dSLR as filmmaking tool

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?
T2i canon

2. How long have you used it for?
for about a year (damn time flew by!)

3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?
great image for cheap price

4. What are the disadvantages?
lack of good sound

5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?
by getting an external audio recorder

6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?
50mm 1.4 lens
18-55mm 3.4 lens
100mm 1.8 lens
tripod
diy shoulder mount

7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)
little more than a dozen. All of them are on youtube.com/dlevanchuk

MTwisted said:

Hey guys. 1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?

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I have used the Panasonic GH1, Canon 60D, and Panasonic GH2 on various short films. The GH cameras are technically EVIL(Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) cameras, but they tend to have the same capabilities and are lumped together with DSLRs.

MTwisted said:

2. How long have you used it for?

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I started with the GH1 in 2010. My camera of choice now is the GH2.

MTwisted said:

3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?

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The features they offer at such a low price point. Large sensor, interchangeable lenses, better image quality than any other camera under $5000. I also shoot using the JVC GY-HM100. While I love the GY-HM100, it's image quality simply does not live up to the GH2 or other DSLRs in most situations.

MTwisted said:

4. What are the disadvantages?

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Jello, Moire, Aliasing, lack of usable built-in audio, form factor not looking "professional"

MTwisted said:

5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?

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Shoot around the disadvantages, record audio separately, mount on a fancy looking rig to impress clients.

MTwisted said:

6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?

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I used the 14-42mm kit lens and 20mm f1.7 on the GH cameras, and I also have a set of vintage Nikon lenses. On the 60D I shot mainly with the EF 24-70mm f/2.8 and the 28mm f/1.8.

MTwisted said:

7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)

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I've made 3 short films, and also used the cameras for various commercial projects. I don't have any links at the moment due to festival restrictions.

MTwisted said:

And, if there is anything esle you wanted to add, please feel free.

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DSLRs offer amazing results for the cost, but still require a lot of additional equipment to get good results.

MTwisted said:

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?

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I have a hacked GH1 (which technically isn't a DSLR due to the lack of mirror, but is generally lumped in with DSLRs).

MTwisted said:

2. How long have you used it for?

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I bought it earlier this year, sometime in the summer I think.

MTwisted said:

3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?

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Versatile. Cheap. Exceptional picture quality for the price range.

MTwisted said:

4. What are the disadvantages?

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Rolling shutter and horrible sound.

MTwisted said:

5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?

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For rolling shutter it's all about controlled camera movements and post-production fixes. For sound, using an external sound recorder and microphone.

MTwisted said:

6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?

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I have a number of vintage lenses: Helios 44-2 58mm f2, JCPenney 28mm f2.8, Sears 55mm f2.8, Sears 135mm f2.8. Also a Holga plastic wide angle lens from Hong Kong. For support I have a Cowboy Studios rig and a Pearstone VT-2100 tripod (which, as an aside, is probably the best inexpensive tripod I've ever seen).

MTwisted said:

7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)

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I've done a lot of test footage, and a couple of scenes for a short with the GH1. I've also done a little nature film for a contest which isn't available online yet.

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?
2. How long have you used it for?
3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?
4. What are the disadvantages?
5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?
6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?
7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)

1. Canon 7D
2. Two short films over the course of last year
3. Ability to select different lenses, much more control over how light exposes an image which leads to a far greater arsenal of potential shots
4. Aliasing, rolling shutter
5. By knowing what the camera is capable of and what it isn't. We had a shot last year that was to be through a screen door, but that would have looked horrible due to the 7D's limitations, so we had to re-write it in another location. There isn't a drawback that can't be worked around if you and your DP know how to operate the camera
6. External monitor for focusing, monopods and tripods, and a slew of lenses
7. One completed, currently on a festival tour. Trailers and other info here: Mr. Henderson. Another currently in post production with nothing available to look at yet.

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?

Canon 5D MK2

2. How long have you used it for?

About 9 months
3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?

Image quality for the price.

4. What are the disadvantages?

Moire, aliasing, rolling shutter, form factor.

5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?

Every camera including the most high end ones have limitations. You have to know them and plan accordingly. Don't put your actress in a pattered dress that will cause Moire, don't do whip pans, etc...

6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?

Manfrotto 503HDV tripod
Zacuto DSLR baseplate with front and rear rails.
SmalHD DP-6 5.6" monitor
RedRock follow Focus
Assortment of Vintage lens (mostly Pentax with some Yashica and Vivatar thrown in) from the late 1960's and early 1970's

7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)

Shot my first film on DSLR about 4 months ago. The quality of the image compared to the HVX200A and redrock adapter for Nikon lenses I was using is amazing.

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?
2. How long have you used it for?
3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?
4. What are the disadvantages?
5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?
6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?
7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR?

1. Canon 7D and 1D Mk IV
2. Couple of years (have now sold both)
3. Cost, especially for a Super 35-sized sensor. Size seems like an advantage, but the camera usually grew larger than our Red One.
4. (a) focus - an external monitor is necessary to judge focus, and on a Canon 5D the output is so bad that even that doesn't do a lot of good.
(b) moiré problems can be terrible
(c) tinkertoy aspect to adding accessories and changing lenses. The cameras are so small that everything gets in the way of everything else.
(e) rolling shutter
(e) sound. An external recorder is almost necessary. Even using the little 1/8" connector is asking for trouble.
5. External monitor, Zoom recorder, and eventually we just sold the cameras and bought Sony FS-100.
6. We used the same Zeiss primes and short zooms (Nikon mounts) that we have for our Reds.
7. Our cameras were mostly used for commercials and corporate material. I've also had some experience supporting others (mostly 5Ds).

I've worked with a few DPs who really had good rigs for using the HDSLRs, but they had to have their own stuff with them - nothing else really worked well. Vincent LaForet and Shane Hurlbut are the go-to guys on this topic. You should definitely read LaForet's website and blog.

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?
Canon 5D, 7D, T2i

2. How long have you used it for?
Used last fall.

3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?
Cheap and lightweight. Great HD image quality for a low cost.

4. What are the disadvantages?
Fluttering effect on striped surfaces. You have to be careful of getting a weird "moving" stripes effect on some shirts, curtains or couches.

5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?
Be careful what you film.

6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?
Several different lens. Can't remember them all.

7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)
One Feature in post. Sorry don't have a trailer link yet.

1. What DSLR do you use for filmmaking?
Canon 7D and Canon t2i

2. How long have you used it for?
Couple years or so

3. What are the advantages of DSLR filmmaking?
Ease in achieving "cinematic" appearance (ie. 24p, shallow depth-of-field...), ability to change lenses.
Access to old (usually inexpensive) manual lenses via cheap converter mounts (ie. M42-to-EOS).

4. What are the disadvantages?
A) Rolling shutter (common to most large CMOS sensors)
B) Moire (due to how the camera skips lines when reading the sensor)
C) Form-factor/appearance (if used alone, people think you're just taking their picture. It doesn't look "serious".)
D) On-camera sound (but I generally wouldn't capture sound on ANY camera)

5. How do you overcome said disadvantages?
A) Handle the camera carefully (ie. avoid lots of hand-held stuff).
B) Avoid certain detailed patterns/clothing, avoid lines that are at slight diagonals (power lines, etc.)
C) Simply adding a matte box can help (http://www.indisystem.com/matte-box/ ...and others. Mine's actually from an Indian eBay seller, and I REALLY like it.)
In addition to one of the many mounting rigs available now.
D) Use a field recorder (I use an Oade-modified Marantz PMD-660. Though if I were to purchase one now, it would be the PMD-661 for 24-bit capability. http://www.oade.com)

6. What equipment (lenses, support, etc.) to do use along with the DSLR?
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon kit lens
indiFocus ULTRAcompact, indiFocus mini

7. How many films have you produced using a DSLR? (Links to either full films or trailers would be appreciated!)
I've shot four music videos, a couple of promos, mini-docs, experimental bits, and am currently shooting my own film.
Examples: http://vimeo.com/frankladner/videos