Filming Cinematic Scenes with a Canon 650D
- Thread starter fiveub
- Start date
Essentially you don't really need much for the camera to make something 'cinematic', that said there are hundreds of accessories available to assist in film making with DSLRs.
The most common items people tend to buy are rigs that allow you to stabilise the camera for shooting handheld. More importantly though, these tend to offer focus pulling systems and given that to use a DSLR for filming 'cinematically' involves using manual focus, having something that allows you to focus smoothly and accurately can help. Another important item is having a decent recording system for audio, as relying on standard camera audio isn't going to cut it.
What tends to make something 'cinematic' really though is down to the lighting, if you can light a scene properly, that will go miles towards giving you a better look. The final aspect that gives a film that 'cinematic' feel is the grade, it doesn't have to be something so stylised that its obvious, but just matching colour grades from shot to shot goes a long way to helping keep the suspension of disbelief.
You would end up spending a fair bit of money on lighting, audio and rigs, so to do things cheap, you would probably be better seeing how you go and you can use cheaper lights such as work lights to light a scene.
The most common items people tend to buy are rigs that allow you to stabilise the camera for shooting handheld. More importantly though, these tend to offer focus pulling systems and given that to use a DSLR for filming 'cinematically' involves using manual focus, having something that allows you to focus smoothly and accurately can help. Another important item is having a decent recording system for audio, as relying on standard camera audio isn't going to cut it.
What tends to make something 'cinematic' really though is down to the lighting, if you can light a scene properly, that will go miles towards giving you a better look. The final aspect that gives a film that 'cinematic' feel is the grade, it doesn't have to be something so stylised that its obvious, but just matching colour grades from shot to shot goes a long way to helping keep the suspension of disbelief.
You would end up spending a fair bit of money on lighting, audio and rigs, so to do things cheap, you would probably be better seeing how you go and you can use cheaper lights such as work lights to light a scene.
If you're choosing the 650d because of it's supposedly good continuous autofocus (I haven't really tested mine) then I believe you need to use one of the two STM lenses available so far (40mm Pancake and 18-135mm zoom) and since the 18-135mm is the only one with IS then the choice is slim currently!
If you're planning on using tripods a lot and doing manual focus then perhaps another camera/lens combo will do the job just as well?
I should really test mine out properly :|
If you're planning on using tripods a lot and doing manual focus then perhaps another camera/lens combo will do the job just as well?
I should really test mine out properly :|
Only thing with the STM lenses are that if you are shooting something 'cinematically' you are going to want manual focus control over the image anyway, so it kind of negates the need for such lenses. Of course it might be useful if you need to track some kind of action with something moving fast around the frame.
I sort of feel that the STM lenses currently are aimed more at the entry level end of the scale for people who have bought a DSLR and want the function that there video camera has/had.
I sort of feel that the STM lenses currently are aimed more at the entry level end of the scale for people who have bought a DSLR and want the function that there video camera has/had.
Yeah that's why I said that if he was planning on going for the cinematic feel you described that another camera/lens combo might do just as well since the autofocus from the STM lenses probably isn't very cinematic lol.
The 40mm is a FF lens and most reviews seem to rate it pretty well considering the fairly cheap pricetag. I bought one for my 650d but I think it works out as something like 60 something mm for my crop sensor so it's not quite the same hehe.
They're definitely pretty silent though! I've yet to notice either of the lenses whilst they focus whilst my 100mm 2.8L macro lens is fairly noticeable whilst it thrashes around trying to focus lol. If you're going for a very cinematic feel then you'll probably be recording with something better than just the camera though so perhaps the silent focus isn't relevant?
The 40mm is a FF lens and most reviews seem to rate it pretty well considering the fairly cheap pricetag. I bought one for my 650d but I think it works out as something like 60 something mm for my crop sensor so it's not quite the same hehe.
They're definitely pretty silent though! I've yet to notice either of the lenses whilst they focus whilst my 100mm 2.8L macro lens is fairly noticeable whilst it thrashes around trying to focus lol. If you're going for a very cinematic feel then you'll probably be recording with something better than just the camera though so perhaps the silent focus isn't relevant?