Messages

46

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Does the T4i Overheat?

« on: July 25, 2012, 09:18:15 PM »

My 60D has never experienced overheating, even shooting in direct sunlight in 35 degree celcius weather.

The 60D is only a few dollars more than the T4i at the moment so is most likely still within your budget. The T3i also has much less overheating issues than the T2i, though I cannot personally vouch for it, only going off what I've been told or read.

I would suggest you get either the 60D or T3i over the T4i; it does not add any really useful features for video - the continuous AF is pretty useless, and even the touch focus feature is not acceptable for use while recording.

47

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Friends, help me choose a better one! Thanks

« on: July 25, 2012, 09:12:15 PM »

I'd suggest doing some serious research on shooting video with a DSLR first. The main reason these "stills" cameras have become so popular in the "film" world is because of the sensor size, beautiful image quality & availability of so many lenses. What you don't hear so much about is ALL the workarounds needed to accomplish that feat.

You'll also need to invest in: proper stabilization (to avoid jittery images), fluid tripod-head (to help with rolling shutter), an optical/ electronic viewfinder (you need to focus manually off the LCD screen), tons of memory cards (they fill up REALLY FAST at 1080p), batteries (they die fast while on live view), external mic (so you don't hear every little touch of the camera), ND filters (to get the shutter speed down to the proper setting)...

And that is just the bare essential. Then to take it to the next level:

Rod & Rail system, follow-focus unit, gears, matte-box, external audio recorder, more support rigs, and then all the post production needs...

It gets expensive.

With the exception of a viewfinder ($30 on ebay) and ND filters, all of that stuff is needed for just about any film or video work with any camcorder. Film-making is expensive no matter what cameras you are using - but DSLR's let you get better images for less money.

I think the t3i is a great choice for somebody just starting out in video production, espescially narrative film-making. Add a few decent lenses (50mm f/1.4 is a great starting point) and you can get started producing great images.

48

Lenses / Re: A New EF 50 f/1.8 IS? [CR1]

« on: July 25, 2012, 08:51:47 PM »

I'd love to have IS for video in this lens.

At the moment I'm about to upgrade to FF with a 5dmkII, one of the main reasons being that my 50mm 1.4 will be easier to handhold, which is sometimes a necessity at weddings when shooting the cake cutting or dancing at the end of the reception. I'll also be adding a 28mm 1.8 for even easier handholding in lowlight.

49

EOS Bodies / Re: Another Spec List for the Entry Level Full Frame EOS

« on: July 25, 2012, 08:25:40 PM »

I think I started the $2500 thing - here is my thinking.  It would seem unlikely that Canon would sell a 'better' camera than the 5dMKII for less money.  We haven't seen any direct successors coming out cheaper than their replacements in quite a while. 

Well, this camera would not be the direct successor to the 5dmkII, so it is entirely feasible that it would come out at a lower price.

The one thing I think would be missing on a cheap FF at this price point is build quality - it would still be good, but not at the same level as the 7D. After all, not even the 5dmkII has the same weather sealing as the 7D.

I'd be perfectly happy with a 1Dx sensor in a body with 60D build quality, if it came in under $2000.

50

Lenses / Re: Best lense for bird shots

« on: July 24, 2012, 09:06:50 AM »

When it comes to telephoto lenses, budget is often the deciding factor. Do you have $1200 or $12,000 to spend?

The 400mm 5.6L is a good starting point for telephoto primes - relatively cheap and very sharp. For 10x the price you can add 2 stops (400mm f/2.8 ) or double the focal length (800mm f/5.6). 

51

Lenses / Re: New 17-55 coming soon?

« on: July 23, 2012, 08:10:00 PM »

Thanks Adam!

52

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Packing list for trip of a lifetime

« on: July 23, 2012, 08:07:13 PM »

Being that you are going to be flying on small planes, riding on zodiacs and generally around a bunch of other tourists, you don't want to be the prick with the massive rolling Pelican case. 

In my experience, fellow travellers have loved the fact that I always carry the portable chair/workbench/cricket-stumps/cubby house/dining table/go cart/toboggan/bomb shelter/life raft/ladder/shield/security locker/wheelbarrow/hospital bed that is my Pelican 1650 Case.

Of course, if you don't need the bomb shelter or cubby house options, they do make a range of briefcase-sized cases that are perfect for a camera body and a few lenses. 

53

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Upgrading 40d

« on: July 23, 2012, 07:26:09 PM »

You can crop in post, but you'll lose a lot of your resolution.

You can crop APS-C photos in post as well, for even tighter framing, so regardless of post-cropping the APS-C sensor still has major advantages for telephoto shots.

Perhaps the one exception is the Nikon D800 with 36mp. Assuming you're using good glass, you can crop 36mp a long way, to the point where it is equivelant to an ~18mp APS-C sensor.

54

EOS Bodies / Re: New, cheaper, Canon FF DSLR... 70D?

« on: July 23, 2012, 07:09:24 PM »

But, what about the 7D user who has nothing but his EF-S 18-135 kit lens, and wants to upgrade to the 6D and can't use it.
That will be so confusing a complete marketing disaster!

If a 7D user is upgrading to a 6D (assuming the theoretical 6D is a budget FF camera) he is going to be doing it solely for the FF sensor, as the other features such as fps and weather sealing will likely be a downgrade from the 7D (so not many people who bought the 7D on the basis of marketing hype or a pushy salesman will likely make the upgrade, as they'll look at those specs and think that their 7D is superior!). So, assuming the average 7D>6D upgrader is aware of the FF difference, he most likely also knows about the EF-S lenses and limitations. In any case, it is no different to a user who is upgrading from a 7D to a 5DmkII or 5DmkIII.

On the  other hand, even a well educated 7D or 60D user could be thrown by a FF 7DmkII or 70D, as these are the direct replacments in the current line, rather than a parallel line of cameras.

55

EOS Bodies / Re: New, cheaper, Canon FF DSLR... 70D?

« on: July 23, 2012, 06:57:17 PM »

I tend to agree with everything you say excepts for this:

XXD is used only by one camera. There is no XXD "series" it's just a single camera

There are 6 cameras in this series last I checked! Even considering the fact that the 60D was somewhat of a repositioning of the line, the xxD series is and always has been the next tier up from the rebel series.

Either way I don't think the XXD series will ever become FF.

56

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: How should I spend my cash?

« on: July 23, 2012, 11:11:23 AM »

Hi Thundermonkey.

I've never shot speeches on anything as wide as a 24-70, normally I use my 80-200 and that is perfect. The way I like to work is to have one camera on the speaker on a tripod, while I roam around getting CU's and reaction shots of the crowd with a monopod. I go back to the main camera between each speech to re-frame (for height differences) and to wait and see if they are going to be a 'roamer'. Once I'm moving around I still keep an eye on the speaker and if they look like they're going to move, I'll quickly run back to adjust the main camera. Sometimes (depending on if I have an extra shooter/more than 2 cameras with me) I'll also have a static medium shot of the bride & groom at their table which makes for a perfect back-up angle.

I think I'll probably get the 28mm & 85mm new as there don't seem to be many used ones floating around in Australia. The 70-200 and 17-55 I will probably buy used, but if I get good prices on the stuff I'm selling I might get those brand new as well.

57

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Which cheap telezoom for video?

« on: July 23, 2012, 10:59:20 AM »

Thanks Paul.

The plan is to set my partner up directly infront of the break, shooting fairly wide (300mm equivelant is wide for surfing action!). I will then be running around getting the more creative angles (eg with trees & people in foreground, etc) as well as the really tight action stuff. If I recall correctly 40 degrees or thereabouts is the recommended minumum angle between different camera views, so I'll try to stick to that rule as much as possible. Obviously it becomes easier to switch angles if there is also a significant change in framing (ie wide to CU) so I'll be sure to follow your advice there. I'll also be doing some slider shots and cut-aways, as well as some water footage, and one of the main reasons I want a 2nd shooter there is so that I can shoot all that creative stuff without having to worry too much that I am missing all the good rides.

As for a GoPro, I will be using one, but not board mounted. It will either be carried by the riders in their trailing arm (so it looks forward as an OTS shot looking out of the tube) or I will be shooting with it myself from the water. I think you can get far more variety with these angles than just having the camera board-mounted.

I'm starting to lean towards the Canon 55-250, though I've also heard good things about the Tamron 70-300 VC. Anybody have experience with that particular lens?

58

Lenses / Re: New Lends

« on: July 23, 2012, 04:13:31 AM »

Way to go to town on everything I wrote Axilrod. Perhaps one reply/quote, rather than 3, would have been sufficient?

My point is that the OP doesn't know what lens he wants. For well under his budget of $2000, he can test out all the focal lengths he is considering, (35mm, 50mm, and 135mm) and see which focal lengths he enjoys working with. Then if he wants, he can upgrade.

If he knew he wanted a 50mm, or a 35mm, or a 135mm, and he is willing to fork out the cash, then sure, dive right in with an L lens. But I don't see the point in diving in headfirst without trying out the focal lengths first.

Alternatively, he could rent all three of the 50mm 1.2L, 35mm 1.4L and 135mm 2.0L for a few days and see which he prefers before laying down the cash.

59

Lenses / Re: Good, inexpensive zoom lens? Beginner here.

« on: July 23, 2012, 03:51:50 AM »

Anyway, tripods come in handy for plenty of stuff, but I never ever think about them first. I think they're a waste of money if you spend over a couple hundred bucks. The surest way to make sure that your footage looks exactly the same as your peers is to use a tripod. Tripods are stale. You're getting a rig. Use it every chance you get to add a human element to your shots.

You've obviously never shot  wildlife or surfing with a 600mm lens on a 1.6x crop body.

A good tripod is essential to film-making. It is a necessity for using a slider properly, and that is something that will let your footage stand apart from your peers. 

60

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Which cheap telezoom for video?

« on: July 23, 2012, 02:22:28 AM »

Thanks Mr Spokane.

I've shot plenty of surfing projects before (including being a camera assistant on projects shot with the Phantom). I'm also travelling to the location featured in those Vincent Laforet clips to shoot my project and have been there many times before, so know what to expect.

I know exactly what I am getting myself into; what I don't know is how best to set up my girlfriend as a 2nd operator.

Regarding ND filters, I used them for a while but actually hated the look of surfing at 1/50th shutter. It was basically all just a blur. These days I much prefer to shoot without ND and push the shutter speed up to around 1/1000th. It gives much crisper images with a really punchy, high energy feel. The 180 degree rule is fine for a lot of stuff but you need to know when it is appropriate to break the rules too.