Camera line up shuffling. Advice?

chromeboy007

chromeboy007

Well-known member
Hello,

Hoping you rational folks can put some clarity into my thoughts.

Currently I have the following camera and lens gear:

FS700 + Sony 16mm F2.8, Tamron 24 - 70mm F2.8
Panasonic HPX170 + 3 x 64GB P2 cards, 1 x 32GB card and 1 x 16GB card
Canon 60D + 50mm F1.4, 85mm F1.8, 50mm Macro, 18 to 200mm kit lens

Steadicam Pilot, which is great for the HPX170.


I use all three cams for paid work. Though I only use the 60D for stills. I seldom use the Steadicam. The HPX is still useful as some gigs require servo zoom, and some require broadcast compliant 422 codec.

I would like to streamline my gear collection a bit. I like all three of them, but the HPX and the 60D can use some upgrading.

So below is a list of features that I want in my new set of gear:

  1. a full frame still camera. Plus I don't like the Canon sensor. I prefer another brand.
  2. a video camera that has a wide variety of bit rate options, and 4K or HD option
  3. servo zoom, if possible, though not high priority. I can always rent these ENG guys for cheap
  4. a more compact solution than the FS700 would be nice
  5. a more compact and accessible solution than the Steadicam Pilot would be nice too


I am willing to sell most if not all of my current gear to score new gear that would have all these features addressed.

Possible new options:

1-Sony Alpha A7 class
- full frame - check
- better sensor - check
- compact - check, it will also mean that I can rid the Pilot for a more cost effective option
- bitrate option - check
- 4K - check - if I buy the latest one

Drawbacks:
- battery life sucks
- limited, and expensive selection of lenses, and not sure if meta-bones can handle autofocus for stills with EF lenses
- different hotshot for sync trigger then everyone else
- I think I still need to obtain external recorder like Atomos or CD for broadcast compliant 4:2:2 codec, and 4K if I don't buy the latest one
- no servo zoom
- the older models only have 12MP for stills



2-BMD Ursa Mini
- 4K, HD, and a very wide variety of bitrates - check check check
- EF mount available so no need for new lenses - bonus check

Drawbacks:
- not a still, so I need to get a full frame still camera, and to save money I would likely be stuck with my Canon or at best buy a used 5DM2 or a 6D. Though Canon is good I shouldn't complain.
- no servo zoom
- not compact
- expensive v-mount batteries, which adds to weight as well
- new CF cards needed
- my pilot probably won't work with this

3-Do nothing
- I still haven't been asked to do 4K or raw, so there is no urgency to upgrade.
- I can manage with a cropped sensor for stills, there is no urgency to upgrade.
- I still have access to 4K and high bitrate from the FS700, though I still have not used an external recorder on it.

Drawbacks:
- The HPX170 is noisier than I like. The high bitrate DVCPROHD codec doesn't hold up in post any better than AVCHD IMHO. It only zooms 8X. It doesn't do well in low light. Plus most servo zoom gigs I do has no need for a high bitrate codec. It just takes up hard drive space.
- The longer I wait to sell my gear, the lower the return I'll get for them.
- Overall, I like to upgrade my quality even if my clients don't know to ask for it.


4-???

Well this is where I'm hoping you guys come it. I'm sure you are more up to date with all this gear stuff than I do. Any advice would help.

Thanks for reading.
 
Go for A7s if 12 megapixels if enough. Otherwise I wouldn't go for any of the other A7 series bodies yet until an A7s mk2 comes out next year.

Get instead an A6000 would be my preference over any of the other non A7s cameras from the A7 line up, or see what the A6100/A7000 is when it gets released any second now. Also the Sony RX10 mk2 is interesting if that kind of thing rocks your boat. Any of these options mentioned would be a large leap forward over your current 60D.

Also, another FS series camera is meant to be launched any day now.

Take a look at gimbal options such as Ronin M, or if you get an A6000 or similar you could easilY use a smaller gimbal (often a very good thing!!) such as Came Single or Pilotfly.

For more ENG purposes take a look at Sony AX100 (with K2M-XLR) or Sony X70, both of which I find attractive due to their large one inch sensors and 4K capabilities.

URSA mini 4.6K or Sony FS7 is my current "dream" camera, but currently I'm settling for the Sony PMW-F3 which is a fantastic camera that I picked up for only US$1.2 (I'm a lucky lucky boy!).
 
I am a stills shooter who has also been doing some video for a few years. I was just asked to manage the video for a group who I have been doing stills for 3 years. So I took the opportunity to get into 4K.

I have been a Canon shooter for 12-13 years, since the D30, 10D, 1DxII, etc. I have a whole suite of great Canin glass. Canon 24-70 2.8 II, 70-200 2.8 II, 17-40 4.0, 70-200 4.0, plus a few primes.

I have also been shooting Nikon APS-C side-by-side with Canon for 6 years, and using Sony as a "3rd tier" kit for 6 years.

I still have a Sony A6000, but I need a camera that can run longer for events, and that overheats. I also tried a RX100IV, but I can't get more than 6-10 minutes out of it at a time, even in 1080. Too bad- great sensor!

The only Sony that can shoot 4K internally right now is the RX10II, at about $1,250. I needed 2, 4K cameras, so that would be $2.5k. Or the AX100, which I looked at closely, but I decided that the RX10II was a much better buy, with the new sensor. I really do love some things about my RX100IV- the 120 FPS, SLog2, etc. So the RX10II looks very interesting.

I have also heard rumors that the A7000 was delayed for overheating, and is limited to 10 or 15 minutes of 4K. Given Sonys track record, including the A7RII, I don't have a lot of confidence it won't overheat.

Instead I decided to go Panasonic. I bought a Panasnoic FZ1000 open box for $640, and a G7 kit for $800 ($750 now.) I am very happy with both of those! The only real limitation for me right now is that the HDMI out is cut off when they start recording. Damn firmware crippling! I was also very disappointed that Panasonic didn't give the, both V-Log. I still wish that I could make Sony work, I really like SLog2, and everything recent has it.

I didn't buy a GH4 because I couldn't find a used one under $1,100. With the new ones available in the $1,200+ range, I thought that was just too much money this late in it's life cycle. Especially with the new 20MP sensor out already on the GX8.

I didnt buy the GX8 because it was basically 2x as much for the same video capability I plan to buy a GH5 when that is released.

+++

For the stills side, I just sold my Canon 7DII which I absolutely loved for wildlife and events! It is a great camera. At higher ISO it has exactly the same image quality as my D5300 and A6000. The 65 cross AF points and dedicated lever are fantastic, as well as the AF frame coverage. I really, really hated to sell it! But I wanted to pay for the Panasonuc.

The only reason that I sold it is because I have a Nikon D750, which is about 1 stop better at events at ISO 3200 and 6400. It is also much better at base ISO for DR. I shoot events with 2 DSLRs, one with a 24-70 equivalent and one with a 70-200. I do have a Nikon 70-200 VR II. (Believe it or not though, the 7DII is a much better engineered, better performing camera than the D750. In every area except the sensor.)

I will keep just the D750, the 70-200, a Nikon 35 1.8, Nikon 50 1.8, and a Sigma 50 1.4 for portraits on the Nikon side. On the Canon side, I only plan to keep a Canon SL1 to use with the Canon lenses as a "B" camera for events (if I sell the $400 D5300.)

Before getting into Panasonic I had planned to shift more to Nikon. But I feel that the Canon lenses are easier/ better to adapt to other systems.

I did buy the Panasonic 12-35 and 35-100 2.8 so that I could use the Panasonic with good AF with native lenses, especially for stills.

I will also adapt the Canon lenses for video. I will do some 4K wildlife video this winter in Florida with the G7, Canon 70-200, and a 1.4x and 2x extender. In video mode I think the longest reach is about 580mm and 920mm with the 1.4 and 2x (using the GH4 video 2.3 multiplier.)

++++

TL; DR Version: (too,long; didn't read)


Okay, I hope that wasn't too confusing! I have been trying out a lot of new kit in the past year. What I settled on was:


** Event Stills in lower light **

Nikon D750 - $1,600 used, with 70-200 ($1,600) and a small prime lens kit ($600)
Canon SL1 - $300 refurb with Canon lens kit



** Event 4K Video **

Panasonic G7 - $800 with
Panasonic 12-35, 35-100 - $1,350 used for both, about $675 each.

Canon 24-70,($1,500) 70-200 2.8, II ($1,778), 70-200 4.0 non-IS ($400 )
(look at canonpricewatch.com for best new prices & sales)

Panasonic FZ1000 - $640


** 4K Wildlife Video, Stills: Vacation, Casual stills **

G7 with Canon 70-200 and extenders, Panasonic 12-35, 35-100

FZ1000 zoom, 25-400 mm native zoom with good auto focus


This has been a lot of churn for me! If I could make my choices without constraints, I would shoot Nikon DSLRs for events, and Sony for 4K video. Neither the Sony A6000 or Sony A7II were very good in low light for events. I love my Canon lenses, but the 5DIII and 6D are very dated.

Note too that my needs are somewhat unique! On the stills side, the D750 has a DxO "Sports Rating" (ISO Rating) of around 3,000. The D5300 and 7DII are around 1,500, 1 stop worse. And the Panasonic are around 800, again about 1 stop worse. So I would have 2 stops worse noise shooting Panasonic at events instead of Nikon.

(The 7DII does have a very clean, new sensor with no banding. It is as good as anything at higher ISO. Let's hope Canon can also match the Sony DR in the future.)


Sorry if if that is messy! I'm sure I could leave out some detail, or rework it. But it is 4am, I am up with insomnia, and I just took a sleeping pill.

Cheers! Good luck.
 
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HI - just wanted to drop a quick line to say thanks for taking the time to reply with such thorough responses. I will do further research based on your suggestions. For now a few extra comments:

1) I did not think about the overheating issues with the mirrorless/DSLR's. A friend of mine that I sometimes shoot with used to struggle with his Canon 7D overheating so yes thats an issue.

2) That Sony RX10II is one weird thing. Very interesting.

3) For the Sony mirrorless or DSLR users, what lenses do you go with for photography? Or you guys just don't really use the A7 series for photography much if at all?

4) So the Panasonic's don't suffer from overheating. Great. But micro 4/3's don't bother you guys too much compared to super 35mm?

The Sony X70 is a cost effective option. It looks quite good. The bokeh is there. It's 4K. It seems to serve my ENG needs. To take it further, one option I can pursue is just to get myself a really good 4K ENG camera that hopefully has a wide variety of bitrate selection including a broadcast compliant codec. Though it's irritating as I don't think this product exist. XAVC is not recognized by broadcasters.

Another option is to sell my HPX and all my P2 cards. Hopefully that would be enough to get myself an Atomos to get 4K for my FS700... but it will still be 8bit. Damn Sony.

Thanks.
 
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