Are DSLRs a valid way to shoot professional video?

[Paul Cascio]

Originally Posted by Robert Turchick

I'm sure everyone's seen this thread by now...
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eo...on-7d-rig.html
If it's good enough for RR...it's way overkill for me and way too expensive! HaHa!
Can't wait to see what video this turns out to be!

So there ya go OP!

RR has a bigger budget than most of us. He's got a focus puller too.

[Robert Turchick]

all joking aside, RR can choose whatever the heck he wants to shoot with and the fact that he's using a 7D speaks volumes to me. Now whether it was his choice or was he just a hired gun is still in question. It just feels like the industry is shifting towards mainstream acceptance of DSLRs and it's cool to be a part of it!

[Ian G. Thompson]

Amen 2 that!!

[Kirk Graham]

I just wanted to point out that the use of Pluraleyes software takes all the work out of syncing your sound to the clip it does it for you! so if you have 200 clips transcode, load audio file use pluraleyes and your done!

Singular Software

[Zachary Mattson]

1. How does it perform handheld compared to standard camcorders? Is there any sort of OIS? What with the hole “Jello” think?

I like it quite a bit better than dedicated camcorders. Every camera has trade-offs, and the 7D is no different. OIS is in the lens you choose, and the jello look will be most apparent in handheld shots with non-IS lenses. If you have a steadicam or shoulder mount, you will usually be okay, especially when using lenses with IS. Unfortunately, the prime lenses are non-IS (except for some of the longer range ones), so you better have a tripod/shoulder mount/steadicam for every shot using primes.

2. Is there continuous auto focus when recording video?

There is not continuous autofocus. Professional film doesn't use autofocus, either.

3. Is there audio-out capability (for headphones)?

Unfortunately, not at this time, but you need an external audio recorder anyway, since the 7D and 5DmkII have the Auto Gain, which makes audio recorded directly from the camera unusable. Magic Lantern is working on a firmware to correct this, and I believe they are looking in to making the A/V out provide real time audio out.

4. What is the difference between the 7D and the T2i, besides it costing twice as much?

Build quality, weatherproofing, more dedicated buttons, and a nice little display on top of the 7D to show settings is absent from the T2i. Also, the T2i has real-time autofocus, but I wouldn't put any faith in it, as it will likely over-adjust and come back, making it quite obvious that it is being shot in auto-focus. I also think that the 7D *may* have slightly less noise in low light, but I'm not positive. They are very similar, and it basically comes down to what it's worth to you. For me, I'm glad I have the 7D, but I also shoot in extreme conditions, and really like the dedicated buttons and top display lcd on the 7D. It seems you have a relatively large budget, seeing as you are considering an $8,000 EX-3, so I would go more toward the 7D, seeing as its only a few hundred more than the T2i, and still a quarter the price of the EX-3, but again, that is simply my opinion.

5. Again, are there disadvantages to this when put beside a camcorder like the EX3? If so, what are they?

There will be advantages and disadvantages when compared to the EX3, but for me, the 6 thousand dollar difference in price is well worth those disadvantages. If you have that kind of budget, it's all about what you are looking for. The disadvantages will be the occasional jello, which will just require reshooting and being more careful :-), more labor goes in to focusing, high speed/action shooting will be more difficult, among some other down-falls, but again, the EX-3 is close to four times the price of a decent start up package of a 7D with lenses/bag/filters/memory, so is the EX-3 4 times better than the 7D? That's up to you to decide what it's worth to you. I believe you will be plenty happy with either camera if you use it right. I am shooting a documentary right now on the 7D, and I couldn't be happier. I may seem biased, but that is simply because I have a 7D, and have had my expectations greatly surpassed thus far (aside from the audio issue obviously).


I hope this helps some...

[Corey Benoit]

one question i have to ask is...

i just releasized that the compact flash i bought is a scandisk ultra II with 15/mbps speed...yet the data rate of the camera is around 40+ mbps...this can cause problems with video cant it? like blur or skipping frames? also cause problems in the editing phase?

[Perrone Ford]

Originally Posted by Corey Benoit

one question i have to ask is...

i just releasized that the compact flash i bought is a scandisk ultra II with 15/mbps speed...yet the data rate of the camera is around 40+ mbps...this can cause problems with video cant it? like blur or skipping frames? also cause problems in the editing phase?

The Sandisk card is a 15 MegaBYTE card. The camera shoots 48 MegaBITS. For the purposes here, there are 8 bits in a byte. So you need to multiply your 15 * 8 to get the equivalent megabits number.

[Corey Benoit]

aha so the only advantage to a 60mbps compact flash to a 15mpbs is that i loads into the computer faster...thats it...?

based on that, the camera only averages 6.25 megabytes per second....therefore the card is ok...is this correct?

[Andy Wilkinson]

Bits and Bytes always seem to confuse people!

Canon recommend UDMA rated cards. I have both a Sandisk 16GB UDMA rated at 60MBps (MegaBytes per second) and a Sandisk 16GB Extreme III (which is rated at 30MBps) and have never seen any Buffer Delay indication or indeed overheating Icon with either for video and photo. The lack of overheating might just be luck.

I think slower cards than that are just asking for trouble somewhere in the camera or down the chain - otherwise why would Canon recommend UDMA?

[Tim Polster]

This has been a good read and the OP should have enough to make a decision. I will add my opinion as an EX and DSLR user.

I would repeat what was suggested before, get the EX-1 and a VDSLR. Then you will have tools that can cover a lot more bases.

For my use, I am just getting around to using the 5D for video work as I have only used it for my still jobs. The role it will play will be the shallow DOF role, mainly as my interview camera.

I do not expect any less work for the shooting with the DSLR, just shallow DOF.

My other video cameras will do the video camera work.

If you only shoot cinema, then these are a game changer. If you produce a lot of different of products, they are one of many tools you will need.

I agree with Bill's post about needing a zoom lens for interviews on sticks. A prime would be just too limiting unless you want to stay wide the entire time.

But make sure you use a parafocal zoom lens (retains backfocus) as all lenses in the still world do not have this feature!

[Keith Mann]

My two cents....

If you are a younger, low budget "video" guy , you're gonna get tried of the 7D real fast. If you're used to 16mm and 35mm motion picture film, you are gonna love the 7D. The middle ground is gray, depends on your innate abilities, client, and budget.

The unspoken dirty little secrete is that alot of video people (and still photographers) hate DOF and exposure and lens selection, etc. They secretly want auto-everything, all the time.

And so do I... if I get low-balled into some dogmeat production. Why screw around with DOF if your clients are blind and cheap?

It seems most Red owners usually end up buying a run 'n gun video camera.

[Corey Benoit]

lol i do agree tho, wisely said

[Alister Chapman]

Just don't ignore the aliasing issues that you will encounter with the current Canon DSLR's. Unless you can be sure that your backgrounds are going to be well out of focus aliasing will come and bite you. See the attached pixel for pixel frame grabs to see just how bad it can be. Not only is the aliasing all over the brickwork but its also visible in the bushes and grass in the full frame. T2i at the bottom, EX1 at the top.

The Canon DSLR's are IMHO specialist cameras for shallow DoF, artistic work, the EX is a good all-rounder.

[Jon Fairhurst]

Alister,

It's a shame that the EX1 doesn't capture the beautiful blue and red lines that were painted on those homes.

;) ;) ;)

[Corey Benoit]

its called anti aliasing....lol