Canon 5D mark ii & 7D

[John Gaither]

I've seen most of what's there (Planet 5D, Red Rock Micro, etc). I'm having a hard time finding any red flags in regard to using one of these Canons for low budget independent filmmaking. Are there any cinematographers, editors or directors here on VSN who would care to speak about this phenomenon?

[Durand Robinson]

The only thing I can think of at the moment is the inability to push the frame rate for fluid slow mo. Kind of depends what you're doing, but if you don't already have an hd video camera, a small company could do tons with it. There are drawbacks in that the menu hierarchy doesn't exactly favor quick changes in settings like a the Sony EX3 for example that's basically covered with buttons all over for modifying settings.

I'd love to get the use of one for a current project myself. Anybody have the experience already?

[Jared Isham]

Regarding frame rate - the 7D has a 720/60p option so that is your only slow mo option

[Durand Robinson]

Well, that's better than I expected. I've not seen the 7D yet. The other trade off is audio. It's not a big deal when you're a major crew, but often I'm having to do shots where I'm on my own. I tend to use the audio in's on the EX1's we have making it one less step to sync ext. sound sources. Plus there's the hassle of transferring files in extra steps, etc. A lot of guys here in Ireland are using the Zoom H4 for audio. It would certainly do the trick and be a good complement for a small audio kit to accompany your 7D. A Sennheiser wireless lapel, a Zoom and your 7D might be a great mobile unit for discrete camera work (plus your macbook pro back in the room of course.)

Gear... it's never ending.

[John Gaither]

Yes, there are several trade-offs with the 5D. The Zoom comes up a lot. Some people are making do with after- market stuff that facilitates (enables?) recording sound on the camera, but I won't go there. The firmware upgrade to 24p and 25p is coming in January, according to Canon. Will it have 60p by next summer? Hmmm... I think you're both right, though...one has to be willing to go in with eyes wide open, prepared to buy into/work around the limitations of this camera. We're just starting out, so it will be okay, but at some point it becomes a second camera...unless Canon really goes for it and builds on the surging popularity of this DSLR...as far as telling visual story, I'm looking forward to working with the mark II.

[Durand Robinson]

Thought you might enjoy this. Samm Hodges is a talented storyteller. Here's a little something he put together using a Canon Rebel SLR.

April (For Pittsburgh) from Mothlight Creative on Vimeo.