Nikon for a documentary?

F

finklefilms

Active member
Hi all,

I am looking to shoot a documentary in the coming months and wanted to inquire if:

1. Anyone has shot a doc, or has a link to a doc shot on the Nikon

2. Your suggestions for or not to shoot a doc with the Nikon.

I have access to an old Sony PD150 but the colors aren't great, and i don't really have the budget to pay for a prosumer cam like an HVX200 or even a DVX100. Any suggestions / feedback woul dbe most appreciated.
 
It's got a lot of stealth appeal, doubling as an SLR/video camera, seems like a great run and gun type camera. Only problem is sound, you'll need to have a recording device, because the mic on the D90 sucks.
 
the mic is actually ok, very low noise and quite clear sounding, but it's mounted on the camera and it records 22khz audio, so yes it's useless. i'm not saying this just to be right, it's actually relevant since it gives you really good scratch audio for syncing up sound or adding foley.

/matt
 
Over-heating problem...

Over-heating problem...

I would be concerned about the 5-min. limit on takes and the relevant over-heating chip problem. Any interview based doc that I have ever shot would be next to impossible for me with those kind of limitations.

I agree with the Matt's comments about the audio being a good reference for syncing audio.

A simple mod that I made was to tape a small AudioTechnica foam wind shield over the built-in mic. It does help a bit in keeping wind noise down to a more acceptable level.
 

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If you are going to film a documentary about your family then by all means use it, it is a great camera for memories, like the old Super 8s. I own one and love it for stills. It sounded so promising on the movie side but no, it is not. Sound sucks, stair stepping sucks, "jello" sucks and forget about trying to focus on the run. You better off with at least an HV30.
 
i'm shooting with the D90 on a doc series called RADAR for Babelgum. if you work within its limitations, you can get some very nice stuff. my lossfest shot in my sig was shot on the D90 too. if it will keep you inspired to make that doc, i say go for it!
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I wil be shooting a full doc, interviews, on the street, outdoor interviews, and live performances. It seems I would have to control a lot of variables to work with the limitations of the D90.

Zak, do you have any footage, trailers, etc. for us to see?
 
I would tell anybody that would like to invest time and effort on a project to do it with say a Canon HV20/30/40, an HVX200, HPX 170, HMC 150 because I know for a fact that their time and money will be very well spent. I am teaching photo and video seminars at the moment and I tell my photography students how great looking stills the D90 takes. I tell my video students that the D90 is terrible for video, that it is a step towards the future but thats it. Those are facts from experience. I teach them my HVX 200 shoots beautiful looking filmlike images, my D90 wonderful photographs. If somebody asks for advice that is the way I give it. The wonderful thing experience teaches you is to pass it along.
 
Well, I'm a professional dp and director with experience with most film gauges and video formats since 10 years and i made my first feature as a director on the d90. I'm very aware of its shortcomings but i'm also well aware of its advantages. Btw when i hold lectures i always tell people to never listen to teachers, ever. Seriously. :-)
 
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