Are you a videographer too?

Are you a videographer too?

  • Sure, editorial mostly

    Votes: 7 16.3%

  • Sure, weddings mostly

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Oh no, not me!

    Votes: 29 67.4%

  • Huh, is that even possible, moving pictures?

    Votes: 7 16.3%
  • Total voters
    43
  • Poll closed .
johannielscom

johannielscom

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The nowaday requirements for editorial photographers and writers often involve being able to shoot video too.

I was asked to shoot (photograph) a traditional Moroccan wedding in The Netherlands but shooting video is part of the deal. And is required since it is vital in presenting the wedding to overseas family members who will not attend.

It got me wondering: how many of you are also shooting video, as part of an editiorial job or part of weddings registration?

Meanwhile I'm also hoping to get in touch with some of you that can educate me on gear and m.o. when it comes to shooting photos and video combined...:angel: I'm considering decking my iPhone 4S out with wide-angle lens, direction microphone and handgrip. Good? Bad?
 
Yes.

Best Advice:

1. Shoot something bigger than a iPhone. The NEX 5N produces great video, as do most APS-C sensors. Make sure you have a card with fast read/write rates or else the sensor will overheat easily.
2. Use a dedicated audio recorder. the Zoom H4N is exceptional and reasonably priced.
3. Learn Apple's Final Cut Pro X. If you know Lightroom it should be an easy transition.
4. Read Edward Dmytryk's ON FILM EDITING, Focal Press.
 
My partners are nudging me to do some videos at work (so far I've been recording their concerts). I think I've zeroed in on a Nikon D7100, used with the separate recording rig I already have for concerts. I looked into the cheap routes, and really don't think I can get away with one bit less less if I'm going to do a decent job. The cut-off point for me was getting a camera with separate audio input for a feed from the recorder (no Nex 5, then--the Nex 7 was in consideration, though), which I gather is the cheap and dirty way to sync the audio.

If anyone thinks the D7100 is a bad idea, I'm all ears. I'm looking for a fit with my Nikon system, though.

Thanks for the Edward Dmytryk tip--I'm heading over to Amazon.com immediately.
 
Kirk Tuck is going down that path (photo + video) - he has made quite a few blog posts (like this one) describing his ongoing adventures. Worth reading.

Edit: I used to shoot video many years ago (portable VHS-C deck with tethered camcorder) - nowadays the NEX or Panasonic GH3 would be my starting point (I'd prefer the Panny for the lens selection). As L Collins implied, sound is the elephant in the room - getting quality sound is almost impossible with consumer gear, due to wind/ambient noise and that awful invention called auto-gain. That's why most pros use separate audio recorders, directional or clip-on mikes and wind socks.

At the high end there's the RED, Blackmagic and 5DIII - there's been a recent firmware hack for the 5DIII that gives RAW capture quality at 24p.
 
I have an OM-D 5-ME and it's supposedly a good video shooter, but I've never used that capability. I did shoot 8mm film and Hi-8 video when the kids were little, but in fact, I hated it. Can still be seen from the uninspiring footage I produced 🙂
 
Thanks for the replies, guys and gals!

@chathaway: we have a substantial minority of former migrant workers from Morocco in the Netherlands, who came in the 1960s and 1970s and settled. A traditional Moroccan wedding in the Netherlands involves 200-300 guests from all over Europe and Morocco, but those that cannot afford to attend need to be kept in the loop by sending them movie clips. Not sending them is no option, they'd feel insulted!

@Michael, thanks for your input on the D7100. If not using the iPhone, my preference would be to use a Nikon DSLR too since I own a D3100 and lenses. I'd have to look into the additional sound sync though, don't think the D3100 has that option.

@Collins, Apple's Final Cut Pro, huh? Expensive, I gather? This is a last-minute, shoestring budget wedding, most of the available cash in the whole family is already blown on the venue, the food, the dresses (plural, yes), etc. I'd probably have to invest most revenue into gear to even pull this off but it's a heck of an experience and might be the start of something good so I'm willing to commit and invest.
In fact, I'd prefer to hand the whole videographing thing to a co-worker but I haven't got one so I will likely have to double in shooting video and photography simultaneously. Idea would be to set the whole kit on the heavy Gitzo and start recording, choose positions so that it can cover most of the action unattended. The make-do approach...
I'll be out for the book next, see if I can find it or something similar closer to home for fast delivery...
 
Forget the iPhone.

I have an old Olympus EPL1 and I use that for video. It shoot 720p only but with good glass it looks superb to my eye and clients have never complained. With Leica glass up front you might even be able to up-res it to 1080p. I use the standard short Olympus zoom and my Nikon primes with an adaptor.

However, as I'm planning a total system switch to an M8 (to start with) I will use Leica mount lenses on the Olympus for video.

I was close to committing to a muscled up Nikon for 1080 video but they're too big. I already shoot D200s for work. Or did, much is now done with the diminutive X100 and WCL-X100. But I stuck with the EPL1 as it does a fantastic job. Totally manual and has the mic accessory.

You can pick up the Olympus Pens for next to nothing these days. And they'll happily accommodate Leica glass for stunning sharp video.

I think the Olympus Pens are somewhat overlooked in terms of video. It's all I use them for.

Both movies below were made using Olympus EPL1.

https://vimeo.com/15286739
https://vimeo.com/15036750
 
Intrigued by the fast dismissal of the iPhone 4S in posts.

It can do 1080p natively and needs no upsizing.
It does a bitrate of 50ps, while BluRay is 40ps.
It can do wide angle with a wide angle Schneider lens, optical glass and all.
It can do Steadicam-like grips etc to help steady it.
It can do external mics, although not stereo.

What am I missing that disqualifies the iPhone as a serious contestant? Somebody explain this to me, a newbie on this?
 
buzzardkid said:
Intrigued by the fast dismissal of the iPhone 4S in posts.

It can do 1080p natively and needs no upsizing.
It does a bitrate of 50ps, while BluRay is 40ps.
It can do wide angle with a wide angle Schneider lens, optical glass and all.
It can do Steadicam-like grips etc to help steady it.
It can do external mics, although not stereo.

What am I missing that disqualifies the iPhone as a serious contestant? Somebody explain this to me, a newbie on this?
Click to expand...

Sensor size. Same issues in video one encounters in still photography. Bigger is better in video too.
 
The problem with "automatic" cameras, as in cell phones, is the problem of keeping focus and exposure. When the subject is off center on my cell phone, the focus wanders to whatever is in the middle. With two people side by side close up that would be the background, 30 feet away. Also, it's really irritating to see exposure changing as you're moving the camera or the subject moves. Maybe the iPhone is more sophisticated, but I bet not.
 
Videography is a filthy habit. You'll go blind and grow hair on the palms of your hands.

Also, it took me a very long time to get any good at all at still photography. When I look at how bad most videos are, I think (1) Good grief, it wouldn't take long to learn to be better than that, but also (2) It would take a very long time indeed (if I could do it at all) to learn to be what I would regard as even reasonably competent.

Cheers,

R.
 
jbielikowski said:
Frankly... find someone experienced with good gear and give 100% of yourself to make best photos.
Click to expand...

Still my preference indeed. I've got some lines out and hope someone will come forward to help me out. I can't offer much, the fee for the videographer would go out of my own fee which is shoestring budget anyway.

I've agreed to either find someone, declare myself fit to work as a videographer or settle for photography only by Wednesday at the latest.

The family prefer to hire me as a photographer anyway but if they have to hire a separate videographer that would be close to disaster: the vasting period Ramadan is approaching and during Ramadan there are no weddings. So everybody tries to get married before Ramadan and as a result, videographers who are experienced with Moroccan weddings are happily charging up to double the price in those last few weeks!


Thanks all for your input, currently I'm considering using the D3100 and a separate sound recorder to cover the event. The iPhone is out due to sensor size.

Maitani, I'll probably go with Sony Vegas in trial, thanks for that tip!


New input welcome though!
 
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