$2,000 Dollar budget! What to do?

[SteadyMedia]

Well. I have discovered this forum through a simple google search "photography forum" clicked the first one I saw. I will be honest. I want to you guys for your brains. Your experience. Your time. Thank you in advance.

I have $2000 dollars. I love to shoot music videos. In fact I shot a bunch with a Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm (don't have a clue what it means BUT! I know it gave me the quality I wanted).

Not a plug.. This link is for you to see what ive done.
youtube.com/thesteadymedia

I know nothing about camera's. I learn fast but forget quickly. Once I dump my own cash into my own set up, I will then take this serious. That's where you come in (if you want).

I had my heart set on a canon 7d. But I know that the 7d processor is the same as the t4i! SO same video quality. My main focus is video BUT I love taking pictures.

This is the lens I would like:
Canon EF 24mm-105mm f4 L IS USM Lens, USA #0344B002 0344B002

Along with a 50mm aswell.

I was thinking of getting the body on Craigs List so I can invest in some L series glass and maybe a nice battery grip and flash.

I would love your thoughts. I have much more things to say but thats pretty much to the point. Im an avid photoshop user so "perfecting" a picture would be easy so im not too picky on body.

Thank you for your time!!! I look forward to being embarrassed and assisted.

 

[Derrel]

Ummm...Canon 24-105 f/4 L IS USM lenses sell for around $800, used. A TON of them were sold with 5D, and 5D Mark II kits. I bought a 5D kit with the 24-105-L, all in a nifty big ole' box from Canon...so...there are LOADS of them used, all over North America. In fact, I believe there is one for sale on TPF TODAY, for $800 OBO.

USED amateur-level cameras, like Nikon D7000, or Canon T3i or T4i, are a fantastic way to save a TON of hard-earned money. I normally buy used cameras, and used lenses. So, that's my advice--try to source some used gear, and save some money, and then get some accessories you will want.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Contax 645 Outfit w Planar 80mm F2 T Lens | eBay

 

[Derrel]

Contax 645 Outfit w Planar 80mm F2 T Lens | eBay

I bet that shoots one helllll of a music video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[coastalconn]

Umm, well I don't want to sound silly, but if your main interest is video, wouldn't your money be better spent on a dedicated pro video camera? Just saying...

 

[SteadyMedia]

Umm, well I don't want to sound silly, but if your main interest is video, wouldn't your money be better spent on a dedicated pro video camera? Just saying...

Just a little silly. DSLR is like the new industry minimum for indy ish types.

I love taking pictures. if i knew how to upload some of my photos you would agree i have some sort of noobish talent that has some serious potential.

 

[SteadyMedia]

 

[brunerww]

Very nice picture, SteadyMedia. If your main focus is video, but you like to take stills, the best choice in your price range is the $1299 (body-only) Panasonic GH3. With the remaining $700, I would buy a selection of primes, the Sigma 19mm f2.8, the Sigma 30mm f2.8 and the Olympus 45mm f1.8.

With these three lenses and the camera's built-in extended tele converter mode, you will have wide, medium, portrait and short telephoto coverage.

The GH3 is a much better video camera than the Canons or Nikons (it has essentially no clip length limit, its viewfinder and autofocus continue to work in video mode, it shoots 1080/60p slow motion, and it has a headphone jack). No Canon or Nikon DSLR can match that video feature set, even at the $3000 price point.

Here is the video Panasonic used to intro the capabilities of the camera:

[video=vimeo;49420579]http://vimeo.com/49420579[/video]


And here is the still image quality it can produce: Flickr: The Panasonic GH3 Pool

Hope this is helpful,

Bill

 

[SteadyMedia]

Very nice picture, SteadyMedia. If your main focus is video, but you like to take stills, the best choice in your price range is the $1299 (body-only) Panasonic GH3. With the remaining $700, I would buy a selection of primes, the Sigma 19mm f2.8, the Sigma 30mm f2.8 and the Olympus 45mm f1.8.

With these three lenses and the camera's built-in extended tele converter mode, you will have wide, medium, portrait and short telephoto coverage.

The GH3 is a much better video camera than the Canons or Nikons (it has essentially no clip length limit, its viewfinder and autofocus continue to work in video mode, it shoots 1080/60p slow motion, and it has a headphone jack). No Canon or Nikon DSLR can match that video feature set, even at the $3000 price point.

Here is the video Panasonic used to intro the capabilities of the camera:

[video=vimeo;49420579]http://vimeo.com/49420579[/video]


And here is the still image quality it can produce: Flickr: The Panasonic GH3 Pool

Hope this is helpful,

Bill

OH MY GAWD. I will research into this!!! THIS IS FREAKING FANTASTIC!!!!! Oh and thanks! that picture was taken with a nikon d3100 50mm lense.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Contax 645 Outfit w Planar 80mm F2 T Lens | eBay

I bet that shoots one helllll of a music video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL it does have a built in motor drive, you know!!

for example:


He'd be shooting on essentially 70mm movie film!!!

 

[SteadyMedia]

Contax 645 Outfit w Planar 80mm F2 T Lens | eBay

I bet that shoots one helllll of a music video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL it does have a built in motor drive, you know!!

for example:


He'd be shooting on essentially 70mm movie film!!!

im trying to figure out the humor here. am i being made fun of or something? if so... cool.

 

[Overread19 7]

Don't mind Switch - he's just a sleep deprived film addict

As for your choices I sadly can't advise strongly on bodies for video work as I don't know enough about the features - however I would look into considering support items for video work. Almost all the DSLR rigs I see used for video work often make heavy use of accessories to enable easy video work (both for on the tripod and also for handheld work). There are loads of accessories for this from high price to cheap so I would strongly look into that area. Whilst its not a lens or camera body it will make the video shooting process itself easier and simpler and also increase the quality of what you can get.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Oh c'mon, you can't think i'm being serious now?

 

[nycphotography]

im trying to figure out the humor here. am i being made fun of or something? if so... cool.

You'll be just fine here. Finally, someone who understands survival on the internet. Just let it roll baby. lol

And I think he's mocking himself, not you. Although a few years back, the rage was to use a HVX w/ medium format lenses and a "vibrating projection screen camera obscura type thingy". Thank god that era passed and we now have big sensors mated directly to good glass.

 

[SJphoto]

For video, I would suggest the Canon 5D Mark II. Save up for it if you don't already have the money.