Help I am enjoying my DSLR

Jason Adams

Jason Adams

Section Moderator
I have to say that I bought my 7D because it was inexpensive and the images were compelling. I spent around 2500 bucks on a body and lens to use in place of my 35mm adapter.

I was not happy about the codec, the format, ergonomics, workflow or especially spilt audio system. I bought it because I thought it would be easier than using my adapter/hpx combo and it is the cheapest video camera I have ever purchased and I thought if I hate it at least I have a great still camera to play with.

Then something happened. After a few months and a few gigs in on the 7D I am really loving it. The things I told myself i would hate, like the DSLR form factor, the split audio I am finding to be assets. I am really enjoying working with this camera. I found that recording split audio has made me more discerning and careful with the audio. I have recorded some shoots in 24 bit 96khz. The images are beautiful and I never want to shoot without Kelvin dial whitebalance. Also I am shooting faster and getting more interesting shots because of the tiny DSLR form factor and I am using lower wattage lights and less of them because of the sensitivity.

I started with a list of features that I wanted on my 7D from my HPX and while I still have those I am suprised I now find myself with a list of 7D features I want for my HPX.

has this happened to any other shooters coming from other pro camera systems. Help me I am not suppose to be enjoying this.
 
Last edited:
I agree.

When I first started shooting with the 7D, I was horrified. The only thing I really liked about it, was the image I got. I started with an HVX200, and I was missing all the convenience of a "real" video camera. The split audio took getting used to, but as you - I found it to be an asset, a real tool for getting better shots while filming audio. I'm loving my 7D.
 
jason.adams said:
has this happened to any other shooters coming from other pro camera systems. Help me I am not suppose to be enjoying this.
Click to expand...

haha there's nothing wrong with that. I love my 7D despite all its shortcomings. I will def still use it even after I get a scarlet- the cams should complement each other very well.
 
Yeah, you're not alone. I sold my HVX and bought an HDSLR entirely because of price, but it was a huge improvement in a lot of areas. Do I miss my HVX? Sure, but there are a lot of things I just couldn't do with it and places I couldn't bring it. This changes everything.
 
Same here, I like it a lot. HPX and a 7D... I'll be cutting footage together of a 4 Day wedding shoot in Jamaica...
 
Hey Jason, long time no chat!

I actually had an opposite experience, but, I started with the D90 near-to-day-one. After having to deal with all of the workarounds, aliasing, etc etc it just became a little "eh" to me. I'd take these things to large sets/productions, people were excited to see and use them... by the end of the day enthusiasm went out of the window and reality (for these sorts of large productions) settled back in: we need a real camera.

I do still miss the GH-1 most of all and I'm pretty jacked about the AF100 and what Sony's got to offer. I don't think I'll go back to DSLRism, though. It's really good to see people just loving to SHOOT again, however.

That's something that's totally worthy any amount of money.
 
The first "Professional" camera I bought was a Canon 1014 XLS Super 8mm camera, purchased from Chambliss Cine Equipment for around $1275.00 in 1990. I shot commercials, music videos and some fictional narrative films with it. Since then I have shot with a lot of different cameras, in a lot of different formats, from 16mm, Super 16mm and 35mm film to 3/4", Super VHS, Hi 8mm, Beta SP and DV video. Because of some family responsibilities I took a sabbatical from film and video production for about 4 years and have just recently come back to moving image making in a big way (With the digital revolution, the terms "Filmmaking" or "Videography" just don't seem to work any more) and have been making $ doing event work in SD (Plus a day job). I have carefully sunk a lot of cash in upgrading my production capabilities towards HD, with an upgrade to an 8 core Mac, FCPS 3 and HD monitor and had scheduled to upgrade to an HD camera the first of 2011.

Well, I had a few extra dineros this spring and I picked up a T2i.

HOLY SH*T!!!!

So let me get this straight, for a camera body, kit lens, cards and other assorted doo-dads, I am out about $1100.00, less than I spent for a Canon Super 8mm camera back in the day and I have an interchangeable lens, 1080 24p HD camera, with picture profile, shutter speed and ISO control? "Thank you sir, can I have another?!"

Yes, there are issues with this camera, but, anyone here shot professionally with a Canon Super 8mm camera, or a Rex 4 Bolex? Talk about issues, shaaaa. Shucks, for that matter, the highest end cameras I have ever shot with are the Arri 35 III (ok, I was second AC on that camera) and an Arri SR-III S-16 camera. You may not believe this but neither of these cameras have XLR mic inputs, auto focus or realtime monitoring from the sensor medium. No really!

When I first fired up my T2i, I knew I held in my hands one of the game changer cameras. In the history of filmmaking there have been a handful of cameras that changed everything. In that list, I would include the Mitchell Standard, the Mitchell NC, the Mitchell NCR, the Mitchell BNCR, the Eymo, the Arri 35, the Cameflex, the Eclair NPR, the Bolex Rex series, the Arri 35IIC, the Panavision Panaflex, the Arri BL, the Arri SR, then video hit, big, with the Sony BVP-3, then digital video hit with the VX-1000 and then the Panasonic DVX-100 and of course, the Red One. Now we have the T2i. Of course the 7D, and the 5dMkII and other cameras are probably "Better" cameras, however, none of them has the image quality to cost ratio that the T2i has. I don't believe that any camera has ever offered the image quality that the T2i offers at the price it is available at.

Now we all know that there is a whole bunch of cameras that are going to be available very soon that will make the HD-DSLRs obsolete for professional use, however, none of these new cameras are going to able to compete with cameras like the T2i in price. I think that this is, actually, very exciting news. Now, up and coming filmmakers can get a camera like the T2i, at a price less than consumer grade video cameras, and learn their craft with a camera designed for PHOTOGRAPHY.

If you make your living shooting video with the modern crop of prosumer grade HD cameras, and you learned your craft with prosumer grade video cameras, AND you "Poo-Poo" the current crop of HD-DSLRs, I would recommend that you keep looking over your shoulder. There will be a wave of filmmakers who learned their chops man handling great images out of cheap HD-DSLRs and when they get their hands on the high end cameras that are coming...... well., don't worry, they are always hiring at Wal-Mart.
 
Last edited:
David G. Smith....

... you spaketh... as I do feeleth....

As I look at the footage shot with my T2i, I honestly feel I am in film maker heaven. Except I still haven't seen the 32 virgins promised to me.
 
Kholi said:
It's really good to see people just loving to SHOOT again, however.
Click to expand...

Hell yeah. To get that shallow DOF that I always dreamed of (ignore my screen name) It is fun.

I'm really not much of an audio guy, so I'm not missing the lack of XLRs. *yet*

Brought my 550D to a fashion shoot yesterday just to shoot BTS. Looking at what I shot when I got back.....amazing.
 
David G. Smith said:
...Now we have the T2i. Of course the 7D, and the 5dMkII and other cameras are probably "Better" cameras, however, none of them has the image quality to cost ratio that the T2i has.
Click to expand...

Great thoughts but I don't see how you can skip over the 5D so nonchalantly. It was the ground-breaker for the 7D and T2i. The 5D changed the game. The T2i made the new game more accessible to the masses.

To the OP, I have had the same experience as you.

I completely respect Kholi's opinion based on his vast experience. That being said, I was super happy with my HMC150 until my wife got the 5D (she's a photographer). I started playing around with the 5D and found myself reaching for my HMC less and less. After about 3 months of that...I sold my HMC and haven't looked back!

I love being able to pull out our camera and take both photos and video in an instant. I also love being able to pack everything I need -- and more, in most instances -- into a single backpack. And I love being able to justify the purchase of a new lens since my wife will also receive benefits vs. a video-only purchase :)
 
coddida said:
Great thoughts but I don't see how you can skip over the 5D so nonchalantly. It was the ground-breaker for the 7D and T2i. The 5D changed the game. The T2i made the new game more accessible to the masses.
QUOTE]

The 5D is a great camera, but it is a $2K+ camera body. I just think that with a $799.00 body, the T2i will find it's way into more hands, looking to move up.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top