7D for hockey video

M

marilynhp

New member
For the next two years, even though I am only a volunteer, I will be the official photographer for my son's college hockey team. I already have a Canon1D that I use for still pics, but now the coach would like some video footage to use for developing plays. It doesn't have to be wonderful, but it does have to be good enough to identify players and follow the puck from a walkway above/behind the cascading seats. Picture a typical college ice skating rink, if there is such a thing.

To do this, I will need to buy something with which to shoot video (which I want to be high def and use SD memory cards); I don't particularly care about having superior audio - at least for shooting hockey. (I probably will not use the camcorder much after my son's hockey days end in a couple of years, but I would still want decent audio for the times that I do.)

I read a blog about possibly using the 7D as a camcorder, and asked about doing that in a DPR forum. I was promptly referred here.

I would rather get a new still camera which I use frequently rather than a camcorder with limited usefulness for me after hockey. I know from this forum that the 7D is sometimes used with moviemaking, but that usually entails a lot of stopping and starting; my concern about the 7D is whether it could run for 45 minutes at a time to capture a whole hockey period?

Also, are there adapter rings to convert one kind of mount to another so that I could use the lenses I already have if I get a 7D?

Thank for any help you can give.

Marilyn
 
You wouldn't be able to film for 45 straight minutes using the 7D because the maximum clip length is 12 minutes... but you will have no problem quickly stopping and starting the camera between whistles. I've been to a lot of hockey games and can't think of a time when there was anything remotely close to 12 minutes between whistles.

And filming in a rink will probably mean you won't have to worry about the camera overheating either. :-)

I think the 7D would work fine for what you want both for the rink footage and for personal use as well.

Mark
 
You're right; I was thinking of shooting a whole period non-stop.

Twelve minutes is good news because I've attached a link I discovered after my first post here where the fifth post suggests that 60 seconds might be a maximum.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=190995

Might the sixty-second limit apply based on camera settings (if one is doing super high quality, and/or with a slow memory card which causes the buffer to fill quickly, etc.), or does POST #5 just have a different opinion? To get 12 minutes at a time, would the frames per second be so low, or their megapixel size be so small that the quality of the clip would be marginal when shown on a 32" LCD TV to 25 boys who couldn't all be on the front row when it is viewed?

Thank you again.

Marilyn
 
I volunteer and shoot my kids high school soccer. I have the 7D but would simply suggest a mini_DV video camera for your purpose. Really no reason to go high def. I would think you need to get it simply, and the 7D may have issues in a rink - battery life, flourescent flicker, being wide enough for a play, etc. Mini DV tape is intended for long record sessions, the 7D really is not. And for playback most people dont have HiDef TV's' That said, Ill be shooting some soccer video on the 7D, just not the stuff for the coach in developing plays...

And the 7d Stuff is expensive...the Z-finder - the thing just to let you focus correctly when shooting video - is almost $400! I bought a Sony Mini DV camcorder WITH a optical stablizier - which you will need - tripod, 20 pro tapes, extra batteries, all for under $400. And if a drop the video camera, no biggie. Drop the 7d or the rink moisture gets the 7d - good luck. Plus you are going to need a mega fast lens on the 7D if its an interior rink...just my 2 cents...
 
Last edited:
This is one case where the 7D is almost defintiely NOT the camera for you. The great things about shooting video on an SLR are the low light capabilities and the silky smooth shallow depth of field created by the large sensor. But these things don't matter for your application. The camera would be working against you. There is no autofocus on the 7D in video mode to track moving subjects. You'd pull out all your hair.

Better to get a more traditional camcorder.
 
Marilyn

I wouldn't rule out the 7D for what you want. I think the deciding factor for you is spending money on something that you will be able to use for other things as well. From what you've said it sounds like you would highly value having another quality still camera rather than a video camera (by getting the 7D you would get both... and you never know... it might get you hooked on doing video).

If the most important thing for you was to get high quality, HD video footage of a hockey game that would be used in some sort of production... I would not go with the 7D... but to get the footage your coach needs so he can identify players and plays is pretty basic and doesn't have the issues that people are raising.

For the autofocus issue... you, and most likely Eric , probably know waaaaay more about lens and depth of field than I ever will.... I'm just guessing you would be able to set up a lens so you have a wide depth of field so focusing isn't much of an issue... especially since this is not for a production but for the coach to identify players and plays. I don't see why you'd ever need to invest in a Z-finder for this type of work. Just set up your depth of field and focus on the center of the ice area. However, since you are a still shooter, buying a Z-finder will be a smart purchase for you anyway for everything else you plan on doing with the camera.

As for battery life... get a second battery (you'd want one anyway) and change it after the second period. Even if you bought a cheapo camcorder you'd probably need to get a second battery.

You included a post where they mentioned a 60 second limit... but they didn't say it was a limit, they just said that for most creative filming projects you don't need more than 30-60 seconds for a shot. You will have no problem recording the entire game in multiple shots.

I just think for the "quality" you need for the coach.... the 7D will be able to do it... and you get a nice still and video camera out of the deal, which sounds like a major factor for you.

See if somebody you know has a 7D you can borrow/rent to give it a try.
 
i think a DSLR would be a horrible choice for shooting action like you have in a hockey game. there would probably be too much missed focus. there is no easy way to zoom in and out manually with a slr lens and focus at the same time...plus trying to pan at the same time. good luck.

if all you were trying to do is get some vibey portrait/action clips then a DSLR could be cool but to follow action...no IMHO.

i use my 5DmkII for vibey artsy stuff. i use my EX1 and HMC150 for most of the real video i shoot though.i can always count on it to get the job done. the IQ (EX1 & HMC150) as far as resolution goes is way beyond a DSLR. with that said i love shooting my 5DmkII as long as what im shooting calls for this kind of look which is shallow DOF. if i dont need shallow DOF then i dont use the 5DmkII.

i would suggest that you go to a store and try shooting with a 7D for a bit. its a humbling experience shooting with a DSLR.

david
www.davidprobst.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top