Need buying advice, 14k at hand!

F

Fists

Member
Hey all, so I'm finally taking the step of buying my own equipment. My future work will be mostly if not entirely narrative work. So the 5dmkii seems like an excellent choice for at the moment.

As for lenses ,I was thinking of getting a nice set of 4 Zeiss Zf.2 probably cinemoded (25 ,35 1.4 or 2.0 not sure of the 1.4 is worth the price, 50 macro and 85).

I would like to start of shooting handheld and saw this as a special http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766690-REG/Genus_GL_DSLRPROMO_DSLR_Shoulder_Tripod.html. Also getting a Z-finder , I wont be needing a monitor for now.
Any thing else would that should be recommended?

Now in terms of editing, I will buy a new PC (a decent power house) and had my eye on Cs premiere 5.5. Not really sure what else I need , I'd like to get my hands on the Red giant bundle.

Now this is where I get a little confused:Tripods, filters and ???

So I hope you guys can help an upcoming filmmaker to make the right choices, I really want to buy once and buy right.

Thanks in advance fellas!!

P.S Don't linger too far from my choices :)
 
Please don't go the handheld route. That is one of my biggest gripes with dslr shooters!!!! Reality TV!!! It cheapens the production as far as I am concerned. The glass is a good choice and look to Sachtler, Vinten, Miller for decent tripod systems. For filter systems are you thinking screw in or glass in a matte box? Matte box and glass filters is what I am used to. Perhaps the dslr folks can offer more help. I come from a large film camera background.
 
why a dslr as opposed to an fs100 or af100? I'm a 7d shooter myself but if i could afford an fs100 i would.

fs100 +various knick knacks -6000k
zeiss prime set of 4 another 6500k (cinemodded)
satchler fsb8 tripod system 1900

$$ basically done...so i'd skip on the cinemod lenses and get straight zf and use the $ for a heliopan vari ND or tiffen IRND set

no $ for a pc though :) so maybe the dslr doesnt looks so bad BUT the choices above will last a good while. if i was getting a dslr now the gh2 with the hack would be the best bet...that stomps any dslr now.
 
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if i had $14k and my goal was VIDEO. DSLR would be the LAST place i'd put money.
DSLR is currently a FAD. its a situation of can VS should.
 
You have the right instinct in buying lenses. But make sure your choice in mounts are conducive to future cameras. IE don't count on electric lenses.
 
DadinWestchester said:
Please don't go the handheld route. That is one of my biggest gripes with dslr shooters!!!! Reality TV!!! It cheapens the production as far as I am concerned.
Click to expand...
Handheld doesn't mean shaky footage. Even simple things like Fig Rig will eliminate the "micro" shake that you see on most handheld dslr videos. Add IS lens to that and you get really steady footage. For example, I would always choose Fig Rig over shoulder rig. But of course right tools for the job, you don't want to shoot documentaries with Fig Rig or steadicams.
 
I had the same choice at the beginning of the year with a similar budget and (after following Bloom, Green and DVXuser comments) went for an Af100 with all it's lumix lenses.

It was originally just a purchase to upgrade my technical skills between projects but has totally changed the way I look at film making.

I really advise you to take a serious look at either the Af100 or the FS100 - They outshine DSLR's in more ways than you can imagine.


I thought I was gonna shoot a music video or two and maybe a short movie... 6 months later and I'm about to start on our third feature... The bang for buck is mind blowing!

0.02c
 
You are new to film making, why on earth are you byuing Zeiss lenses for example? And for 14k I wouldn't buy any dslr. I tell you, if you must go with dslr then get the best valued and most popular dlsr kit before wasting 14k for something you don't need. You will not see any difference between Canon's and Zeiss lenses. And for video only you don't need 5D.

Canon 60D
Tokina 11-16/2.8
Canon 17-55/2.8 IS
Sigma 30/1.4
Canon 50/1.4
Canon 85/1.8
 
Its a shame how everyone wants to turn their back on DSLRS now........ Truth is DSLRS even with their short comings provided a way for many people to begin their careers that was simply not possible. While not perfect and dealing with many short comings, they still provide very good video quality which many many people have accepted. Also the ease of picking up a dslr and shooting your project with ease is something that allowed so many to pursue their dreams. With that said I would tell the op to invest into a Canon 60d and some nice lenses. After about a year all of the money you saved you can now upgrade to a more professional camera.


I must note that many people fail to believe that excellent projects are being done on DSLRS, as a matter of fact it is not a fad and dslr technology will only get better
 
vision_filmz said:
As a matter of fact it is not a fad and dslr technology will only get better
Click to expand...

The video recording features on DSLR's will always be secondary to the still side of the camera.

The sensor is optimized for taking still photos, and the manufacturers actually throw away pixels to get the 18mp image down to a 1080p image, thereby giving you all of those wonderful features like gross aliasing and moire.
 
OP,

don't rely on anyone's opinion, we'll all tell you something else. A lot of it is just a matter of taste. Take your time and test those cameras your looking into. Really, get your hands on them and make your own opinion.
 
Go for the af100 and grab yourself a good range of Lumix lenses. If I had that kind of a budget I wouldn't even bother with DSLRs. Oh yeah, then make a small donation to me for my excellent advice ;)
 
Yeah....DSLR's are a really good route when you're in a much lower price range. I agree with many of the others - get the FS100 or AF100 while you have the money to invest. The 5DMK2 is a lot of money for a really great stills camera with a unique video look....but if I had $14,000 for a film making set up....I'd look no further than the Sony/Panasonic....and really shop for some great lenses. Lots of advice here for that.
The functionality of the FS100/AF100 alone will have you relieved you went that route when you compare it to any DSLR. My 2 cents...
 
the big thing that puts me off on DSLRs is general is the rolling shutter.
yeah, you shouldnt do a lot of whip pans anyway. but sometimes, its whats called for in the situation.
and when i have to do it, i simply cant accept all the lamp posts and doorways turning into wet spaghetti ; )

then there is the issue of camera flash. i love seeing all the beautiful 5D wedding footage with the half-screen flash block. NICE!
 
Fists said:
Hey all, so I'm finally taking the step of buying my own equipment. My future work will be mostly if not entirely narrative work. So the 5dmkii seems like an excellent choice for at the moment.

As for lenses ,I was thinking of getting a nice set of 4 Zeiss Zf.2 probably cinemoded (25 ,35 1.4 or 2.0 not sure of the 1.4 is worth the price, 50 macro and 85).

I would like to start of shooting handheld and saw this as a special http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766690-REG/Genus_GL_DSLRPROMO_DSLR_Shoulder_Tripod.html. Also getting a Z-finder , I wont be needing a monitor for now.
Any thing else would that should be recommended?

Now in terms of editing, I will buy a new PC (a decent power house) and had my eye on Cs premiere 5.5. Not really sure what else I need , I'd like to get my hands on the Red giant bundle.

Now this is where I get a little confused:Tripods, filters and ???

So I hope you guys can help an upcoming filmmaker to make the right choices, I really want to buy once and buy right.

Thanks in advance fellas!!

P.S Don't linger too far from my choices :)
Click to expand...

As my father used to say "A fool and his money are soon parted". He also used to say "That money is burning a hole in your pocket."

If you have to ask how to part with your 14 grand you better hang on to it and buy gear step by step.

Think conservatively

The only thing you won't get burned on 12 months down the road is the Zeiss lenses. Since you have cash buy Zeiss lenses, a quality fluid head tripod like a mini, Sachtler, a nice audio package like a Rode NTG-3 and a Mixpre. Then stick this premium equipment on a low cost camera body you will replace soon anyway.

Take a stroll over the dvxuser audio section and tell them you have 14 grand in your pocket to shoot narrative work and haven't considered an audio package, then prepare to be eaten alive.

If you are learning, start with a GH-2 or 60D on a Sachtler to stick behind those Zeiss lenses. Run the audio through the NTG-3 and the Mixpre and you can make a quality project.

The AF-100 is basically the same image as the GH-2 and has lost $1,000 to $1,500 in value for a new one since it was released.

The FS-100 is a nice camera, but there are design flaws on any 1st addition camera like the view screen you have to stand on a ladder for down shots over your head. the 2nd version will most likely be different.

As far as post production. I've been editing on a ultra fast i7 PC for a year and a half. I'm considering dumping PC all together and getting a 27 inch I-mac.
 
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I would wait a couple of months, maybe until November. Its announcement season for Canon and Nikon. See if they create an answer to the AF100 or the FS100. Canon usually ships very close after announcements.

I certainly don't count DSLR's out. I'm hoping for something huge with the 1Ds camera.
 
Well I will agree with most of you,but unfortunately I won't be getting an fs-100 or af 100. I forgot to mention that I will be doing a decent amount of photography and that the 14k should not only serve for the baseline equipment ( meaning camera, lenses and support gear), but also a performing computer that will cost me around 2k and a good editing software that will work well throughout the years ( something like cs 5.5) which is also around 1.5k. I will stay adamant on buying good lenses off the bat, which should also plow through time.

No matter what numerous advantages the other cameras offer , it still seems that the 5d mkii produces an image that leaves my eyes sparkling. I understand I will need to jump through some hoops to get that kind of footage, but I feel that it should be that way for my education within the industry. Easy isnt always good.

I want to buy some lighting , some sound gear, filters, everything to get me started so I don't need to feel like I'm missing anything.

I'm sure most of you give advice with good intentions, but for some it kind of seems like its not fully thought out.

So all in all , if I do get the cameras you guys mentioned I will be lacking in different yet equally important areas. Now if you guys told me that the 5d is pure garbage and it really will not workout, with substantial proof ,then I can understand, but the results seems to differ.
The reason I want the 5dmkii is because for it's price point it seems to be pulling off some extraordinary feats and with new dslrs that will be coming out in the future I will be already familiar with the workflow and won't be hesitant to upgrade. Remember this first camera will be there to teach me the learning curve and at the same time produce video I can find visually very pleasing.

So now I hope this made my intentions a little clearer and I also hope the advice on the gear I will need will be even more clear :D.
Thank you so much for the time you guys are taking to make things a little clearer for me.
 
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