-
Can’t make up my mind on a new DSLR…
Hello everyone,
This summer I want to invest into a new DSLR, but I am stuck on 4 choices…
Canon 5D mk iii
Canon 6D
Sony a99
Panasonic GH3Some notes on my background:
I mostly do video work. Montages for restaurants, testimonials, interviews, weddings, music videos, run and gun shooting…I do want to dive more into photos though…I mostly would probably be getting outdoor portraits and live event style shoots. Not so much the indoor studio side…but anything is possible.
I currently have a Sony a33. I also have a few lenses I have invested in. 2 of them I dont use much…the kit lens and a 70-300 that starts at a 4. I also purchases a 50mm and a 30mm macro. Because of this I am digging the Sony a99. With a small selection started and a general like of the Sony dslr O.S. it kind of makes me want to stick with Sony.
The 2 Canons our on the list…well because its Canon. I have shot with a lot of the Canons for video…t2i, t3i, t4i, 7d, 5dmkii…you get the picture. I enjoyed shooting with these cameras, but I enjoy the Sony cameras the same. So with that said would it be wise for me to jump to Canon or just stick with Sony? On paper the a99 beats the 5d mkiii, but when I talk to pros they would never recommend a Sony over a Canon.
Lastly the GH3. I have shot with the GH2 for video and I was not a big fan of how the camera controlled. I was digging the menus,and the camera felt very toy like. With that said…the quality the camera gave me was just what I was looking for. Does the GH3 change up the menu system, or is that worry enough to make me stay away from it?
Thanks in advance!
-
22 Replies
-
Nothing wrong with the A99 for both stills and video.
Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera – one guide to rig them all – DSLRs to Reds to the Arri Alexa.
-
travis – It would be preferable to be able to use your existing lenses, but I would be concerned with the A99’s susceptibility to moiré:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jUgG-apUVo
I would get the GH3 – unlimited video clip length, reduced susceptibility to moire, truly articulated LCD, a useful wi-fi function, plus multiple 1080p codecs, bit rates and frame rates make it the best video value for your money, in my view.
It you don’t like looking for functions in menus, just program one of the 5 function buttons 🙂
The only challenge is that they are still sold out everywhere 6 months after the camera was introduced. If you don’t need the camera immediately, you can backorder a new one for $1300.
If you don’t mind paying a premium, you can get one on eBay for a little more.
Or, if you don’t mind buying used, you can get one from Amazon Warehouse Deals for $1197.
Hope this is helpful and good luck with your decision!
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
-
The Canon 5D MkIII has proven to be an incredible camera with audio control and a very wide range of color dynamics.
The low light capabilities let you shoot with the ISO up to 7000 with little or no noise.
Sell you sony lenses. They don’t compare to the Canon L-Series.
One side note; There have been some people with issues. For some reason, some cameras have frozen up, causing loss of media, which is scary. I don’t know if there is a fix yet.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro
with Final Cut Studio Adobe CS6 Production -
We’ve just spent 2 months with the 5D III and Nikon D800 shooting documentary stuff around southern Africa, both cameras were awesome, both had there weaknesses. The D800 has a slight moire issue, the 5D seems to do too much in camera correcting, leaving the image a little plasticky. If I had to make a head on the block decision between the two then it would be the D800… then again the 5D does have excellent low light capabilities.
“There’s no point in filming if you don’t have fun”
Charles Meadows
Creative Director
Incubate Productions South Africa
http://www.incubatevideo.co.za -
It makes sense for you to stick with Sony.
LD
-
Bill-How would another DSLR react to that footage though? Did they do other test with other DSLRs? The wait isnt a big deal…I wont have the money till this summer anyhow.
Also what lenses would you recommend to go with the GH3?
In general question….does the Sony a99 and Canon 5d mkiii overheat at all?
-
travis, one thing I forgot to mention above was price. The GH3 is the least expensive camera on your list. Since a couple of people have mentioned the 5D Mark III, I thought you might be interested in seeing side-by-sides between the $1300 camera and the $3000+ camera:
Turn the captions on to see which camera is which:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qLJ5Oc5adM
This one is labeled:
In my view, the GH3 gives you the most bang for the back.
Cheers,
Bill
Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.
-
Sorry – meant to say, “bang for the buck” 🙂
-
Nice job on the video, they cut together very nicely.
Chris
-
I don’t know about the GH3, usually well spoken about but if you intend on using motion tracking the Canon and Nikon designs use in lens motors and by that aspect alone, are no match for the A99.
A DP came over to test drive my D800 for that purpose, took the clips then reviewed the work.
He ended up with the A99, and the Sony glass he also bought are made by Zeiss.
The pieces I’ve done, with the D800 have not suffered from moire and for landscape stills, the D800 is comparable (technique being acute) to a MF design.
We have a couple of friends both with the D800 for stills.
One does advert shoots for design houses, she dumped her MK3 last June when someone dropped off a D800 to test.
The other does private client portraits (that seems to be code for the word celebrity) and only uses Zeiss or seminal Nikkor primes.
There is also (arguably) the dynamic range of Nikon as being superior to Canon but I’m not expert and will let that be championed by more technical minds.
Lastly, HDMI to SSD or HD recording, if that is important or not to your work.
The low light considerations for video past say 3200, perhaps the D4 and MK3.
Rob Manning
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up