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michael field

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I got my 7D primarily for shooting video, but I love finally having a high-end still camera too. I spent an hour or so shooting on the Upper West Side here in NYC with a borrowed 24 - 105 L series lens. Rather than tweak the color in post, I set the camera to monochrome and in-camera sharpening and contrast to 100%, which was perhaps a bit too much. I was going for a crisp Tri-X look. Though I suspect there's a Z-Finder in my future, I didn't have much trouble getting sharp focus just using the plain old LCD screen.

I've currently got the 17 - 55 2.8 but miss having more reach on the long end of the zoom, and wanted to see how the 24 - 105 performed. I'm quite pleased with the results even though it's only an F4 lens.

http://vimeo.com/8483779
 
Hi,

It's good to see a video user on this forum. I haven't seen very many posts about this important function of the 7D. I've really been impressed with the quality of the 7D videos on the Vimeo site.

I bought my 7D as an upgrade to my aging 10D, but also as an opportunity to get into HD video. I didn't really do my homework and learned after I bought it that video really requires manual focusing. How are you finding the focusing?

I like your video. Can you share how you did it? What settings did you use? I like the black and white and the overall feel of the video. What did you use to edit the video?

Thanks,
Scott...
 
Hi Scott --

The video was shot at 1080/24p. As the camera records the clips in H.264, which is not an edit-friendly codec, I used the indispensable free application MPEG Streamclip to transcode them to an editable format, in this case XDCAM EX, which is the codec my video camera uses, then imported them into Final Cut Pro for editing. It may sound like a lot of work but it's really not once you get the workflow down.

Although some posters have expressed difficulty using the LCD for focusing, I haven't had much trouble with it. It's not ideal, but I got used to it quickly. Shooting video with this sort of camera makes you think more, as all the auto functions I'm used to are just not available. The hope is it will make me (us) better shooters as well.

Regards.

Michael
sdenmark said:
Hi,

It's good to see a video user on this forum. I haven't seen very many posts about this important function of the 7D. I've really been impressed with the quality of the 7D videos on the Vimeo site.

I bought my 7D as an upgrade to my aging 10D, but also as an opportunity to get into HD video. I didn't really do my homework and learned after I bought it that video really requires manual focusing. How are you finding the focusing?

I like your video. Can you share how you did it? What settings did you use? I like the black and white and the overall feel of the video. What did you use to edit the video?

Thanks,
Scott...
Click to expand...
 
michael field said:
Hi Scott --

The video was shot at 1080/24p. As the camera records the clips in H.264, which is not an edit-friendly codec, I used the indispensable free application MPEG Streamclip to transcode them to an editable format, in this case XDCAM EX, which is the codec my video camera uses, then imported them into Final Cut Pro for editing. It may sound like a lot of work but it's really not once you get the workflow down.
Click to expand...
Hi Michael

Interesting you use XDCAM EX codec as some have suggested using ProRes, which is meant to be relatively lossless but gives a much bigger filesize. I can see the advantages of XDCAM EX - small file size but by putting it through another codec can result in quality loss - so I have read.

BTW, how do you check the correct exposure as there is no histogram or zebra, unless you shoot a still first. Easy to blow the highlights.

Nishi
 
Brunobl said:
DloudMountain said:
I'm interested to know what you're actually asking.
Click to expand...
I asked if the OP should'nt get a video camera instead of a DSLR, as his primary interest is in shooting video as opposed to still pictures.

--
Best regards,

Bruno Lobo.
Click to expand...
Most video cameras have a small chip, which means you can't easily achieve shallow DOF. If you watch the movies made with 5D or 7D and study the DOF you'll notice why film makers love these DSLRs. This is the strength of video DSLRs.
 
With such talent, (I really like his style and composure) wouldn't a descent video camera have added to the video. The 7D is so jerky, it's frame rate in this video jumps around all over the place. It was a real distraction to me. I've heard that the newer high speed CF cards will help this, but how much? It's a shame to wast this talent on such poor equipment. A video camer would have done much better.
--
Taking pictures is easy, making them art is hard. (al nunley)
Try not, Do, or Do Not. (yoda)
 
As Nishi writes, the benefit of the larger sensor is the very film-like DOF which I can't achieve on my 6K video camera, which is great when I need longer run times and more of a professional presence on a job. But for narrative pieces where I can control exposure and focus without being under the pressure of a run-and-gun situation, it's what filmmakers have been waiting for for years.

The original edited video file is not choppy at all, that's a result of the upload to Vimeo, whatever it is they do to encode it to Flash.

And Nishi, yes, I opted for the XDCam codec purely to keep the file sizes smaller. I'm not sure how much of a quality difference there is using Prores, but for a quick sample piece like this, XDCam was fine. After I transcode, I trash the original files anyway.
Nishi Sharma said:
Brunobl said:
DloudMountain said:
I'm interested to know what you're actually asking.
Click to expand...
I asked if the OP should'nt get a video camera instead of a DSLR, as his primary interest is in shooting video as opposed to still pictures.

--
Best regards,

Bruno Lobo.
Click to expand...
Most video cameras have a small chip, which means you can't easily achieve shallow DOF. If you watch the movies made with 5D or 7D and study the DOF you'll notice why film makers love these DSLRs. This is the strength of video DSLRs.
Click to expand...
 
The jerky vido might have something to do with the way the movie was edited or compressed for vimeo. 7D produces smooth movies otherwise. Editing H.264 movies need the right workflow to get good results.

I am a Nikon user but have bought 7D primarily for video production. This is for the following reasons:

a. for its ability to provide a shallow DOF
b. to be able to shoot in low light with primes

c. interchangable lenses. I could never use a fisheye on my Sony Z1E camcorder for example.

d. the movies shot on 7D are progressive as opposed to interlaced, giving it a film look

e. one camera on an overseas assignment can shoot both stills and movies, crucial in my line of work.

7D and 5D are not for everyone, just depends on the kind of work you do. The technology is evolving and for the time being we've to put up with its strengths and weaknesses.

When you see something like http://www.vimeo.com/6496808 you realise what a beautiful piece of equipment 5D and 7D are and appreciate their capabilities.

Nishi
http://www.lightandshade.net
 
Nishi Sharma said:
b. to be able to shoot in low light with primes
Click to expand...
My old Sony MinDV can shoot in much less light than my 10D, and I would think the new video stuff could shoot in even less light. I've done acceptable shots in the dark where you 7D could never get even close. Does your 7D have stereo sound?
--
Taking pictures is easy, making them art is hard. (al nunley)
Try not, Do, or Do Not. (yoda)
 
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