Equipment recommendations for super-low light unscripted video?

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dancefilms

New member
I'm trying to find equipment that will let me film blues dancers in their natural habitat. Blues venues typically have the lights down very low, and no spots or other illumination on the dancers (filming the musicians is easier that way). We're talking moving subjects with only a couple of lux.

I've been going through a few different pieces of equipment trying to find something that works. The sony A55 was nice because of the phase-detection autofocus in video mode, but the codec gets really blocky with motion in low light, and I can't tell how high the video ISO goes (because there are no manual controls in video).

I just tried out a Panasonic GH2, and shooting at 18mm @ f/3.5 and ISO 3200, it's a bit blocky and still doesn't let in as much light as I'd like. Examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXlN2igGp-o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-PSP01N-XA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEYIoyfsnik



I'm considering the following options:

-Buy a 14mm f/2.5 pancake for the GH2, and see whether the extra stop helps.
-Buy a 20mm f/1.7. I'm a little worried about the shallow depth of field, though, as dancers tend to move around quite a bit.
-Get an LED light for the hotshoe and try to illuminate the dancers more.
-Try out a Panasonic TM700 camcorder. I've heard they're awesome in low light, though I don't get how that works with their tiny sensors.

Any suggestions appreciated. How do you guys do audience shots at music venues, or other similar low-light shots?
 
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Best option if you HAVE to shoot this without any light is to get your hands on a Nikon D3s, a couple of F1.4 or F1.2 lenses, or maybe even the new Voightlander F0.9 lens, and shoot. You'll have limitations to work around, but at least you can get a image.

Forget the TM700. The problem with the term "low light" is that it's utterly meaningless. Until people actually start defining real light levels in lux or footcandles, making comparisons between these cameras is just hyperbole or worse.

Honestly, my first suggestion would be to add light, but other than that, get a camera and glass capable of getting the job done.
 
If I could afford a D3s, that would be an easy solution, but I'm looking in the ~$1000 price range right now. As far as the TM700, I had heard that it works down to about 5 lux, but haven't seen an equivalent rating for video DSLRs.
 
dancefilms said:
If I could afford a D3s, that would be an easy solution, but I'm looking in the ~$1000 price range right now. As far as the TM700, I had heard that it works down to about 5 lux, but haven't seen an equivalent rating for video DSLRs.
Click to expand...

And you won't. Because unlike the fixed lens camcorders, a DSLR's ability is tied to the glass on the front of it. This is not a variable on a fixed lens camcorder so it can be stated. I can say that shooting at F1.8 on my T2i, I have recorded sporting events on a floor with ~4-8 footcandles of light. I shot at ISO 800 and the footage came out reasonably well. Most people would probably be very happy with it, but I'm picky.

I can tell you my EX1 would have been DYING trying to work in that light, and I'd bet real money my EX1 is better in poor light than the TM700.
 
if you can't go for a D3s or a 1Dmk4, I think your best bet is a faster lens, the panasonic 20mm f/1.7 and the voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 being some great choices for a GH2

at full aperture, you'd get 4x and 13x times more light with those than you get with your f/3.5, and depth of field would be:

for an image that's 1m high at the focus distance: 40cm at f/1.7 and 21cm at f/0.95
for an image that's 2m high at the focus distance: 1.7m at f/1.7 and 90cm at f/0.95

so for if you're worried about DoF then f/0.95 may be too shallow for close-ups and medium shots, but may work fine for a full shot, and in any case with the voigtlander you get the chance to choose

on the other hand, the panasonic 20mm f/1.7 is just $315 at bhphoto

if I were you, I'd try to borrow a f/1.7 lens (or something similar) and test it out; if you can't get one, then try to simulate it in post, to see if f/1.7 will be bright enough (easier done with a few RAW stills than with a video)
 
The Panasonic 20mm pancake would be a big help.
I use this to record live music at nightclubs with great results.
 
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