Video on Canon camera

Dolby

Dolby

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A friend asked to film their walk down the isle and speeches for them - I we can use either a 550D or 7D

- is either of these better than the other?
- are there limitations at all? I seem to remember something about focus?
- are there space limitations at all - or only governed by the card size?
- how much space does a video use? I suspect speeches are 15+ minutes which may be huge
- the mic reasonably sensitive?

I'll try these features shortly - just thought if someone has already used the video, I could get 1st hand experience.

Thanks
 
Ok I see 330MB/min (ouch) ... 12 minute files ... And no AF
 
Dolby said:
A friend asked to film their walk down the isle and speeches for them - I we can use either a 550D or 7D

- is either of these better than the other?
- are there limitations at all? I seem to remember something about focus?
- are there space limitations at all - or only governed by the card size?
- how much space does a video use? I suspect speeches are 15+ minutes which may be huge
- the mic reasonably sensitive?

I'll try these features shortly - just thought if someone has already used the video, I could get 1st hand experience.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I shoot wedding videos using DSLR's. To answer your questions:

1. The 7D has a battery which will last longer, but you will still need some extra batteries. They both shoot Full HD, so no difference there. The 7D is full frame, but for this purpose, I would still say that either would be fine.
2. Well, you can't autofocus during filming (I recommend manual focus in any case).
3. limited to 4GB or about 11-12min
4. When we shoot, we have three cameras and end up with between 150GB and 200GB total. Ceremony is normally about 45min and speeches about an hour.
5. Camera audio is not the best option, You can look at getting a rode mic to attach to the camera and play with the levels, but if you want great audio (which you kind of do for the ceremony and speeches), you need to look at an external device to plug into the sound desk.

Let me know how it goes.
 
Dolby said:
A friend asked to film their walk down the isle and speeches for them - I we can use either a 550D or 7D

- is either of these better than the other?
- are there limitations at all? I seem to remember something about focus?
- are there space limitations at all - or only governed by the card size?
- how much space does a video use? I suspect speeches are 15+ minutes which may be huge
- the mic reasonably sensitive?

I'll try these features shortly - just thought if someone has already used the video, I could get 1st hand experience.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I haven't used the video function on my 7D that much, but I did use my Canon SX200 (I think that's the model) at a wedding the other day, in 1080p. It used 1.5GB for 06:10.
The space is limited by the card, but check what your card is formatted to.... I can't remember what FS it uses.
The mic is amazing. Don't expect to hear the vows from 10m away (I realised that when I edited the clips), but for the dances it was brilliant.
Focus is good, it autofocuses on the object you aim at.

For the 550D vs 7D, they might be pretty close to equivalent, the 550D is a lot newer than the 7D.
 
kim_bcs said:
I shoot wedding videos using DSLR's. To answer your questions:

1. The 7D has a battery which will last longer, but you will still need some extra batteries. They both shoot Full HD, so no difference there. The 7D is full frame, but for this purpose, I would still say that either would be fine.
2.
Click to expand...

Nope
 
5D mkii is a really good video camera. also look into magic lantern
 
froot said:
I think you should take a holiday to Somerset West and show someone the full-frame thingamabob... that the 7D doesn't have :D
Click to expand...
I'm driving through there this afternoon. I'll shout out instructions as I come through.

mmmig said:
5D mkii is a really good video camera. also look into magic lantern
Click to expand...
It might be capable of good video but the operator needs to be competent.
 
The 7D is not full frame! It's an APS-C (1.6x crop factor)

The 7D is prone to over heating over long periods of continuous recording, expect 7-12min before it automatically shuts down. I shot a documentary on the 7D which gave me headaches. The 5D is far better suited to video than the 7D, and has never overheated on me - although the 7D can do the job well if you know it's limitations. The internal mic is shockingly bad. Actually It's not bad - it's terrible. See if you can get a Rode NGT-2 shotgun mic, you can hire them for next to nothing - a wireless lapel would be much better.

I have not used a 550D, so I can't comment on that.

You'd be far better off shooting on a dedicated video camera, but if you can't, make sure you are fully comfortable shooting video on your DSLR before the event.
 
undesign said:
Very soon... :) Already available in the USA.
Click to expand...
They're still on pre-order on B&H's online store and shown as available end of August.
My daughter is shopping for a new Camera, and looking at the specs the 70D looks even better that my 7D. Orms lists it on their site but my local guy says that they haven't received any prices from Canon yet.
 
Roelie said:
They're still on pre-order on B&H's online store and shown as available end of August.
My daughter is shopping for a new Camera, and looking at the specs the 70D looks even better that my 7D. Orms lists it on their site but my local guy says that they haven't received any prices from Canon yet.
Click to expand...

Fotodigitalworld is listing it (coming soon) as R12999 for the body.... that sounds like an epic price.
 
genetic said:
You'd be far better off shooting on a dedicated video camera, but if you can't, make sure you are fully comfortable shooting video on your DSLR before the event.
Click to expand...
This.

However by now I'm sure the OP has begun extensive testing of the video capabilities of his 7D and understands it's limitations.
 
bwana said:
This.

However by now I'm sure the OP has begun extensive testing of the video capabilities of his 7D and understands it's limitations.
Click to expand...

I hope if he decides on using the 7D, to get a tripod... otherwise he should start practicing holding to bricks in the air without letting his arms sway.
 
I haven't played with video yet - will try on The weekend. I'll def borrow a tripod though ... And my only concern from this thread is overheating of a 7D :/
 
froot said:
I hope if he decides on using the 7D, to get a tripod... otherwise he should start practicing holding to bricks in the air without letting his arms sway.
Click to expand...
A solid tripod with a fluid head. ;)
 
Roelie said:
They're still on pre-order on B&H's online store and shown as available end of August.
My daughter is shopping for a new Camera, and looking at the specs the 70D looks even better that my 7D. Orms lists it on their site but my local guy says that they haven't received any prices from Canon yet.
Click to expand...

I've pre-ordered one at Orms. They expect arrival mid-Sep. Super excited. :D

PS some forumites on dpreview and POTN already received theirs
 
Last edited:
One of these days I'm going to put the 1Dx and 7D through their video paces and see what I get.
 
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