Anyone shooting video from a DSLR?

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Hello:

I am looking to buy my first underwater video set up and was tempted towards getting a Canon Rebel with underwater housing. Is there anyone using DSLRs for video? How has been the experience? Are you guys able to manually white balance these cameras underwater while shooting video mode?

Suggestions welcome ...

Regards -

Sinbad

 

[irishtn]

I have a Canon T1i for land photography and the video quality is pretty good. But, and its a big but...focusing is very difficult, as its not auto focus. That being said, I know someone who uses the t1i for underwater photos, and with his lights, full setup...he gets amazing photos. The housing is pretty pricey though if I remember.

 

[Blackwood]

"EOS Rebel T1i users can control several aspects of video content they record. Any of the camera’s White Balance settings can be activated using the on-screen WB icon and the top Main Dial."

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/reso...ats_news_eosrebel_t1i_moviemode_article.shtml



However, I suspect (can't confirm) that you can change to the presets, not manually meter color while still on video. Canon's obtuse with the manual WB on SLRs (unless they've recently changed it). On my little p&s (canon SD960) I merely have to fill the middle about 25% of the frame with a neutral color and hit a button. With my SLR (fairly old, predates video) I have to take a still, navigate to the menu, and tell the camera to use that still as white for future shots.

The SLR methodolgy has I suspose one benefit: I always have a shot of my white card to accompany as series of photos.




That said, no big deal. Most dive videos are more interesting if they are not merely one long uncut recording of the dive. Stopping to white balance whine lighting conditions change can add some interesting transitions to your video.

Here is one my buddy (Rainer here in SB) recently shot (different camera but no matter). Couple of times we'd stop and I'd hold my wetnotes up for him to WB with.

[vimeo]36954193[/vimeo]

 

[jdandvalerie]

I have a 7D and T2i with Ike housings. Manual WB works well at depths of 80' or less but you need to redo the WB every 5' of depth change to get the best results. You do the manual WB in photo mode and this also becomes the setting for video. If you are only using the dslr for video, some use blue water red filters in addition to manual WB. I don't use this method because I also take stills with strobes. Average Ike housing price is around 1500 Add to this dome port and wide angle lens, fast flash storage, extra battery etc...and the money starts to go pretty quickly. That said, you have the capacity to produce great video IMO. Our stuff has been used by ABC Nightline news, many local news departments, and a few commissions for commercials. As far as video focus, best way is focus on an object at least 5' away. This will set the focus basically to infinity with enough range to cover what you need to be shooting underwater.

Post processing will also be an issue. These are large files and to produce the best stuff, you need good software (Final Cut Pro, Premier Pro among others) and fairly high end PC/Mac to handle the files. Yes you can use lesser programs, but if you are going to be spending alot of money on the hardware to shoot, I'd expect you would want all the accessories to go along with it.

As far as lighting, this is very subjective. My personal opinion is that good WB in the depths I mentioned and proper exposures works just as well as standard video lights (you will want to read up on the 180 degree shutter rule). If you move up to more expensive lighting riggings the balance shifts. It really comes down to personal preference and plans for use and as always the size of your budget.

Here's a video I shot this weekend, all shot greater than 75' depth: 2-24-12 Corridor, Shark Canyon, Midreef - UnderwaterMoments
A Green Moray at 85': Videos - UnderwaterMoments
Another long video is: UM Whale Sharks - UnderwaterMoments

One of those links leads to a gallery of video which I use for a workshop for beginners. Some deliberately not WB, some with Manual WB. Some show clunky zooms and camera shakes as a demo of what not to do, so take the gallery with a grain of salt.

Feel free to email me with questions if they don't fit the topic in the forum.

 

[Doppler]

Hello:

I am looking to buy my first underwater video set up and was tempted towards getting a Canon Rebel with underwater housing. Is there anyone using DSLRs for video? How has been the experience? Are you guys able to manually white balance these cameras underwater while shooting video mode?

Suggestions welcome ...

Regards -

Sinbad

Not trying to ruin the party but there is one thing you may want to consider.

The first is: "Are my basic skills squared away enough for me to dive with a camera without compromising personal safety?" You're the only person who can answer that... short of seeing you in the water, I have not got a clue; however, based on your profile, and the questions you ask, it seems like a good place to start. Shooting stills or video underwater does increase task-loading considerably at times. You seem to be an inexperienced diver. Just go dive. Have fun.

 

[dfuller299]

I have a 7D ... Our stuff has been used by ABC Nightline news, many local news departments, and a few commissions for commercials. As far as video focus, best way is focus on an object at least 5' away. This will set the focus basically to infinity with enough range to cover what you need to be shooting underwater.

Here's a video I shot this weekend, all shot greater than 75' depth: 2-24-12 Corridor, Shark Canyon, Midreef - UnderwaterMoments
A Green Moray at 85': Videos - UnderwaterMoments
Another long video is: UM Whale Sharks - UnderwaterMoments

I just wanted to say that all the videos, especially the last one are amazing! I do a lot of regular photography so doing so underwater has been very tempting as well. It's just a case of having to dive more...then take the classes...then afford a beast of a housing / flash system haha. (5DII w/24-105 and 70-200)

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Doppler: I have been shooting stills for a few years now. In the beginning it was a bit difficult because of multi-tasking like you said but then after my first 30 dives, I was able to shoot fairly decent natural lights pictures. Now I feel like I have enough buoyancy skill to shoot videos and while staying perfectly still but I will start with dives that are not extremely challenging.

 

[Doppler]

Doppler: I have been shooting stills for a few years now...

Interested in what you end up buying and how it goes...

 

[danvolker]

Hello:

I am looking to buy my first underwater video set up and was tempted towards getting a Canon Rebel with underwater housing. Is there anyone using DSLRs for video? How has been the experience? Are you guys able to manually white balance these cameras underwater while shooting video mode?

Suggestions welcome ...

Regards -

Sinbad

When I decided to start shooting video ( about a year and a half ago...) I wanted to approach video with the assumption that I would like it, and that it was something I could take to a high level....this meant I did not want to begin with a low end system, be limited by it, and then end up having to scrap it and start over with a better system.
Many of the SLSR's on the market appeared ideal for me, however, I ended up with the canon 5 d mark II for it's spectacular low light capabilities ( important in many underwater scenarios) and for the lens choices I would have.
I also knew that to get good colors in my videos, I would need powerful lights....I elected to go with Apollo lights from Halcyon...you wear a big cannister ( the battery part) on your waiste, this becomes part of your actual weighting for the dive, and if you breathe through a long hose primary, it is perfect to route the long hose under.


you do not want lots of battery weight or camera weight in your hands---if you have a very negative system, it will throw your trim and bouyancy off, and cause constant constriction of blood flow in your arm muscles, potentially leading to micro hits and arthritis some day.
The dual light heads of the big appollo produce great light, and allow me to disperse it as much as desired...you still need to be a foot or so away from your primary bacjdrop to ge the rich colors you want--this is true with any lighting system. Good video of a shipwreck, means being right on it--litterally a foot or to away from decks or walls. Same with a reef.
Get 10 feet away and you get blues dominating on all but the shallowest dives, and a general lack of the impressive color we want to capture.
I went with an Aquatica Housing....good to 400 feet, and very rugged ..i.e., unlikely to leak.
I use Vegas Video to edit, and cineform ( NeoHD) to convert the canon format ( h264) to a cineform avi....much bettr to edit with, and the cineform system has a program called First Light that can apply a white balance or color correction instantly to a clip, whether 1 minute long or 1 hour long.....While I run the canon with lights on AWB ( auto white balance) , whenever the colors don't look right, it is instantly fixed in First light.

Here is one of my short compilations:
6 minute Tour version of "Why Divers prefer Palm Beach" video - YouTube ( ps... my friend Jimmy Abernethy shot the aerial with a Go Pro on his Flying Boat)

 

[ronscuba]

Nice video Dan. I have a 7d for topside video. No plans to bring it UW. Curious, what shutter speed do you use when shooting video with your 5d ? Are you recording at 24p, 30p or 60p ?