B camera for 7D II

J

Joshua_G

Well-known member
Currently I'm using Canon 7D II with Ninja Blade as A cam and Canon 600D/T3i with Magic Lantern as B cam.
Shooting lectures, a B cam is a must, since the 7D II turns off automatically after 30 minutes and must be turned on manually. Thus, there is an inevitable few seconds gap. Even disregarding the gap, a B cam is a must for smooth editing, choosing only portions of the lecture.

Upgrading the 600D/T3i with a budget camera, it looks like 70D is presently the best option. The 80D is probably better, yet, alas, there is no ML for it.

Another option is to go for 5D III for 3 times the price of the 70D (in my country). This will stretch my means to the top of my ability.

Your thoughts?
 
80D has a cleaner image than the 70D; Even cleaner, better dynamic range and better noise performance than the 7D MII, HOWEVER has not clean HDMI out and has some MOIRE while
the 7DMII has not moire and clean HDMI out. I think those two cameras make a great team, despite the price is about the same.
 
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I would suggest the 80D due to the higher dynamic range. Got it for timelapse and second stills camera. My partner shoots with it. Even without Magic Lantern, you can use it in interview situations. I prefer shooting closeup videos as well as some B rolls with that.

If you are considering 5D III, then why not the 5D IV? Personally I haven't used it, but I have the 1DXII and love the 4K files.

PS:I have the 5DIII but I have modified it to Infrared. I love that for stills and some special video use.
 
I heard that Magic Lantern was making headway on the 5D IV and that the 80D uses the same processor so they may get the 80D working as well.
 
My considerations here are for shooting lectures, with minimal or zero color grading and image manipulation, just cutting smoothly between the 2 cameras. Top notch video quality isn’t necessary at all. Actually, a camera with much lesser video quality would serve well as 'A' cam here. The end video will go to YouTube and archiving.
How about using the compact Canon Powershot G7 X mark II as a B cam? My main concern here is, will the colors match between those 2 cameras?
Alternately, how about the Canon VIXIA HF G30 or G40?
The benefits, for me, in this situation, of the G7 X II is the cost, and of the G30 or G40 is no 30 minutes continues recording and long battery life, which will save a second person tending the B cam.
However, matching with the 7D II (or the T3i/600D) is important.
(The benefit of the 80D is that it will serve me well for other shoots, none of which is planned at the moment).

P.S.,
I do hope ML will have a version for the 80D, but I cannot count on it.
 
Large sensor and small sensors do not give seamless cuts you can clearly see how depth of field and color are different, however shows 2 different view points.
Are you in position to pay for a better camera? if not I'll wait for the 80D to como down in price or buy it refurbished, 80D is the best aps-c camera produced by Canon until now.
A camera without operator has to go wide angle all the time you can not depend on autofocus for longer focal lengths, Despite dual pixel is a fantastic autofocus it might go wrong
and you need some one to control a camera error, do not forget cameras are computers with a logic brain and real life is not logic.
 
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