Shooting on C300 and using 7D as B cam?

[Ryanmorton]

Hiya,

my first post here so hello! I'm DP on a micro budget feature we're shooting later on in the year, with the budget I have been given I have recommended we shoot on the C300 and use a 5D as a B camera as we do not have the money to rent 2 c300 bodies, we will likely be shooting on L series glass too. The director however is worried that the odd 5D shots in the film will ruin the film as the footage will not match and has asked if I think we should shoot solely with the canon SLRs. I think we should go the C300 route, has anyone had experience using a canon SLR as a B Cam to the C300? Would be great to reassure the director if possible.

Cheers.

[David W. Jones]

Do you even need a B-cam? Why not just shoot everything with the C300?

[Ryanmorton]

We were going to use the SLRs in 2nd unit stuff and a couple of stunt shots, also if there are any pickups after our 3 weeks scheduled shoot.

[stefancolson]

I'm shooting a feature right now with the C300 and the 5DmkIII as a B Camera. Footage is matching great so far, just go into in with the knowledge that your DSLR stuff will be softer and more contrasty out of camera.

[Noel Evans]

We were going to use the SLRs in 2nd unit stuff and a couple of stunt shots, also if there are any pickups after our 3 weeks scheduled shoot.

Morning Ryan. Just another opinion for you. I think the 7D might be Ok for the stunt shots - use it as a special angle cam, Im not so sure about the 2nd Unit shots however and how well they will cut. Certainly if I was directing this, I'd be apprehensive as your director is. However I'd still go the C300 and really push to make sure I got my coverage within the timeframe. Pickups are a concern if you have no further budget. But Id still risk shooting the C300 and risk having that as a possibility.

[Ryanmorton]

Thanks for the replies, I think the general consensus is yes you can use this set up as long as your aware of the issues with the 5D such as softness compared to the C300. Another question, what picture profiles do you find would help match the cameras? I was thinking of using C-Log on the C300 and cinestyle on the 5D or neutral with contrast all the way down saturation -2 and sharpness 0. I'll do some tests before shooting if I can get the C300 green lit but would be good to have a starting point before hand.

[morgan_moore]

Why not two FS100, infinitely better than a DSLR and 1/2 the cost of a C300

[alpi69]

I was thinking of using C-Log on the C300 and cinestyle on the 5D or neutral with contrast all the way down saturation -2 and sharpness 0. I'll do some tests before shooting if I can get the C300 green lit but would be good to have a starting point before hand.

Sounds good about the settings.
As mentioned the DSLR will probably do fine for stunts and when using long lenses and shallow DOF. Avoid wide shots and beware of aliasing/moire on the DSLRs.
You will have to add contrast to the C-Log to match them, but that will be ok.