What would be the best documentary camera for outside and nature

[Publimix]

I like the Arri image, not the price. What modern camera would be the second option?
I had a Sony FS7, and now I own a couple of panasonic Lumix camera's.

Or is a used arri better than a cheap alternative?

 

[Doug Jensen]

My favorite camera right now for wildlfie and nature is my FX6. It is small and lightweight, which also means I can use a smaller and lighter tripod too, thus saving even more weight. With the FX6, I can capture full-quality 4K S-LOG3 10-bit 4:2:2 files @ 120 fps on regular SD cards. The auto-focus system is excellent even when using Sony's inexpensive telephoto lenses. I'm mostly shooting with the Sony 200-600mm that only cost about $2K and I'll put it up against my $11K Canon 200-400. When you add Sony's $500 2x teleconverter then you've got a very good 400-1200mm with stabilization and great auto-focus. The FX6 has built-in electronic variable ND to quickly adapt to changing lighting conditions or when jumping in and out of S&Q Motion. Having dual-ISO is also great feature. I can jump to 12,800 at the push of a button, and having that low-light capability is crucial when shooting wildlife and nature at dusk and dawn -- the very time of day when the lighting is best and the animals are most active. The only thing the FX6 lacks is a viewfinder. I've added a Zacuto Gratical Eye to mine.

Here's some footage I just posted a couple days ago from a 9-day vacation I took to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in late September. About half of this video was shot with my Z750 and about half with the FX6. All in all, I got about 900 good, solid clips that I can sell as stock footage over the next few years. And that will pay for the camera and the trip itself.

 

[Run&Gun]

My personal preference/shooting style is obviously going to influence my recommendations, but for large sensor (at least s35) I’d look at a used Amira or F55. New: Amira or maybe Venice. And you knew this was coming…. You still can’t beat a real ENG camera, from the design/ergonomics and lens selection range.

For things like doc work, biggies are all-in-one design, balanced on your shoulder when you need it, quickly accessible physical controls for important functions, great VF, big ratio zoom lenses. But honestly, nothing out there right now checks all of the boxes for me(anymore). The Amira comes the closest on the large sensor front, but I HATE their ND system. The control is in probably the worst possible place on the camera outside of the right side or rear of the body, it’s slow as molasses in January and I do not understand why they jump from 4-stops to 7…. But the VF is excellent with probably the best peaking system I’ve used and I love the flip out side panel for high-low/follow shots, I love having physical controls that allow me to instantly jump in and out of slow-mo and different frame rates, change ISO and WB and I can perfectly balance the camera on my shoulder even when shooting handheld with a 17-120 or 25-250. It is a battery hog, so that’s gonna suck a little when stuck in the woods shooting, though.

The 55 still has a great image, global shutter and tons of features and flexibility. The downsides are you have to sort of build it up, most of your functions are menu driven, although there are quick-access buttons on the side, it’s still not physical switches(unless you buy the ENG body adapter kit) and the ND system is a pain, too, only having 0, 3 and 6 stops, plus the dial is located in a bad spot, just like the Amira, under then lens. But on the battery side, it will literally run all day on a single brick, like the 190 Core’s I use. Whereas in the same shooting scenario, same battery, I’ll run through two to three on an Amira.

 

[Liam Hall]

Amazing shots Doug. I really must go to Yellowstone one day.

Hard to argue with your suggestion of an FX6 either, particularly given those long lenses - and I say that as an owner of a C500MKII and several other Canon cameras...

That said, I've been shooing a lot of documentary on my Canons this year and they've been an absolute joy to use.

 

[morgan_moore]

Rare to hear some cheer from me.. but I think we are there. FX9, FX6 , C300iii C500ii and the xf605 are all the nuts each..with a different attribute of mass, reach, S35=longer tele etc.

There is the c70.. but they forgot a viewfinder.. which equals a messo rig especially with hdmi out the side.. its close but not IMO

Or you can buy a c200 which is awesome for the cash.

You note I have only mentioned AF cameras and for wildlife Id sit with that - Others wouldnt.

I think the big choice is which lens system to bank on.

Ive gone for Canon (cheap used EF) but others have gone sony which is doubtless very good with a bit more upfront spend.

Fuji, Nikon Panny? Forget it.. no actual video cameras with af to use your glass spend on.

Arri? not for me! drama maybe.

 

[NorBro]

My favorite camera right now for wildlfie and nature is my FX6. It is small and lightweight, which also means I can use a smaller and lighter tripod too, thus saving even more weight. With the FX6, I can capture full-quality 4K S-LOG3 10-bit 4:2:2 files @ 120 fps on regular SD cards. The auto-focus system is excellent even when using Sony's inexpensive telephoto lenses. I'm mostly shooting with the Sony 200-600mm that only cost about $2K and I'll put it up against my $11K Canon 200-400. When you add Sony's $500 2x teleconverter then you've got a very good 400-1200mm with stabilization and great auto-focus. The FX6 has built-in electronic variable ND to quickly adapt to changing lighting conditions or when jumping in and out of S&Q Motion. Having dual-ISO is also great feature. I can jump to 12,800 at the push of a button, and having that low-light capability is crucial when shooting wildlife and nature at dusk and dawn -- the very time of day when the lighting is best and the animals are most active. The only thing the FX6 lacks is a viewfinder. I've added a Zacuto Gratical Eye to mine.

Here's some footage I just posted a couple days ago from a 9-day vacation I took to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in late September. About half of this video was shot with my Z750 and about half with the FX6. All in all, I got about 900 good, solid clips that I can sell as stock footage over the next few years. And that will pay for the camera and the trip itself.

What a trip.:atigrou:

 

[cyvideo]

Another few good numbers spun by the resident DJ. Nice shots mate. Would love to go there given the opportunity!

Chris Young

 

[cyvideo]

Here's some footage I just posted a couple days ago from a 9-day vacation I took to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in late September. About half of this video was shot with my Z750 and about half with the FX6.

Another few good numbers spun by the resident DJ. Nice shots mate. Would love to go there given the opportunity!

Chris Young

 

[Guest]

I like the Arri image, not the price. What modern camera would be the second option?
I had a Sony FS7, and now I own a couple of panasonic Lumix camera's.

Or is a used arri better than a cheap alternative?

in some ways, Bmp4K with a smattering of lightweight zooms. get that telephoto without the weight. get a second body as a backup, but still be able to hike long distances.


if long zooms aren’t and issue, Fx6 is a strong candidate. and the A7s3 makes a cheap and lightweight B-cam for it that matches perfectly.



for more tradition video cameras, i still feel the Sony F55 is a good choice, and the image quality is easily proven on the Netflix “The Crown”. I think the bayer filter is high quality. not sure what it is about the colours. not the highest resolution, but i like the colours, and the used price makes it viable. And it is great on batteries and overall lightweight compared to Amira.

Komodo has it’s place in the conversation as well. it isn’t a low light beast, but who doesn’t love looking at proper raw files? once things are up on vimeo or youtube, not much difference between Fx3 and Komodo, but at home on the computer, there is something nice about the baby red. idk if it is worth though, feels by the time it is kitted up, might have you scratching your head wondering why you didn’t spend all that money on something you actually wanted. so, idk, maybe not the Komodo.

If the C500 ever becomes cheap on the used market, that is a nice versatile camera for nature, with FF35 6K wides, and s35 4K telephoto reach. internal ND, good onboard audio options, above average battery life for it’s class. Although not a sipper.

But as i think about all the options, the Fx6 and BMp4K are on my short list. Fx6 being the better all rounder, and the Bmp4K being for telephoto and the 6k for wide to medium. just the blackmagic have gone down the two projects i worked with them as A cam.

so, i’m with DJ, and have to second the Fx6 unless compactness for super telephoto lenses is paramount.

 

[DLD]

I'd check R5 with Ninja 5A too - 8K, high res stills capability, reasonable weight, the best lens selection, cheap media, great auto focus, decent price, the most popular ecosystem, an EF-to-RF adapter with an ND filter.

 

[Guest]

My favorite camera right now for wildlfie and nature is my FX6.

@v@

 

[Doug Jensen]

Another few good numbers spun by the resident DJ. Nice shots mate. Would love to go there given the opportunity!

Well, Wyoming's just a plane ride away. When Covid is over and you can travel, I will meet you there and guide you to my favorite places in Yellowsone and Jackson Hole. That would be a lot of fun.