Need a Prores capable camera

[PercySavageEG]

I'm looking to find a camera / DSLR for filming projects and its a lot better to edit in Prores and RAW than in H.264 because 1. Prores and RAW keeps a lot of details in your shot 2. I use Final Cut to edit so Prores is really easy to work with, here are the requirements for the camera:

- Shoots videos in either Prores or RAW (720p should be fine but 1080 would be even better)

- Interchangeable lenses

- Option for DC input

- Microphone jack

- Shoots decent pictures

 

I was looking at the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera but unfortunately, it cannot take pictures -.- I know it is possible to extract a RAW image from it's footage but I would prefer to not have to do that

 

my budget is $2000 usd

[ShadowCaptain]

@PercySavageEG

 

look into the GH4, it records in prores and 4k or 96fps 1080p, also has great CineD Profilesgreat for colour grading

 

OR Try grab a 5dmk2 using using magic lantern it records in full RAW

 

Alternatively... grab ANY DSLR/Mirrorless with clean HDMI out and grab a Atamos Ninja Star (or one of the better models), you can record in prores then!!!!!!

 

http://www.atomos.com/ninja-star/

 

I use a Sony A7 full frame mirrorless camera, and planning to run a Ninja Star for better results

[PercySavageEG]

@PercySavageEG

 

look into the GH4, it records in prores and 4k or 96fps 1080p, also has great CineD Profilesgreat for colour grading

 

OR Try grab a 5dmk2 using using magic lantern it records in full RAW

 

Alternatively... grab ANY DSLR/Mirrorless with clean HDMI out and grab a Atamos Ninja Star (or one of the better models), you can record in prores then!!!!!!

 

http://www.atomos.com/ninja-star/

 

I use a Sony A7 full frame mirrorless camera, and planning to run a Ninja Star for better results

If I get an Atamos Ninja Star, does that make it H.264 (or what ever the format I'm shooting on) upscaled to Prores or is it straight Prores? sorry for my lack of knowledge, it's the first time I'm making a purchase for a better camera, have only been buying compacts for most of my life but the editing experience on compacts' footage sucks so I'm finally putting money into a better camera

[ShadowCaptain]

If I get an Atamos Ninja Star, does that make it H.264 (or what ever the format I'm shooting on) upscaled to Prores or is it straight Prores? sorry for my lack of knowledge, it's the first time I'm making a purchase for a better camera, have only been buying compacts for most of my life but the editing experience on compacts' footage sucks so I'm finally putting money into a better camera

 

Straight to prores, it connects to the camera via HDMI, and records the HDMI stream completely bypasses the cameras internal recorder and records onto fast CF cards

 

the more expensive ninjas record and have built in display with tings like focus peaking (although some cameras have that built in)

[PercySavageEG]

Straight to prores, it connects to the camera via HDMI, and records the HDMI stream completely bypasses the cameras internal recorder and records onto fast CF cards

 

the more expensive ninjas record and have built in display with tings like focus peaking (although some cameras have that built in)

then should I get a GH4 and a atamos ninja star? I really want to edit in Prores and 4k is a good additional feature although I don't think it allows for 4k Prores though ( It doesnt really matter because I'm not planning to edit 4k footage yet) 

[ShadowCaptain]

then should I get a GH4 and a atamos ninja star? I really want to edit in Prores and 4k is a good additional feature although I don't think it allows for 4k Prores though ( It doesnt really matter because I'm not planning to edit 4k footage yet) 

 

You can do, though the GH4 can record in 200mbps bitrates natively in camera in flat colour profiles for easy editing / colour grading

 

If you use an external recorder you can record in 4:2:2 10 bit  (internal recording is 4:2:0 8 bit)

 

Downside the the GH4 IMO is low light performance lacks due to its smaller sensor when compared to APSC/Full Frame cameras, so it depends what you want

 

many pros and cons, no camera is perfect, hence my own struggles

[Bsmith]

OR Try grab a 5dmk2 using using magic lantern it records in full RAW

 

 

this is basicly what i would say, the 5D mark2 is nearly a holy grail for prosumer/consumer DSLR recording, even more prefferd then the newer mk3(maybe due to long life span of the mk2) besides that, canon has reputation of the ground of DSLR recording.

 

you might be able to find a 5dmk2 quite cheap due to it's age(+/-1.500 euro secondhand, wich translates to $1872 roughly)

 

 

 

I use a Sony A7 full frame mirrorless camera, and planning to run a Ninja Star for better results

 

ohh if you are going to do that, let me know please, I'm already interested^^ like everything else on the DSLR photography/cinematography road lately.

[ShadowCaptain]

ohh if you are going to do that, let me know please, I'm already interested^^ like everything else on the DSLR photography/cinematography road lately.

 

I am, probably when I get paid on the 25th, unless I convince myself to get it now

 

Need a new tripod and I really want a gimbal but that will have to wait I think, not happy with the shitty bitrate on the A7 recording... I WISH I had an A7s but it was not out when I got my camera, and I cannot afford an extra £1000 for the camera and an extra £2000 for the 4k recorder ><

[PercySavageEG]

You can do, though the GH4 can record in 200mbps bitrates natively in camera in flat colour profiles for easy editing / colour grading

 

If you use an external recorder you can record in 4:2:2 10 bit  (internal recording is 4:2:0 8 bit)

 

Downside the the GH4 IMO is low light performance lacks due to its smaller sensor when compared to APSC/Full Frame cameras, so it depends what you want

 

many pros and cons, no camera is perfect, hence my own struggles

Thanks for the advice, I'll think about it some more, I might save up some for money to get the A7s or the D5 mark III instead but we'll see 

[ShadowCaptain]

Thanks for the advice, I'll think about it some more, I might save up some for money to get the A7s or the D5 mark III instead but we'll see 

 

Philip bloom loves it.. and I love my A7 (none S version sadly)

 

[Dw136]

Honestly what are you planning to film and what medium are you publishing for?

Prores becomes quite a handful when it comes to storage and editing.A good h.264 encoder (I'd say >=50 mbps) is adequate for most publishing medium's. (Exceptions made for green screen / heavy SFX work.)

[PercySavageEG]

Honestly what are you planning to film and what medium are you publishing for?

Prores becomes quite a handful when it comes to storage and editing.A good h.264 encoder (I'd say >=50 mbps) is adequate for most publishing medium's. (Exceptions made for green screen / heavy SFX work.)

I'm not doing anything heavy with the camera myself but I do work on commercials every often and I usually work with Prores and RAW footage (like you said, a lot of green screen and sfx) every time I use h.264, I can feel the quality is different, I don't mind dealing with big file size as I have the storage to store it so it doesn't really matter to me. This camera is mostly for taking on holidays and making short videos with my friends 

 

Philip bloom loves it.. and I love my A7 (none S version sadly)

 

Thanks for introducing me to such a helpful review, that helped me out a lot on making my decision

[ShadowCaptain]

Thanks for introducing me to such a helpful review, that helped me out a lot on making my decision

 

No problem his reviews are worth watching, he tells you alot about the cameras

 

He is also an AMAZING videographer, he could put me to shame with a webcam from 1990