a couple questions for any 7D owners/ users

C

corycross

Well-known member
I have a few questions before I am set on purchasing the 7D/ Redrock Rig/ XLR input stuff.. and I need to buy a Bogen tripod as well... but anyways..

For any users/ owners of the 7D and similar.. seeing that you are all on DVXUSER, I am assuming you all have the same needs I do, as a cinematographer/ director. I need to know if this camera is worth it.. because so far I do.. Only for the 24P, interchangeable lens/ cf card redcording.... I am coming from a Sony hvr-z7u.. so I want to make sure to buy something I will be using just as much, and getting just as many jobs, without having the learning curve and if it will be more difficult to use... Granted, I do know working with this camera and having critical focus should be my only habit to learn and make sure gets done appropriately.

I also need to know:

1. Is there an all manual mode.. I need manual-complete control over iris/ shutter/ frame rate as 24P ( what I have researched on a few hours looking and hearing about the camera )

2. How does the image look at Full 1080P on a 1080P tv... How is the compression?

3. How much footage is held on a 16G cf card, 8 GB cf card, 32G cf card? I know I can do the math, so if someone helps me with one, I can probably figure out the rest..

Thanks for any ones help.. While looking at this camera, the look of it looks cool, looks light weight, looks like a camera that will get my look across that I see, and its a decent price... Thanks for anyones time that you take to look into and helping me with my questions.

-Cory
 
1) YES

2) Great. Looks better than my HMC-150s.

3) 4GB is around 12 minutes. 8GB is around 24 minutes. 16GB is around 45 minutes. Etc
 
i don't know about you guys, but my battery is quite a pro. I get non stop shooting for an entire day with intermittent test snapping, viewing footage from the lcd screen for at least 25 minutea nd shooting perhaps 45minutes, while only draining half of the battery. So i would say the battery might get you at least two hours.
 
great... I think this is the one.. I get so nervous right before I make a bigger purchase like this.. but im also excited.. This camera looks like it allows me to get the results I need and have been searching for.. All those 35mm adapters, I just cant really get into them.. I feel as if thats all a bnuch of nonsense, and cameras/ red scarlet is the future in filming..

So... ok i gotta do it!

im purchasing it asap.
 
I wish I could make my mind up that easy!!

corycross said:
great... I think this is the one.. I get so nervous right before I make a bigger purchase like this.. but im also excited.. This camera looks like it allows me to get the results I need and have been searching for.. All those 35mm adapters, I just cant really get into them.. I feel as if thats all a bnuch of nonsense, and cameras/ red scarlet is the future in filming..

So... ok i gotta do it!

im purchasing it asap.
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BTW, Cory, the manual/auto controls in video mode are the same as in still mode. On a DSLR, there's a knob that you turn to switch between the different exposure modes (full auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, program auto, and manual). So as long as the knob is set to manual (M), you'll be fine.
 
Just a side note, I took some footage with a 35mm Nikon on my 7D handheld while sitting in the passenger seat of the car...the jello is there but not nearly as much as the 5D...I would even go as far as to say it;s very usable.
 
The camera overheat easily, you might want to think if it will fit the way you shoot, if you have plenty of brake in between shoot then it might work well, if you are shooting straight for 12 minutes a pop and then shoot again, it might over heat on you near the end of the second 12 minutes, it does it to me and many others, wide shot with infinite dof will also gives you problem with alliasing if you have horizontal pattern in your scene or anybody wearing shirt with thin pattern will mess up too, I just want to give you some warning before you make the plunge.:happy:
 
I am not purchasing is jussst yet... I have one more question..

Buy this now.. spend over $4500 for everything.. or wait till the red scarlet?

When does the red scarlet even come out, I remember when information kept changing for it that I didnt keep up with it anymore and really had no faith in it really coming out this year.. Thats why I thought the 7D would be a good deal for now..
 
Don't buy anything you don't need.

If you need it, get it, and don't look back.

If waiting for the scarlet is an option, then wait. We're supposed to get more information later this month on the Scarlet.
 
reasons for me needing a camera.

1. Have 1 bigger production at a hospital where im filming a stem cell transplant video.. I wanted to give them more cinematic good composition and DOF.. rack focusing and also typography in post. Their old video was terrible, after looking in some markets its funny how some things were made, and how much of a cheap budget you can have to get something that blew the last video away in sense of scene, lighting, camera

2. Need to film some commercials and music videos as well for my projects.. one of the music video involes a camera car mount

so.... i dunno! im stumped for now only because im tired.. but, after i wake up i think I will be getting the 7D... the footage that is made just looks too nice
 
corycross said:
I am not purchasing is jussst yet... I have one more question..

Buy this now.. spend over $4500 for everything.. or wait till the red scarlet?

When does the red scarlet even come out, I remember when information kept changing for it that I didnt keep up with it anymore and really had no faith in it really coming out this year.. Thats why I thought the 7D would be a good deal for now..
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Although only the people at RED really have a clue, most people are not expecting the Scarlet until next spring at the earliest. I think that even the people at RED have hinted as much. They've said that details regarding the release schedule will be announced sometime this month, so the smart choice, if you really want to wait for the Scarlet, might be to see what the schedule is supposed to be. Keep in mind that current RED One owners will likely be given priority in the early rounds of ordering.

RED's company line about expecting anything (specs, price, release date, etc.) to change is intended to mean that you should not wait for their products or plan projects around them. In other words, you shouldn't be waiting in anticipation. If possible, you should try to put it out of your mind and then worry about it when actual products are released. It'll save you endless headaches.

Also keep in mind the pricing for the Scarlet, which will depend on what model and options you plan to get. The most recent announcement, from the end of last year, said that the S35 brain alone would be $7500. So a fully working package would cost near $10K. On the lowest end, the fixed-lens 2/3" version with minimum RED accessories would be $3750. You still probably need other accessories (rails, mattebox, filters, monitor, follow focus, shoulder mount, etc.). Those are also things that you'd buying to use with the 7D.

High-end DSLRs tend to hold their value very well. If you buy the 7D now, you could probably sell it next spring for $1400-1500. Plus, you'd still have lenses and accessories that could be used with the Scarlet. So if you think about it, waiting for the Scarlet won't be saving you that much money. It's money that you could be making with the 7D on jobs.

Just out of curiosity, what are you spending $4500+ to get, aside from the camera?
 
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yea I was thinking similar to your lines as well and was the other reason for really thinking of purchasing the 7D in the near future ( 2 days )..

I am purchasing the micro shoulder mount and follow focus, canon 17-40mm and beachtek DXA-5d, along with 501 tripod... cf cards..batteries... and I think thats it. I already have wireless mics so I dont neeeed a boom .. thought i want one shortly.
 
PSA1 said:
wide shot with infinite dof will also gives you problem with alliasing if you have horizontal pattern in your scene or anybody wearing shirt with thin pattern will mess up too
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Although it's not a "cure all", for wide establishing shots (like scenery shots) *slightly* defocusing my Tokina 11-16 pretty much fixes aliasing problems without making the shot look soft since HD video is still pretty "low rez" by stills standards.

Of course, this won't help you if you have multiple problem subjects at various depths. Throwing one subject out of focus might push the problem to another subject in the scene.
 
The overheating could be a big issue.
PSA1 said:
The camera overheat easily, you might want to think if it will fit the way you shoot, if you have plenty of brake in between shoot then it might work well, if you are shooting straight for 12 minutes a pop and then shoot again, it might over heat on you near the end of the second 12 minutes, it does it to me and many others, wide shot with infinite dof will also gives you problem with alliasing if you have horizontal pattern in your scene or anybody wearing shirt with thin pattern will mess up too, I just want to give you some warning before you make the plunge.:happy:
Click to expand...
 
either way, its money well spent. don't forget it's also an 18 mp Digital SLR with HD video for everything else...
 
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