Second camera for weddings: Video or no?

F-Stop

F-Stop

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Venturing into weddings next year and thought about incorporating some video (for advertising purposes, slideshows, etc).

Any word of advice as to whether or not it's even worth it?

I currently use a D700 and am looking at the D300s as a second camera.
 
As you've got a Nikon why don't you look at getting the D7000 for video, it's the first nikon to shoot 1080p video
 
It's not a decision you'll be able to make for much longer. Canon have cleaned up with the 5DII's hi-def video, and you can bet that Nikon will want a piece of the action when the D700's replacement comes out.

A.
 
Remember that editing video can be time consuming, and really needs a fairly powerful 'puter. Also, DSLRs don't generally AF like video cameras (though the D7000 claims it will).

That said, they can produce some amazing looking footage.
 
Using a DSLR for video works pretty well when the subjects are static. Vows, speeches... So your filming an important moment and need a high res still, no problem. You just click the shutter button. BUT the video stops for a full second. You may have just rendered the footage to the bin !!
It's gonna have its place for sure. Having short video clips in a slideshow looks really cool. Great for portfolio, B and G will see your promo and order the same. Getting it right on the day is key. And not missing the important shots for the album. It's not going to be impossible, but you're gonna have a bit to learn.
Done well it'll increase your income and margins. Be aware that editing is an art and can be very time consuming.
 
I have broadcast video experience and IMO you could land yourself in a real mess if you try to do both stills and video for a client's wedding - unless you've got two camerapersons. Even then, I'd steer well clear of offering a professional video service unless one of you knows how to shoot and edit a programme.

Apart from anything else, you'd need extra equipment (mains & battery lights) and a decent editing package such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro.
 
Ozei said:
I have broadcast video experience and IMO you could land yourself in a real mess if you try to do both stills and video for a client's wedding - unless you've got two camerapersons. Even then, I'd steer well clear of offering a professional video service unless one of you knows how to shoot and edit a programme.

Apart from anything else, you'd need extra equipment (mains & battery lights) and a decent editing package such as Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro.
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this.

Video is a whole new skillset to photo, and also a whole new bag of expense, mountains of gear to buy and carry, and a lot of photo moments missed while videoing.

Plus shooting weddings (or any breaking event) on video slrs is still a very... contentious issue, and has many many compromises and problems.
 
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itsdavedotnet said:
Video is a whole new skillset to photo......... and a lot of photo moments missed while videoing.
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I couldn't agree more.

itsdavedotnet said:
Plus shooting weddings (or any breaking event) on video slrs is still a very... contentious issue, and has many many compromises and problems.
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Exactly. Broadcast facilities companies don't shoot with video DSLR's - they use cameras like these (and for very good reason): http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/product/hdcamcamcorders/hdw-f900r/overview http://www.sony.co.uk/biz/product/xdcamcamcorders/pdw-f800/overview
 
You can easily spend £1000's of pounds on just getting a decent rig for video. Eliminating camera shake is imperative and operating the zoom and focus whilst filming is quite a difficult skill to master.

Have a go at filming your promo's with some models, it will incidate the level of practise needed!
 
Bear in mind also that a lowish end video tripod that will be ok for dslr video is about £400, radio mics are £400 a set, follow focus units (essential for dslr video) start at the cheap crap end for about £150, a mac pro is £1800 base spec, etcetcetcetc - video is not a small investment. I wouldn't want to film a wedding without 3 cameras rolling 2 of which operated, and 2 cameras _absolute_ minimum.

SLR video is not ideal because the ergonomics and handling of dslrs, often meaning that for handheld usage, you need a rig of rods and bars that costs about the same as the camera! added to problems such as a low res screen, or on (for example, don't know about the D300s), the 5d2, no 1080p output on hdmi during recording, so you can't get critical focus using an external screen or viewfinder either.


HOWEVER, for filming short promos for your company, behind the scenes videos or even just shooting video for fun, you'll enjoy it, it is a cheap way to get stunning video in the right hands.
 
You'd need several microphones to shoot a wedding properly - three radio mics for bride/groom/vicar/registrar, plus a rifle mic for effects and picking up other folk. This means an extra person just to handle the mics.

Four decent mics will cost around £2,000. Then you've got the problem of actually recording the sound - most DSLR's will probably only have one audio channel. Pro video camcorders have between four and twelve (HDCAM = 4, XDCAM = 8, HDCAM SR = 12). To get four mics into
a DSLR would need a mixer (that's another £1,000) or a DAT recorder (anything up to £8,000). Now it's starting to get expensive.
 
Whoa, guys... Not really wanting to offer complete video services. I leave that to the video pros. :) I do, however, appreciate the responses.

As I stated, really just looking at it for slideshows, promotional stuff on my website, etc.

Trevorbray's response makes the most sense to me. Thanks for that.
 
You can easily incorporate short video clips in an animoto slide show, you don't need a lot of editing and you don't even need sound on them as the music plays over it.

The IS a huge gulf between doing that and shooting pro video of the whole event.

Depends if it is something you want to sell.

I'd definately consider it :)
 
F-Stop said:
Whoa, guys... Not really wanting to offer complete video services. I leave that to the video pros. :) I do, however, appreciate the responses.

As I stated, really just looking at it for slideshows, promotional stuff on my website, etc.

Trevorbray's response makes the most sense to me. Thanks for that.
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As you're a Nikon user look at the about to be released D7000. Full 1080p, full auto focus functionality to mention a few key points.
 
F-Stop said:
As I stated, really just looking at it for slideshows, promotional stuff on my website, etc.
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In that case it's worth going for - although if there's any video content on your site, sooner or later a prospective client will probably ask "Can you video my wedding?"
 
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