£3k Budget - Video Setup

[budfox]

Hi all. I'll keep it short.

With a £3k budget what would you buy as an entry level setup for video acquisition?

The purchase will need to include a radio mic system, gun mic, tripod and of course a camcorder.

I don't wish to shoot with a DSLR (great pics, damned inconvenient) and in answer to what kind of things I'll be filming I guess we are talking corporate and promotional stuff.

There are some packages at around that price over at www.proav.co.uk I think the camcorder choice s the hardest to make.

I'll be editing on Premiere CC

[Fubles]

black magic cine cam and a fast prime?

[budfox]

Ooooh they look shiny. Seems they can take Nikon lenses too.

I might just be getting the credit card out tomorrow.

[Penguinracer]

Have the black spot, white orbs & vertical lines issues now been resolved?

http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=...

http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=...

[mizx]

budfox said:

Seems they can take Nikon lenses too.

Not without a converter I don't think, aren't they EF or Micro4/3 only?

Despite what you said about inconvenience with SLRs, and I don't know a lot about high end video, wouldn't a GH4, lenses and the rest of the kit be a better deal at the budget.

[TheRainMaker]

3k harder than you would think I started to look and gave up.

Have you thought about second hand stuff?

[budfox]

Yes I did think about second hand and that might still be an option.

I am re-exploring the idea of using a DSLR and putting together a decent rig to mount it on, for either use on a shoulder or tripod. I'd need one of those audio adapters that sits below the camera and various other bits too.

I really am torn though because the image quality from a DSLR, coupled with the fact I already own a bunch of Nikon primes is a really strong argument. Also, I'll end up with another DSLR and that would probably be a D750 if Nikon sort it.

But... such a rig is a pain to use. Perhaps OK on a tripod but not so great on a shoulder mount. Focussing needs some kind of gear mechanism, then a decent viewfinder has to be sorted, and there are other problems too.

What I haven't been able to find is a proper shop that sells this kind of thing for me to try and buy. Normally I'd research online and buy online, but this is becoming something that I think needs some physical testing.

Luckily there's no hurry and of course the longer I wait, the more I get for my money.

[Lunja]

What kind of work will you be doing? For events or run-and-gun a servo zoom can be very useful, which would steer you away from DSLRs/Cine-cams. Also don't forget about second hand kit - a good few once-expensive cams may fall into your budget.

[budfox]

Well I suspect I'll be shooting a few corporate/promotional type videos to include some interviews. The kind of thing that would probably be reasonably served by a DSLR on a tripod.

This is proving to be tricky though, because I really feel I'm going to have to choose between very high image quality or ease of shooting to stay around my budget.

My feeling right now is that I need to spend some time investigating the kind of attachments that help people to shoot on a DSLR and see if they'll work for me.

[Lunja]

budfox said:

stuff

In that case I'd consider a shotgun mic plus a cheap mic stand, which you can set up for sit-down IVs and save a bit on not needing radio mics, which you can hire fairly easily should you really need them. That'll free up a little extra cash for other kit.

In fact until you have more regualar work coming in the hire route may be worth exploring in more depth.

Edited to add: There are an AWFUL lot of options to bolt on/around a DSLR. Be as level-headed and objective as you can when choosing!

For example, lots will have follow-focus kits. Are you actually likely to shoot many roll-focuses, or work with a focus-puller on your crew? If not you don't need one.

You'll also find lots with top-handles. Unless your chosen cam has a flip-out monitor you won't be able to see the output during low angle shots, so either think creatively around those kinds of shots or buy a monitor. On a budget I know what I'd do.

Lastly, do you really NEED a shoulder rig? If you'll be shooting lots of walking shots or have lots of peripherals then maybe it's worth the investment, but for generap handheld if your lenses have good IS anyway a rig won't add much.

Edited by Lunja on Saturday 17th January 17:20

[budfox]

All good points, and I shall continue to think about what to buy.

I have considered hiring kit but it costs around £150 to hire what I can buy for £3-£4k. That's not too bad I guess but I like to it available at short notice.

More research called for but what I'd really like is to find a retail location where I can go to try things and then buy what's right for me.

Cheers.

[Phunk]

If you can hold on for a while, go to this:

http://www.bvexpo.com

If you go second hand, i'd get hold of a Canon C100.

Fits your needs perfectly!

[budfox]

Phunk said:

If you can hold on for a while, go to this:

http://www.bvexpo.com

If you go second hand, i'd get hold of a Canon C100.

Fits your needs perfectly!

Many thanks. Waiting until the end of Feb is no problem.

[Lunja]

budfox said:

Many thanks. Waiting until the end of Feb is no problem.

C100 is a great cam - own one myself. Infact the recent release of the mk2 may mean that mk1's can be had at expo's for decent deals...

Anyway - feel free to ask further questions as you decide!

[budfox]

Thanks.

On paper it looks like a fine piece of gear, but before you advised me on it I felt it looked like the worst of both worlds in some ways. An item without the user led design of a camcorder and without being a DSLR to use for stills as well.

As I've mentioned earlier in the thread, the two things tempting me towards shooting with a DSLR are image quality and the fact I end up with another excellent stills camera to supplement my D700 and D7000

Of course if Nikon made a similar product to the C100 I'd probably have bought one by now, but it seems that only Nikon DSLRs shoot Nikon lenses unless we delve into the realms of adapters.

[Phunk]

Plenty of C100 users use adapters with Nikon lenses. No problem at all, you loose AF, but you don't really need ti anyway.

I've been using the C100 since it came out and for your sort of work and if you can pick one up for around £2k it's perfect.

It's super ergonomic, the built in XLR's are great, dual slot SD recording so cheap and reliable media and the battery lasts all day especially if you get the larger capacity one.

[budfox]

Phunk said:

Plenty of C100 users use adapters with Nikon lenses. No problem at all, you loose AF, but you don't really need ti anyway.

I've been using the C100 since it came out and for your sort of work and if you can pick one up for around £2k it's perfect.

It's super ergonomic, the built in XLR's are great, dual slot SD recording so cheap and reliable media and the battery lasts all day especially if you get the larger capacity one.

Ah well that pretty much seals the deal then. I don't need one for at least another month (I was in a hurry for a job that didn't happen in the end).

Thanks all.