Spec Me a DSLR For Video

AndyCr15

AndyCr15

AndyCr15

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Although I don't use them a lot, I've always had a DSLR available for certain occasions when a quality camera is called for. I recently asked for advice on a compact camera for video, then realising I should make more use of my DSLR for this.

I currently have a Canon 760D, but have just realised how limited it actually is in it's settings. I can't film higher than 25fps at 1080p, I don't think I can even mess with white balance before recording.

So, what would you recommend? I would rather stay with Canon as I have a few lenses already, but I guess it's not a must. Likewise, 4K is desirable for future proofing, but maybe not essential. At least 60fps at 1080p though. I would have course still be able to use it for stills! I'm not entirely sure on budget either. It must have a screen I can see from in front of the camera, for self recording.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is recommended on a couple of sites, which is probably right up at the top end of my budget, if not too high in fact. Maybe the 80D?
 
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A really interesting pair of cameras. The footage from the Sony looks amazing and I take his point about the auto focus. That annoys the hell out of me when my Canon is bouncing back and forth. At the same time, I would really like 60fps on the 4k...

Clov!s said:
Would be better off spending the extra £199 and getting the A7Riii as the difference is minimal for a decent step up.
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Damnit. Off I go to YouTube again...
 
With my John Lewis discount, I can get the a7 III for £1,600, which could be the front runner at the moment. I was almost waving back to the GH5 (or GH5S) but watching a couple of videos the auto focus looks pretty bad :(
 
Pana moz do seem to have good reviews. They have the A7R iii for £340 more too.

Mind you, at JL I get £150 cashback and a £125 Gift Card right now (Plus another 1% if I use my Partnership Card), so maybe I stick with that and the A7 iii
 
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Thanks, it's just the focus that really worries me. One video it just wouldn't focus on the person in the main of the image, but on the background instead. All the YouTube comments were about this being very common with it.
 
This was one.


Even the thumbnail of that video, you can see she's out of focus and the guys behind are in focus. This goes on as she walks down the street, she's dead centre of the frame.
 
But if I got a good one for video, that is hopefully a bit lighter than my current DSLR then it would get a lot more use for my YouTube channel videos.

bloodiedathame said:
Looks like the AF issue was resolved with firmware after that video was released? https://fstoppers.com/gear/are-pana...es-finally-resolved-firmware-update-23-256806

Current firmware is actually 2.5. 2.4 even addressed more AF issues. https://www.panasonic.com/global/consumer/lumix/gh5_firmware.html
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Hmm, the price of the GH5 is definitely more along the lines of what I wanted, so hopefully it's fixed. Would be interested if you did a little testing.
 
Watching a review from around Christmas time and he's saying the auto focus is fixed. Looks like I'll give the GH5 a go then.
 
I stuck with the Lumix over the Leica. Is there a big difference? My thought was I will probably buy a nice lens at some point anyway. (Maybe I should have just got it bundled?)
 
Thanks, will likely just get new lenses. I only actually have 2 for my Canon, I have a third in a box, in it's return period, so will send that back and likely sell the Canon with the two lenses.

Generally quite happy with the GH5 so far. Took me a little time to get the external mic working, turned out it just didn't like being plugged in while recording, which is fine of course. Had a bit of a focus issue when I walked through a pitch black room and back into a dull, but reasonable room, it took about 10 seconds to find me. I wont often be doing that in use though. Testing in my usual conditions I think it looks a pretty amazing image and I've only tried 1080p 50fps so far. Just charging battery to full to I can patch the latest firmware.

So, do I just look out for M4/3 lenses, or does it have to be Sony E or something? Any good lens suggestions? I might be after mic suggestions too, but I'll start a new thread for that.
 
Is there a specific thread for the GH5 series? Or maybe we should ask for this to be renamed as such and we can help each other in here :)
 
Thanks. I use a Rode NT1 when at my desk and sync it in post, although I've found now how I can patch that directly into the camera, which will save a little time. Will look into some reviews of the Rode VideoMic, thanks.
 
Definitely I'm finding a few focus issues. I've put a few bits together from a couple of videos...


The first clips are rather annoying. What's difficult about focusing on me there?! I think I have it set to find a face and focus (whatever that setting is). The second clip, I realised after, I probably wasn't zoomed all the way out, which would have helped had I done so I guess?

Any thoughts on the best settings? I'd be happy enough to lock the focus, but I don't see how this is possible with me at the camera and not in front of it when needing to manually focus it?
 
I don't think any of the Canon's did 4K 60fps? I realise that's massively overkill, but I guess I'm looking for future proof :) If it wasn't this, it would have been the Sony A7(R?) iii... which I guess is still my other option. I could maybe even still take the GH5 back to John Lewis on grounds it's not fit for purpose.
 
Columbo said:
You are right of course but for me it's about the target audience, most of our target audience don't care about 4k 60fps or such things.
If I'm honest I still don't know single person that watches anything in 4k consistently and certainly not over the interwebs due to the bandwidth requirements.
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4K will come around. I know it's not a fair comparison now, but can you imagine watching someone with 460p content? In a few years I think 4K will be more common and I guess it will eventually get to the place that 1080p is now. I still have converted family VHS video from many years back which looks terrible these days. Would I rather have it in 1080p? Of course.

60fps, I guess I'm so used to the gaming culture of higher is better. I do often grab stills off video, which will/can be better at a higher fps, right? I also sometimes go sporting events where I would think a higher fps would be better. I tend to prefer to have these options than to not, I guess.

Raymond Lin said:
24fps is what you want, it's what our eyes are comfortable with for a film.
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What if my eyes are used to 90fps from playing games :) (I do that a lot more than I watch films)

bloodiedathame said:
Andy, guessing you've done some searching on the subject? Lots of Youtube videos with various solutions and settings. Looks like there's no 'one size fits all' setting though.
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Tbh, not huge amounts just yet. Just starting to look into now really.
 
I do get all of your points and I'm sure I'm really just chasing specs for the sake of specs in some ways.

Columbo said:
It will come around yes you are right but the infrastructure is just not there to support it reasonably even if the demand was there but it isn't and both are years away still in my view. Also phone and tablet screens are far and away the biggest consumption method of internet based media and they aren't 4k anyway.

Also are these videos for you personally or your youtube channel as I would have thought that could make a difference and also what would the primary content be.
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That's kind of my point with the future proofing. What I mean is, video I make now, will look good in 10 years still (hopefully). This is more for personal videos I might make, due to my dad being into photography and video from the early days of needing two units for video (the shoulder mounted camera and a separate unit for the VHS tape) I like to make family videos too :)
 
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