Video camera or video-enabled DSLR?
Discussion
Hi,
A friend of mine is looking for an affordable video camera to do interviews for an events company. It needs decent quality sound with a connection for an external microphone (or microphones). Resolution needs to be reasonable - better than a compact camera - but not HD or anything necessarily.
What do people suggest?
Chris
A friend of mine is looking for an affordable video camera to do interviews for an events company. It needs decent quality sound with a connection for an external microphone (or microphones). Resolution needs to be reasonable - better than a compact camera - but not HD or anything necessarily.
What do people suggest?
Chris
Is he going to charge for doing the videos? If he is, and is asking basic questions on what kit to buy, I'd look at subcontracting someone in who can do it well.
Otherwise, stear clear of DSLR unless he is a good cameraman, is willing to spend the same price as the camera on lenses, sound gear and a tripod, has a good editing suite and software and knows what he is doing.
Otherwise, stear clear of DSLR unless he is a good cameraman, is willing to spend the same price as the camera on lenses, sound gear and a tripod, has a good editing suite and software and knows what he is doing.
If he wants to look like a professional - which I suspect he isn't - then he should get a decent camcorder, the bigger the better. Clients are not interested in model numbers, they only see how big it is. The bigger it is, the better you must be and the more respect you will command.
He would do well to note that there are many aspects to interviews: picture/lighting, sound (voice/ambient) and what the interviewee says. Is the subject going to be briefed? Does he have to do it all in one take or are there going to be cutaways? Is there a/c in the background, or slamming doors, or lorries going past? Suggest he buys a clip mike and practices sound recording.
If that seems too much, get a man in.
He would do well to note that there are many aspects to interviews: picture/lighting, sound (voice/ambient) and what the interviewee says. Is the subject going to be briefed? Does he have to do it all in one take or are there going to be cutaways? Is there a/c in the background, or slamming doors, or lorries going past? Suggest he buys a clip mike and practices sound recording.
If that seems too much, get a man in.
The size of the camera is unimportant, clients judge you on your results not how big your tackle is (I've been a full time pro at this game for over 10 years, so I have an idea what I'm talking about).
If it's just interviews, where people are static then a DSLR like the D7000 or 550D type of thing along with a kit lens will do fine. Autofocusing on DSLR's in video mode is useless, so you need to sit the subject down and use a good tripod. Forget about doing any pan/tilt/zoom shots without a load of add-ons. You will also need a good mic and stand, sound is as important as the picture so don't skimp on that. On the plus side, the video quality on a DSLR blows away most pro video cameras under £5k.
If you want to shoot anything that moves however, a used Sony FX1 or Z1 for about £1500-£2000 is a good way to go.
Expect to spend £1000 on a DSLR, £400 on a decent video tripod, £400 on a good microphone plus a loupe, cables, batteries (video eats batteries), memory cards, a few proper lights (not the eBay battery LED jobs, proper Redheads) and so on. All in you are looking at a minimum spend of £2000-£2500. The results are good once you know what you're doing, and I recently shot a music video using a similar set up, results were excellent.
If it's just interviews, where people are static then a DSLR like the D7000 or 550D type of thing along with a kit lens will do fine. Autofocusing on DSLR's in video mode is useless, so you need to sit the subject down and use a good tripod. Forget about doing any pan/tilt/zoom shots without a load of add-ons. You will also need a good mic and stand, sound is as important as the picture so don't skimp on that. On the plus side, the video quality on a DSLR blows away most pro video cameras under £5k.
If you want to shoot anything that moves however, a used Sony FX1 or Z1 for about £1500-£2000 is a good way to go.
Expect to spend £1000 on a DSLR, £400 on a decent video tripod, £400 on a good microphone plus a loupe, cables, batteries (video eats batteries), memory cards, a few proper lights (not the eBay battery LED jobs, proper Redheads) and so on. All in you are looking at a minimum spend of £2000-£2500. The results are good once you know what you're doing, and I recently shot a music video using a similar set up, results were excellent.
DynoDad said:
The size of the camera is unimportant, clients judge you on your results not how big your tackle is (I've been a full time pro at this game for over 10 years, so I have an idea what I'm talking about).
Cameraman, director, producer, sound or lighting?Yes of course you are judged by the result, and we know a DSLR can shoot very good video - but if you turn up with something his daughter's got he can think 'We could do this ourselves for nothing, I'll get my daughter to do it' - because he doesn't know what else is involved. It's called first impressions - but if he's seen your showreel first then fair enough.
Everything else you say I'd agree with. (15 years here BTW)
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff