I figured this was the closest place for this unless it would be better off in rambling if this area is more specific for still cameras & photography.


I have recently been watching lots of clips on Vimeo of the automotive variety and some of some other areas as well. I have become quite intrigued with some of the stuff I have seen but I rather lacking in the video camera knowledge department. I know the type of things I want to create as far as being able to provide examples of it but have know idea the type of equipment or budget I would be looking at to achieve the stuff.

I originally started thinking I will just hold out for the successor of the D300S to replace my D300 then and start playing with video then. However more and more I continue to watch these short videos and want to begin practice myself to the point I recorded about 12 different 2min clips on my cellphone 720p camera. All which looks like crap.


Below are a couple of my favorite clips of what I would most likely be doing. The first being my favorite of the bunch.

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15382468" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/15382468">The Red Civic</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4470855">Rough Draft / Backstage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14788685" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14788685">Steve-o's supercharged TSX (teaser)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4470855">Rough Draft / Backstage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14283027" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14283027">Jay's sti</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4470855">Rough Draft / Backstage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14193841" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14193841">Photoshoot BMW M3 E46</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/onurbfilm">Onurb Film (Bruno Lebel)</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14179754" width="601" height="267" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14179754">Toyota Supra - ver. 2</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/schwiercu">Schwiercu</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15585031" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/15585031">Track Day</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4470855">Rough Draft / Backstage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/9304620" width="601" height="338" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/9304620">Pretzel</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/crazyduck">Chuck Fishbein</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>


Now I realize a good portion of that stuff is done in editing after the fact however I as far as equipment goes I don't want to get something that limits me on shooting the shallow depth of field aspect seen in many of these. Some of them have parts where the video has been slowed down and is there any certain fps rate I need to have to be able to accomplish this. Lastly the thing that worries me the most is being able to hold the camera steady cause I know I hate watching jittery video myself.

As far as budget is concerned I don’t have a problem spending the right amount of money to get something that I won’t be replacing in the near future. However I guess there is no guarantee that I will actually end up sticking with doing this either but I am sure once I have kids someday I will want a video camera anyways so it’s is not like I will not be able to use it for other uses although les elaborate down the road.

Looked into using the SLR to shoot and it seems like although for a while it was seemed to be touted as the great coming it doesn’t seem so much the case anymore as the money need to create a good setup with a support system, external screen, and better way to hold it will add up quickly. Another thing I read is that when panning or shooting action you get a lot of jitter.

The one camera I saw that seemed quite promising would be the new Sony NEX-VG10 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Handycam.html. It would be at the top of my budget range though. The cool thing is there is a company that makes a lens adapter to use Nikon Lenses so I would be able to use all the lenses I already have then. However if I would go this route it would me giving up the chance to upgrade my D300 anytime in the near future.



Cliff Notes:
1. Sorry for the long post I am sure it will the amount of responses if any I get
2. Want to dabble into video world
3. Looking to create things similar to clips provided
4. Not sure what I need for that
5. Not sure where I would be at price wise
6. Found a camera that seemed pretty promising but kind of higher price range

 

Where's Sarlacc?

 

My friend Claudio whom works for Underground Racing and does their videos could give you some tips and ideas. Maybe we will give him a call and meet up.

I love the red on that mugen rr. Makes me want to paint the TL. I like the "you like this" sticker at 2:30 in the first video.

 

Just watched the second video with the tsx.. sick! Nice videos by those guys.

 

i see that alot of people are going to gopro products. i think scarlacc uses some of them.

 

Hot chicks make even crappy video good. Invest your money there.

 

Sarlacc is the expert here, so I would listen closely to anything he has to say.

I am guessing you will end up with some type of video-capable DSLR, a couple of lenses, a steadi-cam rig of some sort, an external monitor, some focus pulling mechanism and maybe sound equipment if you are going to do sound. Possibly a few lights, too.

 

This sounds like about 10k in equipment.

 

I am sure there are different price brackets for all this, and there are probably ten different DIY steadi-cam rigs on the interweb.


A good place to start looking:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse...5/N/4294545851

 

Damnit i just tried to upload the video i made and its just a little over the limit.

 

That was very impressive! This is something you should pursue more, as you have shown some real talent in this arena.

I love the film feel of these videos and your video/sound editing was great! The songs really blended well with the visuals.

The last one is a favorite of mine...superb!! The 1st one came in as a 2nd best, I would have liked the second portion ( 2nd song) to have been at night, maybe doing cityscape/street scenes. The BMW one was my least favorite, mainly because I felt there was too much back-to-back panning shots, but liked the very end of that one

Sarlacc will be able to give you professional advice/critique/opinions on the subject, as he seems to have the most knowledge on the this.

Good luck going forward from here

 

I think the wrong idea was gotten here. I did not produce any of the clips that were posted. Video is something I want to start to try and these clips are the what I am looking to try and create.

 

 

Just saw this. I'm busy as shit on set these days. If I get a chance I'll try and reply in more detail.

 

No rush I man I can wait for a well written reply. I probably won't make any purchases probably till around either black Friday or after Christmas when some things will hopefully be on sale a little.

 

I watched a few guys shoot 7ds and 5d mk II
some of the rigs are pretty neat, gotta love improvisation by some of these guys.

 

Bumpity Bump

 

 

Bumpity bump bump anyone

 

bump anyone? Im in the same boat as OP and I have no idea what products I should be looking at. Most of the ones so far do not have an external mic plugin which really sucks because I really want something that will capture sound well. I have a nikon D5000 but is it capable of shooting vids like the ones in post #1? I tried and failed...but is that because Im a noob or because it is incapable?

 

I saw the Kodak ZX5 today and I was really intrigued. But after more research, people are saying that the go pro is still better. But I want to buy something that I can hold, unlike the go pro that must be mounted and cannot be handheld comfortably. Cmon people!! help

 

You can make rigs that simulate alot of motions people like to see. I helped make a dolly it was quite fun took some time and finding the materials.