A bunch of 5DmkII video questions for the brainy people :)

[echo]

Hi brainy people!

I am planning to do away with my XH A1 and use the 5DmkII for my video work. I shoot interviews but no one pays me to do them, I can run them at my own pace so a few stops to change media is ok. In most cases, apart from shooting B Roll or Cut Away's the camera will be locked down.

OK, the things that I've been thinking about are getting decent audio, monitoring the audio, monitoring the video, media to use etc.

I am starting to think that the most sensible solution for audio is to use a CF recorder that I can plug decent studio mics in to such as the Fostex. As long as I do a hand clap in sight of the camera I'll have no hassle in lining up the waveforms. I also will have the benefit of being able to monitor without blanking out the 5D screen and have audio recording even when the 5D stops due to file limits etc. The swap overs can be covered by B Roll etc. Has anyone been working this way?

I was looking for a decent HDMI mini monitor to use but I can't find one anywhere. Any video monitoring ideas that enable easy framing and focus check while I'm also concentrating on asking questions to the subject?

Media: I'm on a budget - well for a while (!) - so the Transcend 32Gb 133X look very affordable. Anyone used these for successful and continuous video?

Any input is very welcome!



Mike

[Leonard Wong]

HDMI and DVI are compatble interfaces. You can use a computer screen and an HDMI to DVI cable and connect it if you are having difficulty sourcing a mini HDMI screen. Still though, these are expensive compared to a cheap 19" TV. You can buy a Vizio 19" at Costco for $229. Not sure if you want to go that large, but you mentioned being on a budget.

BH also sells this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...LCD_Field.html but that's a bit pricey.

133X should be plenty fast. When shooting with a 5d MkII, the file system is fat32 so that max file size is 4GB or 12 minutes in HD. I'm not sure what happens at 12:01, if the camera will continue shooting, or if it will automatically start the next file. or (worst case, stop shooting). This may/may not cause a skipped frame when reassembling this. I'd do some tests to see what happens when the camera transitions between files.

[justincase724]

Originally Posted by Leonard Wong

133X should be plenty fast. When shooting with a 5d MkII, the file system is fat32 so that max file size is 4GB or 12 minutes in HD. I'm not sure what happens at 12:01, if the camera will continue shooting, or if it will automatically start the next file. or (worst case, stop shooting).

I think it'll stop shooting and turn off live view. I was shooting something the other night, and although I wasn't recording that whole time, at one point (seemed at about 12 minutes) it automatically shut off live view - when I wasn't even recording. I think I read somewhere that it automatically does that because of heat build-up with the sensor. However, I was able to turn it right back on and continue recording.