[Brent Dunn]

no dslr will record for 20 minutes. Typcically you’ll get around 12 minutes before it stops (4 Gig), then you’ll need to press record again. So for long ceremonies, you have to be on top of things.

60 D will fit your needs, but the lenses will eat up your budget. I’d start with the L-Series 24-70 2.8 as your starter lens.

Personally, I’d buck up and get the Panasonic AF-100. Then you don’t have the DSLR issues to deal with and get the DSLR look that you are looking for.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

Zoom H4n has great audio. Yes it works.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

NO, simple answer.

If you are doing this for a living, you need to invest in quality equipment. L-Series lenses have a great look. There are other quality lenses for less, but it will look different. Also, time to upgrade your camera to at least a 60 D.

Better quality means better business.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

Transcoding to quicktime may be part of the problem. What are you using to author your DVD? If you use Encore, you can just let Encore do the transcoding for you.

What is happening is you are transcoding to one codec and the DVD authoring software is transcoding it again, further degrading your images.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

I will repeat the previous post. Use the ND filters for shooting in the sunlight. And, remember to turn them off for night shooting. I use my manual iris to adjust for night shooting.

Even though it is great in low light, you need some lighting for night time shooting.

Are you using warm / cool cards to set your white balance?

I sometimes use 75% zebra…if you see a lot of zebra, you are blowing out your whites, so dial down your iris, turn on your ND filters.

Some people use the histogram. When you see peaking at the tops, your whites are blowing out.

Use your eye finder for outside shooting, you can’t see your LCD that well in bright sunlight.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

Try a test capture through firewire, hdmi, or composite and see if there is a difference. Not ideal, but just another way to problem solve the issue at hand.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

Prime’s are great for fixed distances, but when doing live events, your subject generally move and you may be subject to restrictions on where you can set up.

I use primes for prep time and zooms for ceremony & reception. When I am getting B-Roll shots, I’ll switch to prime.

I have the Canon L-series 24-70 and 70 – 200. These two will cover about everything you’ll need. Then get a 50 macro, and whatever you budget allows.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

Zoom has a 16 & 32 mixer / recorder for under $500 for audio.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/600773-REG/Zoom_R16_R16_Multi_Track_Recorder.html

Synch it in post.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

If you are close to B&H, then I would suggest going there. Stage lighting will give you enough light for most cameras.

There are many choices. The sony EX1 is great in lowlight and detail, but it’s also 6 grand. You might find a used one out there.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite

[Brent Dunn]

The Panasonic 150 is also comparable.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/575992-REG/Panasonic_AG_HMC150PJU_AG_HMC150_AVCCAM_Camcorder.html

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite