DSLR for Video Shooting

Hi Guys. Sorry for posting again with almost similar questions. For this time, I want to know about DSLR for video shooting. For me, I got few choices:


Canon 60D for the Flip out screen, nice color and long battery life

Panasonic GH2 for Price, flip out screen, light weight and continuous video focus

Canon 7D for many focus points and nice quality.

Nikon D7000 for nice quality, continuous video focus and multiple memory slot.


I am going to use a camera for a little bit photo shooting and more on film making, so I think DSLR might suits me more.

Please I need more feedback. Thanks.
 
Hi Guys. Sorry for posting again with almost similar questions. For this time, I want to know about DSLR for video shooting. For me, I got few choices:


Canon 60D for the Flip out screen, nice color and long battery life

Panasonic GH2 for Price, flip out screen, light weight and continuous video focus

Canon 7D for many focus points and nice quality.

Nikon D7000 for nice quality, continuous video focus and multiple memory slot.


I am going to use a camera for a little bit photo shooting and more on film making, so I think DSLR might suits me more.

Please I need more feedback. Thanks.

1) What's your total budget? Have you looked at lens?

2) What are you going to be using it for? Home videos? Music videos? Directing a movie?

That being said, I figure most people here like the GH2 or 7D, but I could be wrong. It just depends on your situation and your total budget.
 
1) What's your total budget? Have you looked at lens?

2) What are you going to be using it for? Home videos? Music videos? Directing a movie?

That being said, I figure most people here like the GH2 or 7D, but I could be wrong. It just depends on your situation and your total budget.

Around RM6000, which is approximately USD 2000. Yea I am much more interested in making videos, just for hobby and school project purpose, or some film contest. So which one you will recommend? do you think it's better that I work harder to get one pro video cam like Panasonic AG HMC152?
 
Well keep in mind, if your budget is around 2000 USD, then you have to buy the DSLR body + lens just to start, and then if you want it to sound at all decent, throw in a shotgun/and or boom mic, external recording device, tripod, etc etc. It starts to get expensive, and that's just a starting package! So that already rules out the Canon 7D for you, then ;)
 
Hi Yui.

Read up on DSLR digital cinema from some of the knowledgable guys like Shane Hurlbut ASC, Vincent Laforet and Philip Bloom. These guys have their own blogs and sites and they share a great wealth of knowledge on this stuff. I think Vincent and Philip have participated in the Vimeo School.

Also if you can, read DSLR Cinema by Kurt Lancaster - a great book and easy read.

Combine all of that research with the great advice you get on here to understand what it is you are getting into when it comes to DSLR Cinema. This will greatly help you understand what it means to choose a Canon T2i vs a 60D, or a GH2 or a Pentax K, or whatever and what your choice will mean as far as buying the necessary accessories and tools. It will also help you invest your money wisely and put you in a better position to build your toolset, if you chose to go more than simple hobby.

I hope this helped. Good luck.
 
Well keep in mind, if your budget is around 2000 USD, then you have to buy the DSLR body + lens just to start, and then if you want it to sound at all decent, throw in a shotgun/and or boom mic, external recording device, tripod, etc etc. It starts to get expensive, and that's just a starting package! So that already rules out the Canon 7D for you, then ;)

haha... thanks for the advice

Hi Yui.

Read up on DSLR digital cinema from some of the knowledgable guys like Shane Hurlbut ASC, Vincent Laforet and Philip Bloom. These guys have their own blogs and sites and they share a great wealth of knowledge on this stuff. I think Vincent and Philip have participated in the Vimeo School.

Also if you can, read DSLR Cinema by Kurt Lancaster - a great book and easy read.

Combine all of that research with the great advice you get on here to understand what it is you are getting into when it comes to DSLR Cinema. This will greatly help you understand what it means to choose a Canon T2i vs a 60D, or a GH2 or a Pentax K, or whatever and what your choice will mean as far as buying the necessary accessories and tools. It will also help you invest your money wisely and put you in a better position to build your toolset, if you chose to go more than simple hobby.

I hope this helped. Good luck.

wow... thanks for that.
 
All listed except GH2 are plagued by nasty artifacts called moire and aliasing. GH2 is also sharpest. Check the new Sony line as well.

Just to be clear, the GH2 can also suffer from moire and aliasing, it just isn't nearly as bad as the Canon line. I've shot with the GH2 and 60D, and personally prefer the GH2. That being said, the Canon line is better for still photography. The GH2 can take great stills, it's just not on par with the still features of the Canons.
 
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Just to be clear, the GH2 can also suffer from moire and aliasing, it just isn't nearly as bad as the Canon line. I've shot with the GH2 and 60D, and personally prefer the GH2. That being said, the Canon line is better for still photography. The GH2 can take great stills, it's just not on par with the still features of the Canons.

It can, that's true. But it's greatly minimized. I rarely get it. My Canon 7d would break my heart though. Some people don't mind it much. Canons seem to handle highlight roll off a little better too. But now with the GH2 hack, I think it's really lapping the Canons.
 
Yui,

These machines, like many others in their price range are not without their limitations and shortcomings. Moire, aliasing, limited latitude, over-heating, and the list goes on. There is a reason why these cameras are in our price range. It's just a cold hard fact of the world. But that never stopped a determined spirit, a creative artist.

My take is read up on these cameras - Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Nicon, Pentax, whatever... Learn their strengths and their weaknesses and see how people use them. How the pros use them, how they overcome all their flaws, limitations and technological shortcomings. Worried about moire and aliasing? Plan for them, scout your locations properly, understand the surfaces and situations where they occur most, and use tricks of the trade - like the bokeh from depth of field (DoF) to hide and work around these things. Take the limited latitude - embrace it and plan for it in your lighting and exposure considerations. The list goes on and on.

My point is you could focus on the flaws, imperfections and shortcomings. Or, you could learn about them and use technique to overcome them. These things will help you incorporate better movie making tricks and techniques into your body of work. We are indie, we use the odds and turn them into our favor. We overcome the limitations.

Read up on the pros and you will become familiar with these issues and learn how to embrace them and workaround them. At the end of the day, these things are just tools it's the story that matters and the limitations and roadblocks will only help you use your imagination better, think on your feet and become a better indie movie maker.

Good luck, Yui.
 
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