DSLR recommendation for HD video production

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1
I'm looking for an entry level DLSR camera with interchangeable lens mount for shooting HD videos. I'm looking in the CHF1,000 range for the body. Anyone have any positive or negative experience with the various brands and models out there?

I'm not sure which companies do better with this, as the market seems to have crossed over between photography and video. Seems Sony and Panasonic come from a video background to photography, while Nikon and Canon are going from photography to video. The camera is meant to be a gift for a film student.

Any particular brand/models you are happy or unhappy about? At the moment, I am considering:

-Canon EOS 70D

-Lumix DMC-GH4

-Sony a77 SLT-A77V

2
Why a DSLR? Do you really need to change the lenses? Many bridge camera has better video capability than the DSLRs...

3
I assume a bridge camera has automatic focus, but lacks control with aperture/exposure. The camera is for a student film maker, and it is really about control of the scene. Bridge cameras may be great for consumers, or prosumers. The DLSR is for a film student.

I'm thinking a Canon 70D or 750D would suffice in the under CHF1,000 range. A 5DS has more light sensors, but at 3 times the cost. I will take a look at comparable Sony and Lumix DLSRs.

4
The GH4 is widely regarded as best-in class for movies, however you are buying into a limited system in terms of available lenses and it is a little "old" now http://www.dpreview.com/products/pan..._dmcgh4/review

5
Well, if its for a film student, you surely have to consider a Black Magic.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search...231+4291585331

Entry level shoots in HD.

It has audio in and out, which I guess is essential for any kind of "serious" filmmaking.

6
I have the Sony Alpha A77 II, which is an SLT rather than DSLR. It does a really good job with video much better than the 70D , which I have also used, particularly when it comes to the quality of the continuous autofocus. Lenses are interchangeable and Sigma A-mounts can be pretty good value bought new and easy to find used. If you go for a bridge camera, make sure there is a hot shoe and an input for an external mic, many do not have those options.

7
I'd agree with your view and go for a Canon. I know it's a present, so you'll go new... otherwise I'd go for an used body with a decent lens for 1k. A film student won't care about 4k too much but being able to control focus and blur out the background and the like... so with an APS-C sensor does this mean an as good lens as money permits.

8
Pretty cool cameras for video, seem very powerful...

It's amazing how much Sony are progressing in the market, they are producing some absolutely stunning mirrorless cameras which are only a few generations from being superior to CaNikon mirrored DLSR's in terms of performance. Add to that increasingly decent compatibility with 3rd party lenses and I will seriously consider migrating at some point.

9
As expected, Lumix and Sony have advantage in terms of video over Canon, and Canon seems to have an edge in terms of stills. The 4K capability of Lumix is an interesting edge for this price class, but I suspect it may be more than a leading edge. It could be a bleeding edge. I'm reading about glitches in the Lumix firmware.

Lumix has an interface for iPhones, iPads or MacBooks that allows control of the camera remotely. Interesting consumer electronics application, though not sure if it is ready for real use. There are also lens adapter mounts for Lumix.

Now I have to read about Black Magic. So my original budget of CHF1,000 is now creeping upwards towards CHF2,000 as expected.

It would be great to rent these before buying. Anyone know of a good rental store that have all these?

10

Black Magic looks pretty close to professional, if it isn't already. And there seems to be an upgrade path. It is pretty cool for its price range.

I wasn't really expecting the student to become a production company, only to be able to accomplish assignments. But with such a wide choice to choose from. I'm now confused about what to buy. I'll do a gift certificate if I can't decide.

11
I would guess the average film student does not spend 2000chf on a camera. You can make great, great videos with an enty-level Canon DSLR... my cousins other half is a filmmaker and the family videos he had made with a Canon 600D look damn professional. You should encourage the student to use lower kit and really learn how to get the best out of it, rather than just buying semi-professional gear right off the bat. Stick to the circa 1000chf budget.

There are tons of guides on the net geared towards this question http://learnaboutfilm.com/making-a-f...-video-camera/

12
Agreed. Great work can be done on a lot less, like an iPhone. It would be a better exercise of creativity, and develop some hunger for better equipment.

On that, I think the Canon 70D or 750D would suffice as a starter.

13
Yeah, the 700/750d with an 18-135mm STM lens would probably be ideal.

14
I think it does and the point is that you lock yourself into a system: I have a Canon and by now mostly make stills. I am not a fanboy and know that objectively the Nikons currently have an edge... but can I change? A body is not the issue, but I need to replace all my lenses and other equipment. Same is true for the Sonys which really look good - but I won't buy them as I am simply locked into a system.

So if this is the "starter pack" is it in my opinion more important to get the system right than the exact camera body - 70D or 750D won't make much of a difference... but the lens range available and the upgrade path to professional bodies (the black magics can use EF lenses I believe) is simply better than any other brand.

15
Yes, I think the Black Magic with the EF mount would be a solid path for a committed film-maker. For a first year student, the Canon is still a good starter, and I am rationalizing there is a bigger 2nd hand market for it than the Black Magic. If after a year, there is proof of commitment, it could be worth upgrading to a Black Magic for 4K.

4K seems to be still at the bleeding edge in this price range. I would expect 4K to require another generation of CPUs, processors, bandwidth and storage. It may be worth waiting for that to mature a little longer before buying into it.

What is really cool is how these capabilities are becoming more and more affordable over time. In the meantime, let's see if the kid has the talent and capability to come up with good content.

16
4k is just completely unnecessary for a student level movie... there is barely any 4k content in the industry anyway as it is. Just focus on the best quality 1080p you can find for the money, preferably with at least 60fps capability in order to allow a bit of creativity. with speeding things up or slowing them down.

17
700/750D can't do 1080p at 60fps. Just saying.

Not sure why you'd need it though, especially as a student.

Another one to consider is the 760D. It has a few more features than the 750D and is still cheaper than the 70D.

I've got the 760D.

But both the 750D and 760D are much newer cameras so preferable over the 700D

18
As I wrote, 60fps allows speeding up and slowing down, thus it gives a lot of creativity options and isn't really a "high end" feature for 1080p.

19
Newer isn't automatically better. The 70D is a big step up in build quality and is weather sealed... which might be good for a student. The 760D has a newer sensor with 4 more MP which makes next to no difference and other than that just incorporated the 70Ds features into the lower priced "triple number range".

They are virtually the same other than the sealing which adds a bit of weight on the down side and slightly faster burst rates for the 70D which is completely irrelevant unless you photograph sports a lot.

20
I think you misread what you quoted.

I wrote that the 750D/760D was a better better bet than the 700D (and this is what you quoted before talking about the 70D).

Yes, of course the 70D is a better camera with it's environmental sealing (you're still not going to change a lense in a downpour though, whatever you've got).

It is more expensive though.

But comparing the newer 750D/760D with the 700D, newer is better. There is a newer, faster processor, the Digic 6 compared with the Digic 5.

The improvements include shooting at 14fps compared with 10, better low light performance with reduced noise, faster AF and, if you so choose MEG4 video as well as H.264

The built in wireless is good too as you can use your smart phone as a remote trigger and can control the focus etc from the smart phone too.

So yes, the 70D is a better camera than those others but the 760D is better than it's predecessor, the 700D and, apart from the sealing, is almost comparable to the 70D as well as being lighter. (565g compared with 755g).

I went with the lighter one and a plastic bag and a couple of rubber bands.