What camera do you use? BEST Easy To Use DSLR Camera To Make HD Local Business Videos

by rizy
24 replies
I did a google search on this but couldn't get very lucky, so I am asking the warriors now. I make quite a bit of videos for local businesses from their pictures only, but sometimes they ask to shoot video, and I am always like 'Fudge', and then I hire somebody to shoot the video for me. My problem is I don't know a thing about cameras and I would never use a camera that gives second best video quality. So help me out here:

What camera do you use?
How do you use it? Is it easy and what not?
Do you bring in lighting and other stuff?

I am looking for a camera that gives quality amazing 1080p HD Professional Quality, which can be then edited for even better quality. Camera will be used in offices indoors and for real estate outdoors, plus for food and what not. I do have one in mind, Canon t2i but the problem is its battery dies out so quick, and I don't know which lens to use for a business video, so I am looking for the kind of gear you guys have.
#business #camera #dslr #easy #local #make #videos
  • Profile picture of the author visimedia
    while other people are now crazy about expensive SLR camera, I only use my HTC Sensation XE 8Mpxl Camera. lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author rizy
      Originally Posted by visimedia View Post

      while other people are now crazy about expensive SLR camera, I only use my HTC Sensation XE 8Mpxl Camera. lol.
      lol really to make videos for other businesses? hmm well then I can't do worse, I got HTC One lol
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  • Profile picture of the author stone2010
    Get a Cannon T2i or T3i... or get a Galaxy S4 you will love the 1080p quality on that phone lol
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  • Profile picture of the author SiteSmarty
    I have a Nikon D700. Pain in the butt! Heavy. Not portable. Useless other than sitting on the desk. I guess if you're into photography it's good, but a smart phone works just as good.

    Pro video for advertising businesses is over rated. People like real videos, narrated by real people without all the BS and glamour. Grab the best smart phone video you can get.

    I have a GoPro also. Another pain in the butt. Smart phone is where it's at.
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    • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
      Your script / storyboard are far more important than the camera. Great stuff can be done with smart phones.
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  • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
    There are some cool cheap DIY steadycam setups on the net with mounts for a light and your phone/vid cam for panning/moving to smooth the shot.
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  • Profile picture of the author ATAC
    I sometimes use my phone and if I remembered to bring my camera its a Sony Cyber-shot.

    I have done 100s of website pictures and video's for local business with these two combinations.

    You are making way too much out of it ..

    I mean shit ... I used my phone so many times I can not even count them and NEVER once did I receive a complaint. Just get the job done and move on otherwise you are spending too much time on the job and when you calculate the amount of time on the job and pay, in the end you will be working for penny's .

    I try never to do any of the work myself unless I have to like videos ..
    So I get in and out ASAP and I suggest you try to do the same without sacrificing quality ...

    Best of luck
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    I know a few guys who use Canon 5Ds for youtube videos (personal brand not other companies).

    And I've heard good things about Panasonic SLRs for video.

    But you may not need to go that high. Many people use a point & shoot camera, a flip camera, or even a phone with good video.
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  • Profile picture of the author Anteros
    Get any DSLR who does 720p/30 or 1080p/30. The cheapest you can find BUT get a lens with fast aperture. For multiple purposes, a 17-50 f/2.8 will be the best investment and you can do amazing out of focus effects.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZGb1A4KNTE Here is a video someone did (not mine, or you can just find 17-50 f/2.8 DOF in youtube). This was done with a Canon 7D but you can expect the exact same result with a T2i, T3i, T4i or 60D.
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    A T3i, kit lens and nifty 50 lens (F1.8) will run you about $500 or so. Get a good lav mic to connect to your smartphone for sound ($50 from rodes). Get a heavy duty tripod from a yard sale for $10. This is if you need a solid setup. Add a Gopro to the mix later for good B footage.

    Btw, I think the only difference between the T2i and T3i is the swivel screen which is super handy.
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    • Profile picture of the author rizy
      Originally Posted by RentItNow View Post

      A T3i, kit lens and nifty 50 lens (F1.8) will run you about $500 or so. Get a good lav mic to connect to your smartphone for sound ($50 from rodes). Get a heavy duty tripod from a yard sale for $10. This is if you need a solid setup. Add a Gopro to the mix later for good B footage.

      Btw, I think the only difference between the T2i and T3i is the swivel screen which is super handy.
      Thanks this is what I was looking for.
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      • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
        Originally Posted by rizy View Post

        Thanks this is what I was looking for.
        No prob. Just mix your sound in post from your phone. Same can be done with Flip cam if need be but as 9999 said, i would feel less professional showing up with a non-dslr device. The thing about the dslr is you have much more control with lens but it is hard to use if you do not know what you're doing. There is a guy named Dave Dougdale you can look up on youtube and I think he has a course on this called Learning DSLR Video that may help.
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        • Profile picture of the author 9999
          You would even be good getting a decent camcorder that records on auto, look at the sony nex line, they have amazing audio. I always try to hook up a wireless mic to the person unless it is a very quite room. Use what is in your budget!
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  • Profile picture of the author VantagePro
    It's interesting to see other people's perception of what is considered "professional." My sister a PR manager at Wynn Las Vegas. One day she was working with GEICO while they were filming one of their gecko commercials on the property. All of the parts that are from the gecko's perspective were shot with an iphone 4s attached to a mic boom with a wheel on it that they rolled across the ground. I wouldn't worry too much about the equipment you have on hand. Most of the work is done in post production anyway.
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    • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
      Originally Posted by VantagePro View Post

      It's interesting to see other people's perception of what is considered "professional." My sister a PR manager at Wynn Las Vegas. One day she was working with GEICO while they were filming one of their gecko commercials on the property. All of the parts that are from the gecko's perspective were shot with an iphone 4s attached to a mic boom with a wheel on it that they rolled across the ground. I wouldn't worry too much about the equipment you have on hand. Most of the work is done in post production anyway.

      LOL yep, my galaxy note2 has burst shot, special effects, stabilization, filters, slo mo, fast mo, and editing suite apps that i'll never figure out. get an external/wireless mic and you are good to go.

      one reason you might want some fancier/extra equipment is customer perception. If a local biz is paying you $$ and you show up with your smart phone, they might scratch their head LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author shockwave
    I've never done the point and shoot videos, but if I did, I would probably use my HD Flipcam - light, portable, VERY good video quality...although there is no professional mic. Probably would have to get a wireless mic for that.
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    • Profile picture of the author 9999
      If you are going DSLR, please note that you have to know how to manual focus the camera and lens. Although the lens does have AF, it doesn't always work the greatest.
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      • Profile picture of the author Simon Farmer
        I use the Canon T2i.

        I got it after looking at many different camera's.

        It's also used by quite a few different video marketers.
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  • Profile picture of the author bobmcalister
    flip cam for me ...I love it ...makes 'reality' videos , and also use the camera on my galaxy note ...the important point is to make some , get them ranked...I like simple. good luck ...
    ps...I am looking into the Hero camera...steady cam..
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  • Profile picture of the author jrod014
    I use a Canon T4i. Love it.
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    • Profile picture of the author rizy
      You use the camera just by itself? Or with lens?
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  • Profile picture of the author 9999
    one reason you might want some fancier/extra equipment is customer perception. If a local biz is paying you $$ and you show up with your smart phone, they might scratch their head LOL
    My thoughts as well. I guess it depends on how you charge but I wouldn't feel right showing up with a iphone, I would be worried about the businesses reaction. Some may care and other not.
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    I got a Sony something or other....
    It was $500 at Best Buy a few months ago with a case, sd card, and tripod.
    The video quality is great... The audio sucks.
    Well, the audio is good, but it picks up everything.
    So, like RentItNow said, make sure you have a good lavalier mic.
    You could use corded, if you are recording yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author RyanGillam
    I use the Nikon D3100. The main reason is because I have a ton of lenses collected over time. With Canon cameras they change their lens system regularly which means if you upgrade your camera system in a few years you will need to make a lot of changes. Currently i am using lenses that go back to the 1980s with my DSLR.
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