Help Requested when shooting video with 7D and 5D Markii????

[SupaDave03]

I had some question and hope to find answers here on the forum. Since my wife and I use Nikon when photographing I have no input on the Canon DSLR's, but we use canon video camera to shoot video. We have an XL-H1a and XH-A1 that we use for weddings, but I love the look of the canon DSLR video. My Question is who has shot both the Canon 7D and 5D Markii using video and which one did you perfer? I would mainly use the DSLR to video weddings so which lens or lenes would you suggests. Thanks for help and Ideas.

[ADP Photography]

I just started playing with the whole video thing. We went from Canon 50D to a 5DM2, mainly for the full framed sensor, ISO and getting the fps we need (wedding photographers). I love, love, love the 5dmarkii for all those reasons. The 7D is basically a 50D with video, so you only have the mid size sensor on it. The video we've done with it is great, so we're really excited about that aspect of it. My advice is rent both camera's one at a time and play with them. Or take your own CF cards to the store and test drive them there, then take the video home to play with and really analyze the end results. If you're ever able to make it to Dallas, Competitive Camera is the best and they will go over every single detail on the camera (as long as it's not on a Saturday, b/c they're packed). What I love about the Canon comes from the lenses... the glass & the elements are beautiful.

[SupaDave03]

Yea the Canon 5Dii would be the better buy.. Thats a good Idea to rent it first and see, but I have never rented gear before whats a round about price for this camera and a good lens..

[tukaniray]

Coming from the ProLevel Video Cameras you have (Canon XH-A1... great camera btw) and jumping into the DSLRs, you should take into consideration the audio inputs. I haven't personally worked with the Canon DSLRs, but I have heard getting the XLR inputs and getting them to give you good clean audio isn't the best.

Alot of people, I have spoken with have a separate recorder for audio.

Good luck with finding the right camera for you that you feel will be a good fit in what you already are shooting.

-Ray-

[SupaDave03]

Yea the more I think about the pros and cons it would make sense to wait right now and see if nikon releases something next year.

[The J-Rod]

I have experience with the DSLR's.
What many are doing is recording the audio on the camera with the internal mic, and then using a real microphone hooked up to an audio recorder (such as a Zoom H4). The 2 audio sources are then synced using an application called "Plural Eyes" in Final Cut. That is where my brackets come in (see my link below or go to The J-Rod & J-Cube Microphone Mounts and Professional Camera Accessories). The J-Cube hold an audio recorder, a mic, and a wireless mic receiver all together.
In terms of camera choice I won the 5DII and love it. A colleague of mine uses the 5D and a 7D and intermixes the footage without any problems. The 7D is a crop chip camera, so your lenses will be multiplied. I want to add another body, and have struggled with the decision to get another 5D or add a 7D. The 7D does focus much faster in video mode, and shoots twice as fast in still mode, and costs less. But I would like 2 bodies that are the same ergonomically.

Please remember to check out my link below. With The J-Cube and a Pro Shoe you can mount an audio recorder and other accessories without the need for a large cage and keep your camera manageable for handheld shooting.