November 8, 2012 - 11:48
My XLH1 is a bit long in the tooth. I use a nanoFlash, and a Swit monitor (essential for accurate focussing with this camera) and this makes the whole set up horribly ponderous. Three different power sources, camera, monitor and nano albeit all off Canon batteries and a plethora of cables, not helped by SDI "out" on this early version of the "H1" not incorporating timecode, another cable therefore, and no viewfinder information in the monitor hence I still need a Canon viewfinder, in my case a "FU-2000" remote .
I like the "crop factor" provided by the 1/3 chips, and the ability to use Canon EF lenses.
What affordable alternatives are there? DSLRs seem to equal limited crop, audio issues and I have me doubts about the shallow DOF seemingly beloved by the large chip brigade. Bad enough following focus on a moving bird with a three chipper.
Sony EX3 ticks lots of boxes BUT I'd have to get rid of my Canon EF lenses and replace by eg Nikkors. Would love a "H1" version of the XF305, which would obviate for me anyway the need for a nanoFlash and a monitor but Canon don't seem bothered anymore in anything other than DSLR derivatives.
Any suggestions out there? Three chips, interchangeable lenses including those ex DSLRs, quality viewfinder, portable, 50mbps bit rate, affordable for the keen amateur brigade, (more like a company or platoon in my experience.)
Ron
November 8, 2012 - 18:33
#1
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Ron Jackson wrote:
I like the "crop factor" provided by the 1/3 chips, and the ability to use Canon EF lenses.Sony EX3 ticks lots of boxes BUT I'd have to get rid of my Canon EF lenses and replace by eg Nikkors.
EX3 or even better a PMW320 was my obvious thought - but I'm surprised to hear you say it would mean not being able to use existing lenses. Are you sure about that?
I can well understand it would mean a new adaptor, and a slightly smaller crop factor - though still quite a useful one for telephoto effect.
November 8, 2012 - 21:16
#2
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Canon EF lenses don't have an external aperture ring, unlike some of the Nikkors, thus a MTF adaptor necessitates setting the aperture, "on a camera ", prior to attachment to the XLH1. No good for those, like me who use a fixed shutter speed of 1/50th.
Ron
November 8, 2012 - 21:49
#3
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Won't that be a problem with whatever video camera you get - not just with an EX3?
November 9, 2012 - 08:26
#4
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
The EF lens adaptor for the XLH1 provides electronic linkage to the aperture control wheel on the camera itself, as well as, if required, access to various metering modes. I always use manual. No auto focus though.
EF lenses as one would expect are fully compatible with the latest Canon single chip "EOS" videocameras. Presumably all functions would be available including auto-focus.
"Red" and the new "Blackmagic" cams have versions, I think, that will take Canon EF lenses. Most users of these presumably only interested in the short focal length wide aperture lenses that are not much use for wildlife videography.
The "MTF" (and other) Nikon lens adaptors for the EX3, and presumably PMW320, will "work" on Nikkors with an external aperture ring. There is a long expected "Birger" adaptor for EF lenses that will make them fully compatible, auto-focus and all, with the likes of the Panasonic/Sony 4/3 chip still and video cameras. Long expected though and no sign.
Never know what's round the corner though, and there must be a demand, surely, for the type of camera we're talking about, and not just from wildlife videographers. An EX3 with an updated codec perhaps, and a workable EF lens adaptor. I see quite a lot of wildlife clippage shot with DSLRs on the likes of YouTube. Nice and bright and sharp, usually something slightly "odd", perhaps overly sharp, normally appalling audio (good audio a pre-requisite for lots of wildlife of course) and DOF shortcomings when the subject, perhaps a bird at fairly close range, keeps walking about, as they do.
I must admit to having a long hard look (well, via the web) at the Panasonic Lumix GH3, as these cams do provide a 5x "crop" for video, and there is an adaptor for EF lenses, not perfect apparently, from an outfit called "Kipon". I'm guessing though that these will have all the afore-mentioned DSLR wildlife filming limitations.
Ron
November 9, 2012 - 11:30
#5
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
What's a "H1" version of the XF305 Ron? Would have thought the XF305 close to perfect for what you want?
November 9, 2012 - 11:33
#6
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Richard Payne lurks here from time to time and should know whether the black magic cam is ok for wildlife?
November 9, 2012 - 11:55
#7
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Arthur, by "H1" I meant an interchangeable lens version of the XF305. Lack of magnification in the XFs, in fact all current fixed lens cams is an important issue. Even with a teleconverter and minimum digital zoom on the XF you are only looking at about 900mm (35mm) equivalent. My XLH1 with Canon EF 70-300 attached gives 500mm to 2100mm approximately.
I'm sure image quality will be superior to an XLH1, even with a nanoFlash, but the lack of adequate focal length.
Plenty of moans to this effect from others on eg the DV Info forums.
Black Magic sounds interesting , a "crop factor" so I understand of about 2.5x, no idea whether there is a usable digital zoom facility. "Single chip shallow DOF" as mentioned above likely to be an issue for the type of video I'm interested in.
Ron
November 9, 2012 - 13:59
#8
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
I've added, I hope, a link to a YouTube video based on some footage I took in Brazil in September 2011, just to show what my outfit is capable of in the right circumstances (superb light for example in Brazil) and what I'd like to emulate in something rather more portable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y0fOcv3LtM&feature=share&list=PL746A79E81766ACC6
Ron
November 9, 2012 - 14:04
#9
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Link not working-wonder why?
Ron
November 9, 2012 - 15:45
#10
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Link is working for me...
I must say that is a beautiful clip, Ron. Can you give us some technical details; lens, aperture etc?
Derek
November 9, 2012 - 16:20
#11
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
XLH1, with a 400 F5.6 Canon EF lens. Probably F8 with/without a ND filter. Camera 25f ,1/50th second. nanoFlash at 1080p25 100Mbps Long-GOP. Upload 10Mbps via MPEG-Streamclip.
Been thinking of late that lighting is all, virtually. Awful round here, dull , no contrast, or else when the sun does appear, low down, too hazy and shimmery, particularly for longer range shots which most of mine are.
Ron
November 9, 2012 - 16:22
#12
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
distance?
November 9, 2012 - 16:52
#13
Re: Wildlife Video-An Alternative To The Canon XLH1 ?
Thought someone would ask that! 100 feet? I filmed from the verandah of the Lodge at "REGUA" (very highly recommended), sitting down in comfort with my kit, monitor etc all nicely to hand. Maybe a beer to hand as well. The birds (sparrow size) were on one of the Lodge feeders which attract all sorts. Must admit bananas don't seem the same anymore.
Says a lot about being well and comfortably set up, for any sort of videoing I suppose. I watch Gordon Buchanan hump his suspiciously light seeming monster rucsac, Panny 2/3 cam, tripod etc etc around the rainforests of the world for the BBC , with seemingly immediate results. Don't know whether to feel awe at his strength or ? cynicism at a nice bit of editing.
Ron