DSLR advice (Sony a65?)

[Jabelone]

Hello,

Earlier this year I purchased a Sony CX-220 camcorder (1080p50) which was awesome for $260.  The only thing is it is consumer, has no manual controls and is to small to use properly unless on a tripod.  For the price and quality it is an excellent camcorder but I am thinking of seriously getting into film/videography and want the next step up.  Also it seemed to have wrecked my SD cards, by the time I realised it was the camcorder doing it I had gone through two cheap ones.  I am keeping it to shoot anything fast moving (like frirends sport games etc) as I know DSLRs suffer from rolling shutter.  I have a budget of $1000.  After doing heaps of research I plan on getting the a65 (twin lense kit) if you guys think it is a good choice.  To compliment it I would also be getting a tascam DR-40.  

I just want to make sure this is the best possible equioment I could be getting for under $1000 for the camera.  I am very solid with choosing the DR-40 over the H4n as it is so much cheaper.  

 

Questions

1) Is the a65 the best possible DSLT (DSLR) I could get for under $1000 for video in Australia? (the twin lense kit is $925)

2) Is is worth getting a three year extended/accidental/pretty much everything warranty for an extra $120?

3) How long can the a65 actually record for?

 

Link to the a65 kit: http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Sony-SLT-A65-Digital-SLR-Camera-Twin-lens-kit.html

 

Thanks heaps!

[grispie]

hi there, i have a a77. basically the same cam.  it records for 30min and then drops out.  no heat issues. i wanted to get the a77 as i got a nice deal. however the a57 might be an option as well, if it is still available. otherwise i wholeheartedly can recommend a sony alpha! i have played with canons, nikons and pentax as well.  it is not so good on high iso but videoquality is very nice. what i espec. like with these dslrs is the steadyshot. it works very well for handheld filming! neither canon nor nikon can offer that. the downside is that it crops a bit.  regarding insurance, i don't see the point..   for lenses, i have a 16-50 2.8, and maybe you would be better of with two primes then with the kitlenses but that is personal preference..   the tascam is fine, dont worry..

[Jabelone]

Thanks heaps, I think I might get it, I will have to try and convince my mum to let me spend my hard earned money on it. 🙂  One other thing, how noticeable is the rolling shutter effect on your a77?

[Jabelone]

Thanks, also I should have clarified, I meant recording time on a battery.  Thanks, I will probably get the G6 as I can keep the lenses if I choose to get into video professionally as I will probably get the equivalent of the GH3 when the time comes.

[Jabelone]

Also I need some help choosing a lense, my mum will probably help but I want an opinion from a video perspective, not a photography perspective.  I have decided upon the G6 with a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lense and probably one more.  DD photography only sells the G6 kit, which is cheaper than any body or kit combo I have seen elsewhere.

 

 

 

I want a lense that will be great for general purpose video, mainly shortfilms.  Do you think I should get a zoom lense?  So, what lense/s would you reccomend with a max price of $375 from http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/

[grispie]

ps:

http://michaelmerto.com/2012/07/22/a-painful-gain-reviewing-sony-a77s-video/

lesson: the cam is just the beginning, learn how to shoot, compose, storytelling, image grading…

[Jabelone]

I'm not your average jo who thinks he can go making box office hits with his $260 camcorder. ;D  So I do know quite a bit of technical stuff.   I am an avid watcher of Indy Mogul and can produce some pretty decent stuff with my cheap camcorder now.  BUT I do know I have a long way to go and my mum has a friend who does DLSR video and has offered me to accompany him on a shoot to show me some stuff.

 

Also the kit lense has, "Mega OIS" as I definitely want OIS on at least one lense, I had a play on a camera once and it is AWESOME! 🙂  

[grispie]

well, i guess you could go with the kitlens for now and get a prime later on, depending on your experience when you go out with that dslr friend. he probably has some primes..  must say, the thing that kept me away from panasonic is the sensor size. nothing wrong with it, but the lenses i currently have, show a bigger crop on m43 than on apsc…  reviews on the g6 seem quite good, yes.  can't go wrong i guess…

[brunerww]

Jabelone – I think you've made a good choice, and $625 for the G6 with the 14-42 kit lens at DDP is a very good price.

 

You'll need a faster lens, so I would add the $192 Sigma 19mm f2.8: http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Sigma-19mm-f%7B47%7D2.8-EX-DN-Lens-for-Olympus%7B47%7D-Panasonic-Micro-4%7B47%7D3-Camera.html

 

Sadly, they don't have the 30mm version of this lens, but you can pick one up for $100 on eBay.com.au: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sigma-30mm-f-2-8-EX-DN-Lens-for-Micro-4-3-cameras-/300998680799?clk_rvr_id=536336951420

 

That would be a nice little kit for less than $1000.

 

Hope this is helpful,

 

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com/

[brunerww]

Hi Jabelone – It is a wise move to buy a camera intended for your market.  I looked at all of the "G6 with 14-42 lens" listings on ebay.com.au and could not beat that price.  All of the lower priced cameras seemed to be from "grey market" importers: http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/Digital-Cameras-/31388/i.html?_from=R40&LH_BIN=1&_sop=15&_nkw=Panasonic+G6+14-42&LH_PrefLoc=1&clk_rvr_id=536792641658

 

Also, I would stick with the 19mm Sigma.  With the 2x micro 4/3 crop, it is a much more useful focal length than the 30mm.

 

And $8.29 is hard to beat for a variable ND – but you may see some chromatic aberration with inexpensive NDs like this one: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/52mm-Variable-Adjustable-Neutral-Density-ND-Fader-Filter-ND2-ND4-ND16-to-ND400-/140878187547?pt=AU_Filters&hash=item20ccfe8c1b&_uhb=1&clk_rvr_id=536799308825

 

Best of luck with your new G6!  And please join our G6 group on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/groups/dmcg6

 

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com/

 

[Jabelone]

Thanks heaps for all the insightful tips and tricks! I am probably gonna wait a few more weeks before buying it to get a good deal in a Christmas sale. Would cameras be any cheaper on Boxing Day? I know out of season stuff is but not sure about cameras. 

[Jabelone]

Hello,

I am back… I am looking at where to purchase my G6 with 14-42mm kit (and Sigma 19mm lense soon after) and I noticed a slightly different lense.  What is the difference between Lumix G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH./MEGA O.I.S. and Lumix G6 + Lumix G VARIO 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 MEGA O.I.S? Why is the II more expensive.  I know it is a different model lense, but what are the advantages over the cheaper one?  

 

By the way, I just joined the G6 group on vimeo. 🙂  I also just bought a GoPro hero 3+ Black edition and it is awesome!  I snuck it on Dreamworld rides and made a short video from them.  It is avaiable here if your interested: http://www.youtu.be/sXl6GuXEPfk 🙂

 

Thanks again!

[Jabelone]

Don't worry… I spent a while researching different reviews and found out that the II is 55grams lighter and a little sharper.

[brunerww]

Hi Jabelone – welcome to the forum!  You can save yourself some money and get a better camera with better video if you get a Panasonic G6 instead of the A65.  A two lens G6 kit will cost over $100 less than a comparable A65 kit.

 

The G6 has no 30 minute limit in Australia (it shoots continuously for hours, not minutes), has wi-fi and NFC for wireless file transfer and control from your phone or tablet, has focus peaking with manual lenses, has a standard hot shoe instead of a proprietary Sony shoe, and has a fully articulated LCD you can see when shooting standups from in front of the camera instead of the A65's "tilt screen", which is only visible from the rear of the camera.

 

Here is what this camera can do: 

 

 

Music Video:

 

 

 

Documentary:

 

 

 

Wedding:

 

 

 

Sports:

 

 

 

This is a much better video camera than the A65.

 

Hope this is helpful!

 

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

 

 

 

 

 

[grispie]

dont think the rolling shutter is any different from others.  and i think the 30 min thing is a European thing…  battery life is depending on how you use it. you can always leave the lcd on but you can also turn to the evf. can't really comment on the g6 since i dont know the system. i think the kitlens together with one prime (say 35 or 50 mm) is ideal. i know sony has some cheap quality primes. sure they will be there for the g6 as well…  one thing about any camera you choose. look at ergonomics. do you like a big camera or rather a small one, do you want stabilisation or not (for handheld sports shooting e.g.), what buttons are available, how easy is the menu set up?… both sony or g6 will be able to do good video, try to get a hold of one in a shop an 'feel them…

[brunerww]

You almost have to be a detective to find the information, but Sony still/video cameras are limited to 29 minutes worldwide – probably to protect their camcorders. Outside of the EU, where there are tax reasons to do it, there is no excuse for this.  Panasonic doesn't do it, and it is the reason I recommend their still/video cameras over Canons, Nikons and Sonys that seem to be intentionally crippled in this way. 

[brunerww]

Good to hear from you, Jabelone and nice video.  Thanks for joining the G6 group at https://vimeo.com/groups/dmcg6 (I'm the moderator :))

 

Look forward to seeing your G6 videos posted there soon!

 

Bill

 

[Jabelone]

Thanks for watching the video… I would have done a much better job but I had to, well, hide the camera under my shirt. 🙂  Also my friend and I have a script each that are nearly done so you can probably expect two videos from me maybe a week after I get the G6. 🙂  (so maybe in like 2 or 3 weeks)  

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