DSLR Focal Length? at DVinfo.net

Michael Clark · March 31st, 2010, 01:17 PM

It seems like more and more wedding videos are being filmed with DSLRs such as the 5D, 7D, T2i, etc.

My question is about the zooming capabilities of the lenses vs. camcorder zoom. I'll use my Canon HV40 camcorder as an example: It has a 10x zoom, or a 35mm equivalent of 43.6 - 436mm, according to the Canon website. For ceremonies, my 10x zoom barely cuts it (I'd much rather have an XH-A1s with 20x zoom!).

So the question is to those that are using DSLRs as their primary or only video source - do you have issues getting tight shots of the B&G in venues that require you to film from the balcony or behind the crowd? It seems like you would have to have an extremely long lens (more than 400mm), which for many of us is cost prohibitive.

I'd love to switch out one of my HV40s for a T2i, but that is my main concern. I found a Canon 400mm ultrasonic lens online for about $1000. Not sure if all that would be worth the DoF.

Aaron Almquist · March 31st, 2010, 03:11 PM

My DSLR is for the glam shots only. I use my A1 for the long shots and all my audio. The longest lens I have for my DSLR is a 28-200mm.

Susanto Widjaja · March 31st, 2010, 05:32 PM

Hi Michael,

using dslr has its good and bad. Its not as easy to use as the normal video cameras. However it gives you a lot better images.

The dslr will be able to pretty much give you any possible focal length. for example, a 70-200mm on a 7D (crop sensor) will give you around 112mm-320mm which is pretty far.......

March 31st, 2010, 01:17 PM	#1
Michael Clark Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 244	DSLR Focal Length? It seems like more and more wedding videos are being filmed with DSLRs such as the 5D, 7D, T2i, etc. My question is about the zooming capabilities of the lenses vs. camcorder zoom. I'll use my Canon HV40 camcorder as an example: It has a 10x zoom, or a 35mm equivalent of 43.6 - 436mm, according to the Canon website. For ceremonies, my 10x zoom barely cuts it (I'd much rather have an XH-A1s with 20x zoom!). So the question is to those that are using DSLRs as their primary or only video source - do you have issues getting tight shots of the B&G in venues that require you to film from the balcony or behind the crowd? It seems like you would have to have an extremely long lens (more than 400mm), which for many of us is cost prohibitive. I'd love to switch out one of my HV40s for a T2i, but that is my main concern. I found a Canon 400mm ultrasonic lens online for about $1000. Not sure if all that would be worth the DoF. __________________ www.clarkvideoproductions.com

March 31st, 2010, 05:32 PM	#3
Susanto Widjaja Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 622	Hi Michael, using dslr has its good and bad. Its not as easy to use as the normal video cameras. However it gives you a lot better images. The dslr will be able to pretty much give you any possible focal length. for example, a 70-200mm on a 7D (crop sensor) will give you around 112mm-320mm which is pretty far....... __________________ If a picture is worth a thousand words, what about motion picture? website: www.papercranes.com.au \| blog: www.weddingvideosydney.net

March 31st, 2010, 03:11 PM	#2
Aaron Almquist Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Silverton Oregon Posts: 93	My DSLR is for the glam shots only. I use my A1 for the long shots and all my audio. The longest lens I have for my DSLR is a 28-200mm.