DLSR for £500 (Must have good recording)

fiveub · 13 Aug 2011 at 19:47

I was looking at video recorders and changed my mind to go for a DLSR which has functions to record HD film, I am more interested in the film side of it, but I would be hitting 2 birds with 1 stone by being able to take photos too which is something else I want to do.

My budget is £500 what is the best out there for that price? - I will be getting a tripod, maybe lenses too if recommended, and attachments etc.

Hope someone can help.

Ksanti · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:02

Are you comfortable manual focusing during the video?

fiveub · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:04

I would say so, if not I can learn.

I have been looking at the Canon 550D, it looks great.

ak22 · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:06

I will be honest don't know much about DSLR, but I have been helping a friend look for one as hes getting into short films.
From what I have found out the Canon 600D is great camera for HD movies cheapest I found it for was: £535.80 with lens kit.

http://www.digitalrev.com/en/canon-eos-600d-with-18-55mm-f3-dot-5-5-dot-6-is-ii-lens-kit-11106.html

Also check out the Nikon D5100 or maybe the Canon 550D (very similar to 600D but no flip screen and few less video features)

fiveub · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:08

Ah, I am liking the 600D, I like the flip out screen, does that mean I could put it on a tripod and view myself through the screen? Does it rotate towards to subject?

ak22 · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:11

Yes it does

James J · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:12

5UB said:
Ah, I am liking the 600D, I like the flip out screen, does that mean I could put it on a tripod and view myself through the screen? Does it rotate towards to subject?

Yes and the D5100 also has the same functionality in that respect.

The only issue I have with my D5100 on full HD recording is that the autofocus is loud enough to be heard in the movie your recording, meaning manual focus only to avoid the excessive noise.

ak22 · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:18

Check this out has some nice reviews and videos on all the cameras mentioned above: http://www.cameralabs.com/buyers_guide/mid_range_DSLRs/best_mid_range_DSLR.shtml

Also make sure you head to local camera shop and test them for the feel, I find the ergonomics plays a big factor.

Edit: the prices shown on that link are way off what they should be

PermaBanned · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:21

James J said:
Yes and the D5100 also has the same functionality in that respect.

The only issue I have with my D5100 on full HD recording is that the autofocus is loud enough to be heard in the movie your recording, meaning manual focus only to avoid the excessive noise.

Have you experienced any of this?

I ask because the last time this came up on another forum somebody seemed quite worried about it, although i haven't heard it as a complaint at all. Nor can i see the effect in any Pentax K-r footage i've found. Just musing about the pros and cons of CMOS and CCD for video...

Oh, and 5UB - since you're buying a complete kit it would be useful to know what you're actually videoing? If you 'require' sound then it might be worth going used to get the best value for money with regards to an external mic as well as a few lenses and a tripod.

James J · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:25

PermaBanned said:
Have you experienced any of this?

I ask because the last time this came up on another forum somebody seemed quite worried about it, although i haven't heard it as a complaint at all. Nor can i see the effect in any Pentax K-r footage i've found. Just musing about the pros and cons of CMOS and CCD for video...

Oh, and 5UB - since you're buying a complete kit it would be useful to know what you're actually videoing? If you 'require' sound then it might be worth going used to get the best value for money with regards to an external mic as well as a few lenses and a tripod.

I'll record something now and check that out for you

fiveub · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:26

I will be filming outside/inside, of myself performing magic, most will be visual with no sound, but I may do some magic towards the camera while talking too. - I will need a tripod definitely, SD cards, and the camera. I can always get lenses afterwards, and other bits I guess unless you can think of crucial things I may need.

James J · 13 Aug 2011 at 20:30

Okay just took a 20 second or so video of outside my room and moved at the same speed as that video, plus faster and slower also. Absolutely no sign of that at all mate. Quality is really good also

juno_first · 13 Aug 2011 at 22:42

I dont think any camera is capable of recording longer than 10mins, so if your magic show lasts for longer than that then the rabbit may not be seen coming out the hat?

Ice Globe · 13 Aug 2011 at 22:46

juno_first said:
I dont think any camera is capable of recording longer than 10mins, so if your magic show lasts for longer than that then the rabbit may not be seen coming out the hat?

The D5100 can do movies up to 4GB and 20 mins long per clip, the total duration dependent on the memory card size.

fiveub · 13 Aug 2011 at 22:57

I will have a 32GB memory card for it. - I think I am going with the Canon 600D, just need to find the best place to buy it, looks like ak22 found the cheapest here:

http://www.digitalrev.com/en/canon-eos-600d-with-18-55mm-f3-dot-5-5-dot-6-is-ii-lens-kit-11106.html

Need a good tripod for it too! Hmmm

PermaBanned · 14 Aug 2011 at 00:00

RedSnapper have probably the cheapest tripods worth bothering with... i mean, i have a hama one that works for most of what i need it for, but i got it for free so it doesn't really count

An Exception · 14 Aug 2011 at 00:31

5UB said:
I would say so, if not I can learn.

I have been looking at the Canon 550D, it looks great.

I think you can get special focus tools to put in the viewfinder to help with focusing.
Personally I found Manual focus very difficult on the 550D, largely because the viewfinder is soo small, which makes it a little difficult to tell when you got focus spot on.

PermaBanned · 14 Aug 2011 at 00:35

Ejizz said:
I think you can get special focus tools to put in the viewfinder to help with focusing.
Personally I found Manual focus very difficult on the 550D, largely because the viewfinder is soo small, which makes it a little difficult to tell when you got focus spot on.

I don't know why they don't use Split Prisms, simply because of that my ST605n is infinitely better than any other camera i've even touched (well, it was before i decided to try to take it apart

). Hell, it's practically easier than Auto-Focus.

An Exception · 14 Aug 2011 at 00:40

And tbh, a Nikon 5100 is surely better than a 600D?

i.e. better image quality, dynamic range, larger viewfinder etc...

wakayoda · 14 Aug 2011 at 00:49

600D can do 50FPS and has a line in for audio, making it superior for video recording. I use a Nikon 3100 by the way.