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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Video Camera?
Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 11:35 AM on 07.08.11 |
| ->> Looking to pick up a low cost but capable video or hybrid video camera for professional and personal use. Want to create video pieces to accompany stories/photo essays and maybe some stand alone stuff as well. FYI I currently shoot Nikon if someone wants to suggest a DSLR hybrid. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide on this matter. |
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Chris Hunt, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 11:57 AM on 07.08.11 |
->> The Nikon D5100 and D90 are both similarly priced and video capable with your Nikon kit. If you want the body for mostly video, then the D5100 is probably the way to go. If you'd like a nice photo backup and the occasional video, maybe look at the D90.
I'm a Canon shooter, so I have no personal experience with either. I have a friend who owns some D90s and he's a fan.
If $800 is too much or you want something that you can toss around, then maybe the Kodak Playsport Zx5 for around $100 will work for you. |
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PJ Heller, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 1:30 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> What do you consider low cost?
You might be able to pick up an inexpensive DSLR, but by the time you trick it out to shoot video, it may end up costing 2 or 3 times (or more) the cost of the body alone.
I'm doing similar research, looking at the possibility of a D7000 which I've heard good things about for its video capability. But I'm also considering going the camcorder route, which, while adding more gear, might be a better option and offer more options in the future.
Let us know what you decide. |
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Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 2:19 PM on 07.08.11 |
| ->> PJ, I guess I mean a few hundred bucks. I'm interested in DSLR video because I own the lenses, but I'm not sold on it because of the tracking focus limitations and short recording times. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 2:36 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> D7000 I believe has a video clip limit of 20 minutes at 1080 (big improvement over the D3S which is 5 minutes at 720).
If AF capabilities (and performance) is your big concern then you have to look at a true video camera vs. a DSLR with video capabilities. |
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Daniel Berman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 4:25 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> Hi Paul,
I'm enjoying my D7000 -- the recording time is limited though to 20 minutes in all recording quality settings.
You'll want to pick up a Rode or other hotshoe shotgun mic for this as the internal mic on all these DSLR video hybrids is not great.
Daniel |
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Daniel Berman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 4:30 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> Paul,
Sorry for the second post...
You should look into the Canon VIXIA line of video cameras as a great entry level option. They have good image quality, are very light and the zoom is incredible!
http://www.adorama.com/CAHF21E.html
I use these at my school for quick-hit video pieces. The footage doesn't take long to render in Final Cut either.
Besides, any of these video cameras will let you tilt the LCD screen for a variety of shot options that you can't do with a DSLR without shelling out for an expensive external monitor.
=== would go with a Nikon DSLR for video if you don't plan to shoot a lot of video but would occasionally like the option.===
Daniel |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 5:47 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> I've been using my CoolPix P7000 as a "second" with my D3S. The quality is pretty darn good for it's size and it has a stereo mic input. Great little camera.
If you are looking at this purchase as primarily a video camera, then I agree with the above comments that you should look into a video camera. |
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Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 5:50 PM on 07.08.11 |
| ->> Rob, any off the cuff suggestions for a straight video camera? I've seen good things about the Canon Vixia HF21 but, based on what I've seen on youtube, videos made with the D7000 look more "professional." |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 6:18 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> Depends on how much you want to spend.
I shoot most of my video assignments actually with a Sony A1U. Not a perfect camera but it's small and light, has dual XRL audio input and full audio and video controls. But I like the image quality of video my Nikon D3S and the ability to use all of my Nikkor glass, especially wide lenses.
It's a trade off. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 6:30 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> Actually I am looking at buying a camera myself and I'm leaning toward the Nikon D7000.
It gives me options of using my Nikkor lenses. Also I can use it as a "second" for video assignments with the D3S (shooting at 720 to match up). It also is a pretty good still camera and would easily integrate with the rest of my Nikon gear (low light/high ISO quality is pretty darn good for a consumer camera).
No DSLR will give you decent AF, the ability to monitor audio and long clip capture.
But DSLR video capture is trendy and we're all caught up in "the look" of it (notably shallow dof).
As I said, there are trade offs... |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 8:58 PM on 07.08.11 |
->> I've been using the D7000 for a few months now. It's a great video camera if you don't want to carry a dedicated unit.
It is limited to 20min at any resolution (720p or 1080i), probably due to chip heating...
Let me know if you have any questions about shooting video with it. |
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David Scott, Photographer
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Portland | OR | US | Posted: 1:10 AM on 07.09.11 |
->> I'm another with the D7000. In fact, I'm now shooting 3 of them. I'm new to the video scene so I have nothing to compare it to but I really like the quality.
-- Dave |
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Paul Hayes, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Littleton | NH | USA | Posted: 11:26 AM on 07.09.11 |
->> OK, so for those of you with the D7000, what besides the camera body do you use to shoot video? Loupes? Mics? Tripods or steady cam setups? Specific filters? Etc. etc. Trying to price out everything I'll need to shoot video with this.
Also, my current lens lineup is 14-24 2.8, 50 1.4 and 70-200 VRII 2.8 (w/ 2X TC). Would I need another focal length for video?
And can you combine lapel mics with a D7000? |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 12:39 AM on 07.11.11 |
->> For audio, I'm shooting with a Sennheiser ME66/K6. Haven't done any split-channel stuff - just straight into the camera with an XLR to mini.
Tripod is a Manfrotto something or other...not sitting in front of me but it's a medium-duty video head plus 3021 sticks (went simple on the sticks).
You are probably going to need something wide for your lens makeup. The 14-24 on a 1.5x body isn't wide enough for my taste. I picked up the 10-24 3.5-4.5 dx lens and it's great - has a really nice flare versus the rather ugly one from the 14-24. $400 more than the 10-24 is the 12-24/4, and it's a nice lens as well. I owned one previously and liked it a lot.
I would also look at picking up a 35/2, which is basically a normal lens on the 1.5x body. |
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