-
Buying a Canon DSLR. 60D, 7D, or 5D Mark II?
I am looking to pick up a DSLR to add to my growing equipment collection and use on my commercial work. I have been doing a lot of research and am almost 100% sold on the 60D but I wanted to check the COW before I make my purchase. So my question to everyone is of the three listed in the forum title with is the best for DSLR video, I plan on using it primarily for video.
The 60D has a flip out screen, which will be handy until I get an external monitor for it, and has audio controls which are also very important. And it is only around $1200 bucks with the standard lens.
Or I could get a 7D for about $1900, but I am not sure what the benefit of that would be for shooting video.
Or I could plop down like $4000 bucks for a 5D Mark II but again, I am not sure why I would want to do that. The 5D Mark II is the oldest of the three, it doesn’t have a flip out screen of audio controls so I am wondering why it is used in more professional situations than the 7D or even the 60D?
What are everyone’s thoughts?
-
12 Replies
-
I don’t see much difference between the 7D and the 60D other than one records 17.9 MP and the other 18. They both have the same size sensor. The 5D on the other hand, has a bigger sensor and records 21MP. The compression on all is the same: 44Mbps.
Dave J
-
5D MkII Has a full sensor. Better in low light, more color space, less video noise, more shallow depth of field. No video switch, or swivel screen. 12 minute limit on recording (4 Gig)
7D great camera w/ switch for video / still. Cropped Sensor than the 5D. Multiformat recording options Heavy duty body / water resistant
12 minute limit on recording (4 Gig)60D Plastic body, swivel LCD screen. same cropped sensor as 7D. Less options for ISO and other settings.12 minute limit on recording (4 Gig)
If I were to buy a camera now, and I had the budget, I wouldn’t waste my money on a DSLR. Now Panasonic has the AF 100, with a better sensor and full video camera / film camera options. You can mount any lenses, still, primes, etc. with an adapter Better sensor that the DSLR’s. Better contorls. No problems with Moire, jello effects, etc. No time limit on recording. (a problem with DSLR’s)
Sony also has a camera in this category, but it doesn’t have a swivel LCD or built in ND filter, which is a big issue for me.There ya go. Good luck.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut StudioHP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite -
If you don’t need full frame then the 5D is out, i am sure you already know that. I have a 60D and would not trade it for a 7D. for me the only advantage the 7d has is the burst rate. my 60D never fails me. it meters well and the 5.3 fps is good enough for just about any actions stopping. the video i am pretty sure is the same on both. i thought the flip/swivel screen would not impress me. i was dead wrong. i use it on just about every shoot. great for video and awesome for low or high angle work. best for low angle work. you can even shoot around a corner with it. so my vote is for the 60D. you will save a ton. it is not built as heavy as the 7d but if you take care of it then the build is plenty strong. good luck.
-
I’m not sure I’d go with the AF-100, at least in terms of image quality. The compression rate is only 24Mbps compared to 44Mbps with the Canon eos series cameras. Of course, you can run uncompressed out to another HD recorder but, that’s more cost. The AF-100 is still a CMOS sensor as is the DSLR. Ergonomics are better in some respects but, I guess it really depends on what you’re shooting.
Dave J
-
Yeah I’m definetly going to be getting a DSLR probably the 60D at this point. I have an XH-A1 which I still use for a lot of shoots but I’m pretty unhappy with it’s lack of DOF and the overal image quality in some areas. True I could get a DOF adapter for it but that would be a couple thousand and then another couple thousand for a lens. I think it’s going to be the 60D
-
60D is amazing bang for the buck.
5D will give you deeper color image.
As for the Panasonic AF100, I saw a test shoot in person, and was impressed. Enough to know I won’t buy another DSLR (I already have one) One big issue on DSLR images is the Moire pattern you get when you have things with stipes, or lines, ie: fences, bricks. Another is the Jello effect that can blow a live continuous shot. You also have a NF filter wheel that you can just dial in.
Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.netSony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut StudioHP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite -
The AF100 is indeed impressive but I don’t really want to spend 5 grand right now and I do think it would be good to have a DSLR in my arsenal
-
Hi Josh,
I think you have made the right descision, and I am a happy 7d owner!
I went for the 7d over the 60d in the beleif that the construction of the shutter mechanism is slightly more rugged. That is somthing I have to consider, with the number of shutter acctuations required for Stop Motion work.
I have to amortise the cost of the 7d body over the production of content; a five minute short for instance is upward of 6000 shutter acctuations ! The series of 45 second cinema commercials I am currently working on will be another 12000 or so. It adds up over not very much time !
Best of luck with the 60d
Regards,
FredStop Motion Animation.
Canon DSLR, and Zeiss glass.
StopMotion Pro software.
Adobe Production Suite software.
Autodesk Entertainment Suite software. -
[David Jones]I’m not sure I’d go with the AF-100, at least in terms of image quality. The compression rate is only 24Mbps compared to 44Mbps with the Canon eos series cameras
The AF-100 image is better than the DSLR image in almost every way, save for a bit deeper depth of field overall. The AF-100 uses AVCHD, a “professional” version of H.264, the Canon’s use a much-less efficient version, hence the need for the higher data rate.
-
[Gary Huff] “The AF-100 uses AVCHD, a “professional” version of H.264, the Canon’s use a much-less efficient version, hence the need for the higher data rate.”
I’m not sure that means the overall image quality is better, thou it could. I would really need to see a side-by-side comparison.
Dave J
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up