no budget dslr feature

T

therussian

Well-known member
Hey all,

I'm ready to shoot my first feature, which is a no-budget stuff. So I'd have some technology related questions :)

For a photography project I had to buy a new camera in january, so I bought a D7000. Unfortunately later the D7100 came out. Most of the story is set inside a flat/room.

My question is: is the D7000 capable for this project? I'm considering two options:
1, rent a DSLR gear with grip, audio etc...
2, get a cheap rig/d focus and what's needed for my D7000.... which can be an expensive route... (what are the really must haves, the essentials to shoot this kind of no budget fiction movie? )
3, Try to sell my old dslr and with a little plus money invest in a D5200, of which I heard is really good for video.

I would be glad if I could pull it off with my own camera, but now it seems it's a more expensive route.... so, some advice would be great from you guys!

I thought I start a thread as I'm going to have more questions about this I guess. :)

thanks,
russian
 
IMO, I think your 7000 is capable of doing what you want to do. Chasing the most recent technology is a never ending game. So I'd stick with the 7000 and put your cash into audio capture instead.
 
Thanks!

So it means that if I want to capture 1080p 24p footage, then I won't suffer from because it's only a D7000? I would like to be sure on this, because if I put the effort and time in it and hopefully get something worthwhile, I don't want to go wrong on this.... Or in case of a low budget feature it doesn't really make a difference? Or people will point at that laughing "It's just a shitty D7000, not even a 5D" :) Sorry for this, but 5D became a standard and everyone compares all dslr video to that and I'm anxious about my little D7000....

(However I've seen this video which gives me hope.... http://vimeo.com/groups/d7000/videos/25585194)

Buying a Rode VideomicPro is enough or should I buy some audiorecorder also?

+++ What rig do you recommend for a feature shoot? Follow focus is a must? Matte box? Viewfinder or monitor?


BTW... watching first features like El Mariachi, Following etc... it seems that picture quality is not the most important factor... Script, concept, characters are far more important.... And if these work no one will care that much.... am I right?
 
+
I would be glad if someone could give me a deathproof source or information on the settings for D7000 for a feature shoot. How can I shoot flat with it? What is the best shutter speed? 1/50 and leave it on that all the time, or how does other shutter speed affect my video?
 
I think you should definetly try your camera out in some smaller test-shoots and feel for yourself what you like before going for the big project. You can find alot of handy information on the internet but the best knowledge will come from experience, IMO.
 
Alright, but... I'd really like to get a few opinions on this subject, whether the D7000 is appropriate or not good, or absolutely good for the purpose... Because all I hear is 5D, GH2.... I saw the above vimeo video, saw the Chase Jarvis D7000 promo film and I think it's really good, it's absolutely capable of, but I'd like to hear some pro/cons from others too.

And if you could advise me on rigs, or give me a link where I could study a few custom built rigs, not marketing stock photos, but actual rigs of users...
 
If anyone is laughing at your film it's not because of the D7000, it's either a really good comedy or you went wrong with something else. The videomic pro sounds ok but a camera mounted mic isn't the best choice for a feature.
 
Thanks! That sounds good!

How would you recommend the audio recording then? Something simple would be great...
 
How much storage do I need? What do you think about this workflow:
1, on location from the SD cards I copy the D7000 files through a Macbook Pro to an external G-Raid USB 3 drive (in Raid 1).
2, I make a copy of it to a seperate G-Drive USB 3.

Later I will be editing from the G-Raid drive, while I keep the G-Drive (with all the shot material) in a safe place.

I will be editing on a Macbook Pro 13", 2.5 ghz, Core i5, 16Gb ram, Intel Graphics 4000 512Mb ram. I'm not sure about the software though, either Premiere or FCPX.

QUESTIONS:
Do I need more drives?
How big the mentioned drives should be?
How big the D7000 video file sizes are? Around 15 Gigs per hour?
 
+
About the rig...
What would you recommend?
As the script evolves I'm still thinking about tripod use vs handheld. I know it's a personal and artistic choice so I'll deal with it. But going down the more "elaborate" look then I have to get a good tripod, and soon the the desire for slider will emerge... So I'm considering, to keep it down in cost, to go for the handheld look. And for that a rig would be needed.... I'm just not sure which.... Jag35 Field runner maybe?
 
therussian said:
Thanks! That sounds good!

How would you recommend the audio recording then? Something simple would be great...
Click to expand...

if you're shooting in a flat a Rode NT3 is a good choice. The new Tascam DR-60D could be good as a pre-amp/recorder but nobody has heard one yet. You'll need a boom pole and a shock mount too, Rode makes good ones that aren't too expensive. You can use plural eyes to sync your boom sound with your camera sound. Rode have a deal going on the videomic pro with a free copy of plural eyes.

In regards to disk space, you have to calculate how many hours you think you're gonna shoot and figure out the disk space you'll need. To be safe store the data on at least 3 different drives/arrays.

Here's some cheap rig options-
http://express35.com/store/index.php?route=common/home
http://www.shoot35.com/products/productsframe.html
http://www.coollcd.com/coolrig_c885?zenid=ddb7120f540bdc1b1a11fc4e9ef3eea1

The field runner looks ok but I haven't actually used one. My rig is a custom job with parts from different suppliers, I've bought stuff from express35 and it's well made. The important thing is to get the balance right with a counterweight.
 
The coolcd you linked... seems like good stuff and the shoot 35 also. I check them out more carefully! However I would be glad if i could find them through a european distributor...
 
I think it's crazy to go for a full length feature with this kind of questions. Shoot some random clips first, a music video for example. Then shoot a short. Then go for the feature.
(music video to know the camera, short to know audio and production and workflow, feature because, well, who wouldn't want to go for that!)
(and in any case: even better: ten random clips, five to ten scripted shorts, then a year of preproduction and go for the feature)
 
Well, thanks for the advice, but... I've already made a couple shorts and music videos, but those were correctly budgeted productions where I served as a director. Right now I'm trying to enter the feature filmmaking as writer-director via the universe of no-budget filmmaking. I'll be making some tests prior the shooting, but that's it.

Getting a DP for the job is a tricky question in this case, it has the pros and cons, I'm still hesitating on that one, but in every scenario there had to be a camera and technic... So my previous questions are still valid.... So if anyone can answer me, please do so... :)
 
I checked out some of the rig possibilites.

Previously I was looking at a jag35 field runner + d focus + possibly d matte

However I found the Lanparte products appealing... How these two compare to each other? Lanparte looks really good quality and for my eyes more professional looking than jag35. Are these system compatible with each other?

I'm sure I'll need a follow focus. Lanparte has a good rig option with an ff (simple shoulder rig + ff) for 480 euro...

I'm not sure about the matte box though, three brands are considered for that: d matte, lanparte, shoot35 cinebox. I don't know.... I'll have to see my other expenditures and the nature of the shoot to be able to decide... It would be good to have, but its nut that kind of necessity like an EVF or monitor, so...

I definetely have to get either an EVF or/and monitor. Lilliput is really cheap, but if my shoot requires me to be on the streets than with an EVF I can stay more invisible, can't I? On the other hand the angle of view is better with monitors, so I can put the camera in tiny places... The best would be a Zacuto EVF, but that's kinda costs a fortune...

Or.... I go for total handheld "cinema verite" style and only get a Zacuto EVF for my DSLR....

What's your thoughts on that?
 
Total handheld on a DSLR is probably not a good thing... but you don't exactly need to frakenrig it either. A good ole tripod will go a long way... and a slider + other low dollar devices for smooth movements.
 
alright, but what about my question concerning the quality of the mentioned rigs? lanparte, jag35, shoot35 etc..
 
I'm really getting tired of this forum, not getting any answers for my questions....

One more try..

SmallHD DP4 vs. Marshall LCD50 vs. Lilliput 5D --- Which one is the best for D7000?
I wanted to get a monitor+EVF option but those are out of my price range here in Europe. Considering simple viewfinders... Well I don't think the back lcd of the D7k is so good quality I'd like to watch it magnified...

+

RIG.... I looked at all the brands and sites I could found... And found for everything the European shops from where I could get them, but I still don't know. What do you think about KAMERAR? Should I go for a cage design or simple shoulder rig?
 
therussian said:
I'm really getting tired of this forum, not getting any answers for my questions....

One more try..

SmallHD DP4 vs. Marshall LCD50 vs. Lilliput 5D --- Which one is the best for D7000?
I wanted to get a monitor+EVF option but those are out of my price range here in Europe. Considering simple viewfinders... Well I don't think the back lcd of the D7k is so good quality I'd like to watch it magnified...

+

RIG.... I looked at all the brands and sites I could found... And found for everything the European shops from where I could get them, but I still don't know. What do you think about KAMERAR? Should I go for a cage design or simple shoulder rig?
Click to expand...


Anybody?
 
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