Anyone on here using camcorders only, for weddings.
Been looking at the Sony camcorders lately, might go that way.
Would need at least 2 of the same model.
Maybe keep a dslr with acouple of wideish primes, in case of extreme low light.

Kit now is 2 x 70Ds, 2 x 600Ds, 1 x sony xf1000 with Ninja Star recorder.., and my new FZ1000, which I ve managed to match pretty well to the other cameras.

Working alone, doing a lot of outdoor ceremonies.
Was looking at some of my old wedding footage, using canon HFS20 camcorders.
Sooo easy to set up and let em run!
Thoughts?

I use two sony cx730's and a ax100 for the ceremony which are like you said so easy to use if you shoot alone, the only problem is that you need to use a videolight when the lights go out in the venue, only for that purpose a dslr with a fast prime is a better solution.

Hi Jack

I'm just using 2 x FZ1000's only now for weddings and really have now lighting issues at all. I do have a CFL light I set up for speeches and when they kill the lights for the first dance I just use a 6 x Power LED light on the handheld FZ1000. They however would die at the weddings Noa does and he does need really low light cameras .. Our weddings in Australia are much better lit and on average you won't have to go to the extremes that Noa has to with receptions lit with just tea-light candles!!!

My shoot style however is documentary style with bright sharp images so maybe you still need your DSLR's if you want the cinematic wedding film look.

I was also wondering if I needed a camera that could run for more than 30 minutes like a camcorder but even at Catholic ceremonies I just stop and start and convenient places ..I even did that when I had my Sony EA-50's purely for the convenience of 4 shorter clips rather than one 60 minute clip! So far I simply haven't needed anything else except the two Panasonics !

The 29 minute clip limit would be a real problem for me as sometime I get boxed in and would have to literally squeeze out between the bride and groom to go and restart my static cameras - as a solo shooter I'll always use camcorders (currently CX730 but looking at one or more AX100) for static cameras and my A7s for everything else.

I was also wondering if I needed a camera that could run for more than 30 minutes like a camcorder but even at Catholic ceremonies I just stop and start and convenient places ..I even did that when I had my Sony EA-50's purely for the convenience of 4 shorter clips rather than one 60 minute clip!

I never understood that :) why on earth would you stop a camera that has no recording limit up to 4 times during a continuous recording of a 1 hour ceremony, because it's "convenient"? So if you would have 3 videocamera's running at a ceremony you run by them 12 times to stop recording and restart, eventhough the camera has a unlimited recording time? Why?? :D
Because your clips are smaller then? and what difference does that make, 4 clips of 3gb each instead of one clip of 12gb, what do you gain? It still will be 12gb, but you have 4 instead of 1 clip and what about the extra time you need to spend to synchronize every separate clip? This does not make much sense to me, the only thing you achieve is to make it more difficult for yourself, during shooting and during editing.

The 29 minute clip limit is a major pain and I've got to the point I no longer wish to invest in a camera that has this limitation. Like Peter says, you can get boxed in and it looks quite unprofessional going around resetting your other cameras, when any camcorder a guest may have can run continuously. The new GH4r has therefore been a blessing for me and I intend to add another soon to the one I have. This has saved me from having to go down the route of camcorders, which although have plenty of advantages can be limited in some low light venues. Even my GH2 with a 2.5 pancake lens can be very hard to match for some Weddings with my GH4. I even had 1 Bride pick me up on it. If I was to add a camcorder to my mix, it would be the AX100.

I'm using 2 x Sony FDR-AX100 and 2 x HDR-PJ7xx series handycam and 1 x PMW200.

I do have a Canon 5D Mk 3 and a 70D but they dont ever come out for long events.

The recording limit for the Sonys is great the AX100 have 128 Gig cards and the PJ7xx have 96GB of internal memory, so you just turn them on and thats that sorted, I did have to get an adapter for the active hotshoe to mount a light when needed, but other than that I'm happy enough with the setup.

I've come to the point now that I do tell the couple that if the venue dim their lights too low that my cams will pick up the result which might not be very good

I use Sony Cx730s as my 'backups'. They get cut to in edit only when absolutely necessary. I also gave an RX10II it's first run out on Saturday.
To be brutally honest though I'm baffles that some of you use the Cx730s footage as more like a main cam. Even in the dull church I had on Saturday the rx10ii looked very amateur compared with my a7s/a7sii/a6000.

I suggest use a wide camcorder for cutting too briefly and buying a good dslr which you stop/start frequently.

If it's the look you care about. .. shooting shallow isn't a necessity. Stop down to f5.6. The a7s ISO can allow for it.

To be brutally honest though I'm baffles that some of you use the Cx730s footage as more like a main cam.

Even worse it IS my main cam during the ceremony :) I have attached a varavon loupe to the lcd screen so I can hold it to my eye like I would with a dslr. See the image I included. I also always shoot handheld with it and have a ax100 on a tripod for the readers at the lectern and the priest at the altar and just fill in the rest with my little cx730 which works for me and my paying clients.

Below is a good example of such a ceremony where I used the ax100 and cx730, check between 01:55 to 03:15 where all handheld shots are cx730 and a few stationary are ax100. There are only 4 ax100 shots in there, at 02:11, 02:36, 02:41 and 03:06

https://vimeo.com/119749381

Hmm, Lots of similar views to mine here. I guess my main issues are:

: 29 min Limit, "main gripe"

: Changing Lenses, mostly at reception, 4 cameras running

: Too many different types of batteries and chargers, which is purely due
to the fact that I can't make my mind up on which cameras I should use

:Lack of "smooth slow zoom" for walk around, hand held stuff

:Other DSLR issues,


I'm similar to Chris Harding in the Doco style, but like a bit of shallow DOF for Preps and intro shots.

Was Looking at the Sony PXW X70s, or similar. Would need three, I guess. Two at the front, on bride and groom, one in the Aisle. Get these puppies running early at the Ceremony, so I can concentrate on some shots of the bride arriving in limo, etc. Sometimes the Limo arrival area can be hundreds of yards away and I have to plead with the bride and brides maids to give me a chance to get back to start my cameras.
They just look at me blankly!!!!!

Don't have a problem using lights at the reception, only used well dimmed, usually get a thank you from the Photog once they've compared a few pics with and without my lights. Would be nice not to have to use them though..

three x70's? Get one x70 and two ax100 instead, the x70 will cost you a lot more once you get the 4k upgrade.

Hi Noa

I guess we all do things differently! I always break up a long ceremony ..usually doing a stop after the readings, after the homily and after the vows ...that is MY choice no-one elses! I prefer to edit shorter segments in my NLE ..for me it's far easier to shuttle over a 15 minute clip than a hour long one and my entire wedding has always been broken up into events anyway. I have been doing them that way ever since the year dot and it has nothing to do with the 12 or 30 minute limit that DSLR's have at all!!

three x70's? Get one x70 and two ax100 instead, the x70 will cost you a lot more once you get the 4k upgrade.

Thanks for advice, will check them out now.

it has nothing to do with the 12 or 30 minute limit that DSLR's have at all!!

I"m not questioning your shooting style, if it works for you that is all that counts but I"m sure not many would deliberately stop and restart multiple camera's during a one hour ceremony if it concerns camera's that have no recording limit. There is nothing convenient about it, on the contrary, you are only introducing room for error and have extra work editing it. I say it has everything to do with the 12/30 min recording of a dslr because they will introduce the same risk. I would not even think of using 2 or 3 dslr's with such a limit during a ceremony, it would just be a matter of time before I am not able to reach a camera to restart or just would be to late. Right now I just start the camera up in the beginning of the ceremony and shut it down at the end so I can check up on them when time allows, not when a clock tells me I have to go or when something important is happening and I can't get away knowing a important angle is about to stop recording. That's not "convenient".

I prefer to edit shorter segments in my NLE ..for me it's far easier to shuttle over a 15 minute clip than a hour long one and my entire wedding has always been broken up into events anyway.

Like you I split the day into segments, usually a timeline for each section of the day, before bringing each timeline together to create 1 timeline of the whole Wedding. However I tend to edit the Ceremony as 1 timeline, hence the 29 minute limit bothers me as I have to resync audio every time I restart. Personally I think deliberately restarting is extra work and unless you're missing sections of the Ceremony, no reduction in video size. Like Noa says, an odd habit to have, but to each their own. If you're not working multiple cameras, I suppose the restarting of the camera wouldn't be the hassle in edit it is to me.


I'm similar to Chris Harding in the Doco style, but like a bit of shallow DOF for Preps and intro shots.


Looking at your kit, I wouldn't have you down as a Doco style, so can understand why you want to change to camcorders as it suits that shooting style better in my opinion. I have 2 cameras with a clip limit and that is 1 too many as far as I'm concerned. God knows how you managed running 4 with the limit. I've now got 3 of my 4 cameras using the same battery type and its a godsend for keeping things simple in managing multiple cameras. I don't suppose the x70 and the ax100 use the same battery; probably a lot to ask.

I"m not questioning your shooting style, if it works for you that is all that counts but I"m sure not many would deliberately stop and restart multiple camera's during a one hour ceremony if it concerns camera's that have no recording limit. There is nothing convenient about it, on the contrary, you are only introducing room for error and have extra work editing it. I say it has everything to do with the 12/30 min recording of a dslr because they will introduce the same risk. I would not even think of using 2 or 3 dslr's with such a limit during a ceremony, it would just be a matter of time before I am not able to reach a camera to restart or just would be to late. Right now I just start the camera up in the beginning of the ceremony and shut it down at the end so I can check up on them when time allows, not when a clock tells me I have to go or when something important is happening and I can't get away knowing a important angle is about to stop recording. That's not "convenient".

And this is a POV from a person who has the freedom to move around during a wedding ceremony.

I use the AX100 to cover me, and a GH3 and GH4. Most ceremonies I shoot last 30 minutes tops, so the GH3 as an alternative angle usually lasts no problem, whilst the AX100 is a solider b-cam and the manned camera is always running (GH4). I have used two camcorders and a GH4 when I filmed a longer ceremony though, and I am interested in adding a GH4R for this reason, so that it can add as a back up; but I'll most likely wait for the GH5 and then decide whether to stock up on GH4s or spring for the GH5 instead.

I think Panasonic have just made a massive choice in allowing unlimited recording in the EU, but I still think camcorders have their place, which is why I'm also drawn to a truly professional camcorder like the new Panasonic 4K camera... it's amazing how much we're able to debate... so many options!

Hey Steve

If I was in the UK it would be a hassle I'm sure. Here, probably 90% of our wedding ceremonies are no longer than 20 minutes unlike long and involved Anglican Church ones in dark and dreary venues. Even our Catholics have trimmed the services down so a reset is rarely required. Our speeches run around the 5 - 8 minute mark and sometimes they come up to the lectern and say "Thanks for coming" and sit down again. I honestly cannot remember a single wedding this season where I had to stop the main camera so if it does happen it's very seldom. On the rare occasion where I have split the ceremony, it has only been the A-Cam that needs to be stopped and that's where the bride has decided on a full mass and recording the priest wandering around the rear of the Church collecting the bread and wine hasn't been essential footage! I only use 3 cameras at the ceremony and the action cam I just let run of course and the B-Cam is only shooting short clips so there is never really an issue to run around resetting cameras ..if there was, I would be using camcorders for sure.

God knows how you managed running 4 with the limit. I've now got 3 of my 4 cameras using the same battery type and its a godsend for keeping things simple in managing multiple cameras. I don't suppose the x70 and the ax100 use the same battery; probably a lot to ask.

Yeah it's hard enough when on your own, to keep an eye on focus, exposure and framing with four cams. The time limit adds another coupla laps around the place to re-start. Some churches are so small, it can be a problem just getting back to the cameras.

During the Ceremony I have to start the cameras WAY early, so I can be ready for the Bride arrival. A real problem when the Bride is late. Been caught running back "100 metres or more" to restart cause she's late, then miss the arrival.......

Makes me think that I should go back to two camera weddings only, one hand held shoulder mounted, one on sticks. End up with a heap of panning and zooming. Not a fan!

Whew, decisions, decisions! I'm so "confusement"!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Steve

If I was in the UK it would be a hassle I'm sure. Here, probably 90% of our wedding ceremonies are no longer than 20 minutes unlike long and involved Anglican Church ones in dark and dreary venues. Even our Catholics have trimmed the services down so a reset is rarely required. Our speeches run around the 5 - 8 minute mark and sometimes they come up to the lectern and say "Thanks for coming" and sit down again. I honestly cannot remember a single wedding this season where I had to stop the main camera so if it does happen it's very seldom. On the rare occasion where I have split the ceremony, it has only been the A-Cam that needs to be stopped and that's where the bride has decided on a full mass and recording the priest wandering around the rear of the Church collecting the bread and wine hasn't been essential footage! I only use 3 cameras at the ceremony and the action cam I just let run of course and the B-Cam is only shooting short clips so there is never really an issue to run around resetting cameras ..if there was, I would be using camcorders for sure.

Gday Chris! I'm guessing you have someone with you!!?? Or do you manage on your own with that set up?

I use one of my Panasonic video cams for a continuous wide angle base shot of the ceremony and speeches. That is then used as the editing base on the timeline, with the FZ1000 footage synched to it along with a base audio track from one of the audio recorders. If I am using both FZ1000s, one is locked off and I use the remote control app to monitor it and restart if necessary. I can also adjust the zoom if I want to change the framing, without having to move from my main tripod.

Roger

Makes me think that I should go back to two camera weddings only, one hand held shoulder mounted, one on sticks. End up with a heap of panning and zooming. Not a fan!


Surely movement and imagination is what good creative camerawork is all about, whereas a load of cameras locked off on tripods is more like cutting together cctv footage. I feel that quickly moving to something that shows emotion or reacting to the bridesmaids giggling during the ceremony, or perhaps a close up of child peering around the corner of a pew, is what helps to tell the story and make it very personal. Less can often me more in the right hands!

Roger

Surely movement and imagination is what good creative camerawork is all about, whereas a load of cameras locked off on tripods is more like cutting together cctv footage. I feel that quickly moving to something that shows emotion or reacting to the bridesmaids giggling during the ceremony, or perhaps a close up of child peering around the corner of a pew, is what helps to tell the story and make it very personal. Less can often me more in the right hands!

Roger

Keep talking Roger! You could convince me to simplify things.
I would probably leave one camera locked on to a medium shot of the bride and bridesmaids. So one in aisle, one on bride and bridesmaids and one on shoulder or hand held.

I am using 1 AX100 and various other mirrorless, G7, A7R II.

I would take the form factor of the AX100 all day long if it performed better in low light, it is a joy to use.

Hi Jack

Nope I work solo and yes a simple setup works best for me too. Action cam high up on a light stand and then one FZ on a tripod (that carries the two receivers for audio too and the 2nd FZ is handheld ...it works and it's simple. Never had a bride complain either!

After reading these posts, it’s surprising how many are using the AX100 cam. In a way, what is even more surprising, is how few discussion posts there have been about it.

There are several things I like about the AX100 but the best thing is there is no ‘gotcha feature’. It may not be the most complete cam out there but the good thing is there aren’t any bad surprises. A few things could have been better, like the difficult to reach Focus Magnifier button, but that’s not a deal breaker. It’s a very handy package.

No-one has mentioned the AX33 and it’s B.O.SS system. It uses the same NP-FV70 battery as the AX100. It would seem that it would make a good B-cam. 1/2 inch sensor.

And speaking of batteries,
I don't suppose the x70 and the ax100 use the same battery; probably a lot to ask.
Answer: Yes, they both use the same NP-FV70 battery.

Surely movement and imagination is what good creative camerawork is all about, whereas a load of cameras locked off on tripods is more like cutting together cctv footage. I feel that quickly moving to something that shows emotion or reacting to the bridesmaids giggling during the ceremony, or perhaps a close up of child peering around the corner of a pew, is what helps to tell the story and make it very personal. Less can often me more in the right hands!

Roger

And more can mean more in the right hands too. Why should using 4 cameras instead of 2 prevent you from getting those shots of the Bridemaids giggling. I run 4-5 cameras and regularly get these very shots you describe. I've edited someone who filmed with 2 cameras and I'd say less equalled less in his case. 4 cameras doesn't necessarily equate cctv footage either. Sure having it up high and wide does give that effect, but keeping it lower and with longer focal lengths and for a 5-10 second cut can look as if someone else was filming from a different angle, especially with 4K allowing some movement in shot. Cutting to a camera at the back on closeup of the Bride and Groom or on wide, plus another on the Grooms side gives 2 other v useful angles already. Like any part of Videography, there is a skill to running 3-4 cameras. It can be used badly, but also used to great effect giving you more options than any 2 camera setup can afford. Given how limited so many venues can be - churches I'm looking at you; I could never have delivered the professional results I achieved with just 2 cameras given some of the restrictions I was required to work under. Stuck at the back, stuck within the doorway to the vestry with absolutely no view of the guests at all, stuck within a pew with just a view of the couple and told not to stand up by the choir!! Those extra cameras made all the difference then.


Makes me think that I should go back to two camera weddings only, one hand held shoulder mounted, one on sticks. End up with a heap of panning and zooming. Not a fan!


Thing is Jack, your setup is too complex running too many cameras with time limits. I have 2 cameras with continuous recording and I set these recording 15 minutes before the Bride arrives along with several recorders. I then don't have to worry about them until after the service is finished. That just leaves my main camera and 1 I operate with me also on wide angle at the front to worry about. Some cameras are placed in positions I can't hope to reach. One church, in order to gain access to the balcony, I had to climb a ladder and get through a small trap door. No way was I going to do that again after the Bride arrived. You don't necessarily need less, just make your other cameras do the work and run continuously uninterrupted.

After reading these posts, it’s surprising how many are using the AX100 cam. In a way, what is even more surprising, is how few discussion posts there have been about it.

And speaking of batteries,

Answer: Yes, they both use the same NP-FV70 battery.

I suppose its one of those workhorse cameras that gets overlooked when compared to flashier cameras. Great they use the same batteries as the X70. I'm sure thats the right way to go.

Yeah it's hard enough when on your own, to keep an eye on focus, exposure and framing with four cams. The time limit adds another coupla laps around the place to re-start. Some churches are so small, it can be a problem just getting back to the cameras.

During the Ceremony I have to start the cameras WAY early, so I can be ready for the Bride arrival. A real problem when the Bride is late. Been caught running back "100 metres or more" to restart cause she's late, then miss the arrival.......

Makes me think that I should go back to two camera weddings only, one hand held shoulder mounted, one on sticks. End up with a heap of panning and zooming. Not a fan!

Whew, decisions, decisions! I'm so "confusement"!!!!!!!!!!

Late brides are the bain of my life as all that time waiting to catch 'the arrival' (and this year on several occasions the bride has been well over a half hour late) you could be in the church filming lots of good stuff instead of simply staring down a road waiting to see a roller coming round the bend!

As a solo shooter I have 2 strategies of dealing with this - one is to get the father of the bride to call me when they are on their way so the most I'll have to wait is 5 minutes, the downside of this is they forget and you miss the arrival - it's happened more than once! The other thing I do is mount a GoPro where the wedding cars are going to park up - works nearly every time so If I'm inside filming guests I can nip out every few minutes and see if she's arrived - If I miss the actual arrival my GoPro gets it - as in this shot where I gaffa taped my GoPro to a stone pillar.

Pete

I would probably leave one camera locked on to a medium shot of the bride and bridesmaids. So one in aisle, one on bride and bridesmaids and one on shoulder or hand held.

That's how I work, 1 or 2 camera's locked to a fixed position and one handheld so I can walk around and get candid shots that are impossible to get from a fixed tripod location.

Good tip right there Pete.
Time to dig out the go pro.........

I second that. Very useful tip. Worth it as I often miss Bridesmaids arrival if they turn up say 15 minutes before the Bride. I can't stand outside the church gate for 30 minutes to catch all the key arrivals. Roger would say it looks like cctv footage, but what the heck. Better than no footage at all.

Steve as solo shooters we have to compromise occasionally - I've used this technique successfully for a half dozen weddings this year. Sometimes this also gets guests arriving which I turn into a little time-lapse clip.

No-one has mentioned the AX33 and it’s B.O.SS system. It uses the same NP-FV70 battery as the AX100. It would seem that it would make a good B-cam. 1/2 inch sensor.


Answer: Yes, they both use the same NP-FV70 battery.

I have an AX33 John but it doesn't cut it quality wise against the AX100, it's low light performance lags behind the AX100, I have actually stopped using it

Steve as solo shooters we have to compromise occasionally - I've used this technique successfully for a half dozen weddings this year. Sometimes this also gets guests arriving which I turn into a little time-lapse clip.

Couldn't agree more. I plan to roll it out on my next Wedding.

Upon reflection, I think my earlier comments about my CX730 and RX10ii were a little harsh.

I decided to make up this comparison image - untouched and ungraded.

I think I had an unfairly poor opinion of my CX730 because for me its always a wide 'safety net' shot, and its hard to see much detail when you are so far away from the action. Used on a closer crop on the B&G, it's probably a fair option.

Still though, I'm tempted to switch to the a6000 for my wide, using an external recorder (like the Black Magic Video Assist) to avoid the clip length limit.

My wife came with me for the first time on Saturday and that is how I got the RX10ii shot - she won't be able to come to every wedding, and I don't do two shooter packages - but boy did it help! Took some pressure off at key moments!

In speeches, my wife's job was to stay on the speaker - I used the RX10ii on monopod to get reactions - it was so good to have the freedom to add in reaction shots to the edit without crazy fast pans from my main camera!

That said though - auto-focus struggled in this environment since there were so many heads and table top decorations. I'll go manual next time!

The have to say, I really like the RX10ii, but I'm worried it's noticeably soft against the A7s and A7sII, and my wife was using it for details shots, which really could have done with a bit more shallow DOF.

It certainly has it's place in my bag - just need to get clear in my head when to use which camera!

Upon reflection, I think my earlier comments about my CX730 and RX10ii were a little harsh.

I understand what you mean, I have shot a ceremony with gh4,s only before and it's just something about the look I can achieve with these GH camera's that are just not possible with the cx730, where the cx730 outperforms the gh4 by a mile is ease of use, I can close my eyes and still go home with usable footage :)

I am a bit surprised though that your rx10II is softer then the A7s, even in 4K compared to 1080p from the a7s?

My rx10's (mark1) footage is a bit of a mixed bag, in good light the footage can look gorgeous but in lower light it goes downhill quickly and then I much prefer what my gh3/4 output, also the dynamic range of that camera is limited and windows inside a house often pose a problem as they blow out completely, just look at the 2 shots at 01:33 in the video I in this thread here, the window behind the bride and her sister is just one big white blob.

No-one has mentioned the AX33 and it’s B.O.SS system. It uses the same NP-FV70 battery as the AX100. It would seem that it would make a good B-cam. 1/2 inch sensor.
The image quality is noticeably inferior to that of the AX100 to the point where you would have difficulty intercutting clips. If you only had one camcorder to film your kids & kittens then I am sure that you would be very happy with he AX33. If you want to use a camcorder professionally then it's worth paying double for an AX100.

The have to say, I really like the RX10ii, but I'm worried it's noticeably soft against the A7s and A7sII, and my wife was using it for details shots, which really could have done with a bit more shallow DOF.
Did you shoot 4K with the RX10M2? If not why not?:-)

Surely movement and imagination is what good creative camerawork is all about, whereas a load of cameras locked off on tripods is more like cutting together cctv footage.Speaking of which whatever happened to Peter Riding?

For the AX100, besides the NP-FV70, you can also use the NP-FV100 which nearly doubles your battery life.


Mark

Speaking of which whatever happened to Peter Riding?

He left the forum around the time of the BVE; I only recall cos he instructed some of us to visit it to learn some humility, which coming from him was pretty funny. I think his setup was 3 or 4 fixed cameras he'd cut between, which is probably what Roger was thinking of. The application of just 1 moving camera can combat that effect, plus there's editing. If you're just randomly cutting between 3 cameras as he did, it can look very cctv like, but if you cut to other cameras at the right point, mixed in with moving shots from your main camera, the final results bare little relation to cctv in my opinion.

Speaking of which whatever happened to Peter Riding?

He is not active anymore on the forum, just look at his last discussions and you know why.

The 29 minute clip limit is a major pain and I've got to the point I no longer wish to invest in a camera that has this limitation. Like Peter says, you can get boxed in and it looks quite unprofessional going around resetting your other cameras, when any camcorder a guest may have can run continuously. The new GH4r has therefore been a blessing for me and I intend to add another soon to the one I have. This has saved me from having to go down the route of camcorders, which although have plenty of advantages can be limited in some low light venues. Even my GH2 with a 2.5 pancake lens can be very hard to match for some Weddings with my GH4. I even had 1 Bride pick me up on it. If I was to add a camcorder to my mix, it would be the AX100.

I had no idea there was a DSLR with unlimited recording, that's great news. I've been restricted to using older DSLRs up to now that have Magic Lantern for auto restart which isn't ideal. How long do the batteries typically last on the GH4r - ie how long can you record for before the battery runs out? Also, the new V-Log L mode presumably makes matching to other cameras easier? I wonder if other DSLRs will now also bring out cameras with unlimited recording...

Matt

I use one of my Panasonic video cams for a continuous wide angle base shot of the ceremony and speeches. That is then used as the editing base on the timeline, with the FZ1000 footage synched to it along with a base audio track from one of the audio recorders. If I am using both FZ1000s, one is locked off and I use the remote control app to monitor it and restart if necessary. I can also adjust the zoom if I want to change the framing, without having to move from my main tripod.

Roger

So, how far away from the FZ1000 can you be when using the remote control app Roger?

How long do the batteries typically last on the GH4r - ie how long can you record for before the battery runs out? Also, the new V-Log L mode presumably makes matching to other cameras easier? I wonder if other DSLRs will now also bring out cameras with unlimited recording...

Matt

The GH4r continuous recording is hopefully an innovation to be taken up with other cameras. Battery length is variable depending on whether a stabilised lens is being used. I've not pushed any to the limit but I think 3 hours continuous recording is possible on a non stabilised lens. Given the GH2's battery have done 2 hours at a push and the GH4's battery has greater capacity, this isn't an unreasonable expectation. Plus there's a battery grip which I've not invested in, and this would double this length.

I've yet to use the v-log; I plan to play with this over Xmas when I have more time. I'd need another one to benefit from the colour grading and matching, but I'm finding having 2 GH4's, though 1 is not an 'r' version to be very easy to grade to look identical as I've set up the various camera profiles to match.

Also, the new V-Log L mode presumably makes matching to other cameras easier?

Unless you have some advanced grading skills I would not shoot in vlog, just like any other flat profile like slog and so on it's difficult to get the right color out of it.

Bear in mind that Peter Riding was a photographer who simply offered video as a freebie so to concentrate on his main task which was taking good stills, he wouldn't have had very much option apart from using a few locked down camcorders. I did just one wedding where I did video and stills and trust me it wasn't easy with two Nikons handing from my waist, a shoulder-mount camera on my shoulder and still trying to keep an eye on the 2nd cam on the tripod. Not for the faint hearted .. I certainly wouldn't do it again on my own!! I guess his bias was stills so not very much here was of interest to him.

Actually Chris, I did comlement Peter on his work on more than 1 occasion. I found his use of multi camera put some Videographers I've hired to shame. Taken as a freebie, his videos were better than it had a right to be. Where he got flack was for declaring that his videos were what Brides really wanted and not anything others provided. Plus I think his ignorance of video came through and he wouldn't accept any counter argument.

He had strong views i give him that. I did visit his website back when he was contributing and was amused to see his pages littered with veiled attacks on Photographers who have won awards, weekend warriors and any Videographers offering cinematic edits. In fact one phrase on his video page stuck in my mind the most; that most Videographers were hobbyists and couldn't be trusted to do Weddings.

Did you shoot 4K with the RX10M2? If not why not?:-)

Good question Nigel , I only shot in HD. But yea upon reflection, looking at the footage, the 4k downscaled may do a touch better compared with the A7sII.
I'll try that next time!

Some of you get incredible low light out of your camcorders. Seemingly better than my (dated) Sony Z5U. Are those camcorders really good in low light, or are your receptions fairly well lit or do you do any color correction (neatvideo)?

Any export setting tricks?

David, I'm not sure when your camera was released but I saw an article on it dated 2009. Hate to tell this to you, but technology has moved leaps and bounds since then. I know its only 6 short years, but back in 2010 I was running a Sony FX7, and I recall a Wedding where a guest was using a 7D. When he showed me his evening footage on screen and I could compare it with mine, I started using my Nikon D70 for Video and the rest is history. My GH4 knocks the spots of DSLR's back then for lowlight and Camcorders have also not been idle and I'd wager something like the AX100 would show a definite improvement on your current camera. That said, I think most using camcorders would either be using lights or switching to DSLR when the lights go down.