Best use of kit lens with Canon 60D?

R

Real_Rudi

Member
Hi all,
I was asked to make a promo video for a local dance troupe. After posting my last video here (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...mportant&p=1986215241&posted=1#post1986215241), I was told by many ‘don’t bother with fancy equipment make the best use of what you have’. I followed that advice and instead of renting, I used what I have: Canon 60D, crappy kit lens, Canon 50mm f1.8, Lowel DP light + Cowboy studio softbox.

I took your advice and focused on framing, editing and color correction. Thus, mostly close-ups and dramatic lighting.
What do you think? Did I make a good use of what I had? Do you think having better gear would have improved the quality of the video?

P.S. I will benefit (not monetarily) from you watching this video. If it is a problem, please don’t click.

[video=youtube;24aa-3gr1mY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=24aa-3gr1mY[/video]
 
I think the main point of that response is to get you off the computer and out shooting.

Only you can truly know what will help you next. So, after shooting this project, do you feel you have a better understanding of what you need gearwise?

I watched your video and there were some great shots in there. Some blown out stuff too, but you did it! you finished a project, time to re-evaluate and move on to the next one.
 
Honeslty, Kevin I don't really know if it would look better (no blown out stuff, better skin tones and higher dynamic range), if I'd shot the same thing with Canon 5D mark iii and Canon L lens. I still have no clue...
 
Real_Rudi said:
Honeslty, Kevin I don't really know if it would look better (no blown out stuff, better skin tones and higher dynamic range), if I'd shot the same thing with Canon 5D mark iii and Canon L lens. I still have no clue...
Click to expand...

The overexposure (blown-out highlights) cannot be fixed with a different camera or lens. That has everything to do with the user, so learn to watch your exposure to make sure you aren't blowing everything out. If you're using the 60D's factory-set meter, I've noticed that Canon cameras tend to meter hot by at least a click, if not two. Magic Lantern can add some great metering options as well.

Dynamic range largely depends on the camera, but it's also dependent on the picture profile to some extent (there's only so much you can do past the capability of the camera's sensor). And, yes, the contrast of the lens can matter a bit, too, but in the long run it's how you light and how you expose. There are picture profiles designed to maximize the amount of DR that you record (see: Flaat, CineStyle, etc.), but you can also make sure to preserve the difference between shadows and highlights in the way you light.

The one most useful thing the kit lens cannot give you is constant aperture, so if you need to be able to zoom without changing exposure then you're out of luck. There's certainly something to be said for sharper, faster glass, too. For now, though, I'd focus on learning how better to use what you have: light for highlights and shadows and learn to set your camera's exposure correctly. Once you've mastered that, then it may be time to start thinking about better glass.
 
This is really nice. It seems you have a good creative eye. The only problem I saw was that the highlights were a bit blown out and the skin tones didn't look great. I think having some softer light, and using bulbs with a higher CRI will help. I think the lesnes you have are perfectly fine for now. And if you had L series, I doubt it would have made your footage look way better. Also, you will want to use a picture style that is good for skin tones. So like Portrait, or Neutral, or Flaat_9p, Flaat_10p. You don't want to use any profiles with a high dynamic range in this particular case because all you are focusing on is properly exposing the subject (background is all black). So if you use a picture style that is not designed for high dynamic range you will get more data in the midtones (allowing you to color grade more agressively in post). Anyway, that video is really nice and these problems are something only nerds like us would notice. :grin:
 
To All of You,

thanks for taking time to write everything down. Very much appreciated. Great points. I printed everything out and put it on my wall.
 
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