Advice On Purchasing A HDSLR

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Kuato_Lives87

New member
A thousand pardons if this is the wrong place to post this or it's been posted a million times over. I figured you guys were the ones to talk to about this. I want to buy an HDSLR in the sub-1,000 price range, wondering if anyone had any good suggestions, warnings, etc. about what camera's are best and how the price range may limit me.

Thanks for the input dudes and dudettes
 
Advice: WAIT!! :)

Seriously. In the sub -$1,000 range, the best options would have been Canon 3Ti, Panasonic GH2, Nikon 3200, Sony NEX-5 (?), etc.

There is a new Canon 4Ti that should ship by teh end of this month for $850. We need to get hands on and see how it performs, but it looks promising.

There may also be other options announced in the next few weeks. So do your evaluations, look at what's out there, pro's & cons, but I'd give it a couple of weeks if you can.

That said - do you have any existing kit? Especially lenses that would make you favor one make over another? What do you plan on using it for? Everything? To supplement a camcorder? Etc?

Let us know more. It is a good time for a re-evaluation.

Cheers!
Michael
 
Right on Michael, thanks for the response. I'm not in an insane rush to pick it up so I can definitely sit by for a few weeks and troll around for the best buy. If I could afford something like a 5d I would go for that because I want to do digital filmmaking with good cinematic quality to it. As of now I don't have any lenses that would sway my decision on purchasing. I make most of my bread and butter through editing so almost all my funds have gone into that system, but I'm trying to snag an HDSLR so I can get into my own shooting again. For now, it's baby steps. Any freelance work I can get for shooting I want to take so if there is a particularly versatile camera I would probably lean towards that.
 
If a flip out screen isn't a big deal to you, the T2i's are selling for $500 and under online and used/refurh 5D MKIII's are selling for around $1500. The 60D is probably the best value around the $1000 mark.
 
I will also have a Canon 3Ti to sell for not much more than $500. More with an 18-55mm kit lens, less without the lens.

I have only had it for a couple of months. I bought it as a Canon refurb for a project for my son. It had 157 exposures on it when I got it. It is still Mint-/Excellent+, with under 2,000 exposures. It still has the LCD protector on the rear LCD that it shipped with.

I have a 4Ti on order. I will post the 3Ti for sale here soon in for sale. Not really trying to sell it here, just an FYI on pricing, etc. for comparison.

The 3Ti will stay in the Canon lineup for now.

Best,
Michael
 
If you want a cinematic film look to your shots I would not recommend a Panasonic GH series camera. Any of the canon Ti series, 7D, 60D etc. would be a better option.
 
I'd say: wait until more info about the T4i, if it doesn't have aliasing/moire it will be a very interesting option. If it hasn't solve that, then choose between GH2 (clean, sharp image), T2i (cheap, lovely images, but with aliasing/moire), T3i (a bit more expensive, but has swivel screen), and NEX-5N (very cheap too, I just bought one for $450, to replace my T2i; in a few weeks I'll know if it is actually any better)
 
Stephenh said:
If you want a cinematic film look to your shots I would not recommend a Panasonic GH series camera. Any of the canon Ti series, 7D, 60D etc. would be a better option.
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Sorry but this is nonsense!
I own both Canon and Panasonic cameras and either are capable of making cinematic images as long as the operator has the ability.
 
The biggest controversies you'll find right now are the Panasonic GH camp vs. the Canon camp. It's all-out warfare sometimes.

I shoot Canon when I want DSLR footage, but I usually have a D7000 with me for stills and I'm getting quite fond of the video look it provides. Color is really nice.

As for moire - I've never had a client complain; I have them bring alternate wardrobe, give them some pointers about texture and stripes, and bring a "real" video camera in case something won't work. I bought a T2i a couple years ago to see what the DSLR thing was all about, and have never bothered to upgrade to a pricier Canon. It's essentially the same video as the 60D & 7D. Lately I've been using the Canon as my main camera and using my (much more expensive) HMC as an audio recorder. If you know your way around the camera, it produces dynamite images that commercial/business clients love. In fact, all of the current DSLRs do, even the Nikons. Last week's shoot for a national restaurant chain, T2i, no sharpening or grading:

MVI_3163.jpg
 
Just to further confuse things ...

The 4Ti is shipping, so we should get reports on that soon. But ....

Canon Rumors is saying we could see 4 more Canon DSLR's in 2012. "CR2", which is a decent "confidence" rating:


http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/06/4-new-dslrs-coming-in-2012-cr2/


Now eventually you just need to make a decision and do it! In my case, I figured the 4Ti gave me everything I wanted right now - mostly autofocus during video, so I could get away with using it in many cases where I would otherwise need a camcorder (my son's musical group, he has 4 gigs a week during the summer, etc.)

I also figured taht the 6 month depreciation on the beast wouldn't amount to more than $100 to $200 worst case. Which is a pretty small price to pay for those of us who used to shoot film for 6 months of work! I used to shoot a minimum of $5,000 a year of still film for personal projects. $200 was a days shoot for 6x7 film at $1 a frame! :):)


I would assume that some of the 4Ti features will show up on other Canon cameras later this year. At lesat some higher end versions, like a 70D at least. Maybe a rumored direct, full frame replacement of the 5D2. Mayb e not the rumored larger MP camera, which might be directed towards stills?

What I would love to see are some of teh bit rates and features of the Canon Cinema Camera, like the Canon Log Codec, 4:4:2 or 4:4:4, RAW(?) and 12 bit color. We can hope!

Good times, good tools, lots of opportunities.

Michael
 
Sorry but this is nonsense!
I own both Canon and Panasonic cameras and either are capable of making cinematic images as long as the operator has the ability.
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Just from watching heaps of GH1 and GH2 mainly vimeo videos, they remind me of a Panasonic Video camera I have years ago. It was a hand held 3 CCD, Z something. Had really clean video but looked very digital looking compared to my HVX202 which I have just sold. Maybe just the videos I have had a look at, but the GH series looks to sharpened to me.
 
I posted this in another thread. I'll repost here. Once I get the camera, I'll start a thread in the Canon APS-C forum, either Thuesday night or Friday morning:


I ordered a Canon T4i from Norman camera here in Michigan today. It should be here tomorrow afternoon (Thursday.)

I plan to run it through some ISO tests for both video & photo. Someone has also requested RAW or JPEG files (not sure if we have a RAW converter yet) from a high contrast scene.

I am going to test the auto focus tracking, a near to far auto re-focus using the touch screen, etc. I will post a bit of a review here and a link to a web page with samples.

I'll start a new thread after I get the camera I am also open to requests on tests. And happy to have anyone who lives near Ann Arbor, MI test the camera with me over the next few days, or have a look at the camera.

Once the 18-135 STM IS lens ships, I want to test hand held, on a rig, and on a tripod with the special IS for hand held shots.

Also FWIW: I noticed that Adorama is including a Magic Bullets package with a T4i preorder, as well as an extra battery and a couple of other things, for an extra $50.

The battery is usually $25, so net on the Magic Bullet package is $25 or less. I'd love to buy that from anyone who plans on buying the T4i and doesn't need it (as I already have the T4i coming.) Otherwise just aheads up on that.

Cheers! Should be fun!

Michael
 
Stephenh said:
Just from watching heaps of GH1 and GH2 mainly vimeo videos, they remind me of a Panasonic Video camera I have years ago. It was a hand held 3 CCD, Z something. Had really clean video but looked very digital looking compared to my HVX202 which I have just sold. Maybe just the videos I have had a look at, but the GH series looks to sharpened to me.
Click to expand...

This is what happens when you make statements about a cameras based on someone else's Internet posted video rather than real world user experience with the actual camera, and why you should always take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt.
 
This is what happens when you make statements about a cameras based on someone else's Internet posted video rather than real world user experience with the actual camera, and why you should always take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt.
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yeah, this is a major symptom of the DSLR "revolution" the buy in is so low that you get a bunch of moderately informed people making statements they arent qualified to make.

having owned a 60D, t3i, 2 GH2s, and extensively used a 5Dll, 5Dlll and 7D i can say with a degree of confidence that out of the box, with no experience. just kit lens and hit record. most people will consider the canon "look" more "cinematic"

a big problem with the GH2 is that the native glass is very sharp and contrasty (not to mention SMALL) and a large percentage of people posting footage are using native m4/3 lumix glass. when i had my first pass with the GH2 i hated everything i shot. but i was using only the lumix 14-140 and 20mm "pancake." my second experience, i took a bit more time. used no native glass but instead went with a good m4/3 to nikon adapter and old nikon mf lenses. the look was MUCH more to my liking. of course i lost all modern functionality like autofocus, ois, metering etc. having a good deal of still photo experience, that wasnt a big problem. but i did find myself missing AF for quick still work : (

my third major round with the GH2 i used a variety of other m4/3 lenses from olympus and voigtlander. and found that to be also more pleasing than the standard lumix stuff.

my next adventure with the gh2 will be using a PL adapter and using some zeis CP2s...

i guess the point of my ramble here is that for a newbie who just wants to plop down a grand for a turn-key kit, in general i'd say that canon will give you an easier path to "cinematic" but if you have any knowledge, experience or sense of experimentation, the GH2 can deliver VERY pleasing results as well as MUCH more flexibility.
 
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Definitely, the GH1/2 with Panasonic lenses look very video-ish and also overly sharp and contrasty. Put on some Canon FD lenses and the image quality is stunning.

I've also found that sometimes when people say the GH2 video looks too sharp, they are referring to DOF. If it's really the shallow DOF look they prefer, then the 5D is able to get that look the easiest...although those Voigtlander 0.95 lenses can help get you there on the GH2.
 
David W. Jones said:
This is what happens when you make statements about a cameras based on someone else's Internet posted video rather than real world user experience with the actual camera, and why you should always take what you read on the Internet with a grain of salt.
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+1 Amen, brother.

My experience mirrors that of others in this thread - use the right lenses (to include Oly 4/3 lenses with auto functions), and the camera will give you what you need - whether sharp or soft, shallow or deep.

One of my heroes, Roberto Miller, is shooting his feature on the GH2 - looks pretty "cinematic" to me :-):

https://vimeo.com/40844162

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution
 
One of my heroes, Roberto Miller, is shooting his feature on the GH2 - looks pretty "cinematic" to me :-):

https://vimeo.com/40844162
Click to expand...

I may have to eat humble pie on this one. One of the best images I have seen shot on a GH series camera or any DSLR really. I guess the LOMO glass is the test. Thanks for the link.
 
a big problem with the GH2 is that the native glass is very sharp and contrasty (not to mention SMALL) and a large percentage of people posting footage are using native m4/3 lumix glass. when i had my first pass with the GH2 i hated everything i shot. but i was using only the lumix 14-140 and 20mm "pancake."
Click to expand...

I think that is what may have been my experience with some of the videos that I checked out, and I must admit I look at a lot of samples because I was considering getting the GH2. Should have looked a little further, especially the type of glass that was being used.
 
Friends, I don't think it's the camera or the lens. Filmmakers like Ken Simpson from Toronto are shooting great cinema with the 5D Mark II for less than £500, as in his "The Fall and Rise of Mickey":
The film: https://vimeo.com/12705618
Interview with the filmmaker: http://www.chrisjonesblog.com/2012/...0-what-can-be-achieved-jaw-dropping-work.html

While others like Gami Orbegoso from Spain are doing the same on the GH2, as with Gami's 3500€ feature, "Musgo", which is now on the festival circuit:
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/33025136
Interview with the filmmaker: http://www.artofthestory.com/filmmaker-interview-gami-orbegoso-creator-of-musgo/

In my view, we are at a point in history where anyone with talent, vision and drive can make compelling cinema with a wide range of inexpensive HD cameras from just about any manufacturer. I personally prefer to shoot with Panasonic GH cameras, but I certainly respect what talented people can do with Canons, Sonys, Nikons, Konicas, or even Arris, REDs and iPhones. I love this century!

Bill
 
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