[Bill Bruner]

Jim Miller posted his grade of Grant’s footage in full 4K on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki0y0j4j378

Not bad for a camera that costs less than a Canon 5D Mark III with a 24-70 lens on it 🙂

[Bill Bruner]

Even if YouTube’s algorithms don’t take it down, you are risking a DMCA takedown notice at best and a lawsuit from the copyright holder at worst.

There’s less risk of this happening on Vimeo – but,for their own protection, they’re serious about this stuff too: https://vimeo.com/help/faq/legal-stuff/fair-use

People post copyrighted music all the time, but, in my view, it’s not worth the reputational or financial risk to your business (or to you personally, if you’re not incorporated).

Maybe you can give the couple the edit with the music track they requested and post a separate YouTube edit with a track from freestockmusic.com or a similar service? I use it, it’s absolutely free, and the tracks are decent.

I’m no lawyer, so this advice is worth pretty much what you paid for it 🙂

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Bill Bruner]

Hi Jesc – stabilizers and follow focus rigs are expensive. It may be cheaper simply to buy a second camera with built-in autofocus and stabilization such as the $1219 (on sale) Sony RX10.

Andrew Reid from eoshd used the RX10 to shoot his “Run and Gun” video – all handheld using in-camera autofocus and stabilization:

https://vimeo.com/80319639

Here is a Canon shooter who has retired his 5D in favor of the C100 for his pro work and the RX10 for his personal work:

https://forums.planet5d.com/threads/128231-My-5D-did-well-but-im-not-using-it-much-anymore-C100-and-RX10-have-killed-it?p=734698&viewfull=1#post734698

If you want to spend a little less, there are a few “open box” RX10s available at Adorama for $937.

Hope this is helpful and best of the holidays!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Bill Bruner]

Nice sharp, clean image, Roger. Here is a similar handheld shoot with the GH3 at the Cal Academy in San Francisco (shot through the glass by emm over at CheesyCam):

https://vimeo.com/55757671

By flat, are you referring to color? If so, that’s a choice. Most people shoot “Natural” on the GH3, I prefer the more colorful “Vivid”.

I am a big Nikon fan. My first DSLR was a D50 (it’s still on the shelf in the closet :)), and I would certainly recommend the D5300 to DSLR video shooters over any Canon Rebel. But I absolutely need the GH3‘s viewfinder and a headphone jack when I shoot video, and I have a very hard time buying a video camera with the Nikon/Canon/Sony 30 minute limit.

Best of the holidays to you and yours!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Bill Bruner]

Here’s a great chart from Wolf Crow comparing most of the recorders on the market: https://wolfcrow.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ComparisonExternalRecorders.jpg

Convergent Design’s upcoming Odyssey 7 looks like the winner, but it’s hard to say until they actually ship and we see in-depth reviews and samples.

That said, their Nanoflash recorder was a winner, and “first-look” Odyssey 7 preview videos from Zacuto and Erik Naso are promising.

https://vimeo.com/70586562

https://vimeo.com/64209486

I agree with Roger on the advantages of 60p. If you can wait, I recommend the $1295 Odyssey 7 (when available) plus a $797 Nikon D5300.

Here is what the D5300 can do (European camera, so shot at 1080/50p rather than US standard 1080/60p): https://vimeo.com/80950052

Note the lack of moire on the rooftops. The $2797 D800 would likely have produced shot-ruining moire in the same situation.

Hope this is helpful and best of the holidays!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

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[Bill Bruner]

So, The GH3 records for hours.
Is that at best Quality?

Yes

The D5300 only records 1080P 60 for 10 minutes at best Quality.
However, that quality is superb.
I have a Odyssey7 ordered, it does extended recordingss at 1080P 60.

How good are the best Videos from the GH3?

Here are a couple of examples recorded at 1080/60p 50mbps (higher bit rate than Nikon cameras)

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How high ISO can it use?

ISO6400 max

Are the Low-Light Movies any good?
The D5300 Video at 12,800 in low light are very good indeed

Here’s some low light shot at 60p/50mbps and 24p/72mbps:

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Are the Action (moving subject) movies any good?

The slow motion portions of this horse jump video were filmed with the GH3:

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[Bill Bruner]

Hi Jason – as I recall, your criteria included

1080/60p, autofocus and minimal moire? The 6D has a pretty serious moire challenge, as seen here:

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..and it has a continuous recording limit measured in minutes instead of hours.

The 6D (and D5300) are limited to 29 minutes and 59 seconds of continuous recording at 1080/30p before they have to be restarted (the D5300 only records for 20 minutes at 1080/60p, while the 6D and all Canon DSLRs lack 1080/60p)

See the Canon 6D press release with reference to the recording time limits here: https://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e0248065d8c4

See Nikon D5300 specs with reference to the recording time limits here: https://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/1519/D5300.html

As with camcorders, Canon and Nikon now span files across the 4GB limit – but both manufacturers purposely limit their DSLRs to 30 minutes in software for EU tax reasons – and are too lazy to remove the limit outside of the EU.

Panasonic is the only DSL manufacturer that removes this limit for its non-EU customers.

I use my cameras like camcorders, so I can’t buy these intentionally crippled cameras.

And, after answering desperate questions from several shooters who were surprised when their cameras stopped recording in the middle of wedding ceremonies or other important events, I don’t recommend them for anyone except narrative and other short clip shooters.

The GH3, on the other hand, records for hours at 1080/60p

See specs here: https://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gh3/specifications.html

As far as lenses go – you can use Canon lenses with micro 4/3 (MFT) cameras such as the GH3 and have full aperture (but not autofocus) control with a Redrock Micro Livelens adapter.

The total price of an $899 GH3 and the $598 Redrock Micro Livelens adapter is less than a 6D, even at the $1499 sale price.

The Metabones EF to MFT adapter is not yet available.

Cheers and good luck with your decision!

Bill

[Bill Bruner]

Looks like Deejay from dslrfilmnoob thinks the DR-60D is the better option.

I am seriously looking at selling my DR-40 and picking up a $249 DR-60. If I do, I’ll let you know whether the gain control is smooth or stepped.

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Bill Bruner]

Hi Lisa – I had a T2i and still have the GH2, so I may be able to help.

Something you may find helpful is that both the T3i and the GH3 have lossless “crop modes” that extend their effective focal length beyond the sensor crop.

For the GH2, this mode is called Extended Tele Converter or ETC mode, and gives you 2.7x more magnification, for an effective crop of 5.4x.

If you rent a Panasonic 35-100mm f2.8 lens, ETC and the 2x sensor crop combine to give you the equivalent of a 540mm at f2.8.

The other advantage of the GH2 as an unattended balcony camera is that it doesn’t shut down and require a restart after 12 minutes of continuous recording (which is what you will need to do with your Canons). The GH2 can record continuously for hours.

If you don’t mind restarting every 12 minutes, the T3i has a similar crop mode. It gives you 3x more magnification, for an effective crop of 4.8x.

If you decide to rent the Canon 70-200 f2.8, the crop mode and the 1.6x sensor crop combine to give you an effective focal length of 960mm at f2.8.

If you’re going to be in the balcony with the camera, I recommend the T3i and the longer lens. If it’s an unattended camera, I recommend the GH2, the 35-100 f2.8 and ETC.

(When you feel more comfortable with the GH2, you can put your Canon lenses on it with an inexpensive adapter, and get both the 5.4x crop and the longer lens.)

Hope this is helpful and good luck with the shoot!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[Bill Bruner]

Michael – Al makes a good point. And buying the Tascam DR-60D just got easier. It just dropped to $249 at Amazon.

Good luck,

Bill