DSLR for video - superb value

Hi all interested video ers

I recently did some sample footage using one of my new DSLRs (Panasonic GH2) for video

The point of this test was to use the kit / cheap lenses

I didnt use my nice 20mm F 1.7 for this -as i was more interested in the performance of the cheap stuff

What i find incredible - as a videographer with 10 years of shooting:

is that for $800 ( including a kit lens - 14 - 42 mm) you get the ability to shoot incredibly sharp video. For an extra $400 you can get a fast prime into the mix and you then have incredible low light ability too.

This particular camera is hackable to up the recording bitrate (i go from the stock 20mbs to 44mbs - it makes an incredible difference to the picture)

You also get overcrank slo mo in 720 p
full control over shutter speed and aperture
ability to go to slow shutter functions for motion blur - (and the ability to do this in daylight with a Fader ND)

Of course you need an editing set up and software - but even a mc mini is fully capable of editing video (and well) these days - so that investment got cheaper!

Low light is so good that you can use natural light or minimal light set ups - this is very liberating.

AND the kit weighs half to 1/3 what it used to

So now you have more time and money to concentrate on your story !

Brilliant!

So what's your cat's name?

got adjustable levels on board so i can mic straight in.

as well as that i do use a Zoom recorder with a shotty or a lav.

In a perfect world - with budget - its ALWAYS better to have a sound guy

Problem is the budget is rarely there on my projects - so i have to record myself -which has bitten me on the ass a few times in the past.

Often on set the sound guys know more about cinema than anyone else in the crew - many of the best directors have come from a sound background

- because soundos understand all the visual side of the process- but add to that an understanding of the power of sound.

RESPECT to THA Sound guys out there!

... which moves out the way when the shutter is pressed.

i know its not a true dslr - but its kind of become a generic term in the scene. Micro four thirds is even better than dslr becasue the cameras are so small you can get them into a (large) pocket

Lenses were already stopped down - as they are the slower / cheaper kit lenses- i guess that makes my focusing even worse! A big fat monitor would be handy - but then there goes the small footprint..

GH2 produces excellent sharp images and great video with/without the bitrate hack @1080p /24.

But the kit lens @f3.5 is blurry wide (~20mm) @ f5.6 it sharpens up... it's not a bad lens, just not fast enough.

Maybe try Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 (movie making) and the Olympus 45mm f/1.8 (for short-telephoto and portraits)... sure no zoom, but they're sharp and cheapish (compared to the Leica's Summilux or Panasonic Summilux).

Everyone wants a zoom, but a fast prime real makes a camera.

I know the technicalities, but my artistic composition sucks balls .

can i suggest a compressor/gate across your audio.