Thoughts on this Canon package

F

filmmakermicah

New member
Hey team, I'm putting a DSLR package together. Total budget is roughly $3400 or less. What do you think?

Goal is good picture + sound for a single shooter. Mostly simple corporate vids (training, etc). Any recommendations for the LED light ($200 range), alternate lavs to the Sony, etc? Weigh in, pros! Thanks.

[TABLE="width: 220"]
[TR]
[TD]Canon 60D camera w/kit lens (18-135mm)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]50mm lens[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Juicedlink DT414 preamp[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rode NTG-2 mic[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Windtech CM-21 mic mount[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sony UWP-V1 lav kit[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Pearstone lav cable[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]LED light with stand[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sandbag[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rycote short XLR cable[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]extra camera battery[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sandisk 8GB SD cards (x3)[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SD card reader[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
For the super low budget kind of stuff, I'd skip the LED and get a lowel light, the V-light or tota should do you just fine, about the same price range. I can't imagine a $200 LED being very good as a primary light source.
 
There should be a newer Canon 4Ti announced in June. Looks like not a lot in the way of a new sensor - 18MP - but some video upgrades. The biggest looks to be full time auto focus during video record.

The nice thing about that camera is that it is likely to save you a bit over the 60D, which is rather dated by now. I don't usually like to buy so late in a product lifecycle.

In fact, I recently needed a body and bought a Canon 3Ti with the 18-55 kit lens as a refurb from Canon Direct for $567 shipped. That might be a way to go if you need a camera soon. I figured the depreciation wouldfn't be much more than $100, maybe $150 max, if I needed to sell (the only reason I got the kit lens was for resale - though my wife likes it.)

Watch for special sale coupons for the Canon Direct site (Techbargains had some posted a couple of weeks back - 20% off.)

I hope rumors are OK here? You can check the canonrumors site, they have been talking about this for a while. He has it as a 2.5 certainty.

As far as the kit: The variable aperature lenses can be very frustrating when you need to shoot wide open, then need to zoom. I prefer an f/2.8 lens constant zoom whenever possible - but those are more expensive of course. My main lens is the 28-70 2.8 L. Around $1,000 or less used. I use it 85% of the time. Or the 24-105 4.0 L at $800 new (out of a Canon 5D3 kit - lot of people buying teh kit to get teh body and selling teh lens.) I have never tried it, but a lot of people seem to like it.

Good luck!


Best,
Michael
 
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unadog said:
There should be a newer Canon 4Ti announced in June. Looks like not a lot in teh way of new sensor - 18MP - but some video upgrades. The biggest looks to be full time auto focus during video record.

I hope rumors are OK here? You can check the canonrumors site, they have been talking about this for a while. He has it as a 2.5 certainty.

Best,
Michael
Click to expand...

Good point. And looking at the 5dMKIII and it's features, you may want to hold on a bit. Some nice feature may trickle down.
 
I'd wait for the T5i the 5dMkIIII or the 7dMkIII. By the way I have the sony uwp v1 and you won't be disapointed, see if you can find them on Sonys clearance site. I'd also get a zoom lens with a constant aperature over the 50mm, the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 is really nice.
 
I'd definitely go for a constant aperture zoom lens. Your shots will flicker when you zoom in or out with a variable. Tamron 17-50 non vc is a sharp, dependable zoom. Then you might think of a Canon 85 1.8 as a second lens.
 
If you're going for the package today, it looks good. I don't see anything wrong with it except the zoom lens. If you're shooting promo/training vids, you probably won't need a zoom...unless you're shooting Days of Our Lives or some 80's TV series. Although, Magnum PI was freakin' AWESOME!

The 50mm is a damn good lens. If it's either the 1.4 or the 1.8, it's fantastic. Have a look for a wider lens as well with a good speed. I was having a look at the 28mm 1.8 the other day. The only reason for this is that the 50mm with the crop ratio makes the lens around an 85mm lens, and can get a bit shaky if you're going to use handheld a bit. Having a wider lens will allow for a less magnified movement.

Hope this helps :)
 
Forget the LED light and kit lens. Buy a real light and real lens :beer: Also, I don't see many reasons to buy a 60D for video today.

Where's your tripod?
 
If you're in Oz, check out a place called Dragon Image. We purchased a set of soft box lights for about 300 from there - insane pieces of equipment. We have an ACS award winner here and those are his main interior lights. Amazing lights, awesome price. Bulbs are around 85 bucks each and you get 3 for the 3 lights (inc stands) in te box...and we didn't have to change a bulb for...18 months...
 
unadog said:
There should be a newer Canon 4Ti announced in June. Looks like not a lot in the way of a new sensor - 18MP - but some video upgrades. The biggest looks to be full time auto focus during video record.

The nice thing about that camera is that it is likely to save you a bit over the 60D, which is rather dated by now. I don't usually like to buy so late in a product lifecycle.

In fact, I recently needed a body and bought a Canon 3Ti with the 18-55 kit lens as a refurb from Canon Direct for $567 shipped. That might be a way to go if you need a camera soon. I figured the depreciation wouldfn't be much more than $100, maybe $150 max, if I needed to sell (the only reason I got the kit lens was for resale - though my wife likes it.)

Watch for special sale coupons for the Canon Direct site (Techbargains had some posted a couple of weeks back - 20% off.)

I hope rumors are OK here? You can check the canonrumors site, they have been talking about this for a while. He has it as a 2.5 certainty.

As far as the kit: The variable aperature lenses can be very frustrating when you need to shoot wide open, then need to zoom. I prefer an f/2.8 lens constant zoom whenever possible - but those are more expensive of course. My main lens is the 28-70 2.8 L. Around $1,000 or less used. I use it 85% of the time. Or the 24-105 4.0 L at $800 new (out of a Canon 5D3 kit - lot of people buying teh kit to get teh body and selling teh lens.) I have never tried it, but a lot of people seem to like it.

Good luck!


Best,
Michael
Click to expand...


If the Canon 60d is an outdated camera than what do you say about the 7d?... SMH
Also unlike the Canon t2i series, the 60d, 7d etc hold their value in the market.
 
vision_filmz said:
If the Canon 60d is an outdated camera than what do you say about the 7d?... SMH
Also unlike the Canon t2i series, the 60d, 7d etc hold their value in the market.
Click to expand...

I wouldnt say it's outdated, unless your thinking ahead to 4K in which case all our DSLRS are soon to be "outdated" lol

60D is a great camera, although people are right the kit lens is slow
 
I would consider it outdated as soon as there's a similar option without aliasing/moire for a similar price (canonrumors says that's june-july, but they also said it was going to be last february...) - regarding the kit lens, I have the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, and it's great... for the price (awful construction, extremely slow in the long end, but optics are surprisingly decent; I use it as a very nice 18mm f/3.5 prime with IS, it's my go-to lens on the flycam)
 
The kit lens is slow, and I've never really liked it much, but it is the cheapest wide and it is useful if you have enough light.
 
it doesn't matter if it's out dated. If it's got a decent sensor and it shoots 1080p in 24fps, who cares? It's a pretty good damn camera. I use a 5dmk2...it's out dated too...but we love it, produces good images and footage and does what we need it to do. Only a fool would purchase a new camera due to the old one being "out dated" if it's going to have no impact on their work as a whole. A good creative will make a masterpiece out of whatever they have to work with...
 
I'd think about an AF100.
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im not so sure i agree with that. i find the af100 a uncomfortable hybrid of a DSLR and video camera without the primary advantages of either...
 
Seven8 Media said:
it doesn't matter if it's out dated. If it's got a decent sensor and it shoots 1080p in 24fps, who cares? It's a pretty good damn camera. I use a 5dmk2...it's out dated too...but we love it, produces good images and footage and does what we need it to do. Only a fool would purchase a new camera due to the old one being "out dated" if it's going to have no impact on their work as a whole. A good creative will make a masterpiece out of whatever they have to work with...
Click to expand...

Well, there is SOMETHING to be said for getting better jobs with better technology. I agree with you, mostly, but there's plenty of jobs out there that will hire a DP just because he has a RED ONE, regardless of skill. Will it be a good job? Is it a sustainable business model? Of course not. But it's a consideration.
 
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