I have a friend/colleague with a Canon 7D and girlfriend with 500D. Also I am aware of “Super” (reduced size) “35mm” sensor video cameras. I’m keeping an eye on all the options, as currently I have no 35mm etc. capability and hence limited shallow DOF and low-light capability. And to share / compare info with those mentioned people.
Starting with Looking at Philip Bloom’s site to (routine check see what’s new there), I came across these useful links (even though they’re not all new). I’m attracted to getting a Magic Lantern-ed second-hand 5D Mk.II for creative purposes, especially since my typical work-pattern is not that time-critical and I am reasonably fluent with frame-rate conversion where necessary. I’ll try it out on the 500D first. The 500D can only do 30 fps at 720p (drops to 20 fps at 1080p) but its sensor is almost an inch across i.e. about double that of my existing EX3.
Incidentally, I previously covered sensor sizes and their names at http://blog.davidesp.com/archives/433 and there’s Canon’s take on it at http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2011/c300_for_cinematographers.shtml which (oh yes) is about their new C300 camera (will cover that in a separate blog-post).
Here are the links:
- http://philipbloom.net/2009/10/01/5dmkii-or-the-7d/
- In a nutshell, 5D has (fairly uniquely) a full “35mm” sensor, giving the ability to achieve correspondingly uniquely shallow depth of field. But it shoots at a non-standard frame-rate of exactly 30 fps (not 29.97 fps). This can matter e.g. when intercutting with standard 29.97 material. On the other hand when using the camera on its own (and I guess with possible allowance for the time duration change and audio pitch change if you fiddle the metadata) it need not matter.
- Magic Lantern firmware is available for the {original} 5D but not the 7D.
- Meanwhile the 7D has less shallow DOF capability and slightly more noise but slightly less rolling-shutter effect and, crucially, a number of standard frame-rates.
- Magic Lantern – unofficial extended firmware for Canon cameras like 5D
- Magic Lantern gives many improvements to modes, metering displays (e.g. zebra & peaking) and quality (e.g. more shutter-speed choices and greater recording bitrate). However it does not (yet?) provide additional frame-rates.
- http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Lantern_Firmware_Wiki
- As of today (2011-11-28) it is reported that Magic Lantern is still not available for the 7D, though progress towards this is being made (slowly).
- There are limitations to shooting movies on a 5D Mark II, notably the limited 12 minute recording time.
- (An image illustrates a 5D “tooled-up” with rods, mattebox, audio box etc. to serve as an outside rig)
- http://magiclantern.wikia.com/wiki/Todo_list
- Altering frame-rates is still on the to-do list. Hence not yet done!
- http://philipbloom.net/2011/10/18/1dx/
- FINALLY the full frame Canon 1DX DSLR featuring improved video.
- STandard frame-rates: 24,25, 30p in full HD and 50 and 60p in 720p mode
- Intra-frame and Inter-frame compression (H264), easing editing.
- Single clip length of up to maximum of 29 minutes and 59 seconds (reflecting an EU tax rule {on what constitutes a stills – as opposed to video – camera} )
- will retail body-only for around $7000!
- {Not as cheap as the 5D Mk.II then…}
- Canon 500D
- http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_500D_Digital_Rebel_T1i/lens.shtml
- {Great site, reviewing it and breaking-down the tech-specs.}
- Thanks to its APS-C sensor size, all lenses effectively have their field of view reduced by 1.6 times.
- {This is smaller than the 5D’s full-frame but still not bad at almost an inch wide, which I take to be about double that of my EX3’s “Half-Inch” sensor}
- http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_500D_Digital_Rebel_T1i/lens.shtml