Most cost-effective second body camera for 5D Mk II video?

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DVXDaddyO

Active member
After decades using Canon SLRs as an amateur (and occasionally paid) still photographer, I'm moving into my first professional film project. Have already shot great footage with my 5D Mk II (I've accumulated a number of great L lenses over many years), but the next stage requires a second camera. I bought a GH2 with Panny lens for personal travel -- and I read great things about the GH2 for video -- but I'm wondering if I mixed 1080/24P footage from the two cameras if they would look too different. If the answer is "no, it would be fine" -- way cool. If the answer is "yes," then I'm happy to buy a second hand Canon something a bit lower down from the 5D Mk II - maybe 7D or 60D or even something less. I'm thinking NOT 7D because I've read that it doesn't allow manual volume control (I've found connecting a Zoom H4n to the 5D Mk II but setting the levels low on the Canon is the ticket to best sound). This will be for shooting instructional DVD's. Thanks in advance.
 
60D is a good video pick with your lens collection, and your 5Dii batteries match as well as the camera controls. Price is coming down as well.
 
Seems right to me, thanks. Just wonder if I even need to go to that expense if I can use the GH2, though I'd have to buy at least one more lens. A buddy has a 60D - maybe I start there....
 
I use a t2i in conjunction with my mkii. They can be had for pretty cheap, even from Canon Refurb. Plus, putting Magic Lantern on it makes it very flexible.
 
The hacked GH2 does mix decently with the 5D Mark II and adds some sharpness, which can be a good alternative to the Canon look. However, the work flow is pretty different, so you might want to take that into consideration.
 
I have a 5DmkII & 60D combo (adding a 7D too for a 3rd camera & for the stills capabilities) and I think they compliment each other quite well. The 60D has advantages the 5DmkII lacks - 60p, fold out LCD (great for low angle shots), it will expand your framing options with existing lenses, etc. At the same time you get a fairly similar feel when it comes to the manual control layout (though the live view/video implementation is very different) and it used the same batteries so it is easy to switch between them.

The smaller cameras (600D, 650D, 700D) offer many of the same advantages on paper (fold out LCD, 60p, crop FOV, etc) but their small size and different button layout makes them more foreign to use. Plus you cant share batteries. However they are certainly the most 'cost effective' options.

The 7D has actually had a firmware update to allow the same audio control as you get on a 5DmkII or 60D. As a 5DmkII user the 7D will feel very familiar to you, and will use the same batteries and cards you already have. My main reason for preferring the 60D over the 7D is the fold out screen.

The GH2 I can't comment on, sorry. I've thought about adding one a few times, but - like you - I have a collection of EOS lenses so it makes sense to own cameras which use those lenses to their full potential.

Any of the current APS-C Canons are fairly economic right now though, especially if you are willing to buy used.
 
Just another vote for the 60D as a second body for video. Batteries matching is a huge, huge, huge plus when you're shooting day in, day out.
 
I'm in nearly the same situation! Been shooting stills for a couple of years as wedding photographer with a 5D1, 5D2 and bunch of L primes but have been shooting heaps more video the last few months (little 'advertisement' clips for our church and now a few paid talking heads/motivational videos for a university) but all I've got is my 5D2 (and I borrow my brothers 5D2 when I need it..)

So I've been tossing up another camera and thought some of my thoughts could help!

550D/600D
+$350/$450
+cheap
+crop factor to extend my lens range
+720/60p
+cheap enough to attach to cars and do crazy shots with
-batteries are the worst

60D
$650
+crop factor
+same batteries as 5D2 which I have lots of and are super long lasting (HUGE plus)
+flip screen
+better build quality and controls
-not as cheap as 550D to do crazy things with

5D2
+$1200
+full frame bokeh
+better high iso than 550D/7D/6D etc
+awesome batteries
-spending a fair bit of $ for a 2008 sensor

5D3
+awesome high high iso
+720/60p
+same batteries
+raw hack
+doubles as one of canon's best stills camera
-$2700
-paying all that money for a still an 8 bit dslr (in stock form)

Blackmagic pocket
+$1000
+raw
+tiny and lightweight means you can use cheaper, lighter, smaller rigs/steadicams/cranes etc
+deep dof for steadicam shots
-more expensive to shoot (memory/hard drives)
-longer workflow (raw)
-hopefully it'll be a camera we can actually buy!

C100
+better imo than all the above dslrs
-$5500
 
deltoidjohn said:
The smaller cameras (600D, 650D, 700D) offer many of the same advantages on paper (fold out LCD, 60p, crop FOV, etc) but their small size and different button layout makes them more foreign to use. Plus you cant share batteries. However they are certainly the most 'cost effective' options.
Click to expand...

I just picked up a 600D for a b cam to go with the 60D as back up because the 60D has been out every day for three plus years. I love this little 600D, in fact I'm selling the 60D Monday and getting a 2nd 600D. 2 600Ds including the 18-55 is lens costs 1,200 including 2 extra original Canon batteries. This crop x3 feature is really excellent and it's been removed from all the newer Canons. I figure it like this, I plan on getting the next canon upgrade 70D, whatever when they ever release it, but when they do i will have a B and C cam which is really great. The reason i'm adding the 18-55 kit lens is they toss it in for $60 bucks over the body only and they both have IS.

This is why I picked up even one of the 18-55 lenses. I already had one 3 years ago and sold it with the 550D but after reading the review on the new 18-55 version at Photozone about the toughest critics on lenses it got very high resolution numbers.
This is part of the review.
MTF (resolution)

Most readers will probably look at the MTF/resolution charts in disbelief - and honestly so did we although the predecessor was impressive in this respect as well. The results are great and that's throughout the focal length range and at all relevant aperture settings.
the resolution capabilities of the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is nothing short of amazing.

When I saw that I forked over the extra 60 bucks.

I already shoot with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 non vc but the reason I'm getting a second 18-55 is because I will be able to shoot some high rez stereo footage. with the 2 matching cameras. Should be very cool.
 
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