T2i T2i, or....

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dylanpipe

Active member
I film snowboard and skateboarding, well starting to get into it, I want acamera sub 800. I was thinking canon T2i, because of the 1080 P HD. because i am mainly going to be filming and not taking stills. only thing is i cant find many deals, i mena ill buy it if I cant find anything else, but any other ideas?

thanks
 
Well what kind of deals are you looking for and how are you planning on shooting?

You need to be aware that the video function has no Auto-Focus. The camera is not weather-sealed so it won't hold up well if exposed to the elements compared to the 7D. And the non-tilting display is a big setback for any plans to shoot from the hip.

If you were to stick with DSLRs for shooting instead of other form-factor I would recommend the T3i just so you can have the flip-out display to shoot from the hip, or 7D so you don't have to worry about it freezing and dying.

Currently B&H has a sale on the T3i, 800 for just the body, and you have lots of options for lenses. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Digital-Cameras/ci/9811/N/4291645412

Otherwise I would recommend some other form-factor because as much as I love DSLRs, they aren't right for all situations.
 
I would be doing follow cams, tripod. Im not too worried about weather.. cause my old kodak easyshare 550( i know it is horrible, to film with) never had any issues with the weather.. But I wanted to stick with DSLR, I wasnt too worried about shooting from the hi because i have a handle thats pretty easy to use and you know where you are shooting..
 
Well I can say the T2i is the best option for you. Save some money for lenses and you will be set. You will not find a better camera for anywhere near the price. I make ski movies, so I kind of know what you are looking for.

I have used this camera in -30 degree weather and in very very wet and snowy conditions. A $40 rain cover I got off amazon covers the non weather proof body issue (i also bought some $30 rubber casing). No need to get a 7d... if your just shooting video, the T2i is a superior camera with Magic Lantern (which you will want to have).

Find a decent wide angle for follow cams (i use this guy, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/583991-REG/Tamron_B001C_700_SP_AF_10_24mm_f.html... its not bad, but nothing insane). The wide angles have a very deep DOF, so you dont have to worry about focus issues while trying to follow. I use it on follow cams all the time and nothing has been out of focus.

As for other shots, yes no auto focus is a bummer, but just play with it a lot and set up your shots first. Also, with Magic Lantern you can turn on focus peaking so you can make sure everything is in focus (it works while recording too). You will want ML for lots of different reasons, especially for histograms, gain control, and white balance control (the white balance on this camera is AWFUL in the snow without ML).

Also, I wouldnt mess with the 1080p much if you are shooting snowboarding and skating. I dont see why you wouldnt use 720p60, since it is much better for sports.

Lastly, practice practice practice! If you are not used to filming snowboarding and skating with an SLR, its going to be tough to get used to. Ive been filming with an HVX for 4 years before I bought a T2i (I still find lots of uses for my HVX, since you can zoom with them and I always use it filming big mountain), and it was tough to get used to. Even with photography experience.

Hope that helped some.
 
Thanks DOSMEDIA, that helps a **** load, cause someoen said to get it all weather proffed and ****, but i didnt think I would need too. and thanks for all the info, I will deffineltyy use it.... ANy more info guys?
 
Another shout out for the T3i with the tilt swivel LCD. For many of your skate shots you'll need to keep the camera low to the ground while moving with your skater and it is very tough to keep them in frame if you can't see the screen.

To keep it affordable, skip the kit lens and buy a vintage 20 - 28mm f2.8 manual focus lens. I just found a Nikkor F 20mm F2.8 for $175 in our local classifieds. They go for $650 at KEH.com. The point being you can get a great piece of glass cost effectively to get you going and as there is no autofocus on these cams when shooting video. The auto focus of the kit lens (it's only redeeming factor) doesn't help much. No matter what you do you have to set up all your shots to keep your subject at a fixed distance from the cam. Especially if you're filming wide open f-stop to get that soft depth of field.

Then as you can afford it a super wide angle like the Rokinon 8mm or a Tokina ATX Pro 11-16mm would fit the bill nicely. A steadicam or slider of some sort would be next up.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Yeah, the t3i looks sick but lil expensive for right now. but the swivel lcd screen is sick and would be great to have.
 
I've done some boarding stuff with my T2i with no problems at all. But on the hill, accidents do happen beyond your control so just be careful. Obviously the T3i would be a better choice with the flip out but if its beyond your budget, the T2i will work wonders. Good luck
 
I actually would suggest against the vintage 20-28mm lens. t2i crops the lens to about 32-48mm which is a little tight for up close skating and skiing and would require you to manually focus more than if you got something like the Tokina 11-16 (my 1st choice for wide angle) or that 10-24mm by Tamron.
 
dylanpipe said:
I film snowboard and skateboarding, well starting to get into it, I want acamera sub 800. I was thinking canon T2i, because of the 1080 P HD. because i am mainly going to be filming and not taking stills.
Click to expand...

Do not buy a DSLR. And it's not 1080p, that's just the output file you get on your SD-card. Any consumer camera at even cheaper price point than t2i delivers *real* 1080p. I've seen several people doing winter sports, bought a DSLR & got severely disappointed... these cameras shine for narrative works and in controlled environments. I think you are much better off with a video camera + GoPro Hero. For any snowboard stuff with this camera.... you will want to carry around a steadycam, cus even if you use a lens with optical stabilization the sensor still suffers from severe rolling shutter.

DSLR's are lovely for what they are, but not suitable for everyone. Just sayin'... you will get all sorts of preaching about them on these boards, that's why it's very important to point out they you may very well get dissapointed. There ARE real video cameras too...

Of course you can do sports with these cameras. But do you have the Money, Skill, Time and theoretical Knowledge sufficient enough to work around the issues?
 
Shigeta said:
I actually would suggest against the vintage 20-28mm lens. t2i crops the lens to about 32-48mm which is a little tight for up close skating and skiing and would require you to manually focus more than if you got something like the Tokina 11-16 (my 1st choice for wide angle) or that 10-24mm by Tamron.
Click to expand...
I agree whole heartedly on the Tokina, but that is way out of dylanpipes price range right now. I was suggesting the vintage lenses as a cost effective short term option to the much less desirable kit lenses that comes with the t2i and t3i. Just clarifying :)

Cheers,
PEte
 
c3hammer said:
I agree whole heartedly on the Tokina, but that is way out of dylanpipes price range right now. I was suggesting the vintage lenses as a cost effective short term option to the much less desirable kit lenses that comes with the t2i and t3i. Just clarifying :)

Cheers,
PEte
Click to expand...

If anything, the kit lens isn't at all bad in his situation. I doubt he'll be zooming, stopped down because he's outside in the snow/ daylight, and is wider/ cheaper than a vintage wide angle.
 
Martin Oller said:
Do not buy a DSLR. And it's not 1080p, that's just the output file you get on your SD-card. Any consumer camera at even cheaper price point than t2i delivers *real* 1080p. I've seen several people doing winter sports, bought a DSLR & got severely disappointed... these cameras shine for narrative works and in controlled environments. I think you are much better off with a video camera + GoPro Hero. For any snowboard stuff with this camera.... you will want to carry around a steadycam, cus even if you use a lens with optical stabilization the sensor still suffers from severe rolling shutter.

DSLR's are lovely for what they are, but not suitable for everyone. Just sayin'... you will get all sorts of preaching about them on these boards, that's why it's very important to point out they you may very well get dissapointed. There ARE real video cameras too...

Of course you can do sports with these cameras. But do you have the Money, Skill, Time and theoretical Knowledge sufficient enough to work around the issues?
Click to expand...


Can't comment on the snowboarding but for skating these cams are great. When you consider that a good wide-angle attachment for a camcorder cost's almost as much as the T2i does, then DSLR's begin to make sense.

Lack of true 1080P is not a big deal for skate vids, many of which are still shot on 4:3 SD cameras such as the VX2100. DSLR's, particularly when coupled with a fisheye lens such as the Rokinon 8mm, can provide a a cheap path to the super-wide angles required to for action sports.

My advice would be stretch for the T3i if you can. That swivel screen will make life a whole lot easier. Get the kit lens to start off with - as Shigeta says, it is not that bad in this particular situation - and aim to make the Rokinon fisheye your next purchase.
 
Also, is there a specific tme when cameras go on sale,like an "off season"?or just buy one, once i have all the money?
 
i picked up a T3i+18-55 kit for $899 today locally here in houston. for me, that articulating screen is VERY MUCH worth an extra $100
 
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i got vegas pro 9.
but, the footage is all streched out and grainy. how do I get it full screen( no black bars etc.) without making i super grainy..?
 
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