How to Choose the Right Camera to Get the Right Shot
There are a lot of cameras on the market and picking the right one takes a lot of thought. For the past few months, we have been trying to figure out our next camera purchase and with all the quality choices out there in today’s market, that decision did not come easy. It is not as simple as choosing the camera with the best picture quality or the one that is the most versatile. Production companies have more choice and access to affordable gear then ever before.
Our go-to camera since we started this business has been the Sony NEX-FS700. A beautiful camera with great picture quality, wonderful s-log features and a slow motion option that can stop a bullet. However, there were some huge issues when it came to ergonomics and handling. First, it felt like a brick wrapped in buttons. We could not grab it and go without switching on the zebras or changing the profile setting.
In our opinion, it really comes down to these two major points of evaluation:
Versatility
We ask a lot out of our cameras. Our days in the journalism world have made us into rugged shooters who grip our cameras with a hard hand and expect them to take the abuse. We want something that feels just as comfortable on the tripod as it does on our shoulder. We want to be able to follow a subject as they walk, throw it on the tripod to get a solid cut away, then move to the ground to get an interesting angle. So what camera can do that besides a news style camera? This is where our work began. We wanted to maintain the high production quality from cameras like the Canon C300 or the Sony FS7. Good mid-range cameras that are known for their sharp look and great features. But we also wanted the versatility. Surprisingly this is more difficult than it seems without Frankenstein-ing a rig together that allows you to achieve the proper versatility.
Picture Quality
The problem that we always found with broadcast cameras was that they didn’t deliver the high quality look we wanted. The Panasonic P2 that I used in news didn’t have the shallow depth of field and the rich colors that production cameras produced. We knew we wanted to stay within the production realm and use something that would produce an amazing image and have the ability to shoot 4K. We also wanted to reduce the use of adapters. This is something that needs to be considered when talking about cameras since there are several different lens mounting options. For example, the standard film mounting system is the PL-mount. Sony uses the E-mount system and Canon uses the EF-mount system. The only way to mix and match lenses is to use adapters which can reduce the image quality by moving the lens further away from the sensor. There are tons of high-end cameras. The Red Epic is an industry standard. So is the Sony F5. Both fantastic cameras that are a little higher on the price scale. The Black Magic Ursa Mini is getting solid reviews and comes with a good price tag. So is the Sony A7R with its internal 4K. Decisions, Decisions.
So what did we choose?
Well at the end of our discussion it came down to two cameras. The Sony FS7 and the Canon C300. Both produce amazing images and both have their drawbacks. Both are reasonably priced and come with a slew of features. We went with the Canon C300. When the dust settled we felt that the Canon was a little more versatile and it paired well with our existing library of Canon EF-mount lenses. This camera will serve as our go-to camera for most of our day-to-day documentary style work. Who knows, we still may end up expanding our camera library and dive more into Sony but for now we felt this was our best move.
About the Writer
David Larson, Director, Early Light Media
Dave is a disciplined photographer who uses client circumstances as a canvas for creative expression. With an affinity for open collaboration, Dave is a master at helping people step back from face value messaging to reveal their deeper, more heartfelt reasons for making a video. He can’t stop talking about new gear and tests out all the latest equipment he can get on his favorite go-to model, his daughter Rose.
