DSLR for video

[lukold]

Hi guys,

I'm intending to get a DSLR but mainly for video purposes, any recommendations apart from this few?

Sony NEX 7
Canon 60D
Nikon D5200

Which one would you recommend?

 

[lukold]

bump it up

 

[shadey]

NEX 7 is not a DSLR.

Why use a picture-taking device for a hacked workaround application (video)?

But if it were my choice, I would pick a 5DMkIII or an A99. At least with the A99 you still get AF.

 

[lukold]

Thanks for the reply, but the 5DMKIII and A99 is out of my budget.. gearing towards something below the 7D or so.

 

[intrance]

go for canon DLSR for its manual focus capability and slap it with magic lantern for enhancement and you can go no wrong..

 

[lukold]

go for canon DLSR for its manual focus capability and slap it with magic lantern for enhancement and you can go no wrong..

Would the 60D be a better choice over the Nikon D5200? I'm doubtful to buy the 60D because the price will depreciate after the 70D is released in july yet I need a camera before july

 

[intrance]

IMHO.. canon has better functions in taking video than nikon.

how about get a used 600d..? once 70d come in.. u can sell the 600d with minimal lose..

if you dont need swivel lcd.. a used 500d is suffice..

 

[skbeng]

Panasonic GH2 or GH3. Hell, just spent US$995 and get the Blackmagic-design Pocket Cinema Camera. Record in ProRes and ready for editing.

 

[shadey]

go for canon DLSR for its manual focus capability and slap it with magic lantern for enhancement and you can go no wrong..

"manual focus capability"???? All of them can do MF. On the Canon it's a REQUIREMENT because Canon's AF in video CMI

 

[intrance]

"manual focus capability"???? All of them can do MF. On the Canon it's a REQUIREMENT because Canon's AF in video CMI

one example of canon's manual focus capability is, compare to others.. the user can manually adjust the aperture during the video taking..

and yes .. canon's AF in video is CMI

 

[Gribber]

what you need is a video cam instead.

 

[Deunamist]

get a GH3. the right balance between a traditional video camera and a full frame DSLR like the 5D Mk3

 

[genie47]

If you are looking for video in a still camera, you cannot go wrong with any of the mirrorless. The problem with using any camera be it DSLR or mirrorless for video is the AF. It hunts and this is damn irritating for any video.

You also need a good lens for low light. As a result a lot of people going into video take a mirrorless which is cheaper and slap on an adapter for a legacy 50mm standard prime that can go up to f1.4 for video.

Examples here:

As you can see the results are very good because of the very good glass that is used. Not only very good glass but very cheap glass since it is all manual focus.

The NEX 6 and 7 and NX1000 can do HD video and compared to the DSLR, definitely cheaper if you are primarily shooting video.

Don't limit yourself to these. There are adapters for the m4/3 cameras to use these excellent lenses for cheap but excellent video photography.

Here is a GF2 using a Canon f1.8

 

[lukold]

Thank you all for the replies and Genie for your indepth comparison!

 

[LEG_86]

5D MK II ?

 

[genie47]

Thank you all for the replies and Genie for your indepth comparison!

No problem. The main thing you need to know is that these legacy lenses are sold everywhere now from Clubsnap to eBay. It is not that nobody wants them anymore, a lot of people want them and they show up in a lot of garage sales.

In terms of workmanship, they all pwn most of the lenses today. All glass and mostly metal construction. Not great to carry off for a holiday because they are very heavy which will defeat the purpose of a compact mirrorless camera. However, these lenses due to their manual aperture control (aperture dial on lens) and manual focusing makes them excellent for video.

Because of the mirrorless cameras and these lenses, the adapter market exploded. You can get a good adapter for less than USD20 and a 50mm f1.4 can be taken for USD80.

Due to the manual control, you can only shoot in Aperture priority or full manual. So you control everything. Aperture and focus from the lens itself and on the camera the ISO.

 

[celsus]

Definitely go with mirrorless (Panasonic GH2/3 are the best in class, NEX-6 will be better than 7 for video due to first gen overheating problems in NEX) or Sony SLT (A57 will be good for starter, A77 if you want more control). Video is better to do via the screen, and live view on traditional DSLR (Canon/Nikon) is very cumbersome. Only get these if you're willing to get the top ends (e.g. 5DII as mentioned)

 

[Deunamist]

got my GH3 yesterday. OLED screen, MOV recording up to 72mbps... hard to beat

 

[genie47]

Panasonic GH2 with Canon FD f1.4 amateur documentary video

Panasonic GH2 with Canon FD lenses together with a Merlin dolly. Super stabilized video shots.

 

[ryan_khoo]

got my GH3 yesterday. OLED screen, MOV recording up to 72mbps... hard to beat

Just got mine today ... do you find the red recording video button a tee wit difficult to press ?