The "Could this be shot with a 5D" thread

cjwolff

cjwolff

Well-known member
Although I went to this years' NAB, my interest in the 5D didn't surface until well afterward, although I did see a quantity of 5D rigs that looked like it would be suitable for this kind of work.

I was researching this web site for a potential client and the video caught my attention.

http://www.armani.com/ga_menu/EN/home.html

I see a steadicam operator with what looks like an EX1, but would it be possible to get those long smooth runway zooms with a 5D? I suppose my bigger question is would be be possible to cover a live event like this with a 4 5D's? The quality is there.

Thank you all for your input, you kind dvxers. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Sure you can do it. You need to know your tools and use them accordinly.
You can see in that video at least 3 different angles, may even 4.
You have 12 minutes on each card so you have to plan ahead who is changing cards when and that is it.
As far a the short DoP it actually looks good whe you go out of focus, but you can always cut to the camera that is not out of focus.

I recently did a video with only one camera with Letus extreme and a Nikon 80-200mm at f2.8.
It was hard to pull focus and zoom at the same time but the client loved it.

This 5D you would be shooting a runway at at least f5.6 so the focus is not that critical.

See my runway shoot. Look for CACC Fashion Show. There are 4 different clips.
http://exposureroom.com/members/DouglasVillaba.aspx/videos/
 

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I'm with Douglas. I think it can be done too. Quite successfully.

Entity, I feel like you keep trying to discourage people from using this for live events. I get that there are limitations to the camera, but many cameras do have limits for different things. Is a HPX500 or 170 or HVV200 better suited to do live events? Sure. But the image quality is nowhere near what the 5D is putting out.

I respect your opinions, but I feel it's wrong to go out and say "They're not suited for this type of thing". What is your experience shooting live events? Because I have over a decade of shooting live events multiple times a week, from recorded to Broadcast. I think they will work and even Douglas has posted some stills from his footage of...wait for it...wait for it... Shooting a live event? DING DING DING. And it looks quite good might I add. Color is very nice. They may not be suited well for you, but for myself and others, they are going to be a nice solution.
 
After watching the footage and reading the comment that it couldn't be done I was about to write down that the footage would be shot at a 4 or a 5.6 and thus would be very possible to focus on a 5d. And then I read that the following comment said the same thing.

You absolutely could shoot this with a 5d. Very very successfully.
 
Kit Hannah said:
I'm with Douglas. I think it can be done too. Quite successfully.

Entity, I feel like you keep trying to discourage people from using this for live events. I get that there are limitations to the camera, but many cameras do have limits for different things. Is a HPX500 or 170 or HVV200 better suited to do live events? Sure. But the image quality is nowhere near what the 5D is putting out.

I respect your opinions, but I feel it's wrong to go out and say "They're not suited for this type of thing". What is your experience shooting live events? Because I have over a decade of shooting live events multiple times a week, from recorded to Broadcast. I think they will work and even Douglas has posted some stills from his footage of...wait for it...wait for it... Shooting a live event? DING DING DING. And it looks quite good might I add. Color is very nice. They may not be suited well for you, but for myself and others, they are going to be a nice solution.
Click to expand...

Wow. I apologize. I was just trying to help as I thought it might be overly difficult. Didn't mean to discourage anyone. You have more experience than I do at shooting live events. I will get rid of my post so as not to mislead or discourage anyone.
 
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Also, as I understood it, Douglas' footage was from a cam with a letus adapter, not a 5d. I can see how it would be a bit similar though. Now go on discussing all you experienced event shooters.

Good luck to the OP.
 
Douglas Villalba said:
Sure you can do it. You need to know your tools and use them accordinly.
You can see in that video at least 3 different angles, may even 4.
You have 12 minutes on each card so you have to plan ahead who is changing cards when and that is it.
As far a the short DoP it actually looks good whe you go out of focus, but you can always cut to the camera that is not out of focus.

I recently did a video with only one camera with Letus extreme and a Nikon 80-200mm at f2.8.
It was hard to pull focus and zoom at the same time but the client loved it.

This 5D you would be shooting a runway at at least f5.6 so the focus is not that critical.

See my runway shoot. Look for CACC Fashion Show. There are 4 different clips.
http://exposureroom.com/members/DouglasVillaba.aspx/videos/
Click to expand...


That looks like HVX200 720 pics. Is it?
http://www.PappasArts.com
 
Hi Douglas,

Congratuations on your commendable job. You must have had your hands full focusing and zooming with a relatively minimum camera shake.

In the Armani video there is a camera setup at the end of the runway that is keeping the models in frame with a fairly fluid and consistent zoom and focus. The videogang.it guys have big dollar sony and panasonic rigs to pull this off however I was wondering if there is a mechanism that would allow me to have the same fluid consistency on a 5D.

Thank you for your contribution.
 
Entity said:
Wow. I apologize. I was just trying to help as I thought it might be overly difficult. Didn't mean to discourage anyone. You have more experience than I do at shooting live events. I will get rid of my post so as not to mislead or discourage anyone.
Click to expand...

It's cool, just trying to point out that the way it comes across, at least to me, is that you're saying anyone would be stupid for trying to use this camera live. You have to realize - EVERYTHING when it is recorded is live. Everything. How do those shots come out looking so good? Planning and preparation. The downfall of a live event though is that you have usually one shot at getting it right, not multiple chances.

I apologize too for jumping all over you. Thanks for all of your comments, Entity.

Kit
 
Trying to do this with an MKii @ 5.6 is wishful thinking. Starting at F8 more than likely, because 5.6 @ Full Frame would probably still be too thin for event coverage.

Second, without a OS/IS zoom, the chances of zooming and focusing on an MKii without ugly bumps and jiggle are vast. So long as you figure out how to rig it for steady motion, where any small bump won't win you ugliest camera operation of the year, then good.

I think Dan (Puredrifting)'s rig will work well for documentary work. With a zoom that starts at 3.4 to begin with, it should be okay. I just wouldn't try event coverage without a steadycam and/or a slow zoom with image stabilization that covers wide and telephoto.

For these very reasons, and aliasing, I forewent the lightweight and run-n-gun MKii setup in favor of a stripped down RED with Nikon glass. Having to be afraid of handholding or other issues just won't work right now. I can bump the RED and jiggle it and not experience anything noticable, even at focal lengths of 135mm.

This was an event by the way, for TCM, and while it would have been nice to have a lighter setup, again... there's a lot of risk going out with an MKii if you have yet to figure out how to stabilize it so that you can work with the camera like you would an HVX200 + ADapter (I've covered just about every form of moving image with the adapter combo, it is NOT the same beast) or even a RED. All other issues fall behind this one, especially for event shooting.

And image doesn't really mean much coming from VDSLRs as a whole if you can't keep it rock steady or super smooth. Notice the best MKii stuff is all locked down.

Just my thoughts on the matter, from first hand experience with several cameras and several situations.
 
PappasArts said:
That looks like HVX200 720 pics. Is it?
http://www.PappasArts.com
Click to expand...
You are right on the money.
cjwolff said:
Hi Douglas,

Congratuations on your commendable job. You must have had your hands full focusing and zooming with a relatively minimum camera shake.
Click to expand...
Thank you and yes it wasn't easy to do for almost 2 hours. I was not hire to record the event, just a promo , but the footage was good enough even without CC. All I did in post was cuts in between designers. (I did some CC and editing on the getting ready clip)

In the Armani video there is a camera setup at the end of the runway that is keeping the models in frame with a fairly fluid and consistent zoom and focus. The videogang.it guys have big dollar sony and panasonic rigs to pull this off however I was wondering if there is a mechanism that would allow me to have the same fluid consistency on a 5D.

Thank you for your contribution.
Click to expand...
Maybe not the same, but still good with a shallower DOF

Kholi said:
Trying to do this with an MKii @ 5.6 is wishful thinking. Starting at F8 more than likely, because 5.6 @ Full Frame would probably still be too thin for event coverage.
Click to expand...
Why? There is no difference in DOF between a Letus full frame and a SLR full frame.
It is all relative to lens and distance from the subject.
 
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