Camera setups

[Antwan]

Hey guys, what kind of camera setups are you all using these days?
I'm not going to give much away, but I'm in the process of developing a web series of sorts.
Very early research and development stages.
The idea is set, just gotta build.
A list would be dope, more bang for the buck, then working up to what pros use.
Editing software/PC recommendations would be good too.
I Appreciate any and all help.
Thanks!

[Boxerman08]

My set up works like a charm (for filming skateboarding anyways), and I know it can be much much better, but I'm used to it. A screen would be definitely a good addition, like the t3i and such, but I can't afford a new camera just yet... Here's what I have.

In terms of camera, I've been using a Canon Rebel t2i for close to 3 years now.
Lenses I got Rokinon 8mm fisheye, 17-50mm Tamron lens, and a 75-300mm Canon lens.
Been using a rode videomic for audio.

Got a bunch of videos on my CHANNEL if you wanna see.

[Antwan]

Looks good man, is skating all you film though?
Also what PC/software do you work with?
It all helps to an extent, likely be comparing all suggestions.
Find a fit for me, cheers.

Edit: does Putting out for audio equipment make that big of a difference?

[Boxerman08]

Looks good man, is skating all you film though?
Also what PC/software do you work with?
It all helps to an extent, likely be comparing all suggestions.
Find a fit for me, cheers.

Edit: does Putting out for audio equipment make that big of a difference?

Thanks dude. Skating is the only thing I've been filming (so far). I use a mac to edit all my stuff, with final cut pro X or adobe premier and some in after effects/photoshop. And yes, audio equipment is a must imo. I noticed that when I didn't have a mic, it would pick up every single noise around (noise/hissing/me pushing in back/me breathing/cars/etc) and it was super annoying. Now with that mic I got, it just picks up the sound in front of the camera (unless there's loud background noise). The t2i mic output isn't as clear as the t3i is for some reason. But anyhow, definitely look into it as much as possible.

Edit: Actually, for audio I guess it depends what you're going for. If you WANT background noise and what not, then I don't think it's a must... lol but there's different kinds of mics (the one I've been using is a shotgun mic).

[Antwan]

Cool, good stuff man.
I was pretty sure audio equipment was directional, confirms my suspicions.
Right on. Hoping to see some more setups from you guys.
I'll be researching on my own aswell, figured I'd reach out first, knew some people already film.

[Bonksz]

For me I'm pretty weird, i like to bounce from SD to HD time to time. But my SD setup is a DVX100a with a opteka 72mm with one spacer on it. As for my HD setup i use a Canon T3i with the 18-55 kit lens, 8mm Bower fisheye and i have a 50mm prime lens for some nice depth of field shots and its always great to have a lens that can go to 1.8. Especially when you're like me and film mostly night stuff haha. As for my extensions i use a rode video mic for my Canon T3i and i use a lumahawk. Im not too sure about the exact LED's on it buts its a great and very small light. For software i use Final Cut Pro X and After Effects CS5. I also got Magic Bullet Looks integrated in my Final Cut Pro. Its more handy than you think haha but sorry for rambling on. Hopefully this helped, if you need to see some footage ill leave a DVX video and a T3i video below.

HD (Canon T3i)

[Bonksz]

Sorry for the second post, i wasn't allowed to do 2 videos within one reply. Heres the DVX footageSD (Panasonic DVX100a)


If you need any help on your idea let me know. Im always up to contribute.

[Antwan]

Cheers bonksz.
Both of those setups seem to give good results.
Why switch between HD and SD though, Just a Personal preference?
Yeah, I'll keep the help thing in mind.
I'm not that heavy into writing yet, want something solid before putting my ideas online.
might be paranoid.. Really want it to be original though. No leaks or spoilers.

[Bonksz]

I love both SD and HD, it's just the Dvx is way more fun filming lines and singles. Only downfall is capping tapes. I also love the old gritty feel it gets. But for hd I like how easy it is to save clips and it just seems my videos are more cinematic and professional when I use hd. The only downfall about HD for me is just it isn't as fun but it's way better for video quality wise. I'm just weird like that and I like to switch up stuff constantly.

[Antwan]

Cool, thanks for sharing man.
Effect and feel, wouldn't call that weird at all.
While I'm just starting out I am starting to lean more toward an HD Setup.
I plan to do some tripod shots, but I do plan to have some walking and driving shots with some outside help as well.
I guess I can drop a few of my ideas, if will help people better determine what I'm needing done, and what camera is for the job.
I feel like my description needs to be limited, so hopefully this helps.
I want to shoot acting, voice work, as well as the thoughts of some characters. I was thinking I'd just use a mic I already have for narration.
It's a condenser with a wind blocker, it gives good quality, people don't realize it because I use heavy effects in music.
I also want to shoot some shots of music being made, bumping through a speaker setup, but on camera.
As well as some skateboarding stuff, Likely won't be a ton of this, but it will be in there somewhere.

[saunders420]

Google Magic Lantern.

if you have a Canon SLR you can do some amazing shit when it comes to videos. But you gotta learn a lot before hand so you dont fuck up you camera. Magic Lantern is like a modification to your software/firmware on the camera which unlocks certain capabitlities for film. You'll be able to shoot in a wide ranges of formats and whatnot.


I have a Canon T3, cheap and easy to use, until I can grasp more knowledge to utilize a nice camera I wont be needing one. I have my GoPro which is always useful, and an old HD handycam

Avid for life.

[Roccityroller]

I shot this on a Nikon D3100 with a Rokinnon 8mm fisheye



I edit on a windows 7 laptop (2.4Ghz dual core, 6GB Ram 2Gb Nvidia card) with Premier Pro CS7

That's all i really shoot video wise. I shoot a lot of other stuff still.

[Roccityroller]

If you're going to do a lot of tripod type stuff, invest in a good prime lens (no zoom capability) I use a 50mm Nikkor prime for my long lens shots. The lack of zoom gives you a wider range of aperatures

if youre trying to record anything speech/audio related get something that will take an external mic. The onboard mic's of most cameras are really horrendous

[Antwan]

Saunders that shit sounds complicated man, is it a hefty price difference?

Thanks for the tips Roc.

edit: anyone have go pro footy?
I have a go pro cam, never messed around with it. Wondering what can be achieved.

[saunders420]

Magic Lantern is Free! Canon SLR is a different story. I grabbed my bottomoftheline canon for under 500 a couples years ago. So a t3 now should be more than 350-400 maybe...
GoPro footy. raw footage 1080p 30 frames....GoPro Silver edition with original firmware.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCLkG7CfZnE

I added the crop in studio

[Antwan]

Word, good stuff man.
That drop haha
The chains are hella fun too, love them shits when they have signs on em.
wallie game over, hippies on the sides.
That doesn't look bad either, hmm.. Thoughts brewing.
Thanks for Sharin dudes.

[Boxerman08]

Google Magic Lantern.

if you have a Canon SLR you can do some amazing shit when it comes to videos. But you gotta learn a lot before hand so you dont fuck up you camera. Magic Lantern is like a modification to your software/firmware on the camera which unlocks certain capabitlities for film. You'll be able to shoot in a wide ranges of formats and whatnot.

YES. I've heard so much about Magic Lantern but the fact I can fuck up my camera kinda scares me haha you using that on your T3?

[Bonksz]

YES. I've heard so much about Magic Lantern but the fact I can fuck up my camera kinda scares me haha you using that on your T3?

You shouldn't worry about that, as long as you watch a tutorial and do it step by step you're fine. Ive been using magic lantern for a while now. Its great, i like it for time lapses. For the T3i version of it it has a intervalometer in it. Not too sure about different cameras with this but yeah haha. You also don't need to use kelvin presets for while balance, more accurate iso settings. The list goes on with Magic Lantern, you'd need to try it to see how much benefits come with it.

[Poncho Lord]

i dont even use half of my setup more than 3 times a month unfortunately

Cameras:
Canon T3i, Canon 7D, Canon AE-1 Program, Olympus Trip 35, vx1mk1

Lenses:
Digi: Rokinon 8mm, Tamron 17-50, 50mm 1.8, Canon 75-300
Film: Canon 50mm 1.4, 28mm 2.8, and some other tele lenses I've never used before.

3 YongNuo flashes, Phottix photo receivers and transmitters, audiotechnica stereo mic, opteka ex handle, blah blah blah.

all i use is the AE-1 and the vx1mk1 now. fuck an SD card

[saunders420]

poncho got that setup damn... thumbs up dude.


yo boxer I like my tech... savvy so to speak lol and I'm still concerned about fucking up my camera. One day though Ill get at it, I can't let such useful tools go to waste. Ill neglect it for a bit til Im a bit more concerned about doing something neat with it. If I figure it out on the T3 ill let ya know. Google dat shitt I remember a tut for the T3. something about it being bottom feeding SLR, and not full open due to basics, a certain firmware is needed to unlock everything. Either or Ill let ya know if you interested...ill go diggin.

[Granka]

For photos and filming in HD: Canon EOS 60D with a Canon EF 50mm/1,8 II (I love this lens over the depth in field and the ability to film in not so good lighting) and a Samyang 8mm fisheye.
For when I wanna film in SD and when some stuff look better in 4:3: Canon XM-2 (GL-2) with a Opteka 0,3X Ultra Fisheye.

Here's a picture, also including my really old JVC from 2006. It was my first videocamera, before that I only had a digitalcamera which records videos without audio

[Antwan]

Nice looking setup Granka, you film everything by hand?
This is great stuff guys, really.
How do you all go about purchasing your equipment?
Any preferred/recommended sites?
eBay is looking to have full setups, tripods, lenses, etc.
HD cams aren't any harder to operate are they?
With the trouble Saunders went to,
I assume shelling more money would have benefits.
Any info for starting out? Trying to learn as well.
I appreciate the knowledge here, so sick.
How do you guys feel about the extremely expensive cameras by the way?
There are some REALLY pricey ones, they look nice..
surely not worth it to drop 1 grand or more though?
I'm thinking there has to be methods to get similar quality.
computer programs are pretty impressive these days.
Really, I figured you guys know a bit by now.
Any knowledge you wanna drop on me is great.

[Granka]

Nice looking setup Granka, you film everything by hand?

No, I have a handle for my DSLR for when I film skating and such. Otherwise I like handling it by hand.

[Muhzzy]

Damn Grank. That shit nice.

[Poncho Lord]

Nice looking setup Granka, you film everything by hand?
This is great stuff guys, really.
How do you all go about purchasing your equipment?
Any preferred/recommended sites?
eBay is looking to have full setups, tripods, lenses, etc.
HD cams aren't any harder to operate are they?
With the trouble Saunders went to,
I assume shelling more money would have benefits.
Any info for starting out? Trying to learn as well.
I appreciate the knowledge here, so sick.
How do you guys feel about the extremely expensive cameras by the way?
There are some REALLY pricey ones, they look nice..
surely not worth it to drop 1 grand or more though?
I'm thinking there has to be methods to get similar quality.
computer programs are pretty impressive these days.
Really, I figured you guys know a bit by now.
Any knowledge you wanna drop on me is great.

HD cams are a lot easier to use than an old MiniDV or whatever SD camera. And also cheaper, if you're looking into DSLRs. I personally like filming SD more, but I've been filming HD for a long time and I saved up enough to get a vx1mk1 setup which I find a lot better and lighter on my back when I'm skating around with a bag. Don't worry about any super expensive cameras. Don't spend more than 1k on a setup, there's no point.

[Antwan]

Right on Poncho, I figured a grand is a bit much.
Just Curious what others thought.

[Boxerman08]

yo boxer I like my tech... savvy so to speak lol and I'm still concerned about fucking up my camera. One day though Ill get at it, I can't let such useful tools go to waste. Ill neglect it for a bit til Im a bit more concerned about doing something neat with it. If I figure it out on the T3 ill let ya know. Google dat shitt I remember a tut for the T3. something about it being bottom feeding SLR, and not full open due to basics, a certain firmware is needed to unlock everything. Either or Ill let ya know if you interested...ill go diggin.

I've been wanting to get it for a while, but no one I know personally installed it on their cameras. I would've liked to experiment briefly with a camera that has it, but I guess I'll have to just risk it lol The features on it though really do seem amazing, but I'd hate to fuck something up and be stuck with a useless camera body.

How do you all go about purchasing your equipment?
Any preferred/recommended sites?
Any info for starting out? Trying to learn as well.
... surely not worth it to drop 1 grand or more though?

My go-to website for camera gear purchases is B&H. E-bay can be alright, or kijiji/craigslist too I guess, but I feel it's kinda sketchy with kijiji/craigslist to buy used electronic stuff from people. B&H has a used section which is pretty good as well.

For starting out, I've got friends who always told me to go for a lower end camera (such as the t2i) to start with, experiment as much as you can, and when you feel the need to upgrade, go for it. It's better to invest more money in lenses rather than in the camera (at least to start with, I was told). But 1 grand isn't a lot really when you're thinking about getting a camera... my set up initially when I got it 3 years ago, the t2i body with a tamron 17mm-50mm came up close to 1 grand, possibly even more lol It's a lot cheaper nowadays though but I do believe the t2i is discontinued. I've spent more than 2 grand on my set up and to be honest I don't have much more than the basics.

[Antwan]

Thanks for the thoughts boxerman.
I would say this project will be nothing but experimentation.
I've never really been one to restrict myself, budget isn't a thing at this time.
Just not going to shell a grand, not this early in.
So I can vibe with that, don't really get starting low end though.
I'll likely be the main character in this thing, won't be filming all the time.
I know a couple cats who went to school for video/music production too.
This is cool though, need all the advice I can get.
Chalk it up to my own research in the end, but the more I hear of setups the more likely I am to compare them when it comes time to purchase.
This idea is only a recent thought I've been developing.
I plan to tie in everything I enjoy doing so it should be good.
May reach out to agencies, scout a filming location or three, well see.

[Poncho Lord]

My go-to website for camera gear purchases is B&H. E-bay can be alright, or kijiji/craigslist too I guess, but I feel it's kinda sketchy with kijiji/craigslist to buy used electronic stuff from people. B&H has a used section which is pretty good as well.

keh.com

[eastcoastskateboard1]

Yo I saw a bunch of dvx and gl cameras and such but what is everyone's opinion on buying mini dv tapes and when do you think they will stop being made. I also film but I don't have my cam with me but I plan on buying a t3i or dvx100a.

[Poncho Lord]

Yo I saw a bunch of dvx and gl cameras and such but what is everyone's opinion on buying mini dv tapes and when do you think they will stop being made. I also film but I don't have my cam with me but I plan on buying a t3i or dvx100a.

tapes are still too common to stop being made. my tip is just save up for a vx1mk1. the dvx is nice but it doesnt compare