What Camera for Professional Wildlife Videography at DVinfo.net

Larry Johnson · October 2nd, 2016, 11:27 AM

What camera(s) would you recommend to capture stellar quality wildlife video, and why (essay question).
I don't know much about today's video cameras. I'm aware that they are digital and generally use sensors smaller than DLSRs. I know that there are different classes of cameras (comsumer, prosumer, pro, etc), they use different recording media, have various file formats, different codecs and different image qualities (such as HD and 4K). I don't know what's best or most practical. I want a camera that can produce high quality imagery like that on TV. (Why does NatGeoWild TV seem so much better quality than other HD channels.)

I have no interest in buying an entry level camera. I want to start near the top.
I have no interest in using a DLSR, with lots of add-ons.
I have no interest in a small handheld camera. I (think I) want a shoulder mount or handheld with optional shoulder mount, but I expect to also use it on a fluid head tripod.

Thanks

Noa Put · October 2nd, 2016, 11:36 AM

What is your budget?

Seth Bloombaum · October 2nd, 2016, 12:29 PM

If you will search for forum posts by Sabyasachi Patra you'll find some info about his experiences shooting wildlife in India.

Rainer Listing · October 2nd, 2016, 03:27 PM

Yep, it's cameras, not camera, and David Attenborough for example uses over 500. But if you only want one for starters...met someone at a conference who shot NatGeo stuff in Africa mainly with a Red, which I thought was ridiculous overkill if you have to lug it around. Possibly a Canon C300 or Sony FS700 could be a sweet spot if you know what you're doing and money is no object, but if money was no object you could hire a crew. With wildlife (actually with most things) the lens is going to be more important than the camera and probably will cost more. Good idea is to crawl before you learn to walk, waste, buying a baby a Ferrari.

Larry Johnson · October 2nd, 2016, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to start another Thread with a different approach.

October 2nd, 2016, 11:27 AM	#1
Larry Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 75	What Camera for Professional Wildlife Videography What camera(s) would you recommend to capture stellar quality wildlife video, and why (essay question). I don't know much about today's video cameras. I'm aware that they are digital and generally use sensors smaller than DLSRs. I know that there are different classes of cameras (comsumer, prosumer, pro, etc), they use different recording media, have various file formats, different codecs and different image qualities (such as HD and 4K). I don't know what's best or most practical. I want a camera that can produce high quality imagery like that on TV. (Why does NatGeoWild TV seem so much better quality than other HD channels.) I have no interest in buying an entry level camera. I want to start near the top. I have no interest in using a DLSR, with lots of add-ons. I have no interest in a small handheld camera. I (think I) want a shoulder mount or handheld with optional shoulder mount, but I expect to also use it on a fluid head tripod. Thanks

October 2nd, 2016, 11:36 AM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: What Camera for Professional Wildlife Videography What is your budget?

October 2nd, 2016, 12:29 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: What Camera for Professional Wildlife Videography If you will search for forum posts by Sabyasachi Patra you'll find some info about his experiences shooting wildlife in India. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

October 2nd, 2016, 03:27 PM	#4
Rainer Listing Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowra, Australia Posts: 440	Re: What Camera for Professional Wildlife Videography Yep, it's cameras, not camera, and David Attenborough for example uses over 500. But if you only want one for starters...met someone at a conference who shot NatGeo stuff in Africa mainly with a Red, which I thought was ridiculous overkill if you have to lug it around. Possibly a Canon C300 or Sony FS700 could be a sweet spot if you know what you're doing and money is no object, but if money was no object you could hire a crew. With wildlife (actually with most things) the lens is going to be more important than the camera and probably will cost more. Good idea is to crawl before you learn to walk, waste, buying a baby a Ferrari.

October 2nd, 2016, 05:45 PM	#5
Larry Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 75	Re: What Camera for Professional Wildlife Videography Thanks for the replies. I'm going to start another Thread with a different approach.