I am looking to buy a camera. I'm either going to buy a nikon d7100 or a canon t5i. So my question is what lenses and filters should I buy if I were to get one of those? What else should I buy as well besides a bag and tripod?
Lenses and other accessories for camera
- Thread starter South Side Dreamer
- Start date
What are you planning to use the camera for? Is still photography important or will you just be shooting video? What is your budget? Do you already have any other equipment? Do you have friends/family/coworkers that own either of these camera systems? Do you really need to own the camera? Where will the results of your work be displayed/distributed?
I'm planning on using it to make short films. Still photography would be important but I mostly want it for video. My budget is about $1000 but by the end of the year it should be at least $1500-1700. I don't have any other equipment. As for anyone I know who owns one of those cameras the answer is no. I only know one other person who is interested in film and he wants to be a producer.
Do I really need to own the camera. Yes.
I just plan on using it to make short films to then put on youtube.
Hi Dreamer - If you're intent on buying a camera, and you want it for video, and not stills, instead of a $1147 Nikon D7100 body, you may want to look at a $998 Panasonic GH3. With this camera, you can adjust your aperture while in video mode, you can shoot for more than 30 minutes continuously if you need to, you will have a swivel LCD, you will be able to shoot at 1080/60p for smooth action and slow motion, you will have built in wi-fi for wireless file transfer and control of the camera from your phone or tablet - and you will have a viewfinder that works when you're shooting video. You will have none of these features with the D7100.
Here is what the GH3 can do:
Documentary: "Mme Sokhna Fall" by Bas de Meijer: http://vimeo.com/54076272
Documentary: "French Documentary" (no subtitles) - by Gregory Vasseur: http://vimeo.com/58740161
Documentary (please watch at 1080p): "Angels at War" - Kickstarter Trailer - by Joey Daoud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y82SM45idS4
Music Video: "Sky" by Shae Sterling: http://vimeo.com/53834993
Narrative: "Clash" by Tim Manders: http://vimeo.com/59543338
Narrative: "The Tide" by Hugo Goudswaard: http://vimeo.com/64129362
Narrative: "Genesis" by Bruce Logan, ASC: http://vimeo.com/49420579
At the lower price point, instead of a $649 body-only Canon T5i, you may want to look at a $598 (on sale as of this post) Panasonic G6 with the 14-42 kit lens.
Here is what the G6 can do:
Narrative: "I've Got My Fingers Crossed" by Avner Levona: http://vimeo.com/78037118
Doc: "Creative Space: Kathy Ponce " by Kevin Mayuga: http://vimeo.com/73561266
Music video: "A. BELKIN - Good Morning Mr. Blues" by Romas: http://vimeo.com/76081090
Wedding: "Junwei + Daohua" by Jon Wide: http://vimeo.com/72010967
Sports: "Wavetest 2013 / Side On - Onshore Impression" by Gleiten.TV: http://vimeo.com/76875252
Travel: "Riverbanks" by emeric: http://vimeo.com/72107884
One more caveat as you make your decision. The D7100, the GH3 and the G6 are all moire-resistant, but the T5i is subject to a phenomenon called moire. Here is what imaging resource had to say in their review of this camera:
"We saw a fair amount of moiré artifacts in the standard problem areas like window screens, roof shingles, and fine patterned fabrics. Moiré and aliasing were even more pronounced in 720p video, which has been the case with other Canon DSLRs we've seen in the past. Overall, moiré artifacts look very similar to those seen on the other Canon DSLRs (with the exception of the 5D Mark III). This isn't a deal breaker by any means, and while it could be a deciding factor for professionals or high-end video shooters, most users should just be careful where they shoot and be on the lookout for problems with the patterns in people's clothing, etc."
Here is what Canon moire looks like, when compared to a Panasonic camera:
http://vimeo.com/21962491
http://vimeo.com/20565849
Hope this is helpful,
Bill
Here is what the GH3 can do:
Documentary: "Mme Sokhna Fall" by Bas de Meijer: http://vimeo.com/54076272
Documentary: "French Documentary" (no subtitles) - by Gregory Vasseur: http://vimeo.com/58740161
Documentary (please watch at 1080p): "Angels at War" - Kickstarter Trailer - by Joey Daoud: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y82SM45idS4
Music Video: "Sky" by Shae Sterling: http://vimeo.com/53834993
Narrative: "Clash" by Tim Manders: http://vimeo.com/59543338
Narrative: "The Tide" by Hugo Goudswaard: http://vimeo.com/64129362
Narrative: "Genesis" by Bruce Logan, ASC: http://vimeo.com/49420579
At the lower price point, instead of a $649 body-only Canon T5i, you may want to look at a $598 (on sale as of this post) Panasonic G6 with the 14-42 kit lens.
Here is what the G6 can do:
Narrative: "I've Got My Fingers Crossed" by Avner Levona: http://vimeo.com/78037118
Doc: "Creative Space: Kathy Ponce " by Kevin Mayuga: http://vimeo.com/73561266
Music video: "A. BELKIN - Good Morning Mr. Blues" by Romas: http://vimeo.com/76081090
Wedding: "Junwei + Daohua" by Jon Wide: http://vimeo.com/72010967
Sports: "Wavetest 2013 / Side On - Onshore Impression" by Gleiten.TV: http://vimeo.com/76875252
Travel: "Riverbanks" by emeric: http://vimeo.com/72107884
One more caveat as you make your decision. The D7100, the GH3 and the G6 are all moire-resistant, but the T5i is subject to a phenomenon called moire. Here is what imaging resource had to say in their review of this camera:
"We saw a fair amount of moiré artifacts in the standard problem areas like window screens, roof shingles, and fine patterned fabrics. Moiré and aliasing were even more pronounced in 720p video, which has been the case with other Canon DSLRs we've seen in the past. Overall, moiré artifacts look very similar to those seen on the other Canon DSLRs (with the exception of the 5D Mark III). This isn't a deal breaker by any means, and while it could be a deciding factor for professionals or high-end video shooters, most users should just be careful where they shoot and be on the lookout for problems with the patterns in people's clothing, etc."
Here is what Canon moire looks like, when compared to a Panasonic camera:
http://vimeo.com/21962491
http://vimeo.com/20565849
Hope this is helpful,
Bill
Thanks Bill. I got to get going to work soon but as soon as I get back I will defenitly look into this. Thanks.
I just spent about 20mins trying to demonstrate 'canon' moire to my gf by shooting a selection of patterned materials, and couldn't make it occur even once.
Just sayin'.
Edit - As you mentioned you want it for stills too, I personally would avoid anything mft and go for a DSLR like you were looking at initially, though probably a t3i/600D body (there's bugger-all difference between this and the t5i where it counts, and it also has the 3x crop mode). I'd then spunk the rest on some nice glass/accessories/audio gear.
Just sayin'.
Edit - As you mentioned you want it for stills too, I personally would avoid anything mft and go for a DSLR like you were looking at initially, though probably a t3i/600D body (there's bugger-all difference between this and the t5i where it counts, and it also has the 3x crop mode). I'd then spunk the rest on some nice glass/accessories/audio gear.
Last edited:
I figured that brunnerww would jump in with a recommendation for the GH2/3. I have multiple Canon cameras, mostly 5Ds, but I agree with the GH2/3 for someone just starting out who is not invested in any particular mount lenses. You can get more for less with the GH2/3. Remember, you buy cameras but you invest in lenses. With the GH series you can get inexpensive adapters and use almost any lens, vintage or modern, that you want.
Save money where you can, but get good sound. If you must purchase your own sound gear, check out any of the fantastic posts by Alcove Audio. Sound is more important than picture. Many audiences will forgive marginal video but will stop watching a film with bad audio.
ETA: I went with the full frame Canons because I am primarily a still photographer who occasional shoots video as opposed to a video shooter who occasionally takes stills.
Save money where you can, but get good sound. If you must purchase your own sound gear, check out any of the fantastic posts by Alcove Audio. Sound is more important than picture. Many audiences will forgive marginal video but will stop watching a film with bad audio.
ETA: I went with the full frame Canons because I am primarily a still photographer who occasional shoots video as opposed to a video shooter who occasionally takes stills.
Last edited:
OK. So supposing I get the gh3. What lenses should I get for it? I keep seeing these lenses that say 18-55mm. Which ones would be best for filming?
It really depends on your budget, whether you prefer manual or auto lenses - and what you want your images to look like (not necessarily in that order).
The 18-55mm lenses you've been reading about are the standard kit lenses for DSLRs with APS-C sized sensors. The GH3's sensor is a little smaller, so its "kit zoom" equivalent is 14-42mm. I don't recommend kit lenses unless someone gives them to you for free. They generally have poor optical quality and are "slow" (e.g., not very good in low light).
If your budget is about $1200, including the camera, I would get:
Panasonic GH3: $998
Sigma 19mm f2.8: $199
This is a nice, wide starter lens that performs well in low light.
Here is an example of what this lens can do on the GH3: http://vimeo.com/76030718
If your budget is a few hundred more, I would start with the $499 Olympus 17mm f1.8 instead of the Sigma.
Here is an example of what this lens can do on the GH3: http://vimeo.com/71758365
Once you are comfortable with the camera, you can experiment with classic lenses such as these Canon FDs. I use an inexpensive adapter like this one to mount these terrific old lenses on my GH cameras.
Here is an example of the look you can get from the GH3 with relatively inexpensive Canon FD lenses (this example also with anamorphic [widescreen] adapter): http://vimeo.com/69710158
Again, hope this is helpful,
Bill
Last edited:
Thanks again! This information is really helpful. I think I will be getting the Gh3. One more question. With the adapters can I use any canon or nikon lens with the gh3? Or only certain ones?
Broadly speaking, there are two types of Canon lenses and two types of Nikon lenses.
1. Lenses with manual aperture rings - generally older lenses from film camera days (e.g., Canon FD and Nikon "non-G" lenses)
2. Lenses with electronically controlled aperture - generally modern lenses (e.g., Canon EF and EF-S lenses for the EOS system and Nikon "G" lenses)
And yes, each type of lens will require its own adapter - but you can get a solid adapter for less than $30. In my view, the only Canon and Nikon adapters you will need are one for Canon FD and one for Nikon "non G" lenses. That's two inexpensive adapters, and you're done
All of that said, you can buy special adapters for modern lenses with gizmos to either substitute a fake aperture (Canon) or control lens aperture mechanically in the absence of an external aperture ring (Nikon G) - but, in my view, these workarounds are too much hassle - especially when there are plenty of inexpensive older lenses with aperture rings.
There is an exception to my "two adapter" rule - modern manual cinema lenses made for today's Canon EOS lens mount, such as these Rokinon cine lenses. These lenses all have manual aperture rings. If you want to shoot with one of those lenses, you will need an EOS to micro 4/3 adapter.
Again, hope this is helpful,
Bill
I would suggest sticking with manual lenses with built in aperture control until you can afford to step up to better glass. By that time, you will most likely have upgraded bodies.