hd camera to match 5D mkIIs in concert situation.

A

Andrew McMillan

Well-known member
So we're setting up a large scale concert to record a DVD album.

We usually used to just multicam it with conventional studio cameras, but we loved the look of some shots we got with the 5D at a concert so much that we just have to try this.

The setup will consist of 4 to 5 5D as well as a hand full of other canon hdsrl's (as many friends t2i's and 7Ds we can get our hands on) We'll even be using the stellar Nikon 14-24mm on the 5D on a jimmy jib. Which is something that I am especially looking forward to.

But where I run into a mental road-block is the FOH position ( the center main close-up camera).
Generaly the FOH camera is the one with the longest lens you have. Usually it's a 20x or more.
The closest thing that I can think of is a 7D with a canon 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 and even then I don't know if that is enough reach, plus the light loss, plus the fact we lose the wide shot from that angle, makes me want to go with a conventional video cam.

So my question is:
Does anyone know of an HD video camera that has at least a 20x lens that inter-cuts really well with canon HDSLR's?

sorry for the long post. thanks ahead of time for any help or ideas.
 
You could try a Canon XH-A1, or variant. I know it's tape, but it has a great 20x lens and produces stunning output. Not to mention plenty around used.
 
What I'd actually suggest is renting something like a Panasonic GH2 and some kind of 300 or 400mm f/2.8 (might not even need to go this long, a 200mm f/2.8 might work) + adapter and then use the Extended Tele Conversion feature on the GH2. The nice thing about using a Gh2 in this setup is that you can record for much longer periods of time continuously than you can with a Canon DSLR and while the high ISOs aren't as good as the Canons, the overall image quality is a bit better. Anyhow the m4/3 crop factor alone will give you a lot of reach with a 300 or 400mm lens, and if you use the ETC feature I can't imagine having any issues at all with getting enough reach as you get an additional 2.6x crop when you use that feature, so a 200mm lens on a GH2 with ETC engaged would give you a 35mm FOV equivalent in the ballpark of 1000mm (I'm not sure what the exact crop factor of the GH2 is in 16x9 mode, but it's a little less than 2x, but 2x is okay to use for a back of the napkin conversion.

200 x 2 x 2.6 = 1040mm FOV equivalent in FF35mm (5Dmkii terms)

So this would be more than enough, and you could probably get away with less, maybe renting an 80-200mm f/2.8 zoom + adapter would work, or if you are concerned about light-gathering capability, you could get some kind of 85mm f/1.4 (like the Samyang model, for example which is all manual and a great lens) + m4/3 adapter, and you'd get an image that would be equivalent in FOV of a 442mm in FF35mm with the light gathering power of an f/1.4 lens but with the DOF close to f/8 (in FF35mm terms) which would be perfect and low-hassle. Need longer but still fast? Get a 100mm f/2 or 135mm f/2.
 
What about the canon 600d and it's 3x and 10x crop modes?

I'm leaning between that and a canon video camera, but to be honest I've never been a fan of the canon HDV cameras.
I found them to have a flat image
 
I would really like a true camcorder to compliment my T2i as well.

I've heard good things about the HFS21.
 
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