5DII Video a Gimmick?

There are a lot of videographers who are interested in using the 5D2 for specific kinds of shots and effects--and the relatively low cost of the 5D2 makes it cost effective as a specialized tool for them.

MinhThien wrote in post #7221379
My nokia N95 can record better movie than the 5D2:p

Your phone does 1080p? Doubtful...

The failings I've seen aren't in the technology but rather in the implentation. It's no different from anything else in life. Do it on the quick and dirty and it will turn out looking quick and dirty. Take a little time to think about it and the results will improve dramatically.

If done well (witness the faux wedding video that made the rounds several months back...) the results are outstanding.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7221412
If done well (witness the faux wedding video that made the rounds several months back...) the results are outstanding.

If you mean the demo video that Canon released early, that was done on a $5,000 budget over one weekend, if I remember correctly. If you have the budget and money to hire models, a helicopter, assistants, etc, why not rent a RED and be free of the annoying limitations of trying to make an SLR do something it wasn't ergonomically designed to do?

Again, you could further define the niche that the 5D2 video will appeal to by saying there are a group of filmmakers or videographers where it makes more sense to own than rent as they don't need such a crew, but then the 'niche' is even smaller where this is not a gimmick.

TheHoff wrote in post #7221478
If you mean the demo video that Canon released early, that was done on a $5,000 budget over one weekend, if I remember correctly. If you have the budget and money to hire models, a helicopter, assistants, etc, why not rent a RED and be free of the annoying limitations of trying to make an SLR do something it wasn't ergonomically designed to do?

Again, you could further define the niche that the 5D2 video will appeal to by saying there are a group of filmmakers or videographers where it makes more sense to own than rent as they don't need such a crew, but then the 'niche' is even smaller where this is not a gimmick.

No...there was another demo that some wedding guy did using models and sort of a staged wedding using gear that a typical wedding pro would probably own. It was pretty cheesy, but reasonably well done.

edit: the video I'm talking about was the Bruce Dorn one and apparently it was released by Canon. I think you're talking about the Vincent Laforet video. I'm pretty sure Dorn didn't spend $5k and no helicopter was involved.

I think a big potential use of video in the 5DII and video capable DSLRs in the future would be recording quick interviews by PJs in the field who may need to travel light. I'm sure there are other potential uses. I guess I don't see the feature so much as a film-maker type thing or a camcorder thing, but more of something that gets used to create a shot at an oportune moment.

bacchanal wrote in post #7221527
No...there was another demo that some wedding guy did using models and sort of a staged wedding using gear that a typical wedding pro would probably own. It was pretty cheesy, but reasonably well done.

Ah OK I remember the original had a guy in a tux and a girl in a gown so I wasn't sure if that was the one he mentioned. Wedding videographers will surely be the main user of this camera (to it's full video potential).

I think that for the advanced user or typical POTN'er buying this camera to use the video feature, they'll understand how to work within its limitations and will get some pretty good results.

I don't believe that's the group Canon's marketing department were going after though.

I bet most sales are to ill-informed individuals or beginners that feel they're getting an all-in-one solution, or just have to have the latest and greatest technology.

So, maybe not a gimmick ... but certainly gimmicky

If Canon built the MKII with 13 stops DR and 51 point pro AF instead of adding video it would have only been appreciated by pros and serious amateurs ... and we wouldn't have to wait for months to get one. This was marketing genius.

bacchanal wrote in post #7221527
I think a big potential use of video in the 5DII and video capable DSLRs in the future would be recording quick interviews by PJs in the field who may need to travel light.

During the short time I had the MK2 before I sold it I tried and tried to use the video feature well, because I really wanted it to be a great, useful feature; i love making videos and it would have been AWESOME to have all the benefits of interchangeable L lenses married to basic useability. But I have no focus puller employed full time, so I have to agree with Bacchanal here. The only time I was really very happy with what I got was when I set up a chair, pre-set the focus, set up my softboxes' modeling lights at full power and just talked into the camera.

You can see the result here (720 for Youtube) - you MUST click the "watch in HD" link underneath the video or it looks like a video recorded on my cell phone:

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=WrjEp7zN97A

Anyway, this is really where I think the most successful use will come from - static interview shots. Other than that it's just flat out impractical.

yea alot of it was oof but daaaaaaaaaaaaaaang the girl at 13 seconds you were filming was hot! aha

TheHoff wrote in post #7221478
If you mean the demo video that Canon released early, that was done on a $5,000 budget over one weekend, if I remember correctly. If you have the budget and money to hire models, a helicopter, assistants, etc, why not rent a RED and be free of the annoying limitations of trying to make an SLR do something it wasn't ergonomically designed to do?

Again, you could further define the niche that the 5D2 video will appeal to by saying there are a group of filmmakers or videographers where it makes more sense to own than rent as they don't need such a crew, but then the 'niche' is even smaller where this is not a gimmick.

reverie was shot with about 5k, but most of that went into everything other than things needed for the camera. With the red, assume $500 min to rent the system (if you can find a place that rents it), and another 500-1000 for a system to actually use and render the video. Even then, you are still stuck with just larger than a 2/3" sensor and all the limitations of that (compared with 3/2" of the 5dmkii). if you have a good tripod, the 5d will be as ergonomic as most video cameras... since all you really care about is the focus and focal length (most cameras allow iris and speed adjustments so they need better layouts, but if you are shooting a scene with preset specs, nothing changes from 5d to actual camera)

No it's not a gimmick..not to me anyway..Take if from someone who has 2 XHA1 cameras...the footage from theMarkii matches it to a tee and provides some very intersting looks that really enhance the projects I have used it on..Using a 70-200mm or 300mm 2.8 produces some awesome looking footage

TheHoff wrote in post #7219144
Every shot made indoors, including the opening shot, was out of focus. Outdoors where it could stop down it seemed to do OK. While I appreciate that you guys had fun, that thing just is not a very good camcorder.

Yup.

Your typical 5-10 second clips patched together for a video. Almost all 5D videos are like this for a reason... because if you shot more than a few seconds of a subject that's really moving around, or the camera is moving around, things get ugly fast.

I still contend that as a video capture tool the camera is pretty bad. If you see a really cool video, it's more of a testament to the video editing capabilities of the creator than it is to the capabilities of the camera.

Hopefully when the 1D MarkIIIn or MarkIV (whichever it is) gets released they finally implement a real video system that at least focuses in real-time and allows the user to change the settings.

People that can produce good things from it won't call it gimmick the rest do.

TheHoff wrote in post #7220346
If his indoor shots were at all focused, there wouldn't have been much to complain about with the camera's performance in his video. It isn't about 'accepting it' -- I accept it. Video will be in DSLRs. Great. The problem is that very few people have the skills to put together an interesting clip for more than a minute or two... and the camera will never have the 'shape' to be good for much handheld.

Gimmick? For 99% of owners, I say yes.

ERM....

99% of owners can't put interesting set of stills as well. And 99% of camcorder owners suck at video too.

If I were making a movie with 5D, I'd put it on a tripod, prefocus and then keep the focus throughout the take. My only problem is lack of exposure control.

tharmsen wrote in post #7688084
Yup.

Your typical 5-10 second clips patched together for a video. Almost all 5D videos are like this for a reason... because if you shot more than a few seconds of a subject that's really moving around, or the camera is moving around, things get ugly fast.

I still contend that as a video capture tool the camera is pretty bad. If you see a really cool video, it's more of a testament to the video editing capabilities of the creator than it is to the capabilities of the camera.

Hopefully when the 1D MarkIIIn or MarkIV (whichever it is) gets released they finally implement a real video system that at least focuses in real-time and allows the user to change the settings.

this guy mught beg to differ:
http://www.clivebooth.​co.uk/photopro/

Shooting HD is a different beast..your pans andcamera movements have to be smooth

As far as the video capture tool being pretty bad..even the best editing can't make badly shot video look good...garbage in, garbage out..In the right hands this camera can be a pretty effective tool.

TheHoff wrote in post #7221135
I don't think we're disagreeing at all. The other part of the point is that nothing else in the 5D2's price range, or even close, has a sensor large enough to make the DOF (and lack of focus) bothersome. So planning is a must, the candids just don't seem to work well with the current limitations.

I wouldn't buy it for candids.

I'd buy it so I can sit in a director's chair and yell: "Rolling... Sound... Action" with a separate microphone for audio, a clicker and a monitor. That's where the 5D can shine... and I'll be able to light my indoor set with just a couple of 200W bulbs instead of needing a generator or a team of electricians to run the cables to some huge projector. No other camera up to red one gives you similar lens options and sensor size (red one is smaller) and 35mm video film is smaller... and needs more light as well.

If it's to film a shaky vacation video in the afternoon - you can do that with any camera.