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Upgrading from GoPro
- Thread starter iampaulb
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Old Nikon lenses are fine with APS-C cameras (and the focus throw and hard stops make them possibly great), but you really need a 17mm or 18mm lens (it's in every "cinema" kit: 18, 25, 35, 50, 85, or the like) and a really fast 17mm is expensive and rare. On full frame, you can get a 28mm f2 Nikkor very cheap and have the same field of view as 18mm on the 7D so Nikon lenses are better on the 5D, imo.
If you can figure out what to do for your widest lenses (look for 17mm and f2.8 or faster) you can use Nikon primes to fill in the gaps as they have great ergonomics and bokeh for the most part. But a 17-55mm IS takes care of 90% of most people's needs, anyway.
The reason I recommend that lens is because if you're using a dSLR you're looking for "dramatic" video and the standard focal length range is 18-85mm at f2.8 or faster, which the 17-55mm IS almost provides, and the IS is great for video. Sure you can tack on longer (70-200) or wider (11-16) but for that kind of material other cameras, like traditional video cameras, are generally as good or better.
If you can figure out what to do for your widest lenses (look for 17mm and f2.8 or faster) you can use Nikon primes to fill in the gaps as they have great ergonomics and bokeh for the most part. But a 17-55mm IS takes care of 90% of most people's needs, anyway.
The reason I recommend that lens is because if you're using a dSLR you're looking for "dramatic" video and the standard focal length range is 18-85mm at f2.8 or faster, which the 17-55mm IS almost provides, and the IS is great for video. Sure you can tack on longer (70-200) or wider (11-16) but for that kind of material other cameras, like traditional video cameras, are generally as good or better.
I can dream right...
On the subject of upgrading up, has anyone looked into the Black Magic Cinema Camera?
I ordered one and it will be my first real since a Canon XL-1 (yes that long ago) which was lost in a separation (company split).
My experiences is nill of late but have had to work with XDCAM and RED MX for the past 10 years in a minimal level but mostly creative using the footage.
I will looking at freelance with this purchase
On the subject of upgrading up, has anyone looked into the Black Magic Cinema Camera?
I ordered one and it will be my first real since a Canon XL-1 (yes that long ago) which was lost in a separation (company split).
My experiences is nill of late but have had to work with XDCAM and RED MX for the past 10 years in a minimal level but mostly creative using the footage.
I will looking at freelance with this purchase
That's a pretty expensive adaptor (the ones I use are around 10$ and work great). You don't really need to use Nikon glass, there's plenty of other lens on other mounts that can be adapted to work on Canon. I think older Nikon lenses are are a bit more expensive as they can still be used with the current Nikon body and even use auto-focus if they support it.
That said, as Policar mentioned, getting the 35mm equivalent of a wide angle lens (around 18mm) is going to be hard as. If you're going to use your lenses for photo as well the 17-55 f/2.8 might be a great lens. It should be plenty fast and cover your bases even for video. It's pretty expensive but does it all. It might also be more useful than old primes as it can autofocus (for photo) and has image stabilization. That said, I personally have a 550d with a 28mm f/2.8 lens with an adaptor for it's m42 thread and a 50mm f/1.4 with an adaptor for it's pentax-k mount. For wide-angle, I just use the kit zoom lens... Sure, it's not the best but I only spent a total of 45$ for both lens and adaptors...
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On the subject of upgrading up, has anyone looked into the Black Magic Cinema Camera?
I ordered one and it will be my first real since a Canon XL-1 (yes that long ago) which was lost in a separation (company split).
My experiences is nill of late but have had to work with XDCAM and RED MX for the past 10 years in a minimal level but mostly creative using the footage.
I will looking at freelance with this purchase
Yes! Me! I'm currently shooting primarily with a 7D and GoProHD2, but I've shot on RED ONE, 5dMKII and EX1. The BMCC seems ideal for me. I shoot mainly documentary for heritage sector, and exhibition films for museum galleries. It also comes with DaVinci Resolve... it's a no brainer.
I'm fed up of the sound and codec quirks of using a DSLR. I'm quite looking forward to using the 7D as a stills camera again!
Not to hijack the thread, love your videos iampaulb... I'm actually looking to buy my first mountain bike in about 13 years! What do you mount your GoPro with?
Sounds like you picked the right camera for your work
I for one want to get into short films and plates for sfx to use as a freelance demo reel.
Ive never had to deal with DSLRs as far as work goes but have had decent footage come my way from the Canons.
They do make great stills though
Ive shot with the chesty but not at the level the riders are in that video.
I too am looking for ways to mount my Hero2.
I had some fun with it last night on stage where I attached the Suction cup to my fender strat.
I did lose it once bouncing around and havent seen the footage yet.
Man those things can take a beating
Sounds like you picked the right camera for your work
I for one want to get into short films and plates for sfx to use as a freelance demo reel.
Ive never had to deal with DSLRs as far as work goes but have had decent footage come my way from the Canons.
They do make great stills though
Ive shot with the chesty but not at the level the riders are in that video.
I too am looking for ways to mount my Hero2.
Compared to the price of a dedicated video camera from the likes of Canon or Sony, in the realm of the XF300/EX1/3... the BMCC is the bargain of the century.
Love this recent upload by John Brawley.
http://vimeopro.com/johnbrawleytests/blackmagic-cinema-camera/video/46460980
I've read many bad reviews of the GoPro Handlebar mount fracturing after only a few hours of use. I'm looking at something self made. I currently commute on road, so I don't need anything too heavy duty.
I suppose it will come down to what you want to do with the dSLR.
For example I've been leaning on a Hero2 as my video cam due to its
- compactness and mounting options
- the fact that it will continuously record (3.6gb at a time but at least there is no input required from me to keep going)
- decent long battery and really long battery life with the snap on second battery
- the case options; for instance I now have the GoPro Dive Housing and its been working great (sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeRm3qMxKUM&hd=1)
- the wifi option
- and I'm looking forward to the upcoming firmware changes
much of the above is just not possible without getting really expensive and/or unweildy when it comes to the dSLR (in my case)
For example I've been leaning on a Hero2 as my video cam due to its
- compactness and mounting options
- the fact that it will continuously record (3.6gb at a time but at least there is no input required from me to keep going)
- decent long battery and really long battery life with the snap on second battery
- the case options; for instance I now have the GoPro Dive Housing and its been working great (sample: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeRm3qMxKUM&hd=1)
- the wifi option
- and I'm looking forward to the upcoming firmware changes
much of the above is just not possible without getting really expensive and/or unweildy when it comes to the dSLR (in my case)
Ive been following John Brawley's posts on the BMCC.
Since he's the only writing about it
So far all glued mounts from GoPro are big fails for me.
I lost a Hero snowboarding using the helmet strap.
Yea its my fault but if the mount didnt come off the first time I wouldnt have used the strap.
Ill make a wire tether next time.
If you think the Rokinon is a cheaper lens then check out Marco Solorio's link here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.493724947322557.124136.115659998462389
No examples but you get to see the lens attached to the BMDCC.
The GH1 is a m43 camera from Panasonic. I have the GH2 which is also hackable. They do not have the recording limitations of the canons (30 min in Europe, no limits elsewhere). The sensor size is closer to 35mm film so a wide range of manual lenses are available. The hack improves the codec and enables better image quality than virtually any other dslr (including the canons).
On the minus side, they are not quite as good in lowlight and are inferior as stills cameras. They do not give the full frame look that the high end canons can do
I think the bmcc is a league above these dslrs, but is more geared to a pro workflow.
Well im hoping itll be a compliment to my GoPros
The cool thing is that the RAW file format actually relates to GoPros CineForm in workflow term.
Do any of the DSLRs that record video also autofocus while recording the video, or is it a case of setting the focal length before you hit the shutter button?
I would like t be able to move objects closer to the lens at times with it beng able to autofocus without having to stop the video to set the focus in between etc...
I would like t be able to move objects closer to the lens at times with it beng able to autofocus without having to stop the video to set the focus in between etc...