We actually had a DSLR at SBO and sold it. Weve used camcorders exclusively since the beginning. But, we do have a Sony NEX 5 mirrorless camera with a few different lenses that we use for still images, b roll, ect. Love that little camera.
What lower priced Canons have the Autofocus video mode? I had a great G20 setup but hated how it set there collecting dust 9 months out of the year. I want a DSLR that I can multipurpose with. Shooting stills in the offseason and some film during hunting season. Someone help set me up on a budget. As far as a camera and lense goes. I know the rest Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
How far do you think you can reach with that lens where it's still decent picture? sent from my mini hand held phone
They just released the T7i. Unlike the the T6i, it has the Dual Pixel CMOS AF. I would never use my DSLR to self film if it didn't have that focusing system.
You can nicely frame a deer that's within bow range, but it still has it's limitations even at 135mm. With my 70d, you can also get a 3x digital zoom without image degradation. that's nice for when something is really out there. Essentially turns it into an 54-405mm, but you lose some focusing features and performance.
Here's the cheapest (new) set up that I'd go with. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1318772-REG/canon_1894c003_eos_rebel_t7i_dslr.html I've been on the fence about trading up to an 80d, but I think I'm sticking to the 70d for now.
I love my Sony 6300. It's image quality and low light blows the Canon out of the water, but the Canon is much easier to use and the Sony's AF blows in comparison. Sony also has a horrible menu system and it's buttons are laid out very well for video. I really wish I could combine the two cameras.
On the sensor, each pixel has two light sensing photodiodes in stead of one. The system looks at the two separate sets of photodiodes to determine what is in focus. It's much quicker and more precise than the traditional contrast based AF that nearly all other cameras use. With contrast based AF, the image you are shooting not only needs to have some good contrast for the system to work optimally, but it needs to go slightly past focus and then comes back. This pulsing is fast and perfectly fine for photography but is horrendous to see in video.
I don't have any experience w. the Canon 70d, but I've personally been pretty impressed with the auto-focus on the A6300. I have changed a few settings from the default. Basically just followed some tutorials on Youtube. The touch screen focus of the A6500 would be nice to have but I couldn't justify the price difference. I agree, the menu system is a PITA, but I'm used to Sony's menus so I can deal with it. I like the ergonomics of my DLSR's better and I'm way more comfortable using them, but they just don't compare in quality and features to the A6300.(I wish my PXW-X70 performed as well in low light as the A6300).
You could probably pick up a Canon 5DMK2 for a reasonable price and this sturdy camera will hold up to anything you throw at it and then some. Worth its weight in gold. I was a wildlife photographer in Africa for many years prior to moving stateside a few years ago. Dust, mud, rain, relentless exposure to sun and cold, this camera was my go-to for everything from weddings, to birding and everything in-between. Sigma make some fantastic lens options if the L-series lenses are going to break the bank. Nikon have some good options too, but I'm a Canon guy, so cant help you there. Best of luck!
I have gone back and read/re-read this many times. I've looked at the components. This seems like a great solution to the blend of self video, yet have an excellent still camera. Can you expand on your thoughts on this vs videoing with your PXW-X70? I am contemplating all kinds of upgrades/changes. I can stick with my Canon XA20 and upgrade my Canon 7D to say a t7i and stick with all of my Canon stuff. Or ... I could dump it ALL (keeping some of my canon lenses for my wife and daugther) and make the move to say a Sony A6500 with that 18-105 lens and remote control. This might ... consolidate everything into one package. But it is a big jump to make (the whole Canon to Sony thing and dumping the video camera). Being able to drive the Sony camera and lens from a remote like I can a LanC on my XA20 has HUGE appeal to me!
Keep in mind that you get an adapter and use those great Canon lenses with your Sony. The mirrorless system allows for using just about any lens as long as their is an adapter for it, which there are plenty adapter options to choose from.(I'm using my Sony A-mount lenses with the E-mount A6300 with an adapter and they work well). From my understanding, most Canon lenses will function correctly on the A series cameras. As for the X70 vs. the A6300, there are pro's and con's for both. The A6300 is quite a bit better in low light and the autofocus is quite a bit better. The X70 can be gained up quite a bit before it gets grainy, but the A6300 is usable at some pretty high ISO's which allows for a much better image in lower light conditions. The stills from the A6300 are amazing! The ergonomics of the X70 are pretty good, and making changes are pretty easy. It's more difficult with the A6300. I run in shutter priority at 50fps and allow the camera to run in auto for the rest(On both Cameras). I really hate the ergonomics of the screen on the A6300, the X70 has a much more flexible screen. You would really want an external monitor with the A6300. In manual, pulling focus on the X70 is fairly easy, but sometimes it hard to know if you are getting tack sharp focus. The A6300 has focus assist which is a nice feature to help make sure you are getting the image sharp. However, I really like a focus ring on the camera better then I like making the adjustment directly to the lens. I don't know why, just feels better to me. Both cameras offer Clear Image Zoom which allows for lossless zoom beyond the capabilities of the lens. The over-sized sensor and some magic makes this work really well. So on the A6300, even with a standard lens you can double the effective length of your lens. The X70 offers me build in XLR audio which is a huge plus for me and that's why I typically do all my interview and hunting footage with it. Ergonomically, the X70 probably gets the nod for me, but the features and quality and flexibility of the A6300 are outstanding. So for now, I'm sticking to videoing my hunts with the X70 and plan on using the A6300 as my second angle camera. Here's a link to a commercial that out group filmed exclusively with the A6300 on a Zhiyun Crane handheld gimbal. This is what sold me on buying the A6300. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10209633604535639
I would keep most of my Canon glass (at least the real good stuff) and get an adapter, that part is no problem at all. I am at kind of a cross roads. Do I make the jump to 4k or stick with my 1080 gear until it has no resale value. My 7D DLSR, while a fine body is getting long in the tooth relative to what is out there for video and some of the new AF features that other cameras have, so I would love to upgrade. I have been playing the video game long enough to know what I want my footage to feel like, but also know the limitations or compromises that the various platforms offer. The mirror-less thing has intrigued me for a while and the Sony A6500 is looking like the best dual purpose setup (at least that is what my eye test tells me). The one downside that I am seeing is that as a self video guy, not having a screen to flip around to frame up what the camera sees during interviews would be tough. Video cameras like my XA20 have spoiled me in that regard. But I do have a SmallHD AC7 monitor that I could use for those situations, or even look for a small 4"-5" external monitor to use. Maybe it could output to a smart phone via cable or wifi for that stuff? I will have to dig deeper. EDIT - I see that Sony has an app to allow wifi output to a smart phone. Reviews say it isn't perfect, but if it would simply help frame up a "selfie" type of interview shot it would be a great help. Who knows ... it might work. The other option is to just keep my XA20 rig and get a new DSLR and keep on keepin' on. Not sure what the answer is at this moment. Maybe I will sleep on it for a few days and order a complete Sony rig, to test out and see if it will do what I want it to. If it won't I can return it or sell it.
It works pretty good. I use the app with my X70 quite a bit while recording interviews and training videos. It comes in extremely handy because you can control focus, zoom and start/stop record. So when I'm recording the training videos, sitting behind my desk I don't have to get up and press the record button every time. Plus it allows me to use touch focus on the smartphone(I don't use autofocus on the X70) to make sure I'm getting tack sharp focus on what I expect to be in focus. FYI, I've searched up and down to find a way to use a smart phone as a monitor(Besides the app), I have come to the conclusion it's not possible because the phone's ports are only output, not input. It sucks because they would make the perfect small/high quality monitors.
