Is it worth it? Should i get the 7D? Cheapest way to get the 35mm movie like feel.

M

MFDOOM

Member
I know this is a noob question. I was thinking about getting the 7D to make some shorts ect. Even though the camera will run me close to 1500 and with lens and stabilization. I'm looking into around 3 grand ect. So is it even worth it going to a 7D instead of getting like a hvx or something along those lines? What should i do?
 
You should look around this forum. There are tons of pros and cons for DSLRs. I shoot with a 7D and love it. I have not shot with a GH1/2 yet, though a lot of people swear by them.

You have lots of choice now,

Kegan
 
MFDOOM said:
I just feel like theres an axe in my head i dont know if i should go dslr or just hd cams
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If you posted a bit more about what you'll be doing with the camera, that may help.

And I would go 60d, will save you $500 and give you some more useful options like flip screen.
 
Personally, I couldn't afford an hvx so I started looking into the 7d.
I needed something in hd to upgrade from my dvx, but was scared to get a less video-oriented option.
Turns out the 550d/t2i takes the same quality for even less (found refurb w/kit lens for $640) AND has an incredible firmware hack called magic lantern which enables things the more expensive options wish they supported (zebras, focus peaking, live histogram, manual audio and headphone live monitoring via av cables, rack focus, etc).
Figured at that price its worth a try.

Best decision I ever made. Its a totally different workflow so u need to be prepared for that... but very rewarding and more versatile than I expected. If you're considering a 7d, I strongly recommend u consider a t2i as well.

I've heard good things about the gh series as well, but canon has the big user community backing it up (and the street cred right now).
 
I'm mostly gonna be shooting is short films and low budgets. I was looking in the t2i but all the hacking and ect going on. I rather not get into all that, maybe it's a mistake but for some reason the 7d quality is just astounding. But right now what are the top dslr cameras just for video shooting not photography?
 
MFDOOM said:
I'm mostly gonna be shooting is short films and low budgets. I was looking in the t2i but all the hacking and ect going on. I rather not get into all that, maybe it's a mistake but for some reason the 7d quality is just astounding. But right now what are the top dslr cameras just for video shooting not photography?
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1. GH2 2. Canon 60D 3. Nikon D7000....just my opinion and the Nikon and Canon are a toss up. Some love the Nikon color, some love the Canons.
The 7d for only video IMO is overkill (great for photos though) The 60d for just video is Canon's most ready option out of the box and at $899 is a great deal.It will produce video identical to the 7d. That saves money for lenses and the possible addition of a high end consumer cam to shoot things the DLSRs aren't so great at, or you could go GH2.
 
image quality is the same on 7D, 60D, 550D, and, presumably, 600D

I think the only advantages of the 7D are the magnesium body and the higher-res-HDMI-out-while-recording; people's opinions differ on whether that's worth the price premium

the 60D and the 600D have flip-out screens; the 60D and the 7D have more ergonomic controls (unless, like me, you use vintage manual lenses; then the you don't need the extra wheel)

magic lantern is absolutely lovely (custom cropmarks, live histogram or waveform, zebras, peaking, etc), and, right now, is only available for 550D and 5Dmk2; it may come to 60D and 600D, but it may take a few months; 7D has encrypted firmware and may never get ML

the GH2 has a much cleaner image (less moire and aliasing), but again some people complain that the image is not as beautiful as with the canons
 
MFDOOM said:
I'm mostly gonna be shooting is short films and low budgets. I was looking in the t2i but all the hacking and ect going on. I rather not get into all that, maybe it's a mistake but for some reason the 7d quality is just astounding. But right now what are the top dslr cameras just for video shooting not photography?
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What I was trying to say is that if you find the 7d image astounding, you should gett the t2i as its the same senaor and image for less money!
And thet fact that you can have more options with the hack later down the road is a big plus, even if you don't think you are comfortable with it now. Basically, only reason to go with 7d imo, is name recognition or live HDMI to extetnal monitor while filming.
 
If you are dead set on getting a Canon the one I would suggest is the 60D. All of the Canons have the same video quality. After that your issue would be ergonomics. The 60D is the only one with a rotating LCD (like regular camcorders). Trust me when I say that you‘ll miss that function if you don’t go with the 60D. I had a 7D…and it go a bit tough to handle without a proper LCD. If you are not exclusively Canon centric then the one I would refer you to is the Panasonic GH-2.
 
look for a used hvx, or xha1, still great cams. and will give you yhe ability to do more without tons of accessories.
 
maranfilms said:
look for a used hvx, or xha1, still great cams. and will give you yhe ability to do more without tons of accessories.
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Plus you can get DOF adaptors for a song and a prayer now-a-days, so if you decide to go with the HVX or XHA1 route, you can pick one of those up cheap.

That being said, I love my T2i. Excellent camera for the money.
 
I compare pictures on the schools XHA1 and my 7D and 7D blew it away, not sure i woudl go that route unless you jsut want easier way to do sound etc..
 
You guys also have to take into consideration his $3k budget. He needs to buy support accessories regardless. Buying a used HVX or XH-A1 won't leave him very much money for a tripod, mics, lights, etc. I'm not on an advocate of buying cheaper quality gear just because you can't afford it yet, but he could get a pretty reasonable setup if he went with a T2i/3i or GH series camera. Add in a Zoom H4n + Rode VideoMic, a Libec tripod, starter len(s) (Tamron 17-50mm if Canon, a bunch of FD primes if Panny) and either a handheld rig, slider, steadicam type device (whatever fits your style of shooting).

Shooting on a regular video camera is like testing the water to see if its too cold - shooting on a DSLR is like jumping right in with your clothes on. Learning curve is tough, but its really rewarding once you learn it.

Kegan
 
I agree with Hunter. For example this would be a pretty nice set up to start

Canon 60D/T3i - $899/$799
Libec or other Prosumer Tripod - $200 (I know tripods last a lifetime, but we got a budget here)
3 Canon primes 20mm 50mm 85mm - $1200 (can't go wrong with well built fast aperture primes)
Zoom or Tascam - around $200 to $250
Simple light kit - $200
Mics - $200
This all comes in at under $3000 with nice lenses and I know there's cheaper alternatives for lenses, but this is just an example.
 
pulpfiction007 said:
I agree with Hunter. For example this would be a pretty nice set up to start
3 Canon primes 20mm 50mm 85mm - $1200 (can't go wrong with well built fast aperture primes)
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if that's the 20mm f/2.8, I think it's a pretty unremarkable lens (or maybe my favorite lens review site got a faulty unit, as it gets fuzzier the more they close the aperture...), better go for the 24mm f/2.8, or even the tamron 17-50 (non-vc)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...LensComp=246&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=474&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=3

the rest of the list sound pretty damn fine... in fact it matches pretty closely what I've bought in the last 6 months :)
 
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NormanBates said:
if that's the 20mm f/2.8, I think it's a pretty unremarkable lens (or maybe my favorite lens review site got a faulty unit, as it gets fuzzier the more they close the aperture...), better go for the 24mm f/2.8, or even the tamron 17-50 (non-vc)
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...LensComp=246&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/...meraComp=474&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=3

the rest of the list sound pretty damn fine... in fact it matches pretty closely what I've bought in the last 6 months :)
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Thanks for that bit about the Canon 20mm...I might have to revise my own shopping list. Maybe the Sigma 20mm 1.8 might be a better choice.
 
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