc.

As for the lack of 1080p, for me that is not an issue. Good 720p is all I need.

[greymog]

Hey Michael,

my thoughts exactly on most of what you said. I'm not very high maintenance, the shot end of the day dictates what i do. Good SD even, or a nice 960x540 is good enough for me and this market here, and that's how I get away with any attempt at capture off the 7D.

720p is great. Is the codec still 10.1 or have they upped it?

I work in very controlled spaces as well, the onnly shortcoming so far that I see is the lack of 50/60p. I'm between now this and the canon, and I like nikon's picture in comparison, but can't decide if framerates are worth the switch back.

yes switch back ;) All my glass is nikkor

love that glass.

Then again I've been known to just playback at 12 fps (seriously) for slowmotion if i don't have an option. straight up half the smoothness.

Still dunno, but manual control looks like a spark. I do have a strange feeling that Nikon are gonna pull the 'we've waited to implement the obvious so long only because we have a trick under our sleeve'.

Maybe.

T