5D3 Video Settings Concert Hall

Here are my proposed settings for a music recital. Venue is a concert hall (about 300 hundred people), and I will be sitting up in the back row in the middle and performance about 60-90 mins.

5D3
24-70 f2.8
70-200 f4
2 x 16G CF cards
1920 24 ALL-I
Faithful picture profile (with sharpness on 2)
ML-5D3-113
190XPROB
MVH500AH (arriving monday)

I will probably be about 30-40 meters away from the stage. Stage is about 10 meter deep.

If my memory serves me correctly, last year I was shooting at about ISO3200 and f5.6. I was mostly using the 70-200 to get close and using the auto focus to get focus confirmation before each performance.

My question is from this far away, if I wanted to get adventurous and start panning would I need to adjust focus?

Any other tips or catch ya's?

Many Thanks.

Using DSLRs for recording concerts is very challenging because the 5D3 will have a max record time of 30 minutes, has terrible built in audio recording, and offers only a single viewpoint. Plus a 16GB card will fill up in about 35-40 min. If I were doing this, I would rent a HD camcorder for the back wide tripod position and record the whole event smoothly. I would record audio with a digital recorder at the front edge of the stage to reduce audio interruption from the audience. I would use the 5D3 to record close ups of the conductor, performers, and announcers with the 70-200 from a side position.

Thanks for response.

This is for my kids music concert, not professional job so only me and I won't be able to move around so I get up in the back center would be best. My wife might have a Sony HDV sitting in the front so I guess she could get the real close up shots (challenge would be then to sync the videos from 2 different camera later in FCP).

Audio – I am contemplating on purchasing a Rode Videomic as when I reviewed last years video the audio was unbearable. Also might get/borrow an additional battery.

Video – This year I might go with 1920 30 IPB codec, 30 fps at shutter 1/60. Last year with ALL-I I got 40 mins on 2 x 16GB cards.

Picture Style 'faithful' and thinking of dropping sharpness to Zero and sharping in post with FCP or Compressor.

You main concern should be solid audio. Placing the a high quality mic close to the source is the only way to acheive that. I would put the best mic with headphone monitoring capabilities close to the front of the stage.

Since your wife will be sitting close to the stage, just use the audio from the sony camcorder. Also I dont think 2x16 gb will be enough for a 60min performance.

Pablo808 wrote in post #16489612
Thanks for response.

This is for my kids music concert, not professional job so only me and I won't be able to move around so I get up in the back center would be best. My wife might have a Sony HDV sitting in the front so I guess she could get the real close up shots (challenge would be then to sync the videos from 2 different camera later in FCP).

Audio – I am contemplating on purchasing a Rode Videomic as when I reviewed last years video the audio was unbearable. Also might get/borrow an additional battery.

Video – This year I might go with 1920 30 IPB codec, 30 fps at shutter 1/60. Last year with ALL-I I got 40 mins on 2 x 16GB cards.

Picture Style 'faithful' and thinking of dropping sharpness to Zero and sharping in post with FCP or Compressor.

I'm assuming this is a classic/acoustic performance.

Will there be a pro recording they will sell after? I would buy it and lay it in post.

If not and it's a live room. I'd get a h2 or something and get it directly Infront of the stage on a stand. (Music stand ok)

You can use you slr to record the room.

Slr isn't great for long concerts unless you doing clip by clip of each performance.

Thanks guys. Just a follow up.

Used a Zoom h4n patched to the audio mixing desk but audio was unusable due to maxed out levels during show. Next time will just record with in built mics and put recorder on stage.

Stayed at f5.6 and ISO hovered between 640-3200. Manual white balance at tungesten 3200K. Video came out alright execept from the occassional zooming and refocussing. Had to do a bit of FCPX post sharpening in post but it looked good.

Pablo808 wrote in post #16530638
Thanks guys. Just a follow up.

Used a Zoom h4n patched to the audio mixing desk but audio was unusable due to maxed out levels during show. Next time will just record with in built mics and put recorder on stage.

Stayed at f5.6 and ISO hovered between 640-3200. Manual white balance at tungesten 3200K. Video came out alright execept from the occassional zooming and refocussing. Had to do a bit of FCPX post sharpening in post but it looked good.

Thanks for the heads up. I've already contacted the schools director about placing my DR-40 on stage down low to keep its presence minimal. Seems as if this is the best solution.

If you put the recorder on or close to the stage floor, it get tapping noise from the dancer's feet. I would look into putting the recorder next to one of the speakers and set the volume to very low.

Pablo808 wrote in post #16530638
Thanks guys. Just a follow up.

Used a Zoom h4n patched to the audio mixing desk but audio was unusable due to maxed out levels during show. Next time will just record with in built mics and put recorder on stage.

Stayed at f5.6 and ISO hovered between 640-3200. Manual white balance at tungesten 3200K. Video came out alright execept from the occassional zooming and refocussing. Had to do a bit of FCPX post sharpening in post but it looked good.

sounds like FOH f'ed up your record feed. You really need to monitor what you are recording and make sure your record feed is pre fade (not post fader). You are going to have to find the best place in your venue to place the recorder. This can take a lot of time and you should plan for that. go to some rehearsals or other events and walk around with the deck to find the best sounding place

kenwood33 wrote in post #16531284
If you put the recorder on or close to the stage floor, it get tapping noise from the dancer's feet. I would look into putting the recorder next to one of the speakers and set the volume to very low.

no. you also get anything that is in the PA feed. that can be ground loop/ hum, lots of his, popping, static, etc. the list goes on. its simply not a good idea if you want to get the cleanest recording possible.