How Much Video Have You Shot On Your Canon DSLR

[MrToes]

Not much video, just occasionally back video at weddings. I just need more DR, ISO 64 (Native) and ISO 400K!

 

[dak723]

Video IS the future, but I'm too mired in the past to get with the program.

Video may be the future, but a dSLR is not the best way to record it, at least for most people. Personally, I have a camcorder that does the job effectively.

If I were to shoot video - and have done some on the past - I would get a camcorder for probably less than $200. It will be a lot easier and probably do a far better job than my $2000 DSLR.

 

[Besisika]

This is my video rig

Nice!!!!

 

[Busted Knuckles]

I have done a little over 5 hours. About an hour is the family events stuff. The other was seeing if I could get back into it from my college days.

I agree w/ the form factor issues - I have a few pieces of add on to make the shooting more comfortable (LCD hood, magic lantern, etc). These make it a workable environment but as fun as it is to compare outcome to effort compared to "the not so good old days" I didn't get the bug.

I am just happy that many other do and share their imagines and stories.

 

[kaptainkatsu]

I've been doing a lot of interview type stuff on my 70D and I also have a 7Dm2, but the flip touch screen is a real winner for video. I'll switch over to the 7Dm2 if I need 60p (normally shoot 24p) or if I need two cams. I also have a GoPro Hero 4 silver for pov, space limited tricky stuff or in conditions where I need a fully sealed system like shooting inside a Cnc machine with cooling fluid. I have magic lantern on the 70D and will add that to the 7Dm2 when they get around to porting to it.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I have shot less than 5 hours of video on my 5D MK II and 5D MK III together. For me, getting and keeping a subject in focus for casual shooting is so difficult that I don't bother.

If I really wanted to do serious video, I'd get a video camera. I would be handy to be able to take a short clip now and then with my stills camera, but I'm just not good at focusing on moving subjects.

 

[expatinasia]

It is quite hard to calculate exactly how many hours I've shot on my 1D X, but I believe it to be over 100 hours.

The 1D X, even though its main use (for me) is sport photography, still takes excellent video. Of course using a DSLR is only suitable for certain types of videography, and there are certain situations where I would not even bother turning it on to try. But in the right situations (with the right audio equipment) it produces outstanding results.

For the moment, I am not making any major purchases on equipment. I will wait and see what the 1D X Mark II is all about with regards to its stills and video capability and make a decision based on that.

 

[Khristo]

Does timelapse count?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/khristo2/16863697559/in/photostream/

 

[tahoetoeknee]

Focus when zooming I find impossible on my 5d3 so I've shot maybe 30 min in 3 years

 

[Don Haines]

Definitely over 100 hours....

The video is great.... the sound is quite poor unless you use an external microphone and turn off IS on your lens, unless your project is to record the sounds of IS

 

[rfdesigner]

me 0hours, 0minutes, 0seconds, I know this to be accurate as I have a 30D

 

[mkabi]

Countless hours to be honest...
I wouldn't be into video if it weren't for DSLRs.

I guess it has a lot to do with the small form factor, and how creative you can get with each lens.

KeithBreazeal's ridiculous rig... I used those pain in arse cameras before... Stuff like those turned me away from video.... Sure...You can shoot hours of video on it, but its hard to get creative with it. How often are you changing lenses on it? Its already a heavy camera, the lenses are probably just as expensive, heavy and hard to change. You're probably depending on the power zoom? How often are you adjusting off camera lights?

All principles of photography apply to video... Believe it or not...
For example, we all know each lens brings its own characteristics...
There is a lens for portraiture, a lens for wide angle, macro, telescopic, etc.
Say you doing a commercial for Tiffany's and you want to showcase a diamond necklace - I would use a macro lens to pan over each and every diamond. Are you going to get the same creative effect with a 24-105??? Hell no...

 

[JonAustin]

I responded "Less than 5 hours" ...

... but it's actually less than 10 minutes (and not accidentally). My wife used to ask me to shoot short video clips with my 5DIII of things she found interesting / amusing during vacation trips (surf spray, elephant seals, prairie dogs, etc.). But I don't enjoy editing video, and she never looked at the vids more than once after I finished them. So I got her a pocket camera to shoot any vids she wanted on her own.

It won't hurt my feelings in the least if the 5DIV has no video capabilities, presuming its other features are sufficient to compel me to buy one (like a built-in Speedlite transmitter, illuminated AF points and not too many more MP ... I like the rumor of a version with less MP than the 5DIII, with better DR / less noise). At this point, however, I'm more inclined to buy a 2nd 5DIII at closeout prices once the 5DIV launches, give away my 5D and 20D bodies, and call it a day.

 

[RGF]

I won't say zero, but I have tried it. But in reality, if there was an option for less than zero, I would have selected that.

 

[Tinky]

KeithBreazeal's ridiculous rig... I used those pain in arse cameras before... Stuff like those turned me away from video.... Sure...You can shoot hours of video on it, but its hard to get creative with it. How often are you changing lenses on it? Its already a heavy camera, the lenses are probably just as expensive, heavy and hard to change. You're probably depending on the power zoom? Ho

Haha, this is one of the most ignorant things I have ever read in my life.

There are different types of camera suited for different jobs, there is nothing ridiculous or excessive about Keiths kit. A long through power zoom so he can zoom and track an approaching sportsperson? Couldn't do this with a DSLR, the lenses don't tend to have more than 3 times or 4 times range, are seldom truely parfocal, and virtually never have smooth touch sensitive servos.

The flag is essential for contrast, look at the bright weather, look at the probably ground surface. Without a flag you would have washed out footage, or it would be so flat..

Final excess.... a radio mic rx... for commentary perhaps?

This is all backbone ENG kit. Nothing fancy, nothing superfluous. Absolutely nothing ridiculous. The only ridiculous aspect is your apparent belief that your way is the only way. Find and advocate what works for you, sure, but you only make yourself look stupid and ignorant with this kind of outburst.

It might not be the kind of event you shoot, it might not be the kind of kit you want to use, but it looks to me very much like the right tool for the job in hand. I'll bet the multistage ND filter wheel is very useful.

It's a huge zoom, you probably have a wide zoom in the van, not much heavier than say a typical 70-200.
It's a bayonet mount with locking ring. Unplug the power / iris / rec run cable (helpfully, all in one) turn the locking ring. Lift out the lens. Put the new one in, turn the locking ring, plug the cable back in, flick on the peaking, do a quick back-focus calibration (some folk carry spira charts, a bold newspaper headline will do, something sharp edge and contrasty) and thats you. A good operator could do it in the same time as an amateur takes to change an EF lens.

This rig could be used as a production camera, but you are right, the fashion in this day in age is to use short run time cameras with large sensors and higher quality, faster primes. Horses for courses.

Yes they are comparatively expensive, the current generation is somewhat spoiled in that regard. But then a T2i can't do what an ENG does, no more than an ENG can do what a T2i can do... thats why mature, open, experienced operators get skills on both and don't denigrate kit as ridiculous.

In terms of being creative.. it's all in the mind, not in the camera.

 

[Don Haines]

KeithBreazeal's ridiculous rig... I used those pain in arse cameras before... Stuff like those turned me away from video.... Sure...You can shoot hours of video on it, but its hard to get creative with it. How often are you changing lenses on it? Its already a heavy camera, the lenses are probably just as expensive, heavy and hard to change. You're probably depending on the power zoom? Ho

Haha, this is one of the most ignorant things I have ever read in my life.

I like the people filming without a tripod.... how the heck do you keep it steady?

 

[Tinky]

I like the people filming without a tripod.... how the heck do you keep it steady?

A good counterbalanced tripod head makes fluid movements very easy to achieve, even with a big heavy camera, looks like a manfrotto 504 or 510 Keiths using, good starting point, I prefer Vinten pro-touch's or sachtlers (sachtler speed lock legs are brilliant, bits of kit designed by people who shoot rather than product designers), but the form. of the ENG is actually very stable, you have three points of contact, the shoulder, the eye-cup and the zoom grip. This leaves your left hand free to alter controls, all of which are on the left of the camera, expect the rec run and servo zoom, which are under your fingers and thumb as your right hand grips the lens. All the panning movement comes from your waist, you ped up and ped down using your knees. If you need to track your legs take out most of the judder, if you need a low angle the top handle is secure and the weight if the cam steadies it. out and deadens the smaller bumps.

It's fantastic, evolved over years, but it is not for every job. And it is far from ridiculous.

 

[Don Haines]

I like the people filming without a tripod.... how the heck do you keep it steady?

A good counterbalanced tripod head makes fluid movements very easy to achieve, even with a big heavy camera, looks like a manfrotto 504 or 510 Keiths using, good starting point, I prefer Vinten pro-touch's or sachtlers (sachtler speed lock legs are brilliant, bits of kit designed by people who shoot rather than product designers), but the form. of the ENG is actually very stable, you have three points of contact, the shoulder, the eye-cup and the zoom grip. This leaves your left hand free to alter controls, all of which are on the left of the camera, expect the rec run and servo zoom, which are under your fingers and thumb as your right hand grips the lens. All the panning movement comes from your waist, you ped up and ped down using your knees. If you need to track your legs take out most of the judder, if you need a low angle the top handle is secure and the weight if the cam steadies it. out and deadens the smaller bumps.

It's fantastic, evolved over years, but it is not for every job. And it is far from ridiculous.

I was referring to the DSLR and phone people shooting without tripods (I should have written my post clearer)

The ENG equipment is great without a tripod... as you say, the ergonomics are all designed for it... ( you forgot to mention mass, which also improves stability). We had a commercial BETA recorder that was a dream to use and no DSLR I have used had ergonomics even half as good. Once you got the camera on your shoulder and adjusted the strut that connected to the battery belt it was solid as a rock.

As bad as a DSLR is to handhold, it is WAY! easier than a cell phone... With a DSLR you can start the clip and brace the camera against something to improve stability, but all those people with one hand in the air and the phone shooting video?? EWWWWW!

And lens creep.... never saw an ENG rig with lens creep.....

 

[expatinasia]

A good counterbalanced tripod head makes fluid movements very easy to achieve, even with a big heavy camera, looks like a manfrotto 504 or 510 Keiths using, good starting point, I prefer Vinten pro-touch's or sachtlers

Just curious, but why do you prefer Vinten heads to the Manfrotto? Any Vinten in particular? I use the 502HD which is not too big and heavy, but works well.

I also googled the sachtler legs you mentioned, they look amazing but are also very pricey.

Thanks.

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

So 1 in 3 use the video function quite a bit, not quite the "only a very limited number of people, so few as to not bother with" talk.