Need a decent Cam for video's advice please.

[Swissy]

I'm being asked more to do wedding videos, i have a few people with me when i'm working so it's not really a problem, but before i jump in with both feet, will my current Canon 600D give acceptable quality, i've also been looking at a Panasonic G6 but i'm not sure if this will be much better than my Canon, i've got lots of Canon and M43 lenses, my budget would be about £500, any advice please?

Many thanks

 

[saffronsnapper]

Hi,

I use Canon 5D mk2 and mk3 for video and have friends who use 60D and 7D. Depending on your lenses and the style you're wanting to shoot a 7D might be good for you as it's very good quality and better in the higher ISO areas than your current camera. With rumours of a 7Dmk2, prices have tumbled too!

Best of luck.

 

[Chappers]

At your budget I would suggest that any conventional video cameramay give a significant improvement over your existing canon DSLR.But it would make life a lot easier if you are switching from video to still, using the same camera. The other question is audio. Do you intend to effectively shoot "mute" and then add a audio soundtrack over the video footage. If however you intend to include some live audio, you need to think about that. Most cameras on board mikes are pretty poor be they DSLR or dedicated camcorders.

The other point is the handling of the camera. camcorders tend to be a lot easier to hand hold than DSLR's are for video. ( I speak from experience). OK if you are on a tripod but that may be difficult at weddings. Another point that may seem odd but has a bearing. A DSLR is seen as a still camera, not a video camera. People tend to react to it as such and stand and pose, not something you really want. This problem happened to an events photographer I know. Every time he got his 60D to video groups they stopped and posed. He reverted to his older (and heavier) camcorder, and the problem went away. Now I'm not saying this will happen to you but it's worth considering.

 

[st599]

A DSLR also has a limited record time - if it lasted longer than 30 mins it would be classed as a camcorder and have a higher import duty.

 

[Chappers]

A DSLR also has a limited record time - if it lasted longer than 30 mins it would be classed as a camcorder and have a higher import duty.

That's continuous record time. Several manufactures put a 29'59"second limit on the recording, but automatically start a consecutive record session after this. However I doubt if you would shoot 30 mins continuous anyway

 

[Swissy]

Some good pointers here thanks all, good point about easily switching from stills to video if using the same cam, but equally valid point about how people react to a stills camera, i'm going to have to think carefully before I make my decision.

 

[WelshNoob]

A DSLR also has a limited record time - if it lasted longer than 30 mins it would be classed as a camcorder and have a higher import duty.

That is true but there is also the 4gb limit for FAT recording with the DSLR. This 4gb is nowhere near 30 minutes. Something, thankfully Magic Lantern gets around.