Hello everyone! Am a newbie and I need help!

[cruiser]

Hello everyone. I've been browsing for a while now, finally registered. First of all, a SUPER forum for photography enthusiasts.
I am a broadcast TV editor with over 16 yrs experience in live TV. Just started my own video productions and I've placed an order for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Canon mount. I want to get a DSLR, mainly for taking stills of my family, kids, pets and occasionally landscape. Probably in the future (not now) even make money from still photography shooting portraits. My budget is around $1000-$1300 for the body. Am going to buy 50 mm f1.4 (probably Zeiss), 35 mm and 85 mm (either Canon or Samyang/Rokinon) for the BM Cinema camera anyway. The only camera I've used is the Lumix LX 3 and I've learnt quite a bit from this little cam. Other lens suggestions for video are welcome.
From what I know, Canon lenses can be used on Nikon bodies with an adapter. So, should I buy something like the D7000 (body) or an equivalent Canon body? Or just go with the 5D mark2 for the bokeh and IQ?
I don't see myself upgrading the body anytime soon though, so I'd rather buy a good body right away.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[MLeeK]

It would seem to me that a single camera would have been a better choice. The Canon 5d Mark II is greatly loved by video producers. The 5d3 even more so.
I wouldn't buy the Samyang/Rokinon lenses if it were for my kid. Why would you buy a zeiss lens and a junk lens?
The 24-70 is a popular lens for video. Tamron just came out with a 24-70 f/2.8 VR (IS in canon terms) for Canon that is pretty attractive to Video. The 24-105 f/4L IS is also very popular with video enthusiasts.

 

[cruiser]

Thanks for your input MLeek. For me, the convenience of using the BM Cinema Camera, the DR and the ease during post production (especially when shot using a compressed codec like ProRes or DNxHD for time critical productions) just won it. And recently, Marl Solorio's videos comparing the BM Camera and the 5D M3 were reassuring. Ok, I'll probably stay away from Samyang and look into the Tamron

 

[TCampbell]

You generally don't want to use lenses designed for one camera on a non-compatible camera. The "adapters" really just adapt the mount, but not the electronics (auto-focus & aperture control).

Also keep in mind that the optics of a lens are designed with their specific back-focus (the distance from the rear-most element to the focal plane of the camera) in mind. When you use the lens on a body it wasn't intended to be used on then the quality of the optics are going to be compromised. Also, if you're going from a lens that required a shorter back-focus distance (such as the Canon EF mounts) to a body with a longer back-focus distance (such as the Nikon F mount) and THEN add in the extra space required by the adapter, it will throw things out even more. You'd need an adapter with corrective lenses in it (if you go the other direction you don't need any optical correction as long as the thickness of the adapter accounts for the difference.)

That means you'd get better results using a Nikon lens on a Canon body but poorer results using a Canon lens on a Nikon body just due to the back-focus difference. But this still doesn't address the loss of control over the lens. It's one thing when you want to use an older lens that still offered a ring which mechanically controlled the aperture blades, but in a modern camera it's completely electronic.

Zeiss lenses are generally excellent optics, but keep in mind that it's a manual focus lens. Manual focusing works best on full-frame camera because they have a nice bright viewfinder. APS-C DSLRs have smaller and dimmer viewfinders. DSLRs no longer have split-prism focus aids like manual focus 35mm film cameras had. This means it's not as easy to manually focus a modern camera than it was to manual focus a film camera. If you're going to be manually focusing, you may want to invest in a KatzEye Optics focusing screen.

 

[Patrice]

There are simple adaptors for Nikon lens to Canon body, but not so simple going the other way. Easier to adapt a nikon lens to a canon body, not so easy to adapt a Canon lens to a Nikon body. The flange to sensor distance on a Nikon is longer so an adaptor for a lens from a body with a shorter distance needs to have a piece of glass to maintain infinity focus which impacts image quality.

 

[cruiser]

I've just cancelled my order for the Blackmagic Cinema camera. For video (I make money on this) and stills (family portraits, pets) what would you guys suggest from the list below?
1. Nikon D800
2. Canon 5D Mark 3
3. Panasonic GH3
I've not invested in any 'system' or lenses yet.
I know that there is a big price difference between the Panny and the other two, would it be better for video+stills? I can get 2 GH3s AND lenses for the price of the D800 or the 5D 3. Thanks in advance for your suggestions)