Will a Nikon DSLR stay on/record for 90 minutes?

[puredrifting]

I am considering the D750 as a replacement for my GH4, especially for shooting interviews. I would be using it with an Atomos Ninja Blade as my external recorder and I know the Ninja has no problem in recording a 90 minute clip. I sometimes work on historical documentaries for the networks and the interviews often go on for more than an hour, at times for up to ninety minutes. My questions are, based upon your knowledge of shooting with the 5300, 7100, 610 and 810: (because I know the 750 doesn't ship until next week)

1. The D750, after some research, at 1080 23.98 at best quality, using the internal recording, the max clip time is twenty minutes. Do the existing Nikon DSLRs, when shooting a clip longer than twenty minutes A. Open another clip and continues recording missing no frames, as the 5D MKIII does or B. Simply stop recording and you have to quickly press the record button again, meaning you miss at least a few seconds of video recording? Anyone ever shoot a clip longer than 20 minutes on a Nikon DSLR and know this for sure? I know that a real video camera like a C300 is better for this, or even a C100, but at this point we need to consider the best replacement for the GH4. The GH4, for what it's worth, has been great as far as shooting long interviews with no stops and no breaks.

2. Assuming I will be using the Atomos Ninja Blade with the D750, which I know is capable of recording as long as you have disk space for, as far as I know, will the D750 will be capable of keeping it's mirror raised and just staying on in camera mode after twenty minutes? Or will it automatically lower the mirror if the internal recording is not activated after a period of time? Anyone with a current model Nikon know this?

3. The Canon 5D MKIII tends to heat the sensor up when shooting extended interviews. Some have reported excess sensor noise due to the heat and others have had the camera shut down from excessive heat. Do the Nikon DSLRs have any problem with either sensor noise from heat or shut down from heat? Shooting long interviews with high profile people requires that I am seamless with my camera and camera issues.

Thanks for any answers or insights, I have never shot video on a Nikon DSLR, having been in the Canon world the past few years.

 

[Ebrahim Saadawi]

-5D can't record continuously beyond 29:59 minutes, not even with ML, neither do the Nikons. They will stop at that point and have to start recording again. With a gap between the two clips of course. It's due to EU tax rule that classifies any camera that records more than 29 minutes as a video camera therefore requires 10% prive increase.

-You will be able to record as long as you want using an external recorder, and you can set the camera to never go to sleep mode. No problems there.

-I have never had any heat issues with any DSLR either Canon or Nikon, and I am working in the middle east under direct sun for continuous hours, I wouldn't worry about overheating at all.

I think a D750 with an Atomos is a very safe option for recording long interviews and both devices are reliable. Just make sure you have the proper media and power for the system and I would bet they will not fail you.

 

[Michael Carter]

I had really bad overheating trouble with a T2i - but this was outdoors, summer, Texas, full sun, 100+ degrees out. Temp icon would flash. I used my old large format focusing cloth to keep the temp down.

Never seen that with my D7000 or D7100, but I haven't happened to have a shoot that grueling with those.

 

[puredrifting]

Thanks for the input guys, very much appreciated. The Atomos looks like it will be a lifesaver for me. I hate external boxes as I am already using the Tascam DR60 since the audio on the GH4 is crap so it is now looking as if I will have to have that and an Atomos hanging off of my shoulder rig with a D750, with lots of cables and things to snag if I go handheld which I occasionally do when shooting on the sets of movies and TV shows. I would so much rather have the C300 but budgets for my line of work these days generally won't justify a $13k camera, much less a more expensive one. We just rent those when the need is there but I hate renting. This year, so far, rented the Alexa twice, Four C300s once, FS700 for a commercial and F55 a couple of times. but for the day to day work, we only have DSLR/M43 budgets so I am trying to milk as much quality as possible from them. It will be interesting to see if the audio in the D750 is any better than the GH4 or 5D MKIII. I hope it is, it would be so nice to just record audio to camera but so far, with DSLRs and M43 cams, that is just a dream.

 

[Michael Carter]

I've found the D7100 audio is pretty useable when I use the DR60D and send the line out back to the camera for cleaner synch... yeah, doesn't help your mess-o-gear problem.

Someone was making a DR-specific waist pack though... that might be an option, and the new atomos (whatever - Xacto??) is pretty tiny without the screen.

If you're using a camera-mounted mic for the DR, you could grab a wireless and keep the DR nearby.

Waist packs when I'm shooting (vs. a dedicated sound guy) scare me... years ago when we synched film still cameras with those first-gen wireless strobe triggers, you attached the transmitter to your belt and PC-corded to the camera. Once in the rush of a fashion gig, I set the camera down and ended up running over to makeup or whatever, and dragging the damn camera off the table. Body survived, lens became suddenly an inch shorter... yeah, that's how I roll sometimes...

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

I am considering the D750 as a replacement for my GH4, especially for shooting interviews. I would be using it with an Atomos Ninja Blade as my external recorder and I know the Ninja has no problem in recording a 90 minute clip. I sometimes work on historical documentaries for the networks and the interviews often go on for more than an hour, at times for up to ninety minutes. My questions are, based upon your knowledge of shooting with the 5300, 7100, 610 and 810: (because I know the 750 doesn't ship until next week)

1. The D750, after some research, at 1080 23.98 at best quality, using the internal recording, the max clip time is twenty minutes. Do the existing Nikon DSLRs, when shooting a clip longer than twenty minutes A.

As far as I know, given I have the D600, Nikon has decided to make their 'clip max time' match a 'world' market rather than have different model/variations for the US vs. whevertheresataxonlongcliptimes. I think most of Europe has such a tax, as well as other parts of the world.

Since I do narrative work, such a max is no problem. But then the camera is the Wife's and I don't get to use it much anyway...

 

[puredrifting]

I've found the D7100 audio is pretty useable when I use the DR60D and send the line out back to the camera for cleaner synch... yeah, doesn't help your mess-o-gear problem.

Someone was making a DR-specific waist pack though... that might be an option, and the new atomos (whatever - Xacto??) is pretty tiny without the screen.

If you're using a camera-mounted mic for the DR, you could grab a wireless and keep the DR nearby.

Waist packs when I'm shooting (vs. a dedicated sound guy) scare me... years ago when we synched film still cameras with those first-gen wireless strobe triggers, you attached the transmitter to your belt and PC-corded to the camera. Once in the rush of a fashion gig, I set the camera down and ended up running over to makeup or whatever, and dragging the damn camera off the table. Body survived, lens became suddenly an inch shorter... yeah, that's how I roll sometimes...

Hopefully the D750 audio will be usable but I am not counting on it. It never ceases to amaze me that none of these smart marketing departments at the camera companies have told their engineering departments that they could market decent audio as a selling feature. Imagine if the D750 actually had audio as good as a dedicated camcorder like a C300 (not that the C300 audio is particularly great from an audiophile POV), but it's decent. I would easily pay an extra $500.00 for a DSLR audio body with GOOD audio, not great, just good enough to where we didn't have to use an outboard recorder. An optional phantom powered XLR breakout box that digitally interfaced with the DSLR and could clipped onto the bottom like the YAGH on the GH4 or clipped to the hot shoe would be amazing. They are always looking for product differentiation yet the light bulb has not clicked on that people using your DSLRs for video also need decent audio. Doing it outboard works, but it is a such a hassle and really a nightmare for one man band shooting. Oh well, maybe someday they will get it.

 

[puredrifting]

As far as I know, given I have the D600, Nikon has decided to make their 'clip max time' match a 'world' market rather than have different model/variations for the US vs. whevertheresataxonlongcliptimes. I think most of Europe has such a tax, as well as other parts of the world.

Since I do narrative work, such a max is no problem. But then the camera is the Wife's and I don't get to use it much anyway...

The Euro zone tax category kicks in at 29:59, doesn't it? As far as I can tell, the D750 can only record to 20 minutes at high quality mode or perhaps it is at 1080? The specs are not very specific about this at all.

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

The Euro zone tax category kicks in at 29:59, doesn't it? As far as I can tell, the D750 can only record to 20 minutes at high quality mode or perhaps it is at 1080? The specs are not very specific about this at all.

Well, the '20 minutes', seems to be referring to 'time lapse' sequences, but from the Nikon website both the D600 and the D750 have stated '29:59' as the max time for movie clips.

Here's the D750 URL: D750 Specs

Or more briefly...
Maximum length 29 min. 59 s (10 or 20 min. depending on frame size/rate and movie quality settings)

 

[puredrifting]

Well, the '20 minutes', seems to be referring to 'time lapse' sequences, but from the Nikon website both the D600 and the D750 have stated '29:59' as the max time for movie clips.

Here's the D750 URL: D750 Specs

Or more briefly...
Maximum length 29 min. 59 s (10 or 20 min. depending on frame size/rate and movie quality settings)

yes, it was that "10 or 20 minutes depending on frame size/rate and movie quality settings.) that I found confusing. If I can get 29:59 of record time out of it at 1080 23.98 at best quality, that would be acceptable. I don't think I will be using the internal recording very often, probably the Ninja Blade 90% of the time unless I want to shoot 1080/60p for slow motion. From what I can see in the specs, the Ninja Blade can only record 720/60p, not 1080, although it can record 1080 60i?

 

[daihard]

Im a little confused. You want to go the Nikon route because of the "Full Frame" look, or because of the poor lowlight performance of the GH4?
I mean, all the issues your asking about...the GH4 kinda out performs most of those cameras anyhow. So why switch?
With the DMW-YAGH base, I think you could have a shotgun mic mounted on the GH4... and you'd be getting • 3G - SDI terminal

- 4K2K (YUV = 4:2:2/10bit) video output
- FHD (YUV = 4:2:2/10bit) video output
- Monitoring through with time code

Which none of the Canons or Nikons can touch at the price point. Also you'd be still keeping a pretty tight little package.

I own a D600 (hacked: 50Mbit) & D610 which we use for our photography needs - Wedding and Event's business.
The Nikons are wonderful cameras.
But my "go to" cameras for video are always going to stay GH4 and my trusty old GH2 (Hacked: Flowmotion v2). Since they both will record continuously and produce high quality footage. With a speed booster, you get some amazing lowlight abilities as well as shallow DOF (a more full frame look).

Just seems silly to invest in Nikon if your going to lean on the video side of its specs. As for the photo, definitely go Nikon... hands down, the best investment!
Im afraid I cant tell you about the "record" length, since I don't own an external recorder.
On a side note, the bitrates of the GH4 beat every other HDSLR on the market under 5K. (Besides the Pocket BM...which is a joke to use for Run and Gun)

 

[puredrifting]

Im a little confused. You want to go the Nikon route because of the "Full Frame" look, or because of the poor lowlight performance of the GH4?
I mean, all the issues your asking about...the GH4 kinda out performs most of those cameras anyhow. So why switch?
With the DMW-YAGH base, I think you could have a shotgun mic mounted on the GH4... and you'd be getting • 3G - SDI terminal

- 4K2K (YUV = 4:2:2/10bit) video output
- FHD (YUV = 4:2:2/10bit) video output
- Monitoring through with time code

Which none of the Canons or Nikons can touch at the price point. Also you'd be still keeping a pretty tight little package.

I own a D600 (hacked: 50Mbit) & D610 which we use for our photography needs - Wedding and Event's business.
The Nikons are wonderful cameras.
But my "go to" cameras for video are always going to stay GH4 and my trusty old GH2 (Hacked: Flowmotion v2). Since they both will record continuously and produce high quality footage. With a speed booster, you get some amazing lowlight abilities as well as shallow DOF (a more full frame look).

Just seems silly to invest in Nikon if your going to lean on the video side of its specs. As for the photo, definitely go Nikon... hands down, the best investment!
Im afraid I cant tell you about the "record" length, since I don't own an external recorder.
On a side note, the bitrates of the GH4 beat every other HDSLR on the market under 5K. (Besides the Pocket BM...which is a joke to use for Run and Gun)

Fair enough, it probably must sound a little confusing. Yes, missing the FF look from the 5D MKIII and yes, the poor lowlight performance of the GH4 is a hindrance. I also find all of my M43 lenses to be sort of mediocre, they are all plastic and the images, while sharp, seem sort of soulless to me. Here is my reasoning. I shoot regularly for four different clients on a wide variety of different programming ranging from broadcast for Fox to corporate for companies like Glaxo SmithKline to PBS documentaries and everything in between. Since acquiring the GH4, I have heard the following comments from our clients when they speak about projects we have shot on the GH4...

1. "Wow, the image is really sharp. (this is with in camera sharpness at -5) How can we soften it in post?"
2. "Wow, the image is really video-like. I like the images better we were getting on the 5D MKIII/Canon C100/300, they seem smoother and more cinematic. Client runs images through several post processes, high end color correction with a good colorist and they are still not thrilled. Other footage in the project was not as well lit or shot but was shot on the C300 and they like that image better (not the lighting, just how the C300 made our actors look)
3. "That green screen shoot you did, the footage (which was lit pretty nicely) was kind of difficult to pull a clean key on. (this was a shoot where we didn't have enough horsepower to light two talent, both wearing black - interviews so we had no notice or control on what they were wearing - unless we goosed ISO up to 800 for one shot and ISO 400 on a different setup). So the images were exposed and lit properly, but in order to get them to where they needed, had to bump ISO. Did the next shoot and brought more lighting and shot at ISO 200. Client and their editor were still not thrilled with the amount of grain in the image, even at ISO 200. All of this was shot 4k UHD.
4. After cycling through all of the picture setting options, even customizing presets, client was still not very happy with skin tones. I agree with them, I think the skin tones on the GH4 are really strange and kind of unpleasant looking no matter how I tweak them. We shoot the FS700, C100/300, 5D MKIII and Alexa also for the same clients, depending on budget, but a lot of bread and butter for them is low budget and they want to use our low end camera, lately, it has been the GH4. We have been able to create images on all of these cameras that thrill the clients, but the GH4 has received a thumbs down on the look from three of our four main clients.

None of our clients care about 4K (yet). Two deliver for broadcast and eventually will care about 4K but for the next year or two, no. Two our our clients have forced me to shoot 1080 with the GH4 even though I shot tests for them that conclusively showed that 4K downrezzed to 1080 looked considerably better. Their perception is that 4K takes up more storage space and requires more rendering time to use in 1080 projects and they are often on crazy short deadlines. Sometimes it is impossible to change your client's perceptions. Bottom line, I have been pretty happy with the 5D MKIII/C100/C300 for the past year but we only owned the 5D MKIII and rented the C100/300/FS700, etc. One of our clients has shot almost everything on green screen this year though so my choices would be to stay with the GH4 against our client's wishes, rent the C300 or buy a C100 or another camera with an outboard recording device. I did a shoot in Africa last year that had a lot of landscape shots and vistas and while the colors were superb, the softness of the 5D MKIII was not too good. The 5D MKIII is a great interview/people camera but fairly soft for wide and landscape shots. The C100 requires an outboard device like a Ninja to record a professional format. Two of my clients do not want to deal with AVCHD at all. So to me, since I only own one Canon lens and use all of my Nikon lenses with adapters on all of the Canon cameras, I know and like my Nikon glass. Being able to use it natively, without adapters would be a plus. Based upon what I am seeing from the D750, it has colors that are in the same league as the 5D MKIII, much less moire, aliasing and jello and overall, it is a sharper image while still being people friendly. The GH4 has a much sharper image than the Canons too but in my eye, it is not a flattering camera for people. I have yet to see an actor or interview shot with the GH4 yet that excites me. I have seen lots of decent shots but nothing where I sat up and took notice. If we had the budget, I would buy the C100 and a Ninja or the new Sony FS7 possibly, although I don't find Sonys to look that great either, they all have a video look to them as well.

I wish I was happy with the GH4 but after a few months, two broadcast shows shot with it and numerous non-broadcast corporate projects, I am not feeling it so I am moving on. If the D750 doesn't do it, I will have to make some arrangments and spend more money but the hope is that the D750 can serve as our owned, low end camera and still make good images. That's the great part of cheap cameras, if they don't work for your needs, sell them and buy another. High end cameras are more expensive to purchase and take longer to pay for. So they are a bigger commitment. We have to give our clients what they ask for and want.

 

[daihard]

I see, all valid points. The GH line has always been know for being too sharp.
Most people like me, use alternative lens with adaptors. (I shoot with a variety of Nikon glass for that Cinema feel).
Yes, the skin was a problem for me as well. I found this source off of the forum and got much better results for the skin tones.
Another suggested turning off anything with "i". And basically shoot flat using "Natural" profile, its also effective.
Philip Bloom is another great resource for getting that "Cinema look" with your GH4.

Lowlight, will be a problem... but my guess is your not shooting in such low light that a speed booster couldn't help. You wouldn't carry around a big camera in those situations anyhow. Keep in mind a speed booster will turn a standard f1.4 lens into a f0.4... and you cant use a speed booster on Nikon or Canon.

Originally I went with the GH2 and fell in love with it. i've since upgraded to the GH4 for the picture/bitrate (4k downsizing to 1080) and of course the 60p and 96p modes. We offer a slow motion booth, and having a camera that can do that more then pays for itself with 1 booking.
I do mostly events and weddings, so my needs can be much less specific then your needs. I do in house editing, so no worries about someone else grading the skins. And I can throw a ton of filters and effects to give me that cinema feel.
Another plus, is the "E" shutter and timelapse. I mean, how cool!

Sounds like you have a bit more disposable money then I do... so do give Nikon a try. With the RAW output it makes up for Nikon's terrible video implementation; i.e. No aperture control in live video mode, lack of Live histogram, focus peaking, etc...
Canon as well, but with Magic Lantern its more then made up for that.
I think Nikon makes a superior product, and I hope the D750 proves to be a good "H"DSLR... because we are planning on grabbing one as well!

 

[M. Gilden]

Thanks for the input guys, very much appreciated. The Atomos looks like it will be a lifesaver for me. I hate external boxes as I am already using the Tascam DR60 since the audio on the GH4 is crap so it is now looking as if I will have to have that and an Atomos hanging off of my shoulder rig with a D750, with lots of cables and things to snag if I go handheld which I occasionally do when shooting on the sets of movies and TV shows. I would so much rather have the C300 but budgets for my line of work these days generally won't justify a $13k camera, much less a more expensive one. We just rent those when the need is there but I hate renting. This year, so far, rented the Alexa twice, Four C300s once, FS700 for a commercial and F55 a couple of times. but for the day to day work, we only have DSLR/M43 budgets so I am trying to milk as much quality as possible from them. It will be interesting to see if the audio in the D750 is any better than the GH4 or 5D MKIII. I hope it is, it would be so nice to just record audio to camera but so far, with DSLRs and M43 cams, that is just a dream.

Interesting that one of your reasons to switch is the audio- The GH series has traditionally had some of the best (if not THE best) audio in DSLR/ILC compacts. Even the GH2 back in the day supposedly had the same audio noise floor as their HMC-150 flagship event cam. Are you perhaps suffering from the audio bug that introduced what sounds like ground noise? They recently patched that, and folks are saying the fixed camera now has somewhere around a -70db RMS. I haven't tested any of this myself, but its weird to see threads like this one:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...Factory-Audio-Fix-Has-70-dB-of-Dynamic-range-!
which imply that the GH4 might have cleaner audio than a Zoom H4N, and then find a thread here of someone who wants to switch cameras to maybe get better (?) audio.
Nikon has a lot going for it, don't get me wrong (sensor size, DR, etc) but audio doesn't seem to be one of their strengths.

IMHO, for long form event/interview style video recording, the GH series is really it south of actual video cameras. They are the only ones to record indefinitely, include decent audio built in, and offer live features that one would normally expect to find only on a camcorder-style device.

I agree that the Lumix lenses are plastic and oversharp, not to mention often rather video-looking. Have you considered that new EOS speedbooster? You can get much closer to the FF look and use all kind of interesting glass that might give you a more cinematic feeling. If you patch the audio and find it works as well as everyone is saying it does, you might find yourself happy you didn't jump ship.

Meanwhile, if you are really looking towards more full-featured cameras, the AF100 and FS100 pretty much fall into DSLR-priced budgets these days and do all the things you are talking about. Throw some interesting glass on there, and you are good to go. Just an idea- I'm not sure you are barking up the right tree.

 

[puredrifting]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have been using the Nikon G to M43 Speedbooster and various Nikon lenses as well with the GH4. They look good indoors but for some reason, when shooting in bright sun, I get huge amounts of CA, not just a little, I am talking enough to make the image unusable. My Nikons are older, mainly Ai and AiS, I know the coatings were not as good back in the 70s but jeez, this is bad. Not sure how they will look on the D750 but fortunately I don't shoot outdoors too often.

As far as audio, Panasonic received my camera on Friday for the audio buzz fix, but even discounting the audio buzz, the GH4 seems to have poor quality audio, low dynamic range and poor S/N ratio. I have the Tascam DR40, DR60, Zoom H4N and I occasionally rent a Sound Devices recorder if there is budget. All sound leagues better than the GH4 audio or to be fair, the 5D MKIII audio. Yes, I know the Nikon will probably have poor audio as well, I think all of the DSLR and M43 camera do when listened to objectively. I am really see sawing between trying to find a used C100 and pairing it with the Atomos so I don't have to deal with AVCHD or really going into debt and buying the Sony FS7. If I sell some gear, I can buy the D750 and an Atomos cash. If I want the C100 or the FS7, I have to sell all of my cameras, M43 lenses, P2 camera, P2 cards, 5D MKII and I will still have to go into debt for a few thousand dollars. If I knew that larger projects were on the slate for our company, it would be a no brainer, two FS7s, but this year has been slower than last year and there is not a lot booked for the next three months. I've been in this business long enough to know that buying expensive video gear, then hoping the work will come in to pay it off is a fools errand. I prefer to buy cheap and have one or two jobs just pay it off, then it begins generating profit. I will wait for some reviews tests on the D750 before buying one. On paper and from the Unchained video, it seems to check most of the boxes I need it to, I really should stay fiscally conservative.

 

[Turbobb]

No aperture control in live video mode, lack of Live histogram, focus peaking, etc...
Canon as well, but with Magic Lantern its more then made up for that.
I think Nikon makes a superior product, and I hope the D750 proves to be a good "H"DSLR... because we are planning on grabbing one as well!

Thread's a little old now but figured I chip in with my 2 cents...

While the D8XX series had power aperture control in LV, the D6XX didn't but the D750 now features it as well and has live histogram too (although you can't control its size, transparency or position). No focus peaking but the OK button can be set to to instantly zoom in (50% - 200%) to aid with focus. However, agreed that Nikon has ways to go (features-wise) with winning over videographers.

 

[Michael Carter]

Things I seem to post often here, but perhaps useful:

Nikon's current video just has a really gorgeous "look" that's hard to pin down - in good hands, anyway. The APS-C sensor is something I find much preferable to 4/3, and has a lot to do with Nikon vs. Gh (my best guess anyway - codec and camera processing is very different between the two). But it's easy to get beautiful footage with the current bodies.

The Samsung NX1... a wild card, but... could be a real game changer for video. We won't know until one gets in capable hands. $1400 if you're cool with manual shooting and lens adapters; $2600 adds a zoom that (on paper anyway) should cover many situations. Samsung is a brand-new player not only in DSLR video but in high-end lens design. The (kinda revolutionary) AF and H265 codec potential, along with 4K 30p and 1080 60p H265 to already-own-'em cards? it all sounds promising... I'm not upgrading anything until some good NX1 tests come out.

 

[dafreaking]

The max clip length for 1080p24 is 20 mins. With 30 secs to go the countdown will start blinking and when it runs down the recording will stop.

In my ghetto battery test I was able to record 100 mins of footage and had 11% battery left. This was done on a full battery witch the rec mode set to 1080p24 (High Quality) I would press the record button 2 seconds after it would stop recording.

 

[pszilard]

I have the D750 and an Atomos Ninja Blade.

I have ran a test of battery capacity, and recorded uninterrupted from the D750 for 2hrs and 30 minutes, at which point the Nikon battery was exhausted. I had NO overheating problems in camera. The Ninja does run rather warm, but that's normal.

The IQ is fantastic, and having 422 Apple ProRes straight out from the Ninja means I don't have to do any decompressing on my Mac! Strongly recommend using SSD with the Ninja - totally shock proof, and silent, and runs cooler.

 

[puredrifting]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I ended up buying the C100 and the Ninja Blade instead and have been happy so far, although I am still intrigued by the D750. I don't think it would function as my main camera though. Hopefully if business improves, I will pick one up to experiment with.