Funny thing happned on my way to the 7D

Rakesh Jacob

Rakesh Jacob

Veteran
I didn't jump on the preorders like I should have and they went faster then I expected. There are a couple people still showing preorders open but I doubt they are gonna have enough for a first shipment.

I really want a 7D for my new projects but I can wait, I've been taking a break from doing any production work to just write and tweak some old ideas and crap like that. I'm happy passing time like this for now.
Any way I pick 2 music video jobs middle of last week, they both want it done by the end of the month. 1 is a sure thing the other is not as much, they want me to turn in a treatment, itemized budget and all that other bullsh!t.
So the sure thing video shoots for 2 days next week. I have an HVX200a, but I don't have an adapter. I was working with a friend who also has a HVX200a and bought the Letus. I gave him some lenses for it and whenever I need it I rent it from him for $200 if it's a paid gig. Me and him aren't cool anymore. The only other guy that will rent a LEX with some lenses is $250 a day. Which is cool.
But just incase, Friday night I was trolling EBay and the DVXUser Marketplace for used adapters that could get here this week. Then I start looking at camera retailers and see if any GH1s are showing up anywhere, they are not :(

I notice that Adorama has the T1i refurbished for $729 with the kit lens.
The T1i is not that good but if I use the HVX for mids and wides and just use the T1i for closeup extreme shallow DoF shots it might be ok. And I'll speed up the music track to 125% and slow down the T1i clips to 24p so it should be ok from a cadance standpoint on a 24p timeline.

So 2 day rental on the LEX and lenses $500; I planned to buy the 18-55 IS as a cheap starter wide-zoom for the 7D anyway so that's $170.
729-500-170= $59 for a T1i, so hopefully I don't F it up too bad and I'm good and got a HDSLR to practice shooting with while I wait. And if I can get the 7D before x-mas, I have a kickass x-mas gift for someone :)
 
And that's how you wrangle a budget! Except there was no free drink in there...see if you can get a free drink.

In all seriousness, the 7D wouldn't get to before those shots needed to happen anyway, so its probably smart that you went this direction. Good thing you happened upon it!
:beer:
 
You know, I happen to have an extra Amazon pre-order that I might sell to a friend. But if that doesn't work out, then I'd be happy to sell to you.
 
I know... just wanted to make sure Johnny wasn't getting carried away here.

You should make sure that the script you wanna shoot with the t1i involves kung fu. 20fps is a nice undercrank to get that Jackie Chan speed for fight scenes. :-)
 
Yeah X thnx, I was up all friday night, and sat morning online making sure the twist trick to lock aperture worked on the T1i. Basically gonna do a locked down shot wide open on a 50mm f1.8. Static plus plus super shallow will give the artist the look he wants, and buy me a new toy for now!
 
xbourque said:
You're aware that the t1i has no manual controls for video, right?

-X
Click to expand...

Not entirely true. There are workarounds that users have been using for a while to obtain manual control over the lens including using a small bit of tape over the contacts on the body to prevent the lens from registering with the camera.

You can also use older, manual lenses and physically bend the pins on the lenses so they do not make contact with the body, although I would have a hard time taking that route.

Do a little searching online and you can find some videos that people have posted demonstrating how this can be achieved.
 
You can also shoot at 720/30p with the T1i, right? Isn't it only 1080p that's restricted to 20fps? If that's the case, the 200a (I have one too) will match up beautifully at 720/30pn and give you a bit more time on your P2 stash as well.

A friend of mine was in the same situation as you and I was using my 5d2 the same weekend. He sprung for the T1i and was really impressed (at 720)...YMMV.
Also, if you pick it up at, say, at Best Buy...they have a nice, liberal 30 day, no questions asked return policy...might be a perfect excuse to give it a shot (no pun intended) and return if unhappy with the results.

J
 
KeithAndrews.TV said:
You can also use older, manual lenses and physically bend the pins on the lenses so they do not make contact with the body, although I would have a hard time taking that route.
Click to expand...

Why would a manual lens have electronic contacts in the first place?

Anyways, yeah yeah... I know. On the t1i you're pretty much in the same boat as with the 5D2 pre-firmware update. Same tricks still apply.

-X
 
docrock said:
You can also shoot at 720/30p with the T1i, right? Isn't it only 1080p that's restricted to 20fps? If that's the case, the 200a (I have one too) will match up beautifully at 720/30pn and give you a bit more time on your P2 stash as well.

A friend of mine was in the same situation as you and I was using my 5d2 the same weekend. He sprung for the T1i and was really impressed (at 720)...YMMV.
Also, if you pick it up at, say, at Best Buy...they have a nice, liberal 30 day, no questions asked return policy...might be a perfect excuse to give it a shot (no pun intended) and return if unhappy with the results.

J
Click to expand...
I was actually thinking about the Best Buy route but I wasn't sure if they had a restocking fee. Yeah I always shoot 720p with the HVX200a, 1080 is (with fear of back lash) pointless on that cam.

xbourque said:
On the t1i you're pretty much in the same boat as with the 5D2 pre-firmware update. Same tricks still apply.

-X
Click to expand...
Would be really cool if Hudson (or anyone capable) would hack the firmware for this thing. A little manual control would go a long way.
 
Now that the initial euphoria is over and the pixel ppeping has begun I think I'll wait a while before I trade in my MKII. I really wanna see what the 7D can do in low light @ f/2.8 compared to the MKII @ f/5.6 before I commit.....Having said that if I happen to walk past a store with one in the window.....
 
I know the 1Dmkxx is gonna be dreadfully expensive, but it should have all the 7D goodness with the 5D2 BADASSEDNESS IQ! I hope I win the lotto by next summer...please, please, please... Not the best business plan I know but I'm lazy like that.
 
squig said:
Now that the initial euphoria is over and the pixel ppeping has begun I think I'll wait a while before I trade in my MKII. I really wanna see what the 7D can do in low light @ f/2.8 compared to the MKII @ f/5.6 before I commit.....Having said that if I happen to walk past a store with one in the window.....
Click to expand...
I'm so tempted.. the viewfinder seems to be a touch bigger, which sort of makes up for the lack of AF coverage. I can trade half a frame per second and the weather sealing for pretty much better everything else.
 
Johnny Cola said:
I know the 1Dmkxx is gonna be dreadfully expensive, but it should have all the 7D goodness with the 5D2 BADASSEDNESS IQ! I hope I win the lotto by next summer...please, please, please... Not the best business plan I know but I'm lazy like that.
Click to expand...

I gotta hold onto to some money to pay actors or for some barrels to store the bodies. I just pissed away over a grand on a zfinder, led camera light and a fader nd......and now I got my eye on a badass follow focus.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top