B-camera to the D800?

[Jason Allen]

Hi folks,

I'm considering getting a B camera for use alongside my D800. This camera would almost exclusively be used for video in a documentary interview setting under controlled lighting.

What would you pair with the D800 for video use? Another D800? D7100? D5300? Panasonic AF100? Panasonic GH3? Any of the NEX cameras? Why would you make that choice?

Thanks in advance for the opinions!

 

[Ken1212]

For your use I would go D5300, if you can not wait few weeks go for the D7100. Why, you will match color easy, use same lenses and under a controlled environment the Nikons do really good. If it was a run and gun type of shoot or your subjects will be moving then auto focusing and maybe auto zoom is important, then you would want a video camera.

 

[Samuel H]

D5200/D5300/D7100
(guessing IQ from the D5300 will be the same as in D5200, but with the added 1080p60 option)

 

[Jason Allen]

No rush on the gear, so I can wait for a D7100 to become available. AF and auto zoom are not critical to my style of shooting, as I'll be using a Panasonic HPX-250 for B-roll requiring servo zoom, and I rarely if ever use AF (why let a computer do the thinking for me?). The D800 will only be used for interviews and selectively for B-roll requiring shallow depth of focus.

D5300 would be nice for any shots requiring overcranking though... 1080p/60 is nice.

 

[homestar_kevin]

I have the d7100 currently and love it.

The 720/60p is nice and upsizes well.

There's also 1080/60i when using the 1.3x crop mode.

I haven't messed around with this option too much, but it didn't seem too bad when using it.

That said the 5300 looks awesome and has the articulating screen and 60p.

 

[wuffer]

D5200/D5300/D7100
(guessing IQ from the D5300 will be the same as in D5200, but with the added 1080p60 option)

Hm, I did a bit of research today on dpreview and there is no confirmation about the good old Toshiba's sensor in the D5300.

On the contrary, the stillphotography forum-people urges Nikon to get back to Sony(*), because the neighbor of someone's uncle told about about some bad banding in the shadows (after pushing a bad exposered pic + 3 EV in the post...). But with Sony's sensor, you could bet for very sharp moire ... So, don't hope for the new cam until it's truly tested.

I hope my scepticism will be wrong!

--
(*) the common 'sense' for stills D5100 the better cam... *roll-eyes*

 

[wuffer]

Looking for an D800 addition too.
At the moment two/three candidates are on the list

G6 -
+ best high Iso,
+ sharp
+/- smaller Sensor (could be useful)
- less DR
- colour? especially matching the look, uuuurg!
+ CHEAP!
+ no overheating(!)

D5200
+ better high iso
+ no moire/aliasing
+ hopefully quite similar colour profile
+ CHEAP!
- building quality and handling. could possibly overheat !!


D800
- one is enough for me (said my GF and take the second body away on her asia trip)
- old technology, not so well implemented video mode: for the price you get both(!) a D5200 AND a G6 incl. useful glass...?!
+/- handling and cut! but caution: my two d800 had definitely NOT the same colour cast!
(dunno if Nikon's service could help here, as my old cam is away now for some months)
+ had survived even my rough handling!! Building quality is nearly top notch, second only to D3/4.

AC90 - why not?
+ handling. one shallow dof is enough
+ come with glass onboard
- matching the look
- worse high iso/DR

Had to wait for next month before purchasing additional bodies, at the moment I'm leaning towards a G6 + a D5200