DSLR's for PURPOSEFULLY shaky, handheld, footage?

C

croman5

Member
Hey gang,
I am quite the rookie when it comes to DSLR's and I've been non-stop researching the past couple weeks, trying to get some knowledge. I have been comparing cameras like mad and I think, because of my budget, I'm down between the t3i and the GH2. However, my specific project has caused me to seek your advice: between these two, or perhaps even at all, what DSLR is best for low light, outdoor, shaky handheld footage?

I know DSLR's are notorious for being shitty with handheld footage, but I'm making a mockumentary kind of like the Blair Witch Project. As a result, there will probably be some scenes with running with the camera and things of that nature. Should I avoid getting a DSLR altogether? Or can it be done without a bunch of ghosting and moire and all that other DSLR baggage?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Best,
CSR
 
Both the T3i and Gh2 will give you good low light performance with the right lens. Ghosting and moire will be the least of your problems. The rolling shutter of DSLRs will make this type of footage unusable. I would definitely go with a 3ccd camera for intentionally shaky footage.
 
sony's OSS lenses for the nex range are really good for adding a bit of dampening to shaky footage. plain old dslr shake is very fatiguing in my opinion. the addition of a bit of steadyshot on purposefully shaky footage looks good though. the nex5n wipes the floor with the 600d/T3i IMO
 
rolling shutter will make that Blair-Witch-Project-like footage look really bad with almost any DSLR; the only exception might be the new Nikons (D800, D4), but then you're approaching FS100 prices
 
thank you all for your help. i was worried about the possibility of the footage being unusable, which is unfortunate because i was looking to buying a DSLR so i could also take pictures and just have a nice video/still camera after this project was completed. would a shoulder rig/stabilizer work if i wanted to run with the camera? that's the only thing i'm worried about, is how the footage will look if i'm running with the camera. everything else should be fairly okay in terms of shakiness.

thanks again for your guys' comments. i really appreciate it.
 
there is always a way to work around the rolling shutter issue. Just shoot differently. See the disadvantages as a reason to be novel with your shooting.
 
yeah i mean it's not going to be like absolutely nauseating the whole time, but for a couple sequences, since they are POV shots, some camera movement might be necessary.

the adage "limitation sparks creativity" might need to be implemented in its most basic form haha. thanks!
 
if you want shaky Blair-Witch-Project footage, rolling shutter will kill the image; if you stabilize so it's not so shaky (with IS or camera support), it's not Blair-Witch-Project anymore
 
I wouldn't run with a DSLR. Things just jump everywhere, too much. But for a bit of mood, with some nice hand-held motion in the frame - I've found the form factor really works well for that.
 
i've decided to incorporate the rolling shutter issue into the script and justify getting a shoulder rig for the remainder of the story from a certain point on. it'll look like a more professional blair witch. which i realize now is an oxymoron haha. whatever. thanks for your help everyone!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top