What would you do with £650?

A

analog_addict

Well-known member
Hi all,

Just sold one of my old SD cams for £650 and I'm thinking of getting a DSLR for my production company. We currently use an XHA1+Brevis and I really like the look it gives.

I'm not particularly interested in DSLR shooting but a couple of clients have mentioned it so I was thinking of just getting a 550D body for £420.

I already have lots of M42 lenses, support gear, mattebox and a monitor. So really the only extras I need to buy are some SDHC cards, some extra batteries and a sound recorder.

So my question is do I get a 550D body or save extra and pay double to get a 7D? The video quality between the two looks exactly the same but do people look down on the 550D and would some clients rather go with someone shooting a 7D?

We can't afford a 5D and are just looking for something to compliment the XHA1 to use as a B-Camera and maybe shoot some low light stuff with. As I said I'm not interested in DSLR shooting at all but I forsee more and more clients requesting it :undecided
 
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Don't pay extra for the 7D just for video - most of it's real benefits are for photo shooting. The 7d does have the best HDMI out for monitoring, ISO adjustments in 1/3 increments and the extra dials for adjustments - but the 60D has most of this for a fraction of the cost, other than the great HDMI monitoring - but you get an articulated screen with the 60D, ISO in 1/3 increments, manual adjustment of audio levels, and for some reason (the screen perhaps being away from the body) the 60D has shown to be more resistant to overheating.
IMO for video the best three are
T3i - articulating screen, great zoom mode....but no 1/3 ISO adjustments
60D - mentioned earlier
T2i - with Magic Lantern applied you get a lot of features for less money.
Also I think it's in your situation where DSLR shooting can really shine - because you already have a dedicated rig for most of your work - just use the DSLR for specialty shots like low light, beauty shots. They fall down on complicated high detail, but you're set there already.
 
A low-cost Dslr would be a great addition to your kit as a B camera - 550D is a good choice. I was using a regular 3ccd HDV camera and a d90 as my "B" camera around a year ago and the combo was great - It eventually prompted me to replace my HDV camera with a higher-end DSLR as well.

Its a good stepping stone on the path to modular APS-C or Full frame system in general. If clients request a 7D or 5D, you can rent them, and eventually own something of that nature.
 
Thanks for the excellent responses guys. I'm very tempted by the 60D but I've just bidded on a 550D on the bay.

Hopefully it will give it me a feel for DSLR shooting and I can always upgrade if I take to it. Looks like it's time to jump on the bandwagon!
 
swoopie said:
I've never come across a client that even knows what it is.
Click to expand...

The amount of times I've heard people who have no idea about cameras banging on about the 5d. Some clients (rightly so) do a bit of research before they come in but sometimes they go on the net read all the stuff about the 5d and other DSLR and make a snap judgement that that's what they NEED because that's what appears to be popular at the minute.

Looks like I'll be getting a 550D to play with this week!
 
I've owned both a 7d and 550 and while the 550 is great especially with magic lateen, which Phil Bloom warned can possibly create problems with your camera as it is an unauthorized hack with unknown bug issues that could crop up during a paid shoot, I like the 7d more. why? Environmental sealing with the proper lens ergonomic issues like the fact I can replace the battery on the fly without removing from tripod, (the door on the 550 is not in the right location to do that), more rugged. Buy it right once, is a motto worth remembering. The hdmi out could be a problem, especially if you do lots of studio shoots. Better range of white balance control and iso. So while it shares a sensor it is not "the same camera", anymore than a Honda odyssey van, while sharing the same engine as it's sedan cousin, is it's cousin

but I have been very impressed with a friend's new gh2, and the lens for that will be compatible with the AF 100, or something like it, which is likely to be the design and camera that many of us head to next.
 
Hi 8string. With more money I would have probably gone for a 7d or 60d however money is simply too tight at the minute. I can't justify spending so much when I already have a dedicated camera which I shoot everything on.

Anyway I just spent £565 and got the following:

- 550D Body (brand new)
- Rode Videomic
- Few extra batteries
- 16gb Kingston Class10 sdhc

As I said before I already have all the 15mm support gear, lenses and a monitor so only a small investment to see if I like DSLR shooting and also I've been wanting a DSLR for photography for ages anyway.

Can't wait to give it a whirl!
 
Just thought I would give a little update:

Wow. I built up a little rig and shot some test footage with a Super Tak 55mm F2 and the footage looks really good.

Thinking about selling my Brevis and doing all my music videos and drama work on this. Just bought a juicelink DT454 last night. I think I will definitely shoot my 2 upcoming music video shoots on the 550d and probably the drama projects if me and the sound recordist learn how to get good results from the juicelink in time.

After spending a year saying the DSLR revolution was a fad and pointless I'm completely won over especially after struggling with my huge Brevis rig a few days ago on a web series shoot.

I'm hoping magic lantern and the DT454 will turn the camera into a good all rounder that can produce adequate sound recording as well.
 
I just got a new GH2 with kit lens for £750 off ebay.... If you can stretch the extra £100 and find a similar deal, I think it is your best choice as an all rounder. (i've owed the 5DII and 7D also, the GH2 betters them in most respects).
 
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