Looking for camera with shallow depth of field and NO recording limit?

G

gutterball321

Well-known member
Hey folks. I currently have a Panasonic GH3 which I love. I am looking for a b camera to go along side my GH3 and dont know what to get. I want something to give me shallow depth of field that the GH3 can't quite get. I also want this camera to be used for photography so a GH3 probably isnt my best bet. I wanted to get a 5d mark ii but dont want to hit record every 12 minutes. Especially not during weddings/bands and long interviews. I also dont want a camera that may over heat and shut off for a while like my 7d did during an important shoot.

a 29 minute recording limit might be fine if the camera doesnt ever overheat.

Im looking for something under $3000 but may save and spend a little more if there is another type of camera that may be coming out (something like the rumored GH4?)

so any suggestions on cameras out there, or heads up on cameras coming out? Or does something like the 5d have a hack to eliminate the recording limit?
 
I have a 5DmkIII for ultra shallow depth of field, but to be honest I have never had issues getting shallow DOF with a M4/3 camera like the GH3. The Speed Booster is a good suggestion.
 
5D3 is selling at B&H for $2999 with some freebies so that's under $3000. The record limit is just under 30 minutes, but I wonder if that could be solved using a Ninja2? Might be more trouble and expense than simply hitting the record button again.
 
I'm also looking for a camera for photography so wan. Something a step up from the gh3. So does the 5d mark iii not overheat and shut off? Is this new over the mark ii?
 
I have never had my 5DmkIII overheat and shut down. Then again I have never had issues with the still photos I have taken with the GH3. And to be honest I could post stills from both cameras and you would not be able to tell which was which.
 
well i dont know what good glass i could get for a GH3 that would be good in low light situations like weddings that has a wide focal range. and they wouldnt have shallow depth of field for weddings
 
I have heard great things about the Sigma 18-35 1.8 Nikon. With a speed booster it is a 13-25 f1.3 (so 26-50 FF equiv) and then a regular adapter you get the 18-35 f1.8 (26-70) which is still very fast for a zoom. Sigma have a rumoured 24-70 f2. or 17-50 1.4 with speed booster.

Of course these combos are ideal for video as you loose the auto focus functions with adapters.

For Native glass the upcoming M4/3 PanaLeica 42.5 f1.2 IS lens will be a great portrait lens.
 
If you need better still capability and full-frame aesthetic, try a Nikon D800 if for no other reason than it's easier to use Nikon lenses on your GH3 via adapter.

The upcoming Sony A7R may also fill your need (not sure if it offers long record time or any other operational foibles).

I believe both the D800 and 5D3 offer clean HDMI-out (which should allow long record times on an external recorder), 5D3 offers the ML RAW hack if you ever feel like using that... of course there's still no ideal solution for using those Canon lenses with your GH3.

No reason to consider any crop-sensor DSLR... throw a Speedbooster on your GH3 and you're there. You can also simply try adding some Voigtlander 0.95 glass, but that adds up awfully quick.
 
Andrius Simutis said:
5D3 is selling at B&H for $2999 with some freebies so that's under $3000. The record limit is just under 30 minutes, but I wonder if that could be solved using a Ninja2? Might be more trouble and expense than simply hitting the record button again.
Click to expand...

Magic Lantern will get rid of the recording limit I believe.
 
You can always look for a used AF100. They can be found for under $3,000 and you can use your lenses (I think). Depending on the SDHC card, you can record continuously for much longer than 30 minutes, and without the fear of overheating.
Or switch to Sony and get an FS100. That'll get you your S35 sensor. A complete used kit will probably be a little more than $3,000, though.

I guess I'm old school, but I've always felt that if you want to shoot video, use a video camera. Especially now, with several cameras offering large sensors at pretty good prices.
 
The 7D has a bad overheating problem which the 5D2 and 5D3 do not have. I've never had an issue with my 5d2, and I've never heard of anyone having an issue. Record limit yes, overheating no.

Magic Lantern will restart your recording but there will be a 2-3 second gap.

As stated on the Atmos Site (http://atomos.activehosted.com/kb/a...canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-with-the-atomos-ninja-2), the Ninja will allow you to get around the record limit but that another $500-$600.

Another consideration is that matching the 5D3 footage to your GH3 will require extra work in post, and perhaps require purchasing FilmConvert (http://filmconvert.com), and that's another $200.

I stand by my Canons for providing a superb, natural image at a low price, but I'd never do events with them unless I had the camera in my hand (i.e. not as a b camera).
 
Sony EA50 or VG30. APS-C sized sensor, no record time limit, no overheating.

Both currently under $3,000 ($600 rebate on EA50 brings it to $2725 and you can probably re-sell the kit lens for another $600-700).
 
Why not just get another GH3 or G6? Plenty of pros are moving over to using Micro Four Thirds for photography too. And for video it is absolutely superb.

Just get some fast f/0.95 lenses or a focal reducer if you want even more shallow DoF, but be warned.... it can be so fine and thin you might find it becomes almost unworkable! There is a benefit often to having a bit deeper depth of field.

If you want no time limit just wait a little while until VK brings out the hack for the GH3 and G6, or use a GH1/GH2/G5 that can all be found second hand for almost nothing, and they'll all already been hacked for no time limit at all.
 
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