Filming a stage production with DSLRs

Daviesgeek

Daviesgeek

Active member
First, let me preface this by saying I am not sure I even posted this in the right place. Please feel free to move it if it's not in the correct place.

Next week I am going to be filming a stage production with a couple of Canon DSLRs. I have never filmed the stage production before with a DSLR, so I'm at a loss as to what settings, etc., I should use. Does anyone have any general tips?'s I will be grateful for any suggestions you have.
 
DSLRs like the t2i and 7D have a 12-minute limit on clip length. So if you must use DSLRs to film an event, I would at least stagger their start times so that both your clips don't end at the same 12-minute mark and your edit captures the entire event. Needless to say you'll also have to monitor each camera and start recording again at the end of each camera's 12-minute mark, as well as swapping cards, etc.

And that's without even getting into the whole overheating issue.
 
Also sound and sync are important things to consider- presumably you'll get a copy of the house mix that you can use as the master audio and just have your on-board audio on the cameras for sync reference. You'll also want to get the cameras to look as similar to each other as possible- so match settings, aperture, etc and check on a good production monitor. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot of time in post making them match. And of course make sure each camera is shooting the same resolution, format and frame rate- surprisingly easy to botch this last one and can make post a real PITA.

-Noah
 
Okay thanks for pointing that out. I am using Magic Lantern, so I get 29:59 of recording time. I've also done some tests and times vary m, but usually my 550D overheats after about 3 hours. It does not, however, turn off. I've never had it turn off on me...
 
Yes I'm getting a house mix, and I've had tons of experience with syncing audio. Thanks for mentioning it though...
What's the best way to get the closest color? I will be shooting with a 550D, a 500D, and two other high-end Canon Vixia camcorders.
 
Take a few shots through post after visually matching them up on an outboard monitor via HDMI. If you are using only the onboard monitors- you might as well be shooting blind. They will never match.

-Noah
 
NoahK said:
Take a few shots through post after visually matching them up on an outboard monitor via HDMI. If you are using only the onboard monitors- you might as well be shooting blind. They will never match.

-Noah
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Ummm...yeah...I don't have a production monitor, nor do I have the money for one...I guess I'll just have to do all that in post...
 
Then get as close as you can and test. Test shoots are the only way to be sure of anything, so don't skimp on those. Although my first suggestion, which may not be doable for you, is to ditch the Canon DSLRs. And if this performance is longer than 29 minutes you really should see if you can get at least one camera that can record long enough takes to be safe.
 
Cassius said:
Then get as close as you can and test. Test shoots are the only way to be sure of anything, so don't skimp on those. Although my first suggestion, which may not be doable for you, is to ditch the Canon DSLRs. And if this performance is longer than 29 minutes you really should see if you can get at least one camera that can record long enough takes to be safe.
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Okay...I don't know if you noticed, but I mentioned that i have two other camcorders (which will record the entire time)
 
you're gonna have a hella time trying to match them all up. a 500d can only shoot in 720p at 24 fps I believe. And how does magic lantern help you get longer recording limit? the only way I would think of is to lower the bit rate but that would jack up your video quality.
 
Victor Nhat Nguyen said:
you're gonna have a hella time trying to match them all up. a 500d can only shoot in 720p at 24 fps I believe. And how does magic lantern help you get longer recording limit? the only way I would think of is to lower the bit rate but that would jack up your video quality.
Click to expand...

Yes, natively the 500D can only shoot at 720p @ 24 FPS. However, Magic Lantern allows it to shoot at the standard 1080p @ 29.97 FPS.

Yes, Magic Lantern lowers the bitrate. However, because this will ultimately be a DVD, I don't need 45 MBps. A standard DVD is only about 9 MBps, IIRC. So I lower the bitrate to about 12-17 to allow for it to record the full 29:59 clip limit.
 
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