Henry Gentles Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Hi all, I'm a poor student in my final year of Dip Screen and Media and contemplating my first Camera for making Films. I have a Budget of about $600 for a Camera and Lens and would appreciate any advice. There seems to be alot of good deals available here for example under $700 aud? http://www.kogan.com/au/shop/cameras/dslr/?order_by=price It's so confusing and I just don't have any experience to know which is a good deal and worth holding onto for a while, something that will remain useful in the future? Nikon 3200 w/lens or 5100 w/lens, or Canon 600D w/lens, or 60D or 100D etc etc. Or should I go Lumix GH2, I can get one with lens for aound $600 also? Or perhaps you have a better suggestion? I definitely want a Camera w/Lens option so I can start shooting asap. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Go for the GH2 and get any old Canon FD lens off of eBay. Great way to start for cheap. Miles ahead of the other cameras you were suggesting once it's hacked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Gentles Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 oops I put the wrong link but changed it now! Are any of those Canons any good that are on sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurtinMinorKey Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 What type of films do you want to make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Gentles Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 Well I hope to shoot doco's to start with, I have a friend who is working on doco's all the time so I have contacts. But at the same time shoot my own short films, I'm at film school so there are lots of contacts to do projects. atm I really like the Nikon 5200 at $669 with a 18 -55 lens it looks the best quality imo but not sure??. If I had a preference it would always be image quality over features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted July 30, 2013 Administrators Share Posted July 30, 2013 What type of films do you want to make? A tip for anyone asking questions on the forum... There's no one answer that suits everyone, it depends on your needs... So state your needs otherwise people will either not know how to answer or give you the wrong recommendation. Cameras are all a compromise at the moment. 5D Mark III raw for example might be great for a tech savvy music video shooter but not so good for a multi-cam event shooter, so always state your needs :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Gentles Posted July 30, 2013 Author Share Posted July 30, 2013 Erm, I'm not gonna get a 5D Mk3 for around $600 am I? My budget is only $600 odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurtinMinorKey Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Erm, I'm not gonna get a 5D Mk3 for around $600 am I? My budget is only $600 odd. If you wanted to fiddle with raw you could go for a 50D, but I don't think that would be the easiest route. The gh2 is classic, and there is no doubt that it can produce an amazing image. You might want to save a little longer and go for the g6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Gentles Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Actually I just saw this here: http://www.eoshd.com/content/9713/nikon-d5200-vs-canon-5d-mark-iii Wouldn't the Nikon 5200 be better than a 50D or GH2? And if I got an expensive cinematic lens down the track, wouldn't the 24mp sensor give me a superior image? The Nikon is $650 atm w/lens. Does it have a greater potential or am I missing something?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Documentaries? -> GH2, it's sharp, high bitrate, it takes a lot of lenses (the nikon mount doesn't) and I believe you can find it cheap. Don't even come close to the d5100, it sucks. The d5200 is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Andrew Reid Posted July 31, 2013 Administrators Share Posted July 31, 2013 Erm, I'm not gonna get a 5D Mk3 for around $600 am I? My budget is only $600 odd. I'm not suggesting you get one. Was using it as an example of stating your needs. Do you actually know your needs? Low light important? Size / weight? Lens choice? Auto-focus? Stabilisation? You've got to give us a clearer idea of what you want and what features are attractive to you. I'd recommend GH2, but you might say low light is important, and therefore the recommendation would change to D5200. You see what I mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Gentles Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 Well I'm a manual slr type background, size/weight not an issue, image quality over features any day. I hope to get a couple of high quality lenses in the future and I intend to shoot doco's, films, music videos. I've actually never used auto focus ever so its not an issue to me and we use Pana P2's here at Tafe, always in manual. I'm just a poor student who wants to get best quality for cheapest price that I won't have to ditch down the track when I earn some money that I can build on? there are so many options its very confusing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Prater Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Get a Canon t2i/t3i/t4i/60d ($400) and get a 50mm f1.8 ($100) for it. Then buy a cheap monopod ($40). Get the Rode lav for iPhone ($60). Boom. Rockin' doc filmmaking kit for $600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahlfors Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 "Best quality for cheapest price" - in the lower price range, my choice would be: Nikon D5200 or Panasonic G6 (or GH2). Great allround cameras for that price level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Gentles Posted August 2, 2013 Author Share Posted August 2, 2013 I have 4 weeks to decide but I think I'm gonna get the Nikon 5200 esp as it matches the video quality of the 5D mk3!! Plus it has variegated lcd and full hdmi out. With a great lens the image quality should increase also and hopefully ntools will include the 5200 soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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