Have I made a HUGE Mistake???

bensilcox

bensilcox

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Ben
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About two weeks ago, I traded in my mint 550d and my lenses (which were not full frame anyway) and bought myself a new Nikon D600 and a 50mm F1.4 G from my local store.

I mainly do video, and the D600 seemed like a better option than the 6D. I have been having a little play with the D600, and for photo's its excellent, but with the video side I am not sure i am loving it as much as I thought I would :(

Now, I did loads of research over the last 4-5 months before I took the plunge, but now I am thinking I should of stuck with Canon, but it makes me feel sick thinking I have made such a big mistake.

I used to fly though the menu's on my last Canon and everything was ship shape. But with the Nikon I am not finding it such a pleasure to use, which is hard to admit on here as now it seems more real.

Anyone got any advice from being in a similar situation? I'm wondering whether I should cut my losses and trade the D600 in well its still new and get the 6D? Arrggghhh I don't know!!! :(

Any help or suggestions would be very very appreciated. Thank you.

Ben
 
What exactly do you not like about the D600? Just different menus? If that's all, then you'll get used to them. No one likes change.. there's an adjustment period required.. that's all.
 
You've only had it two weeks. I'd give it another few and read the manual too. Then after that time consider whether it is best to cut your losses to go back to canon or carry on with what you have.

What is it about the video that you don't like?
 
bensilcox said:
I used to fly though the menu's on my last Canon and everything was ship shape. But with the Nikon I am not finding it such a pleasure to use, which is hard to admit on here as now it seems more real.
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Is that not just part of the learning curve when starting out with any different product?
 
I'm with David on this, much as I hate to see someone go to the darkside, give it some more time, I'm sure you'll adjust.

The more important thing, to me, is how does it feel to use overall? I think that'd be my deciding factor.
 
Hi Guy's thank for all the advice. I know what your saying, its not that i have a problem finding settings that I want, as thats not really an issue, if I want to change something I can go straight to the menu and do it. So its not that I am struggling with the menus, just don't like them as much.

My main thing is that when i shoot a take, the footage looks great on the cam live view, but when I go back to my PC, and play it back its always darker. No this is not my screen, as I have never had this issue with my 550, or my friends 5dm3. There also the not being able to change aperture, now I knew that I couldn't do this when I bought the camera, and I didn't think it would be such an issue :( maybe its not and i am just thinking too much, will definitely keep trying for now.

I don't know really is the honest answer, which is why its knarking me so much :(

Also, the dust issue which everyone is writing about, i think thats another thing that has put the scare into me, I haven't noticed anything, but it does worry me for further down the line.
 
It may be darker because Nikon Live view tends to maintain a brightness level despite exposure... you can NOT use a Nikon live view to assess exposure. Why not take a light reading before you shoot instead of judging exposure by the screen?

As for aperture change... why would you possibly want to do this while shooting? You shouldn't be changing aperture mid take... it looks like hell. Yes, it's a pain to have to keep dropping out of live view to change it, and it's one thing I love about the D800.. not having to do that. You can however, adjust the ISO while in live view, and that can be just as useful, if not more so, because you can maintain the same DOF while adjusting exposure.
 
Pookeyhead said:
It may be darker because Nikon Live view tends to maintain a brightness level despite exposure... you can NOT use a Nikon live view to assess exposure. Why not take a light reading before you shoot instead of judging exposure by the screen?

As for aperture change... why would you possibly want to do this while shooting? You shouldn't be changing aperture mid take... it looks like hell. Yes, it's a pain to have to keep dropping out of live view to change it, and it's one thing I love about the D800.. not having to do that. You can however, adjust the ISO while in live view, and that can be just as useful, if not more so, because you can maintain the same DOF while adjusting exposure.
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Ah i think that must be it then, whats your process for taking a light reading before shooting?

Ah no, I never ever change aperture whilst shooting, but sometimes do in between takes depending on what i am shooting. I do agree, this is not that much of a problem.

Thanks for your advice.
 
crofter said:
The advantage with the Canon is you can use Magic lantern, yes you've made a mistake.
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Had it on my 550d, whilst it was very good, it wasn't enough to keep me from the D600..... maybe it should of been haha!
 
bensilcox said:
Ah i think that must be it then, whats your process for taking a light reading before shooting?
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I use a light meter :) Sorry.. but not sure what else to say. Meter the scene manually through the veiwfinder just as you do when taking a photo. You DO meter don't you?.. not just rely on auto modes?

I actually use a hand held incident meter.. but you can manage with the camera's meter just as well so long s you know it's limitations.



bensilcox said:
Ah no, I never ever change aperture whilst shooting, but sometimes do in between takes depending on what i am shooting. I do agree, this is not that much of a problem.

Thanks for your advice.
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So long as you're not needing changes of more than a couple of stops, adjusting ISO is actually easy, and as the resolution is only 1920x1080, you're very unlikely to notice noise changes unless you're already on the absolute limit.
 
I don't understand your thinking ;
bensilcox said:
... I traded in my mint 550d and my lenses ...

I mainly do video, ...
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Thousands of videographers use the Canon 5DII, it's almost de-rigeur for video (along witht the Lumix GH2 too) ... and bodies are going for really great prices since the new ones came out.

Surely it's a no-brainer to pick up a used 5DII?
 
Ulfric M Douglas said:
I don't understand your thinking ;

Thousands of videographers use the Canon 5DII, it's almost de-rigeur for video (along witht the Lumix GH2 too) ... and bodies are going for really great prices since the new ones came out.

Surely it's a no-brainer to pick up a used 5DII?
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My thinking that I wanted to go full frame, and also have the low light performance that you get from the new breed of camera's, would of loved a 5dmk3, but just too much money to justify.
 
Pokeyhead : Yeah sorry, thats how I usually do it, was just checking that you didnt use a different method when in live view or anything.

Basically my issue was/is, if i film at 1080p 24fps my footage looks juddery and staggered, if you get what I mean, say I am doing a pan of a room, its just not smooth? I always apply the double shutter speed rule too, so at 24fps, I would be shooting at 50/sec shutter.

No since my first post I have had a good little play with my camera :) I did quite a few tests at all different fps, and played with the shutter speeds to test. at 720p 60fps with 125th shutter the footage is amazing, perfectly smooth and totally amazing! I am a lot happier now by the way :) But why cant I get these smooth results at 24 or 25 fps? I know there is less frames but it should still be smooth right? I used to film at either 24fps or 50fps on my 550 and never had the motion issues at 24p on the canon?

Maybe the paragraphs above should of been my first post :)

Thanks again for the advice chaps :)
 
You may notice that feature films shot at 24fps rarely pan.

It will have filmic judder, even with a 180 degree shutter.
 
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bensilcox said:
Basically my issue was/is, if i film at 1080p 24fps my footage looks juddery and staggered, if you get what I mean, say I am doing a pan of a room, its just not smooth? I always apply the double shutter speed rule too, so at 24fps, I would be shooting at 50/sec shutter.
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2 possible reasons for that.

1. 24fps doesn't really react well to pans from left to right, which is why you rarely see it in films.

2. What are you watching the video on? If it's a computer monitor, it may not support 24fps.. not many do. Have you watched the RAW footage back on a TV over HDMI? It will probably be smoother.
 
Pookeyhead said:
2 possible reasons for that.

1. 24fps doesn't really react well to pans from left to right, which is why you rarely see it in films.

2. What are you watching the video on? If it's a computer monitor, it may not support 24fps.. not many do. Have you watched the RAW footage back on a TV over HDMI? It will probably be smoother.
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Ah right ok thank you,

1: I didnt realise this, although I must admit i never noticed it being that bad on my 550d, its not just on pan's either, its on any type of motion, up down, left right etc etc?

2: Yeah on my computer monitor, it has never had a problem before replaying 24p footage? I haven't played the footage back on a TV to test though in all honesty. What about the screen on the camera, it looks exactly the same when in live view, even when I am not recording?

Thanks again for all your help :)
 
bensilcox said:
1: I didnt realise this, although I must admit i never noticed it being that bad on my 550d, its not just on pan's either, its on any type of motion, up down, left right etc etc?

2: Yeah on my computer monitor, it has never had a problem before replaying 24p footage? I haven't played the footage back on a TV to test though in all honesty. What about the screen on the camera, it looks exactly the same when in live view, even when I am not recording?
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Then Canon have a better implementation of 1080p 24.
Ditch the D600 - you're obviously not happy with it, and go back to a Canon.
If you can't push for a 5D III, then compromise by returning to the APS-C 650D or give up 24p by opting for the FF 5D II.
With appropriate software, you could downconvert 30fps to 24fps, as long as the computer is up to the task CPU and RAM wise.
 
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bensilcox said:
Ah right ok thank you,

1: I didnt realise this, although I must admit i never noticed it being that bad on my 550d, its not just on pan's either, its on any type of motion, up down, left right etc etc?

2: Yeah on my computer monitor, it has never had a problem before replaying 24p footage? I haven't played the footage back on a TV to test though in all honesty. What about the screen on the camera, it looks exactly the same when in live view, even when I am not recording?

Thanks again for all your help :)
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How fast were you panning ? If you pan to fast then the camera can't catch up with you because it only take 24 frame every seconds.
 
only you can decide if you're going to get used to it. I did similar when I sold a canon 5D for the 7D and hated it, I luckily sold it again and bit the bullet got a 5D MK3 which I am now really happy with. Its personal preference and intuition with your camera
 
Thanks again for all the advice everyone. Just as an update, I did telephone the shop i purchased from and told them about my feelings, and they said not to worry and if I wanted to a 6d then I can if I want one, of course i will lose a few quid, but its not as much as i thought.

Decisions, decisions! :)
 
Having gone the other way myself, from Nikon D3100 to Canon 5D2, I have to say I love the 5D2's video capabilities and the much steadier IS on the 24-105 compared to the photo originated VR in Nikon's 18-55 and 18-200mm.

I'd get the 6D, for me personally the GPS alone would worth it.
 
Just to give you all an update, I managed to exchange my D600 for a new Canon 6D in the local shop I bought it from. I am over the moon with the 6D, feel so much happier now, yes I lost a few pound, but I can pass that off as a mistake and move on. Thanks for the help though everyone. :)
 
It's good that you're happy with the 6d and I hope you didn't lose too much on the exchange.
 
bensilcox said:
Just to give you all an update, I managed to exchange my D600 for a new Canon 6D in the local shop I bought it from. I am over the moon with the 6D, feel so much happier now, yes I lost a few pound, but I can pass that off as a mistake and move on. Thanks for the help though everyone. :)
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Back from the brink, You'd better change your sig then :)
 
crofter said:
Back from the brink, You'd better change your sig then :)
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Haha yep, I sure am! Oh yes your right, I will do that when on my computer later.

Also, I seem earlier that canon are doing cashback on 20 items until the end of may, 6d was one of those items. Just had an email from canon confirming my £100 cheque is on it's way! Bargain! :)
 
stu.artd said:
It's good that you're happy with the 6d and I hope you didn't lose too much on the exchange.
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Thank you. Na not too much, prob about 150 pound in the end, but considering I had the nikon almost a month and then swapped for a brand new camera, it's not too bad.
 
bensilcox said:
Just to give you all an update, I managed to exchange my D600 for a new Canon 6D in the local shop I bought it from. I am over the moon with the 6D, feel so much happier now, yes I lost a few pound, but I can pass that off as a mistake and move on. Thanks for the help though everyone. :)
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Good choice, I was going to chip in and say you should have gone for the 6d!
 
sk66 said:
While in live view you should be able to press the "ok" button and bring up an exposure meter...I think all new Nikons do this (my D800/4 do).
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Not in video mode you can't. As both video and still Live View modes are independent it will revert to the last used camera set up for video when you do as well. That can be a bigger faff around than actually just dropping out of live view to meter. You have to make sure both live view modes are set to the same ISO first... and even then... adjust the shutter or aperture in still live view, and it will have no effect when you drop back into video.. so in effect you have to set the shutter or aperture in still mode... drop back to video live view, and then do it again.

If you do a lot of video.. just buy a hand held meter... save yourself the headache. It's something every photographer should have in their bag anyway.
 
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you can NOT use a Nikon live view to assess exposure.
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Just to add to the above comment you can NOT use a ANY live view to assess exposure.
 
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