General 4K Video

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DDirector

Veteran
I have not been in the loop with any recent photography cameras, nor have i really been following anything in the past.
I am looking out at purchasing a new camera. I have my eyes set on a 7Dii at the moment, but i wanted to know more about the video portion of it.

Is there another camera similar to the 7Dii that allows for better video?
What about 4K? Does any dslr shoot 4K?
If shooting externally, would that help anyway?
 
David W. Jones said:
Are you only interested in DSLRs or are mirrorless cameras an option you would consider?
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I've never considered mirrorless as I dont know much about them.
Id have to read more about it before I can answer that question.

This will be for both photo and video use, but more photography aimed.


Also, if Id be doing a low budget video production it would serve as the main camera.
So, id want to stay away from cameras that are often used as B-Cameras.
If that makes sense.
 
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Examples of mirrorless cameras which shoot 4K video: The Sony a7R II, and the Panasonic GH4

DSLR which shoots 4K video: Canon EOS-1DC
 
I shoot stills and video. I have been using Nikon, Canon, and Sony side by side for 7+ years.

In August, I looked at my options for 4k for events- 1 to 1.5 hours, with 2 camera. I decided to go with Panasonic, a G7 and a GH4, for in camera 4k. If I had only needed 1 camera I might have looked more seriously at Sony, because I was already familiar with them. But I didn't want to buy 2 external 4k recorders, at $1,300 to $1,900 each.

I am still keeping my Nikon D750 and D5300 for stills. I have used all 4 cameras at times for events, 2 Nikon for stills with a 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 equivalent. Plus the 2 Panasonic, both in 4k. It is a bit of a learning curve to add a new system, and I mostly had to get rid of my Sony- all of the different menu systems, batteries, lens systems were driving me crazy! :)

Now, the Sony options will have a little better high ISO performance, because they have a bigger sensor. It would also cost more to go to 4k, and for the lenses on the Sony. But it will be a higher quality got stills. There are pros and cons of both approaches.


+++

I bought a set of native lenses for the Panasonic. First the 12-35 2.8 and 35-100 2.8 zooms. The equivalent of the 24-70 & 70-200, for about $600-$650 each used. I have a few primes. I also have a Metabones adapter for myNikon lenses, that was only $139 for manual controls.

I am am still looking at getting a Metabones Speedbooster for my Canon lenses. I just can't bring myself to sell my Canon 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8, among others. That would add rudimentary auto focus, in body a
srture control, and most of all a 1 stop **gain** in speed, so that the 2.8 becomes the equivalent of a 2.0 And also gets sharper.

I know now that sounds impossible, but it is a reality! The Micro 4/3 cameras have a 2x to 2.4x effective "crop" ratio (2x in stills, 2.4x in video on the GH4.) It works.

+++

The 7DII is still a great sports camera. The video is okay, there are better options. The one thing that Canon still has is the great lenses, with a lot of affordable options. It also has the DPAF, or whatever they can the latest version of the video auto focus system, that is a conpetitive advantage.

Sony full frame native options with auto focus in particular can be expensive, depending on how you shoot.

Sorry, that was just a quick run through of my own recent history. There are a lot of details yo research and figure out. I am very, very happy shooting and editing 4k video for 1080 delivery. I wouldn't want to go a 1080-only route for my purposes. Although there are 1080 external recorders for as cheap as $300 trust can offer an advantage over internal recording.

good luck!
 
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I'm still using a 5DmkIII for the majority of my still work. And while not 4K, it has the ability to shoot raw with ML as a nice bonus. I am also shooting 4K video with a GH4 which is a great little camera for the money. I sold my Red Epic some time back and have been saving for a new camera. More than likely it will be a used Sony F65.
 
I guess I can say, for the most part it would be for personal stuff. (photography)
But, every once in a while I probably will do some work with it, and that's when the video use will come in handly.

With that, I will be sticking with the Canon lenses. So, if needed I will need an adapter. -- Which I'm not sure if this may cause problems or not.

Photography:
I do a lot of Astrophotography (our galaxy, moon, night-time lapse, etc.), landscapes, some wildlife work (might be doing more), portraits

Video (would req. continuous auto focus, slow motion is definitely a great bonus above 60fps.):
Recently I've been considering doing underwater film work, so I need to keep that in mind.
But, I also do live events like music festivals, commercials/promo spots, and some short films
 
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After reviewing cameras, the Sony a7R II seems to be my best choice.
HOWEVER, because of the adapter issue. I dont think I am able to use the Canon & Sigma lenses I wish to use. So, that will be a big issue.


The 5Diii records to Raw with ML?
That's interesting.. Id rather go for the 7diii as the specs fit me best, and price point. But with the option for Raw, Ill have to look into that.

*I will have to record ON camera and not externally
 
If you want AF with your Canon lenses, you may have to wait a little until 5D MK IV (~ $3,500, may or may not include 4K) or 1D XII (~ $6,500 w/ 4K) is released.

A7RII also provides AF with Canon lenses but it ain't as fast.
 
The dual pixel in the 7dii.. is like what id need. The autofocus in video.
Dont know what youre referring to.

DLD said:
If you want AF with your Canon lenses, you may have to wait a little until 5D MK IV (~ $3,500, may or may not include 4K) or 1D XII (~ $6,500 w/ 4K) is released.

A7RII also provides AF with Canon lenses but it ain't as fast.
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It looks like the Canon 7D II is your best choice.
It has stellar autofocus, including face recognition, in both stills and video. For best autofocus in video, get the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/894152-REG/Canon_6097b002_18_135mm_f_3_5_5_6_IS_STM.html, or the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/945061-REG/canon_8114b002_ef_s_18_55mm_f_3_5_5_6_is.html.
The internal video recording quality is very good. If you want excellent video recording quality get the Atomos Ninja Blade: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1033457-REG/atomos_atomnja004_ninja_blade_5_hdmi.html, which also serves as external monitor with some benefit for shooting video, like focus peaking, unrestricted recording time, frames and waveform monitors.
For using long lenses, like in astrophotography and wild life, an APS-C camers have a benefit over a full frame one.
 
DDirector said:
The dual pixel in the 7dii.. is like what id need. The autofocus in video.
Dont know what youre referring to.
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I'll spell it out - you won't get the dual-pixel quality auto focus by mixing lenses from different manufacturers. If you go with Sony, you will need Sony glass for the optimal performance. If you go with Panasonic, you will need Panasonic glass. If you go with ... get the point?

But, if you shoot manual like David, then you can pick and choose almost any combo.
 
You might want to read up on the Samsung NX1 - pretty capable 4K camera, very advanced stills camera. APS-C vs. the smaller sensor mirrorless. Great AF in stills, pretty good in video - but you'd need samsung lenses for AF. You can stick about any glass on it with an adapter, which are plentiful out there.

They've moved into pro quality zooms which have reviewed well and are cheaper than the Nikon/Canon lenses in similar lengths. I could see getting a 2nd body and dumping my Nikon entirely for stills projects, we'll see how I like it. I have a full kit of vintage Nikkors for video that I'd keep.

I've been shooting Nikon for video but I'll pull the trigger on an NX1 this fall as my "I own it" (no rental budget) "pretty" video camera (my big Panasonic handles events and that sort of thing just fine). The pattern noise in my Nikon has been getting worse every shoot, like it's a disease.

I do a lot of motion graphics and keying projects, so 4K is really getting to be a must for me. And many users report they can get 444 1080 by downsampling the 4K properly.
 
DLD said:
If you want AF with your Canon lenses, you may have to wait a little until 5D MK IV (~ $3,500, may or may not include 4K) or 1D XII (~ $6,500 w/ 4K) is released.

A7RII also provides AF with Canon lenses but it ain't as fast.
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Huh? The 5DM3 allows AF....
 
Personaly i have filmed over the years with cams and cameras made by sony panasonic canon jvc,why canon users sound such snobs i dont know,as far as video goes its certainly not justified.
 
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