D3100 for video?

PardonTheWait

PardonTheWait

PardonTheWait

Soldato
Joined
26 Aug 2003
Posts
24,284
Hello,

Just a quick one really.

I toy with the idea quite often of getting hold of a decent camera with the main priority being video - pretty much 90% for video use.

It'd be for filming wakeboarding, so all outside, at variable distances but up to probably 50-75 feet or thereabouts, some a lot closer.

There's a pretty good deal at the moment for a D3100 for £220 refurbished with the 18-55 kit lens, and you can get hold of a 200mm lens for sub £100.

Would this work well, considering the money? I just don't have a lot more than about £300, so if I really need to spend more to get decent results, I'll probably leave it but I'm really tempted.

Good idea? bad idea? Any input appreciated :)
 
I'd recommend the D3100 as a generic DSLR, especially with the 18-55 lens. I bought this very kit for my girlfriend last year and she loved it. Brilliant camera, and if you can get it cheaply with the lens you want/need then its a bargain. Briliiant viewfinder coverage and perfect ergonomics. Picture quality is excellent and the 18-55 lens will be perfect for most shots. If you can get a 200mm lens (if thats the focal length you want) for a decent price then alls well (especially with the 1.5x crop factor)

Many people will try to persuade you between Canon and Nikon, and the difference at entry level is extremely minimal. The main differences you see is in the lenses you invest in
 
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I have a D3100. I haven't used it for video recording yet but I seem to recall that it only records in HD with a fairly low framerate. Low 20's. I think you have to drop the resolution to get it to record at a higher frame rate.
 
I don't think the AF is going to be up to the job, it's for filming cable wake boarding so I think it would struggle so will probably stick with manual focus.

From what I'm reading the D600 is going to be quite a lot better, but I'm not sure I want to spend that much - so it's between the D3100 and saving my money.

Or maybe a D600... :/
 
How about a used Panasonic G3 or G5?

The video quality is excellent, it has a nice screen for video and is quite small and portable and they can be had for well within your budget.

The AF on the G3 isn't that great but that shouldn't be a problem for you.
 
Sorry I meant 600d. The canons seem to get a bit more praise for video.

Hadn't looked into the panasonics but will do, thanks. The kit lens seems really short but it's micro 4/3 is that right? So how does that work out, do they come up longer? I'm unsure what sort of zoom I'm going to need, you can usually get reasonably close, but it varies. It's from the side of the lake but most obstacles are closeish, not all though.

I've got no experience with video outside of gopro type stuff so it's all new to me.
 
The 14-42mm lens on the Panny equates to 28-84mm (x2 crop factor) in 35mm terms, the Canon's 18-55mm is 29-88mm (x1.6 crop factor).
 
Columbo said:
The 14-42mm lens on the Panny equates to 28-84mm (x2 crop factor) in 35mm terms, the Canon's 18-55mm is 29-88mm (x1.6 crop factor).
Click to expand...

Practically the same then. I'll look into how much a longer lens is because I suspect I'll need one at some point. And look into what MFT is about as a whole in terms of cost and availability and so on.

Thanks :)
 
Pretty much super confused now.

600D, D3200, G5.

The G5 and D3200 are very close in price, negligible.

G5 has a flippy screen which will be mega useful for video, but opinions on MFT are all over the place. But it's 50/60p.

Nikon is 24/30p but there's going to be more choice for lenses I guess. No flippy screen but a much better screen than the D3100 which I've now ruled out totally.

There seem to be a lot of lenses available in terms of older stuff for the MFT by using an adaptor, and manual focus shouldn't really be an issue.

None the wiser really! Hard to find good information primarily concerning video - both cameras will definitely be more than good enough for any photography stuff, which I'm sure I'll end up doing, but more as a byproduct than my actual aim.
 
Plus side of going nikon is all the lenses you buy are an investment and will all be able to be used if you decide to upgrade. I don't think the nikon F mount is going anywhere :D Not sure if that will be the same case with the G5

It is a lower frame rate but its perfectly fine for most things on my gfs D3100 (which is the same frame rate) and takes up less space on your hard drive. Downside is because of the mirror involved, it takes that much longer to get up and running. But from that downside, its also nicer to take pictures with a non-electric viewfinder...

Have you got anywhere to go and try a similar version of the G5 and the D31/2/300? Thats probably the best way to puzzle it out. Try and see which one you get on best with
 
Picked up a Lumix G5 today. Went with it because of the 1080p at 60fps, swivel screen, and with an adapter I should be able to get some decent older lenses for fair money.

Thanks for all the advice guys, been really helpful.
 
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