Most suitable camera for moving property tours/walk throughs

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jrsteeve

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James
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Hi!

I'm trying to improve my company's property walk through videos; we've been using either camera phones or the video option on a Canon 100d with a 10-20mm Sigma lens, neither are fantastic and often come out quite dark and not particularly levelled.

We did have one put together by a colleague's partner, they used Canon M50 and a gimble, which gave a much better result and wondered if it was a reasonable buy or if there was something that'd do 4k video, handle variable lighting well/offer decent post production options to lighten the video and not be too cumbersome, ideally not needing to change lenses. We do have a Ricoh Theta S, which is fine, I'd hoped we could get. Theta V or Z and ideally it record in 180 degrees but Ricoh have said they can't.

This is the example of what they did with the M50 if it helps to show what I'm looking to do -
View: https://youtu.be/BH__Fc-ilS8


Any help or pointers appreciated.
 
Hi James,

I'm sorry to be brutal, but this is more about the camera operator's skills than it is about the kit being used (I'm sure you know that). You could spend money on more expensive kit, but the results would be the same unless its user knew what they were doing. My advice would be to get a skilled professional to do the job for you and find a way of costing that in rather than trying to cut corners.

FWIW, I think that video is awful and the music is even worse. :eek:
 
Sky said:
Hi James,

I'm sorry to be brutal, but this is more about the camera operator's skills than it is about the kit being used (I'm sure you know that). You could spend money on more expensive kit, but the results would be the same unless its user knew what they were doing. My advice would be to get a skilled professional to do the job for you and find a way of costing that in rather than trying to cut corners.

FWIW, I think that video is awful and the music is even worse. :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks but calling the video terrible isn't helpful. Compared against the standard most agents put out, which is bouncy, low quality camera phone footage, I certainly wouldn't say it was terrible, they're not looking to win an Oscar! Constructive criticism would be welcomed.
 
The editing on that video isn’t great, more the speeds ramps and random jump cuts Than the actual footage.
However a DJI osmo pocket would give similar results If you practiced a bit.
 
Look at what these guys do in terms of video walkthrough
.

It's done by a member of staff who knows what he's doing, and they have invested money in decent gear (Fuji X-T3, 16-55 f2.8 & 10-24 f4, plus (most importantly) constant lighting & a gimbal.
 
jrsteeve said:
Hi!

I'm trying to improve my company's property walk through videos; we've been using either camera phones or the video option on a Canon 100d with a 10-20mm Sigma lens, neither are fantastic and often come out quite dark and not particularly levelled.

We did have one put together by a colleague's partner, they used Canon M50 and a gimble, which gave a much better result and wondered if it was a reasonable buy or if there was something that'd do 4k video, handle variable lighting well/offer decent post production options to lighten the video and not be too cumbersome, ideally not needing to change lenses. We do have a Ricoh Theta S, which is fine, I'd hoped we could get. Theta V or Z and ideally it record in 180 degrees but Ricoh have said they can't.

This is the example of what they did with the M50 if it helps to show what I'm looking to do -
View: https://youtu.be/BH__Fc-ilS8


Any help or pointers appreciated.
Click to expand...

It is a truism to say that if you want professional results, use a professional.
You would not go to an amateur doctor or you would not hire an amateur gas fitter or electrician. Professional photography requires education and training. It is not something to be treated as something any one can do.
Your framing the question, as one of equipment, shows that you believe skill is less important.

A top chef is a top chef what ever the equipment.
That you want better results, indicated that better results will be good for your business.
This will undoubtedly come at a cost. It is unlikely to be done satisfactorily by a part time amateur.
Even the example that you have shown us is extremely amateur with basic quality issues, such as uneven exposure and lighting, a poor shooting script and links, and a poor choice of viewpoints. and poor editing. It certainly would no encourage me to want to go and view the property in person. As it gives the impression of being poorly paid out, cramped and dingy.

However if you are serving the bottom end of the market, what you show matches it to a nicety.
 
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jrsteeve said:
Hi!

I'm trying to improve my company's property walk through videos; we've been using either camera phones or the video option on a Canon 100d with a 10-20mm Sigma lens, neither are fantastic and often come out quite dark and not particularly levelled.

We did have one put together by a colleague's partner, they used Canon M50 and a gimble, which gave a much better result and wondered if it was a reasonable buy or if there was something that'd do 4k video, handle variable lighting well/offer decent post production options to lighten the video and not be too cumbersome, ideally not needing to change lenses. We do have a Ricoh Theta S, which is fine, I'd hoped we could get. Theta V or Z and ideally it record in 180 degrees but Ricoh have said they can't.

This is the example of what they did with the M50 if it helps to show what I'm looking to do -
View: https://youtu.be/BH__Fc-ilS8


Any help or pointers appreciated.
Click to expand...

It is a truism to say that if you want professional results, use a professional.
You would not go to an amateur doctor or you would not hire an amateur gas fitter or electrician. Professional photography requires education and training. It is not something to be treated as something any one can do.
Your framing the question, as one of equipment, shows that you believe skill is less important.

A top chef is a top chef what ever the equipment.
That you want better results, indicated that better results will be good for your business.
This will undoubtedly come at a cost. It is unlikely to be done satisfactorily by a part time amateur.
Even the example that you have shown us is extremely amateur with basic quality issues, such as uneven exposure and lighting, a poor shooting script and links, and a poor choice of viewpoints. and poor editing. It certainly would not 7 encourage me to want to go and view the property in person. As it gives the impression of being poorly laid out, cramped and dingy.

However if you are serving the bottom end of the market what you show matches it to a nicety.
An experienced professional will get the best out of any situation and will show the best points of even the poorest property.
 
jrsteeve said:
Hi!

I'm trying to improve my company's property walk through videos; we've been using either camera phones or the video option on a Canon 100d with a 10-20mm Sigma lens, neither are fantastic and often come out quite dark and not particularly levelled.

We did have one put together by a colleague's partner, they used Canon M50 and a gimble, which gave a much better result and wondered if it was a reasonable buy or if there was something that'd do 4k video, handle variable lighting well/offer decent post production options to lighten the video and not be too cumbersome, ideally not needing to change lenses. We do have a Ricoh Theta S, which is fine, I'd hoped we could get. Theta V or Z and ideally it record in 180 degrees but Ricoh have said they can't.

This is the example of what they did with the M50 if it helps to show what I'm looking to do -
View: https://youtu.be/BH__Fc-ilS8


Any help or pointers appreciated.
Click to expand...

I looked into the video and these are the main points:
1. It needs to be a whole lot more brighter (2-3 full stops) to be correctly exposed for the walls. Then you need LOG or RAW to have enough DR to pull back highlights which are already blown in your dark frames. You likely want a recent 4K capable camera
2. Verticals MUST remain VERTICAL
3. You could probably do half of the frames from tripod with decent video head to make it more stable.
4. sort out the focusing. Just set 1.5m-2m and f/9 to f/13 and forget it.

I don't think it matters which camera, as long as it is reasonably high end and most importantly you know how to make the most of it.

redsnappa said:
You need lighting equipment more than you need a new camera.
Click to expand...
redsnappa said:
If you buy a "better" camera you will get the same results but with more pixels.
A set of these Godox LED lights would help improve your videos. Amazon.co.uk\GodoxSL60

Once you get your light and use them for the first time you will realise there is a steep learning curve in learning how to light a scene.
Click to expand...

For stills you would in some cases, and not LED but real flash with umbrellas or large rectangular softbox. Good luck with any of that doing video. Practically it is next to impossible and far better not to bother yourself.
There is nothing worse than non-diffused hard light in rooms, or worse still a bare bulb or flashhead pointed straight. Quite a few companies only use natural light these days; Personally I'm somewhere in between.

I do a lot of RE stills so I know a thing or two. Video is not part of my package but maybe something I may offer as an add on now that I've got ML RAW video sorted just need the stabilisers.

RE is a really hard to shoot well if you have no direct experience.
 
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