Help Me Pick What to Rent

Hey guys,

Last year I did a dance recital video with a T2i/70-200 f/2.8 and a crappy camcorder. This year I will be using two DSLRs, just can't decide what.

At f/2.8, the DOF was really shallow last year and after hours of manually focusing, my arm was killing me. I was considering getting the f/4.0 for a deeper depth of field and just renting a camera with better high ISO quality. Is this a good option? My girlfriend has a T3i I can borrow for free so using that would save me money...

Also, for my second camera I need something that goes wider. Should I get another L lens with a wider FL? Or same lens and a 5D?

Additionally, what shutter speed would you reccomend? From my photograpy experience I feel like faster is better, but from my reading it seems I shouldn't go too fast for video.

Thanks!

Honestly doing a live event like a dance recital with a 35mm based video camera still scares me. The big sensor is great for low light performance but the trade off is manual focus.

Ideally, I would set up a 5d with a 24mm or 35mm prime as a wide shot. Wide angle lenses are forgiving in terms of depth of field. So you can sort of set it and forget it. Every 12 minutes, unless you're rocking a new 5dIII.

For a medium/closeup camera I would probably use something like a 50 1.4 on the t3i and just deal with the tired arm and squinty eyes. Really though, shooting that way is a pain. Real video cameras are the way to go for something like that. But if you're hellbent on DSLR use, that's how I'd do it.

Conventional wisdom for dslr video is to keep your shutter speed at 1/(2*frame rate). So if you're shooting 24p, you'd go with with 1/50 shutter. 60p would be 1/125 shutter. But there are no hard and fast rules. Slow shutters will give you really connected frames and faster shutters will give you really choppy frames.

joe

Thanks for the response!

I was thinking I could stop the lens down with the ISO performance of the 5D but I guess the 5Ds shallow DOF counteracts that, huh?

I am kind of stuck with a set location for the recital so I can't go very wide... Like I said the 70-200 on a crop was good for a tighter crop but need something wider as well. So my option there is either full frame or a wider lens. Parfocal would be nice, too. Maybe 24-70 on a T2i?

I'm wondering if I can squeak by with F/4.0 and higher ISO... I did F/2.8 last year and it came out ok but F/4.0 would help.

As far as the DSLR/dedicated camera, I feel the DSLR quality is a million times better. Even with a GL2 or something, the videos look so generic, I just feel they are nothing special.

Do you absolutely have to use a DSLR?

Theater lighting sucks. You'll be using a high ISO and low aperture. So unless you're comfortable pulling manual focus on all of your shots, I would recommend using a different format camera more conducive to event shooting.

Well I just feel like the quality is a million times better... I did it last hear with a T2i and a 70-200 at.f/2
I without any experience/practice and I feel like with better planning it will be even better..

I would use 1 camera with a f2.8 wide angle lens on a tripod to capture the whole stage at f4, and another camera on a monopod with at 70-200/2.8 to capture close ups. A T3i has a max record time of 30 minutes so watch it and you will need fast class 10 SD cards. If you are shooting at 24p your shutter speed should be 1/50th. Do not be afraid to use ISO 1600-2400 with a T3i/7D/5DmkII. An LCD viewfinder is key to good manual focus for close ups such as this:

http://www.ebay.com …ecups&hash=item​5ae6846ad0

You will want a separate digital audio recorder from the mixing board for best audio quality.


-Scott

30 minutes? It's closer to 12

Right tools for the right job my friend.

Can you even get a camera close enough to the stage to use a wide angle lens? Most of the theater performances I've shot, cameras are restricted to pretty far back in the audience.

i know manual focus sucks, but have you tried a tripod and a follow focus?

sspellman wrote in post #14422647
I would use 1 camera with a f2.8 wide angle lens on a tripod to capture the whole stage at f4, and another camera on a monopod with at 70-200/2.8 to capture close ups. A T3i has a max record time of 30 minutes so watch it and you will need fast class 10 SD cards. If you are shooting at 24p your shutter speed should be 1/50th. Do not be afraid to use ISO 1600-2400 with a T3i/7D/5DmkII. An LCD viewfinder is key to good manual focus for close ups such as this:

http://www.ebay.com …ecups&hash=item​5ae6846ad0

You will want a separate digital audio recorder from the mixing board for best audio quality.


-Scott

That is kind of what I was thinking. Even a DSLR at "high ISO" has much better quality that a dedicated camcorder in my eyes.

As far as audio, last year I hooked a H4n up to the sound board and the levels looked good and sounded good on the monitor but it was getting blown out when I listened to it in post. Ended up using the H4ns internal mic which worked out ok. Hardest part was manually syncing two video tracks and audio in final cut express but it looks like the new final cut does this for you which would save me a ton of time.

gibsonla wrote in post #14422689
30 minutes? It's closer to 12

Right tools for the right job my friend.

Can you even get a camera close enough to the stage to use a wide angle lens? Most of the theater performances I've shot, cameras are restricted to pretty far back in the audience.

I just turned off the camera the second each piece was done last year to cool off the sensor and reset the timer.

Maverick530 wrote in post #14423467
i know manual focus sucks, but have you tried a tripod and a follow focus?

I have no clue how to setup or rent a follow focus but it sounds like it would be nice! An external monitor would be sweet too

Alright I just put everything in my cart and it is a little more expensive than I was anticipating. Last year I used a cheap tripod I had laying around and my old camcorder which apparently saved me a lot of money. If I go with the GL2 instead of a T2i with 24-70 and batteries/SD card, I can save about $50. I've haven't seen GL2 footage in a while but I am wondering how far off it will be from the T3i with a 70-200? It will also be a lot easier to use for my inexperienced second shooter (no overheating/swapping batteries/avoid 12 min limit/focusing/etc). Any input?

Hey HLxDrummer, I know this is off topic, but if your interested in a SD card, I have one for sale for 80$. I bought it 4 months ago for 124.99$ at BHphoto. It's a 32 GB 90MB/s class 10 memory card. I sold my T2i and upgraded to 5D mark ii and still have this extra memory card for sale. Let me know if your interested.

Thanks for the offer, but I will be renting cards since the T3i I am using is my GFs and my 40D takes CF.

Ah I see, thanks for letting me know. If you ever change your mind, you know who to find lol.