Integrating 7D with other HD cameras

[Lee Tamer]

Sorry if this has been posted before, if so direct me to other threads please.

What is the best non DSLR camera to integrate footage with the 7D without any quality/resolution problems?

[Ted Ramasola]

Lee,

Ive tried mixing it with a lot of diff cameras, from a Red one, JVChd100 & hd200, DVX, even with cams using a 35 adapter.

Basically its not the cam but how you grade it in post that will line up everything.


In this project, the first few scenes are JVC HDxx cameras, after the title its all 7D;
http://exposureroom.com/costabella/

A test putting a red one side by side a 7D to see how they can intercut;
http://exposureroom.com/redand7d/

Hope that helps,

Ted

[Simon Spear]

I've cut footage from a 7D and an EX1 and it worked well. We ended up using the 7D for talking heads and WA scenics and the EX1 for action shots, so admittedly there were not a lot of the same scenes where we were using both cameras as an A & B.

Cheers, Simon

[Lee Tamer]

Simon I'm thinking of doing the same thing, using the 7D for dialogue and close ups on action, and another HD camera for establishing shots, two shots, etc.

Does the additional camera have to shoot in 24p if i shoot the 7D in 24p?

[Jamie Roberts]

I use the 7D and the Sony EX in the same shoots. I set both cameras at the same 'Kelvin' (K) settings manually and Ive been impressed with how close the footage is in terms of colour etc

[Wayne Avanson]

To add to this thread if I may, does anyone use their 7D with a 5D2 pm a regular basis? and f so do you have colour issues?
My 7D and 5D2 seem to be way off even when set the same.

Thanks

[Ted Ramasola]

wayne,

unfortunately a lot of the 5Ds and 7Ds dont have the same factory set colors.

You might have noticed that canon has a unique color character, but often you see the skin tones lean towards orangy or magenta.

Shane Hurlbut ASC. who also works with around 20 5Ds have confirmed this and has individually recalibrated his cameras. His results are more predictable now.

I have also done the same and now my skin tones, reds and yellows are now much better.

Here is a link to his blog on how it is done.

Color Correction: Put Your Best Foot Forward | Hurlbut Visuals

Hope this helps,

Ted

[Wayne Avanson]

Hey Ted,

thank you so much for that. You've set me on the right road to getting them to match. I've been playing with settings for the past half hour and although it's not looking like it will be easy to get right, I think I can get it 'right enough' to not be a problem when shooting things like interviews in future.

Very pleased! Thanks again.

[Ted Ramasola]

Your Welcome Wayne,

And don't worry, its not just you, the canon software is not designed to give very minute adjustments and just a little nudge is already a lot of difference. It took us hours to get it right.

It does help if you have a color chart to point at and a "human sacrifice" whose patient enough to sit for hours while you test skin tones.

But just to get it close is already a big step forward.

Best,

Ted

[Wayne Avanson]

Well I've got it as close as I can for now Ted, and will do some real world testing in the next few days.

[Lee Tamer]

Has anyone had any luck with integrating the 7D with the Canon VIXIA series or a similar HD camera?

[Robert Turchick]

I do a regular shoot with the xf300, my 7D and my friends 5D. The first time out, we set the dslrs to neutral, white balanced and went about our biz. Getting it all back to edit, we realized some fine tuning would be needed to minimize the work in post. Not that it was hard to match all three but more work than it should be. Essentially, the XF looks the most natural color-wise. The dslrs looked oversaturated with the 5D having a slightly different look. Hard to describe but as mentioned above, the identical settings don't match the 7D and 5D together. Alone the dslrs look great as is but bringing them back to reality is important when blending with a true video camera.
We've not had a lot of time to tweak but before the next shoot we will be spending a day to get things sorted out. I'll be happy to share what we find.

[Wayne Avanson]

This is as far as I got this morning. As mentioned, I will try some real world tests later in the week.

[Simon Spear]

Originally Posted by Lee Tamer

Simon I'm thinking of doing the same thing, using the 7D for dialogue and close ups on action, and another HD camera for establishing shots, two shots, etc.

Does the additional camera have to shoot in 24p if i shoot the 7D in 24p?

We were shooting 25p, but yes ideally keep the framerate the same on both cameras or you are just going to cause yourself more work in post.

Working with the EX1 and 7D seems fairly easy. White balance both and they come out very similar and a lot closer than some other cameras I've tried to combine with the 7D. Interesting info about the XF300 - if anyone comes up with some out the box settings for that I'll be all ears as I have a shoot lined up for early next year probably using a XF305 and a 7D.

Cheers, Simon