Do you shoot video with your SLR.

[SimonSpear 65]

Personally I've only used a 5DmkII and a 7D. They do not produce the same image, but they are both nice in their own way and I wouldn't personally say that one is better than the other. Some people prefer the 5DmkII, some prefer the 7D.

 

From what I have seen the 550D/T2i, 60D and the 1DmkIV all also produce very nice video, but again they are all slightly different with their own plus and minus points. I've never used those cameras so this comes from only what I've seen in comparison tests.

 

With regard to the lack of auto focus then there is not anyone I know who uses auto focus underwater as there are far too many particles even in clear tropical water to get away with it without focus 'hunting' ruining the shots. For WA shots you can set focus and as long as you use F7+ you can normally get away without changing focus at all.

 

Cheers, Simon

 

P.S. I should just add that I'm not a champion of HDSLR's. As I've said many times before they can be a pain in the ass to use and I would always choose a similar quality 'camcorder' above them given no budget or other restrictions.

Edited January 25, 2011 by SimonSpear

[Davide DB 492]

Just use a variable ND filter and change exposure that way. It's the smoothest way to do it although you will have to be very vigilant. It's not easy for those who aren't experienced focus pullers, but with a bit of practice, a strong tripod and a light touch, it can work nicely.

Just work out the color casts of the filter and WB it before you shoot.

 

Humm for the sunrise/sunset ok but underwater?

 

Why whatever plain camcorder can change aperture smoothly nearly without showing what's going on and a HDSLR cannot?

I mean from the technical point of view.

 

Bye

[Drew 0]

You asked how to change exposure for the dusk/dawn shots. So I supplied a possible solution.

 

Underwater, you just have to segment your shots for a sequence. Requires a bit of planning but the results will certainly be as good if not better than a master shot of the wreck from bow to stern. But that's just my opinion.

[Nick Hope 151]

Do the canon D60 and t2i, have the same video quality, and capabilities as the 7D?

Yes, pretty much so, from what I understand. t2i is pretty small and light, if that's what you want. 7D is the most rugged and waterproof, with the most housings. But for me the 60D looks like a nice middle-ground and the articulated display is an absolute winner for topside video. Last time I looked there was only an Ikelite housing for it.

 

I'm thinking these 3 cropped-sensor models would be great for macro, where you have time to mess with settings and set up the shot. I suspect full frame like 5D mk2 is going to be too limiting with the depth of field. But I won't be buying any time soon, so I'm holding out for the 7D mk2 (with, I hope, articulated display). But by that time all these dSLR benefits will hopefully have been built into proper video cameras at a closer price point.

[wagsy 0]

I took mine up in Helicopter the other day...

All I can say is double check your sensor for dust before a flight

Shooting sunny wide bright blue sky and water brings out the tiniest of tiny specs.

 

Up again with it on a gyro next.

[pmooney 6]

I took mine up in Helicopter the other day...

All I can say is double check your sensor for dust before a flight

Shooting sunny wide bright blue sky and water brings out the tiniest of tiny specs.

 

Up again with it on a gyro next.

 

Oops !

[wagsy 0]

[JohnnyQuest 8]

But by that time all these dSLR benefits will hopefully have been built into proper video cameras at a closer price point.

 

 

What about the new Canon XA10? Shouldn't that shoot better (or at least as good) video and offer much better control?

[SimonSpear 65]

But by that time all these dSLR benefits will hopefully have been built into proper video cameras at a closer price point.

 

That's what we're all waiting for!

[Drew 0]

What about the new Canon XA10? Shouldn't that shoot better (or at least as good) video and offer much better control?

 

Depends on who you ask. XA10 sensor is 1/3" and AVCHD vs 40+mbps of the DSLR plus big sensor.

[JohnnyQuest 8]

Depends on who you ask. XA10 sensor is 1/3" and AVCHD vs 40+mbps of the DSLR plus big sensor.

 

 

Ok, I'm quite confused. Why would Canon even bother with video cameras anymore if they can't compete with the video capabilities of their own DSLRs? Nikon, who doesn't have a camcorder line, is obviously interested in making a very-capable dual-function camera (D7000), but why doesn't Canon just give up and go that route too? Why spend the R&D money on a product (camcorder) that seems to be nearly dead? Why wouldn't they put a big chip in their camcorders? How can they sell a dedicated device that won't outperform the "side function" of their other device?

[DeanB 19]

Ok, I'm quite confused. Why would Canon even bother with video cameras anymore if they can't compete with the video capabilities of their own DSLRs? Nikon, who doesn't have a camcorder line, is obviously interested in making a very-capable dual-function camera (D7000), but why doesn't Canon just give up and go that route too? Why spend the R&D money on a product (camcorder) that seems to be nearly dead? Why wouldn't they put a big chip in their camcorders? How can they sell a dedicated device that won't outperform the "side function" of their other device?

 

 

Camcorders are not dead ... Its just the ViDslr shooters trying to justify their expensive purchases or stills shooters hoping to become videographers because of their disappointing skills in still imagery ...

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[Captain_Caveman 0]

Hi Andrea

 

Yes, everything was shot in full manual. When shooting video you can't change shutter speed (fixed at either 1/50 PAL or 1/60 NTSC) and you only have 2 usable settings for ISO (either 160 or 320) then all you have to adjust is aperture, so it is very easy to shoot in manual mode.

 

Cheers, Simon

 

 

Simon, those depth examples in the vid look great!

 

 

I'd disagree on the shutter speed, of course, you can change shutter speed, it's just good for aesthetics to keep the same look throughout, but nothing stopping you dropping the shutter speed from 1/60 down to 1/30 for instance.

 

I also shoot a lot at 2500, I even shoot at 6400 but you have to expect some noise especially in the blues.

 

 

 

Vid shot at 6400 ISO f/2.8 1/30s

 

Edited January 27, 2011 by Captain_Caveman

[SimonSpear 65]

Camcorders are not dead ... Its just the ViDslr shooters trying to justify their expensive purchases or stills shooters hoping to become videographers because of their disappointing skills in still imagery ...

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

 

LOL Dean you crack me up.

 

To answer JohnnyQuest's question though - dedicated camcorders are not dead and certainly will never be as long as I can see, unless someone eventually brings out a HDSLR with all of the benefits of a camcorders form factor and their other abilities. Almost any camcorder in existence you can just switch on and start filming with - you just can't do that with an HDSLR.

 

Cheers, Simon

[SimonSpear 65]

I'd disagree on the shutter speed, of course, you can change shutter speed, it's just good for aesthetics to keep the same look throughout, but nothing stopping you dropping the shutter speed from 1/60 down to 1/30 for instance.

 

I also shoot a lot at 2500, I even shoot at 6400 but you have to expect some noise especially in the blues.

 

Sure you can drop to 1/25 or 1/30 shutter speed, but you then have to expect to get quite a lot of motion blur as you'll never really get a sharp image at those speeds. Similarly you could jump to 1/100 or 1/120, but would be in danger then of getting a strobing effect on your footage. I've never shot anything I've been happy with above ISO 640 using WB and available light although admittedly it doesn't look the same kind of noise that I get on the clip you posted, so perhaps it works better with lights in a dark environment. I've found that bumping up the ISO while trying to shoot with WB/available light just doesn't work, but I'd love to see some examples where it does if you have them?

 

Cheers, Simon

[ronscuba 4]

I think some people are reporting the 5d can go higher on the ISO than the 7d before noise becomes a problem.

[derway 2]

Have you guys all checked out the 'magic lantern' firmware? It can be loaded temporarily, from a bootable memory card, and then gives you even more controls and video specific gizmos, like zebra stripes, audio meters. Also you can tune the video compression as good as you want, up near 50 mbps, as long as you have a fast enough memory card.

 

It runs on 5dmk2, 40,50,60d, and 550/t2i, but not the 7d

 

http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_L...n_Firmware_Wiki

[Drew 0]

Don you can't use ML firmware then switch back to normal use in a housing.

[derway 2]

Don you can't use ML firmware then switch back to normal use in a housing.

 

The guys in this forum seem more interested in video than stills anyway.

 

But as I read the FAQ, all you have to do is power off and on, and not select 'load new firmware'.

 

Or is power off not considered a reboot?

 

Here is the relevant section:

 

 

Nothing is written into the ROMs. When the camera reboots, the RAM image is flushed and the bootloader FROMUTIL at 0xFFFF0000 starts the pristine copy in ROM at 0xff810000. After any reboot (or even powersave), you must select the "Update firmware" menu item. When autoboot is enabled, a flag in permanently set in the camera that allows it to boot automatically from the AUTOBOOT.BIN file on the CF card.

[Captain_Caveman 0]

Have you guys all checked out the 'magic lantern' firmware? It can be loaded temporarily, from a bootable memory card, and then gives you even more controls and video specific gizmos, like zebra stripes, audio meters. Also you can tune the video compression as good as you want, up near 50 mbps, as long as you have a fast enough memory card.

 

It runs on 5dmk2, 40,50,60d, and 550/t2i, but not the 7d

 

http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_L...n_Firmware_Wiki

 

I didn't know that they had ramped up the data rate, is it stable!?

[derway 2]

I didn't know that they had ramped up the data rate, is it stable!?

 

From what I read, it is stable as long as you have a fast enough memory card.

 

If you go faster than that, it will shoot until the buffer fills up, and then stop.

 

People have reported running 100mbps for a very limited time. Though that might have been on the gf1/gh1, which also have great video firmware hacks.

[Drew 0]

It's stable up to 60+mbps in 24p but one has to turn off all other functions like zebra etc. The processor can't handle the added computations otherwise. The card has to be 400x or faster.

I've used it topside and also tried v.016 underwater and I won't say anymore than suggest people not use it unless they specifically want the 5D2 to shoot video. If the firmware hangs, you need to remove the battery to power cycle the camera quickly before the ARM goes into a loop and possibly fries your camera. Can't do that in a housing. Just beware that it can and does fail. Plus the 5D2 overheats... it just doesn't warn you like the 7D!

[scottleslie 0]

What are you guys shooting: 24p or 30p (or 25 and 50 in Europe)?

[jumpcutter 0]

Ok I've just uploaded a few random examples of shots from different depths that I filmed last week. Everything was shot on a 7D using a Hugyfot housing, dome and 10-22mm EFS lens. All of these clips are straight out of the camera with no colour correction or any other modification and they were all shot without using a filter.

 

 

The shot at 30m is from the sea bed at the Salem and the 35+m shot is the bow of the Rosalie. For anyone who has dived the Rosalie you'll know how dark the dive can sometimes be, so I'm very happy with these results. Normally with most cameras I find it easy to WB off the surface or sun, but with the 7D I was getting a green colour cast using this method so all shots were WB using either the palm of my hand or sand.

 

Cheers, Simon

 

Hi,

Simon, I like the footage. I also really enjoyed the cenote footage on Captain Caveman's signature.

I'm a newb so can't create a new topic, so am hijacking this one momentarily. I've been trolling the archives and still am a bit stumped. I HAVE a sony PMW-EX3 already. I shoot mainly news and news features. Really like the cam for this. Some of my clients are interested in underwater stories. I am in the midst of PADI certification and realize it's a big learning curve.

 

I was on the verge of getting a 7D and housing, but the more I read, the more it appears I will be struggling with a. improving as a diver, b. adapting to shooting underwater c. learning a new camera with totally different behavior than my videocam.

 

Also, It appears that a housing for my EX3 would likely cost about the same or even less than a new 7D setup. (Actually, the only housing I see readily available for my EX3 is the Equinox - anybody like/dislike it? Has anybody TRAVELED with the thing?)

 

I'd greatly appreciate any thoughts on whether I should really dive into using a dSLR for underwater or just stick with what I know.

 

Here's are two examples of the kinds of things I shoot - the underwater footage was done by someone else.

 

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/...n-reef-vin.html

 

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/...s-2011-vin.html

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

[synthetic 4]

Has anyone been able to get perfect trim from a 5D2 in an Ikelite housing? I'm thinking about trying video, but the dome port wants to bob to the surface on my camera. I could try a float on the back of the camera of course. Does anyone have photos of a housing that's been trimmed for video? Something like those Gates housings that you can move with two fingers and they hover perfectly.