Video a friend's wedding, how can I improve for $200?

So i'm a wedding photographer. (gear in sig) I'd like to experiment with some video at my friend's wedding because they already have hired pretty much the best photographer in my area.

I feel like my issues are going to be seeing what is in focus (i'll zoom in live view and focus as much as I can but i'd like to be able to track them at least a little), and keeping steady. I don't want to invest much at all in this because i'm not sure whether i'll ever do it again.

If I were to spend about $200 what do you think would give me the best bang for my buck to improve keeping them in focus and not having shaky video?

Thanks!

Tripod.

Get an optical loupe - there are some cheap ones on eBay. This allows a good close view of your screen and also introduces a third point of contact.

I assume you already have a tripod? Get a fluid video head to allow you to pan and tilt smoothly.

Manfrotto 561BHDV would be the best thing you could get for that price. Its truly useful for any video work.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Video_Monopod_W​_Head.html

you might look at this:
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …25293&is=REG&Q=​&A=details

manfrotto's MODO steadicam/shoulder cam convertible rig. it looks pretty lightweight, but for cheap it should be worth the money.

that or you can make your own, i made a shoulder rig out of an old aluminum crutch for less than $15. it looks kinda ghetto but it is as solid as a rock.

+1 to gotaudi recommendation. That and install magic lantern on your 5d mark II for focus peaking and zebras so you don't blow out the highlights (common newbie mistake).

gotaudi wrote in post #15181316
Manfrotto 561BHDV would be the best thing you could get for that price. Its truly useful for any video work.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Video_Monopod_W​_Head.html

I would third this recommendation. So much easier to move around than a tripod.

While you're at it, watch this.

https://vimeo.com/2686​9155

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think i'm going to hold off on the monopod but it's definitely on my wish list. i'm going to try my luck with this viewfinder below, and Magic Lantern with focus peaking on. Does anyone else use that? I'll just use my tripod with the legs folded in to start I think. If I decide it's something I want to do again i'll probably spring for that monopod, the video definitely sold me on it.

http://www.amazon.com …e=UTF8&smid=ATV​PDKIKX0DER

tnis0612 wrote in post #15194095
Thanks for the tips everyone. I think i'm going to hold off on the monopod but it's definitely on my wish list. i'm going to try my luck with this viewfinder below, and Magic Lantern with focus peaking on. Does anyone else use that? I'll just use my tripod with the legs folded in to start I think. If I decide it's something I want to do again i'll probably spring for that monopod, the video definitely sold me on it.

http://www.amazon.com …e=UTF8&smid=ATV​PDKIKX0DER

ive used that loupe, it works well.

I have the GGS loope too and its great. I would pair that with an inexpensive monopod such as this:

http://www.amazon.com …0&sr=1-8&keywords=monopod

that can be used on the floor, or tucked into your armpit. For your next budget purchase, I would consider the Z96 LED:

http://www.amazon.com …97926&sr=8-1&keywords=z96

-Scott

Great, I went ahead and purchased the loupe.

Another thing i'm thinking I will need are ND filters. I like to shoot pretty close to wide open in my photography and i'm assuming i'll want to in video as well. I dont think that will be an issue inside a church or at a reception, but outdoors i'm assuming that's just not possible without ND filters.

Take a look at this:
http://www.wondlan.com …/-elfin--mini-stabilizer/

Loupes are awesome...

And a stable tripod is mandatory.

Take whatever depth of field you use for pictures, and make it 5x or 10x bigger.

What can look good in a picture means that people come in and out of focus if they nod their head in a video.

Also trying to follow focus to keep an impossibly thin depth of field pretty much always looks terrible in a video too.

Just concentrating on trying to keep everything in shot, panning steady, and setting up the camera for the right exposure levels etc should keep you busy enough, amongst swapping batteries/memory cards/lenses etc.

Recently all gone well.

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