Using 7D for Drama Production

[flyingbee]

Hi all, I am planning on using the 7D for my upcoming drama project which will be broadcasted late Feb. I have used the 5dmk2 for a couple of corporate videos and the results were stunning. However different from the corporate video, the drama will include audio.
i have the H4n Zoom recorder in hand to record from boom and some wireless senheissers, using a clapper for audio sync or maybe using the plural eyes sw.

I read and watch with enthusiasm a short done in the UK using the 7d, so as usual, i will try to minimise panning, position marking for critical focus and such..

Has anyone used the 5Dmk2 or 7D (i've chosen it for its 24/25p for broadcast) for production with audio ; drama, interview etc?

 

[DXNMedia]

Has anyone used the 5Dmk2 or 7D (i've chosen it for its 24/25p for broadcast) for production with audio ; drama, interview etc?

Video acquisition using 5DmkII may look good on your computer screens and such, but not many seem to have understood the framerate incompatibility & heavy compression issues when preparing the footage for broadcast TV mastering.

A super bad example of a poor workflow and understanding of how to use the 5DmkII as a superb video acquisition tool is the more recent Employment & Employability promotion starring Adrian Pang.
There were frame rate problems and you can obviously see lots of compression artifacts in the promo. I was wondering what's wrong with Mediacorp's QC to allow such a poor quality of video to go on-air. If this kind of poor technical quality programs are further allowed to go on national TV, what makes TV better than youTube?!

Why the hell are we paying Radio & TV license for?!


Anyways, complains aside, we've done plenty of location audio recording with 5D & 7D.
Many of us in the industry specialising in location audio uses higher end recorders as the signal to noise ratio of the H4n just doesn't make the cut. The mic pre-amps are noisy as compared to industry standard field mixers.

At least for us when we do field audio, we use industry standard audio gears, and for 5D/7D audio recording, we will split our signal to a dedicated Beachtek device to record into your camera and also run a parallel output to our SACD / DSD-grade field audio recorder.

Advantages of this workflow is that if audio is good enough in the 7D, then you don't need to waste time syncing....if not good enough, you'll have a Super Audio CD grade recording as backup for syncing in post.

We've also done field multitrack recording so that all the dialog tracks are individually recorded as independent tracks, and not as a mixdown to stereo.

PM me if you're keen to find out more about our workflow. :thumbsup:

 

[Bamboopictures]

Big thank you to DXNmedia for sharing his experience with shooting on 7D and 5DM2. I've read that some 5DM2 users experienced overheating and camera "hanging" after continuous shooting video mode. Just curious if anyone has the same problem with 7D.

 

[DXNMedia]

Sensor cool off time is definitely necessary to prevent any auto shutdown during recordings. Even RED needs cool off time.
Normally we will toggle live view only when we are ready to do the rehearsal runs.
It takes a bit of discipline to follow that workflow, but if you've shot film before, using the 5d or 7d following the film production mindset is best practise.

 

[engr]

5D2 is ok, 7D is the thermo king. OVerheating occurs due to dual DIGIC over 5D2's one. As long as you have more than one unit its fine.

 

[jasonjoseph]

planning to use a 7d on monday for a corporate shoot on a boat now u guys are making me very scared.

i saw a BTS still of Singapore Idol Promo and i noticed they were using a 5d/7d and i saw the end product on TV and i thought it looked ok.

anyway i've never witnessed red overheating, but i've heard of it happening, usually the batt dies before the camera can start getting hot hehe.

 

[Bamboopictures]

Thanks guys for the caution. Looks like 7D isn't for the shoestringer if 2 units are going to be necessary for a smooth-going shoot without down-time and hiccups. We are talking about 2 units with everything tethered. Eg, monitor, pre-amp, mattebox what not.

 

[shellshox]

Also good luck with your post production dude, or you'd better have a very patient editor.... H.264 codec in FCP is a real B**CH!

 

[DXNMedia]

Editing in native H.264 is not a good post workflow at all.

 

[archlinus]

Hi,

Like you, i'm learning but this is what i can suggest,

7D's overheating can be countered by having a laptop with the canon's image capture software program that comes with the 7D. This saves overheating because you can chose not to have the LCD on, using the laptop as a field monitor and at the same time, you would also have the ability to Pull focus and adjust every other various settings like frame rates and ISO[which should not go more than 200 for video unless you're ready to compromise on obvious noise]. and your finger tips. Your Director will also be better please to know that he does not need to share the small LCD viewing for the shots he wants.

H4N is definitely more than enough for YOUTUBE quality but if its broadcast level, you might re-consider paying your soundman more to bring in a high professional recorder.

Besides all the point, i think i know you. haha -_-

Warmest regards! cheers!

 

[shellshox]

As for the post side (am a video editor so i know this sh**), much more advisable to convert your footages to Apple Prores codec as it's less less sluggish n won't crash your system. The hours spend converting is worth it as you can then concentrate on the creative aspect as opposed to the waiting and frustration that you'll get. Finally, make sure your shoots are better planned. Even tho you're capturing in digital format, its annoying if you have to sift and convert so many bad takes.

 

[DXNMedia]

Hi,

Like you, i'm learning but this is what i can suggest,

7D's overheating can be countered by having a laptop with the canon's image capture software program that comes with the 7D. This saves overheating because you can chose not to have the LCD on, using the laptop as a field monitor and at the same time, you would also have the ability to Pull focus and adjust every other various settings like frame rates and ISO[which should not go more than 200 for video unless you're ready to compromise on obvious noise]. and your finger tips. Your Director will also be better please to know that he does not need to share the small LCD viewing for the shots he wants.

I never tried your method of monitoring solution due to the requirements of having extra equipment to bring on set and extra manpower to take care of the laptop...

just curious, are there any lag in your image preview output to your laptop screens? If so, how may frames of delay did you encounter?

 

[jasonjoseph]

where can we download the mac version of the Canon software ?

 

[flyingbee]

Thanks all..esp bro Dxn for the insight, input and advice. We will surely minimize any mishaps while maintaining the highest quality regardless of what equipment we use, taking into consideration of what we discussed here.

We are lucky to have one very dedicated and patient editor who likes to push the envelope and also exploring new workflows that one day might be of interest to all. Sharing is good right?.

Anyway, we hv concluded that we will use the 5d for the opening montage (no audio sync, just conform to 24/25p) and the rest of the drama will be shot using 'normal' p2. We are a small group of enthusiasts here with limited budget yet with limitless imagination.

We are truly blessed here having many friends with experience and money to boot..:thumbsup:

Will update on how it goes. Planning on getting the DollyTrax..we found it interesting :think:.. hiyaa..:sweat::sweat:..anyone used one?

Once again..thank you so much for your time.

 

[sibeiblur]

I just saw the spot on TV( Employment & Employability promotion starring Adrian Pang).

Holy crap, seriously, does the director and editor knows that there's serious frame rate problem in the TV spot:bigeyes:.

This is crazy.

 

[DXNMedia]

I just saw the spot on TV( Employment & Employability promotion starring Adrian Pang).

Holy crap, seriously, does the director and editor knows that there's serious frame rate problem in the TV spot:bigeyes:.

This is crazy.

With that kind of transmission quality, it's shameful to say that they cannot even handle SDTV right....let's not even mention about HDTV in the year 2010!

Japan NHK adopted HD about 10 years ago, and during 2005 era, I've already been mastering HD programs and docus for Nat Geo & Discovery.....over 10 years of HD technology and sadly in our supposedly '1st world' country, local stations still cannot get HD right. :nono:

 

[jasonjoseph]

yeh that spot is pretty shocking its almost like stop animation.

 

[tengo]

A DVXUser thread said a TV programme was using DVX100 to record sound while the video was shot with 7D or 5Dmkii

You can try exploring that route, using a tape or tapeless videocam to record sound. Might even serve as a b-cam?

 

[kerpalz]

I just saw the spot on TV( Employment & Employability promotion starring Adrian Pang).

Holy crap, seriously, does the director and editor knows that there's serious frame rate problem in the TV spot:bigeyes:.

This is crazy.

is it uploaded to youtube or something.
coz i cant find the video online "

 

[shellshox]

That's what happens when you people think the best technology will give the best results. Sometimes its the driver, not the car.....