What is the Best DSLR for Video
- Thread starter bnewb123
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Michael Carter
Veteran
It's not which DSLR, it's how you frame, light, shoot, move, choose lenses, and set the camera up. There are literally thousands of posts here discussing the pros and cons of each model and maker, and there are hundreds of opinions. Try the search button. It's at the top right of your screen.
vision_filmz
Carbonite Member
Quality?
You're already lost if you have to ask that question. Basically any of these cameras can achieve this look and like Michael Carter said it's really not about the camera. Lighting, framing, set design etc. is what truly makes a project shine.
nantnee
Well-known member
each camera has its pros and cons.
For instance, I choose the 5d for the full frame. I want a 7d for the 60p and the 60d for the articulating screen (good to have if you dont own an external monitor). A lot of stuff today from music videos, films and commercials are being shot on these guys.
Figure out what features you want then focus on lighting, framing, etc. Granted these things are MORE important than the gear you have.
For instance, I choose the 5d for the full frame. I want a 7d for the 60p and the 60d for the articulating screen (good to have if you dont own an external monitor). A lot of stuff today from music videos, films and commercials are being shot on these guys.
Figure out what features you want then focus on lighting, framing, etc. Granted these things are MORE important than the gear you have.
wgzn
Veteran
if you want the camera to do the work for you. and on a budget
canon t3i
youre a new member here bnewb. so i hate to be unhelpful. but you'll find the search tool at the upper right is your friend.
this has been discussed here SO many times. from SO many different directions... heck, there are 3 - 4 discussions on the first page that discuss various points.
canon t3i
youre a new member here bnewb. so i hate to be unhelpful. but you'll find the search tool at the upper right is your friend.
this has been discussed here SO many times. from SO many different directions... heck, there are 3 - 4 discussions on the first page that discuss various points.
for video without a doubt http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/forumdisplay.php?175-Panasonic-GH-Cameras
M. Gilden
Canon DSLR Moderator
Arguable. If it were "without a doubt", there wouldn't be a million posts discussing this.
A Magic Lantern compatible Canon does some pretty amazing things the GH series can't, and will even allow you to record decent audio without resorting to an external recorder. Meanwhile, the GH series uses a different method of reading pixels off the sensor (down sample instead of line skipping) which can result in less moire and aliasing. They really do both have pros and cons.
Not to be argumentative, but can you list a few of these things. ( I like to be up to speed with all types of video gear )
This is also something the GH-2 does in spades. I owned a Canon 60D for a few months, and found that the 60D's audio noise floor about 10 dB noisier than the GH-2. ( -53 dB for the 60D, -63 dB for the GH-2, -63 dB for my HMC-150 )
I've also found that the GH-2 AGC acts more like an audio limiter than a gain circuit, so you can set it to it's lowest setting, and the AGC will do a great job of preventing clipping.
M. Gilden
Canon DSLR Moderator
There's a whole sticky on it here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?248171-Magic-Lantern-Firmware, but notably things like exposure zebras, audio monitoring via headphones, focus peaking, false colors, and other nice features I miss having on full sized cameras are there. And even some new ones I never had before, like log file creation that stores all your settings for each shot (what aperture, shutter speed, lens, etc) and a live magnification window to pull more accurate focus on a small display (my personal must-have). There are some interesting new features they are coming out with now, like overlays to compare two shots in the same view.
The thing is, without Magic Lantern the 60D can only go so low. Turning off AGC and turning down the gain does not actually set the analog gain at zero, apparently. Only Magic Lantern lets you have that kind of precise control.
I worked on a wildlife film with a National Geographic crew recently. I asked the cinematographer which camera he'd buy. He told me he'd
sooner invest in a lens than a camera because the bodies will most likely change before the lens. I think that's great advice, in part--or at least
when you're considering which camera brand to go with in general. So.....do you have a favorite lens? I myself prefer Canon lenses.
sooner invest in a lens than a camera because the bodies will most likely change before the lens. I think that's great advice, in part--or at least
when you're considering which camera brand to go with in general. So.....do you have a favorite lens? I myself prefer Canon lenses.
wgzn
Veteran
the problem with a person fairly new to the game asking a nat geo shooter this question is that the nat geo guy is going to have WILDLY more experience behind his opinion. and may not be applicable to a person with little SLR experience.
from my experience, each of these cameras has their own idiosyncrasies and take time to get used to. so if i were new to the game. id just figure out which body was best suited to my needs and get busy learning the ins and outs. as no matter what comes out in the next 3, 6, 9 or even 18 months, its not going to render what you buy today obsolete.
from my experience, each of these cameras has their own idiosyncrasies and take time to get used to. so if i were new to the game. id just figure out which body was best suited to my needs and get busy learning the ins and outs. as no matter what comes out in the next 3, 6, 9 or even 18 months, its not going to render what you buy today obsolete.
The problem with the current Canon EF lenses is that they have electronic apertures and generally will only work with Canon bodies.
The older Nikon AI-S lenses are fully manual, and will work with almost any camera body with the right adapter.
Danielvilliers
Veteran
For me it is image quality the first criteria and the gh2 as of September 2011 is the best. No moire, aliasing, overheating, true hd resolution, full hd monitoring etc. The hacked one is just insane with bitrate from 44mbit to 220mbit with gop 1(very cinematic motion as it is a set of still frame). Now if you want the hyper shallow dof etc a full frame camera will be better. As for me the gh2 is plenty enough for dof control as it is closer to cine s35 and I want to do narratives and I don't want to shoot in the dark (noise is still good at high Iso and with the hack detail is better kept).
For the rest the gh2 hold up very well to the buy lens and I would further add accessories to the list and change camera as suited. Because for the price of the gh2, you could buy a decent monitor, rig, audio recorder and some lens (you can mount almost any type of lens on it) compared to the 5d. When something better comes along you can just sell the body for just for a little loss. You will still be able to use all those accessories that will be better than anything you will get standard from any camera. A good audio recorder like the new roland R-26 will be better than any onboard sound.
For the rest the gh2 hold up very well to the buy lens and I would further add accessories to the list and change camera as suited. Because for the price of the gh2, you could buy a decent monitor, rig, audio recorder and some lens (you can mount almost any type of lens on it) compared to the 5d. When something better comes along you can just sell the body for just for a little loss. You will still be able to use all those accessories that will be better than anything you will get standard from any camera. A good audio recorder like the new roland R-26 will be better than any onboard sound.
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M. Gilden
Canon DSLR Moderator
Oh, I wasn't even picturing the 5D because it is significantly more expensive than the other options being discussed here. I was referring to the other APS-C sized sensor cameras that are roughly the same size as s35 (7D, 60D, T3i, etc).
I suppose if you are buying a camera right now, and don't want to work around problems like moire and aliasing, the GH2 would likely be the best as far as image quality. But that's expected to change with the new DigicV chips rolling out into new Canons. The new chip (which was just released in some point and shoot cameras) is allegedly fast enough to properly down sample the entire sensor (instead of line skipping that the DigicIV is famous for), which is how the GH2 gets around the moire and artifact problems. Combine that with the build quality of Canons, the feature set of magic lantern, and the huge selection of quality EOS native glass, and you've got a pretty compelling reason to look to Canon for your future.
That's why I wouldn't mind investing in Canon glass now. Although I do personally prefer the interchangeable vintage variety for video work, I definitely like having nice autofocus lenses for stills and the occasional unmanned camera video.
I've had GH1, GH2, t2i, 5Dmk2 & D7000 the past year.
Doubt this OP will even read his own soon-to-be-another nerd thread, one thing is sure though and that is all people on here are Self Proclaimed Experts. The guy with the GH2 will tell you that it's the best DSLR, just as the guy with the 7D.
Well, they all kinda suck to be honest with you. But they are still filling a GAP in the market, and I also think it's the best tool in the world to discover cinematography. Just getting-it-done? So-so...
Doubt this OP will even read his own soon-to-be-another nerd thread, one thing is sure though and that is all people on here are Self Proclaimed Experts. The guy with the GH2 will tell you that it's the best DSLR, just as the guy with the 7D.
Well, they all kinda suck to be honest with you. But they are still filling a GAP in the market, and I also think it's the best tool in the world to discover cinematography. Just getting-it-done? So-so...
Michael Carter
Veteran
What's the wide-lens situation with the Gh2 - my understanding is the sensor is even smaller than APS-C cams, correct?
Anything reasonable out there for, say, a 28mm-equivalent? 28's my "normal" t2i lens; but I have a sharp & affordable 18 3.5 Nikkor as well.
What gets you there for GH? (Not being a flame-boy, truly curious - it's an issue with the AF100 as I understand it too).
Anything reasonable out there for, say, a 28mm-equivalent? 28's my "normal" t2i lens; but I have a sharp & affordable 18 3.5 Nikkor as well.
What gets you there for GH? (Not being a flame-boy, truly curious - it's an issue with the AF100 as I understand it too).
And What camera are you speaking of?
Cory Braun
Well-known member
Could you post an example of a video with these settings (preferably of something narrative or at least with some people in the shot)? This has me very interest.