What Nikon DSLR would you Suggest to use as B Camera to a HVX200?

JPschmidt

Active member
Like the title asks, what DSLR by NIKON would be best for a B camera to match footage somewhat to my HVX.

I wanna go NIKON over CANON because of using vintage lenses ... and I already own a dozen NIKON lenses ... so! what ya'll think?
 
I don't know what you're shooting or what your requirements are, but why not go with the Gh1? Still has that Panasonic look. I have a gh1 and a t2i. Love them both for different reasons, but the Panasonic still looks the most HVX-like, if that's really possible. I have shot some low-light club shoots with the GH1 that really looked a lot like my shoots with the HVX.

I use Tamron and old Nikon AI's on both the GH1 and the t2i. I actually just shot my Nikon 85/1.8 on the t2i this weekend, for the first time, and it looks phenomenal. But I have to say that it is still lacking that "mojo" of the GH1 or HVX.

Anyway, just a thought.

That said, if you need something right now the t2i is priced so well that it almost makes sense to buy it just to have it as backup and then later this year when the next wave or vDslr's come out make the move on something then.

EDIT: I just noticed the emphatic NIKON in the first line. I guess my response isn't what you would want to hear, because I had a d90 and couldn't stand it. Wanted to love it so much, but just couldn't. Even my old AI lenses couldn't make it work for me.
 
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oh really? Even vintage lenses? I'm new to the DSLR world and someone told me my lenses wouldnt work on a canon?
 
Yeah, at this juncture it doesn't make sense to buy any of the Nikon cameras out there for video. With the $30-$40 dolars adapters your ai/ai-s lenses will actually work better on something like a 7D (or T2i, I supposed) because it will meter with it, something a D90 does not do (crazy, right?). Sinse those lenses aren't auto-focus, there's absolutely no reason get a Nikon body because of them.

(But just to point an exception: I have a 20mm f/4 ai that doesn't mount on my 5d because it has a large protruding metal structure that hits the electronic contacts. But that's the ONLY case I haven't been able to use a Nikkor on a Canon. 28 2.8, 50 1.4, 35 2 ... all work fine. I wish someone would make a list to see if there are any other exceptions here).
 
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Canon T2i with adapters for your Nikon glass.

That's what I did with all of my old Nikkor glass and my 7d.

Nikon cameras are awesome for stills but have yet to catch up to Canon in the video dept.
 
The GH1 will also mix very nicely with your old Nikon lenses. And, as was already mentioned, you'll get the Panasonic look to match nicely with your HVX. Not to mention all the other benefits like the EVF, rotating LCD screen, no overheating and unlimited clip lengths.

If the panasonic is not to your taste, then I would definitely go the Canon t2i or 7d. The Nikons are just nowhere near as good for video. You can't even control the shutter speed or ISO properly. If you are not using auto-focus glass then there is no advantage at all to going with Nikon.
 
You can control ISO and shutter with a D3s

it is a cool camera for 720 resolution

it is not good performance per $ as a video tool however

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You may want to consider the 5d because most crop cameras wont suit a typical set of stills nikkors - you' de need to start at 14mm really on a crop sensor - maybe you have one

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Any adapters seem to work from $20 to $200, sometimes the $20 need a bit of tape to firm them up, you need 16-net adapters if you have modern nikkors with no ap ring

S
 
Go Canon you can get your lens on them, with an adapter.

Nikons video on D-Slrs is terrible.

Get a 5D MkII.
 
None. I shot 5 shorts, a documentary and an add with my D90 (essentially same video as D300s), and while in perfect conditions it was nice, it had horrible rolling shutter, no control over shutter speed or exposure, no audio input. Basically a nightmare to work with.

I upgraded to a Canon 7D and have never looked back. I have some nice vintage nikon glass that i easily use on my canon.

I have an old nikon 50mm 1.4, and a Vivitar 70-210 mm 3.5 macro. I just shot some footage with the vivitar, and ungraded it looks dreamy. (albiet a little oversaturated ungraded). The macro is really nice to.

JUst get a $15 adapter and your all set.

I <3 nikon glass

heres some recent footage with it. (this was just me goofing around at the farmers market, so footage is handheld with the long zoom, hence some shakes, but you get the idea)

http://www.vimeo.com/11583738
 
Staying in my price range what would you guys suggest with the t2i vs the GH1? I'm sure i'm asking for some bias, but reasons and facts would be awesome when it comes to the two squaring off.

Also, thanks for all the help!
 
I have all 3 HVX200, GH1 and the T2i Love them both. but here is two scenarios:
1) I just shot a 9lives piece with the T2i with Nikon mount Zeiss ZF 85mm and 50mm planar
that will run :15 :30 and on the web maybe 2 min max. Footage Looks good. most all shots
were under 3min long. we did some talking head that lasted over 6min. and the Camera
Started to over heat. (for this part of our production we shifted to the HVX).
2) I do a couple of grampa events every year, one that requires 45min to an Hour
long shot at a time. It also Requires a 2 Camera shot . So, I used my GH1 also with
Nikon mount Zeiss ZF Lenses and the HVX . With alittle in-camera and post adjustment the Gh1 looks kinda like the HVX200. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY the GH1 does not over heat, does not have a 12 to 18min limitation, It does shoot to the size of the Flash card (16Gigs at 720p60
goes a long way).

You have two different looks from the T2i to the GH1 I love em' both
you can pickup a T2i in the $800 range no Lens
you can pickup a GH1 in the $1,100 to 1,300 range no Lens .
You can find more adapters for the GH1 M4/3 system (like Leica M8 that won't work on Canon)
Both Cameras will require a adapter for Nikon Lens.

It really depends on you immediate needs on how you budget.
If you need a camera that you can let run for 10 to 20min (or more) at a time without stopping or over heating and
has the Panasonic look I personally would get the GH1 first (and I did).
If you want a camera that has a lovely 1080p24/30 look and you can live with shooting shorter clips
than maybe go with the T2i.

They're both great camera's and both have a-little different workflow: GH1 produces a AVCHD set of files that you "Log and Transfer" in FCP
and the Canon produces a H.264,( that is best transcoded to ProRes via "Compressor" or "MPEG Streamclip" or some other utility.)

Best Regards, Dane
drppost
HVX200, GH1 wt Hotrod Deluxe 75/2 ,22/2 Lomo PL, ZF Prime, 80-200 Nikon, Vogtlander Noktor 40mm, T2i,
Zoom H4n
 
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No sweat JP,

Once you pick one of the cameras, It's all test, test and more test shots, and then really run through your work-flow before doing a job with it. Once you get that and the Audio workaround down you'll be figuring out how to shot with it all the time. I'm hooked on the HDSLR look (for now).

Share the Love,
 
Sizzlepost, you made a mistake. The GH1 can be found for $1200 or less WITH a lens.

IMO, the GH1 is the best value for an interchangeable lens camera right now. As a camcorder, it's simply better than any other available DSLR right now, no question, no contest. I do prefer the "Canon look" (not to mention the more robust and pulldown-free codec), however. So my T2i will probably see greater usage than my GH1.
 
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