[Isaac Brillant]

Hi Henry-

Curious, since I’m buying a camera now. Did you choose the 550D/t2I because the 60D wasn’t out yet, or because it has magic lantern, or for $$ reasons?

thanks

[Isaac Brillant]

I have a follow up question on this thread, now that that Nikon D5100 has come out…

Especially for video use, does the Nikon D5100 lack anything important that the Canon 60D has, or have anything important that the Canon lacks?

On snapsort.com: https://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_60D-vs-Nikon-D5100
I came up with these results. I selected the ones that I think are the most relevent. I’d love to hear the experts input on which features really make a difference in practice, and get some clarification on what some of the specs mean in a real world setting. My comments and questions are in italics.

ADVANTAGES OF CANON 60D (according to Snapsort):

60D has a built-in focus motor; D5100 does not.
Q: What does this mean? What is the alternative?

60D has a Pentaprism viewfinder; D5100 has a Pentamirror
Q: I know that on the 60D you can’t use the viewfinder in movie mode because the mirror is locked up. Is it the same for D5100?

60D has 9 cross-type focus points; D5100 has 1.
Q: But below, it also says that the D5100 has 11 focus points, vs the 60D’s 9 points

60D has 10% higher resolution screen of 1,040k dots vs the D5100’s 920k dots
Q: Is this enough of a difference to make a difference in seeing focus when pulling focus manually?

ADVANTAGES OF NIKON D5100 (according to Snapsort):

D5100 has “significantly better image quality” 80.0 vs 66.0, more than 20% better image quality.
Q: I dont know what the #’s 80.0 vs 66.0 refer to, or what aspect of the “image quality” those refer to.

D5100 has much more dynamic range: 13.6 EV (Exposure Value) vs 11.5 EV
Q: This sounds important for movie shooting. But is the different of 2 significant, and can’t the 60D be set to have as wide a range?

D5100 has 2.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Q: So now the dynamic range is being measured in f-stops? On which end of the spectrum? And is this only relevant if you use a lens of a certain speed? Or does it just mean that for any photo or video, the image will have levels on each end of the brightness spectrum that are 1 stop brighter and 1 stop darker than the same image would be on a 60D?

D5100 has Video autofocus that uses Contrast detection. The 60D does not.

Q: BUT, I think that what snapsort means is that the 60D doesn’t have CONTINUOUS autofocus in movie mode, while the D5100 does. On the 60D, I think you can still trigger AF in movie mode by pressing the shutter (which sounds better to me anyway because there’s more control.)

My question is, does the 60D use a different method of AF than it uses when taking stills? Is the 60D’s AF as fast or as useful as the D5100’s AF? (Also, if someone could point me to a link that would explain the hierarchy of the various methods of autofocusing – contrast detection, phase detection etc etc – that would be useful)

I know that professionals prefer to use manual, as do I, but sometimes in run & gun situations, it’s useful to have AF, especially if you’re already at a higher f-stop with more DOF

The D5100 has in-camera HDR (high dynamic range).
Q: But I think that the 60D also has HDR, and calls it AEB or Auto Exposure Bracketing. Is the difference that the D5100 processes the 3 exposures from the same shot, and processes the final image in-camera, thus “In Camera HDR” whereas the 60D needs to take 3 seperate shots in quick succession and you have to process them in post?

D5100 has Significantly better color depth, of 23.5 bits vs the 60D’s 22.2 bits, and distinguishes around 2.5x more colors.
Q: Really? that sounds like a big advantage. Is it true in a practical sense?

The D5100’s boost ISO is 1 f-stop better. Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Q: Not sure what this means. And when would you use this fast an ISO?

D5100 has a 10% larger sensor. APS-C 23.6×15.6mm vs the 60D’s APS-C 22.3×14.9mm.
Q: So a little shallower DOF, and the ability to get a little wider shot than the 60D with the same lens?

D5100 has 11 focus points. 60D has 9.
Q: But what kind of focus points? Above, it says that the 60D has 9 cross-type focus points and the D5100 has 1.

Nothing is mentioned about audio.
Does the D5100 have manual controls? Can you monitor and adjust sound on it during recording (which you can’t do on the 60D without Magic Lantern)

Lastly, is there an equivalent of Magic Lantern for Nikons? I heard that ML is not out yet for the 60D but it sounds like it will be out soon.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[Isaac Brillant]

Thanks for all your advice. After reading up on this and other forums, I may return the 60D and get the GH2. Either way, I’ll look into some good lenses from Nikon, Canon or Sigma,and that Fotodiox adapter, if it’s needed.

[Isaac Brillant]

Ohh – I never noticed that Like button before…
Great, thanks. is there a way to organize them or categorize them within the Liked tab?

Thanks again

[Isaac Brillant]

Also, could any of you recommend a reputable online seller, or ebay seller, for used lenses? thanks

[Isaac Brillant]

Phil and Jonothan – thanks for your additional feedback. I think I’ve got a better understanding of it now, so I’ll look into some of these lenses… (though I’m sure I cant afford the L series now)
thanks!

[Isaac Brillant]

Hi,

Thanks for your advice.

To answer your question about shooting environment, I would be shooting indoors, mostly interviews, that I would light with a 750 watt lowell tota light with an umbrella, a 500 watt omni light with an umbrella, and if I need to, a 32″ x 32″ 1K Rifa light.

I’m usually in rooms like offices or classrooms, with those long overhead fluorescents that I usually turn off for interviews. Or offices and classrooms with windows that I try to use for ambient light, and then gel the lights mentioned above.

But on occasion I need to shoot indoor B Roll where I don’t have control of the lights and do need to have those overhead fluorescent lights on. So those are the types of environments where I was wondering whether f/3.5 or f/4 would be fast enough.

Is there a difference between the measurement of an f-stop on a DSLR, and the same f-stop on an HOX170? Are they equivalent, or does one allow higher exposure because of some other factor like sensor size? (The reason I ask is because I shoot with my HPX indoors often, and I’m rarely at a f stop more open than f3 or 4, but is it different on an SLR?)

I dont think I can invest in an L lens at this point 🙁 But I’m thinking of buying a fotodiox adapter and using some of my old manual F lenses as primes. (good idea?) I also may get the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 prime.

But my main decision to make now is what kind of zoom lens to get, that would allow for indoor shooting in rooms with “average” ambient light.

thanks for your feedback
Yitz

[Isaac Brillant]

thanks for the reply…

Is there any way to compare the f stop values on a HPX170 and a DSLR? Are they the same, or not equivalent? (because often when shooting interviews with my HPX, I’m on f4 or 5.6, according to the read-out, but does that not translate to a lens on a DSLR?

Also, the variable zoom issue – would that be any different than the change of f-stop when I zoom on my HPX?

thanks!

[Isaac Brillant]

Thanks, I’ll try that.
Do you lose quality when you Export from FCP without changing the compression?
thanks!

[Isaac Brillant]

good point. I’d go that route, except that right now I dont have a miniDV camera. I may make master miniDV backups later. I dont think I’ll every actually edit this footage into anything – I just dont want my only copy to be these 10 – 15 year old tapes. thanks!