Canon T2i aka 550D for video

[4dbill 0]

Okay, it has been about 3 months since I've purchased Canon T2i, primarily for video work. DSLR's are now being used by many digital film makers, but very few skydivers use 'em, probably since it's not as foolproof as Sony.
Anyway, I've been video-logging my progress, learning as I go along, picking up different tips/techniques from different places. It has been an enjoyable journey so far. For anybody else who is thinking about DSLR video, you might wanna drop in. You never know. You might pick up something useful. Better yet, if would be great if you could give me some feedback and/or tips.
http://www.dslrforvideo.com

4Dbill
http://www.4dbill.com
http://www.dslrforvideo.com

[DSE 3]

Nice pages, Bill.
Very few use the T2i for filmmaking; the lack of live output over HDMI makes it a non-starter for most.
I can't see skydivers using this for vid much either, but the format DOES have some nice abilities.

If you don't mind, I'm going to post your link to the DSLR filmmakers group?

[4dbill 0]

Quote

Nice pages, Bill.
Very few use the T2i for filmmaking; the lack of live output over HDMI makes it a non-starter for most.
I can't see skydivers using this for vid much either, but the format DOES have some nice abilities.

If you don't mind, I'm going to post your link to the DSLR filmmakers group?

I always liked being different. :)
Of course, I do not mind you posting the link, DSE. Other DSLR film makers might appreciate how it is being used.

4DBill
facebook.com/4dbill
dslrforvideo.com

[Costyn 0]

So I have been jumping with the T2i/550D for quite a number of jumps now and I'm still very happy with the results it produces.

My only problem with it is that you do need to do it all in manual. The automatic settings will set the camera to a shutterspeed of 50, an aperture of 30 (!) and then varies the ISO according to the available light. I for one do not like shooting with an aperture of 30, that's just silly.

Most of my jumps have been wingsuit jumps (check some of the recent movies here for more examples) where it's been pretty easy to keep the camera from shaking too much. It gives wonderful pictures. I uploaded a freefly jump yesterday I did with the camera and the image is still usable, even if it's not using any stabilization. Check out the footage here. Something funny happens as we exit the clouds at 36 seconds though. I'm not sure what it could have been as the camera was on full manual, so it shouldn't have been adjusting any settings.

Shooting at 50fps is nice too. The resulting slo-mo is easy to edit with and looks good. Also nice during debriefs when you want to slow the footage down.

There are quite a few usability quirks with this camera in video mode. It is not very user friendly and really only for someone who is already used to shooting photo's with a DSLR and knows their way around aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

That's about it for my mini-review of the camera up till now.

Costyn van Dongen - http://www.flylikebrick.com/ - World Wide Wingsuit News

[4dbill 0]

Very good footage, Costyn! They definitely look more rich/filmy than the footage from comparable camcorders.
As far as high aperture is concerned, you can simply get an adjustable Neutral Density filter, enabling you to control light entering the lens, as much as 8 stops, but I am sure you already knew that. :)
Like what you said, DSLR video is definitely not for most freefall videographers, since it requires good knowledge of DSLR photography in general and since it requires tweaking constantly.
It's nice to have a T2i video buddy across the ocean! :)

4DBill
http://dslrforvideo.com
http://4dbill.com

[Costyn 0]

Hi Bill,

Actually I have just discovered the existence and function of ND filters. I haven't played with one yet, but I am using a polarizer on my lens which I use for most skydives for making the image looking just that bit nicer (and a nice dark gradient in the sky).

But I've tried the slower shutter speeds and they just result in motion blur which I don't like and apparently there is jello-ing with higher shutter speeds, but I've never actually noticed it. It's nowhere as bad as on some gopro footage that i've seen (where I do notice it).

So yea good to have someone else that uses their T2i/550d for skydive footage.

Cheers

Costyn van Dongen - http://www.flylikebrick.com/ - World Wide Wingsuit News

[Van_Dammage 0]

Really interesting thread so far.

It seems you guys are the experts on skydiving/550D.

With Sony CX models there's an issue if the model has optical image stabilization, which will bounce all over the place in freefall.

I'm thinking about buying a 600D, which is pretty much the same as the 550D.

The standard bundle comes with a 18-55mm IS lens. Have you experienced problems with this image stabilization in freefall, and if so, did switching it off solve the problem?

[Costyn 0]

I have the 15-85 IS USM and I did jump once with it. It seems the optical image stabilization is enabled during video (which you can see on the ground) but it can't cope with the severe shaking during skydiving. It doesn't improve it although it doesn't seem to make it a lot worse either. So I've gone back to using my 10-22 which is about half the weight and does nicely for skydiving.

Long story short: I think the kit lens would be fine, just turn off the IS during skydiving.

I usually use the manual settings; set aperture to 7.1, shutter speed to 400 and ISO to auto. I'm not sure about the FPS yet, it does seem that you notice the frame rate at 25fps (or 30 for NTSC) full HD and video becomes jerky. 720p and 50fps (or 60 for NTSC) does seem to give smoother video.

Hope this helps!

Costyn van Dongen - http://www.flylikebrick.com/ - World Wide Wingsuit News

[4dbill 0]

Quote

Really interesting thread so far.

It seems you guys are the experts on skydiving/550D.

With Sony CX models there's an issue if the model has optical image stabilization, which will bounce all over the place in freefall.

I'm thinking about buying a 600D, which is pretty much the same as the 550D.

The standard bundle comes with a 18-55mm IS lens. Have you experienced problems with this image stabilization in freefall, and if so, did switching it off solve the problem?

I don't know about being an "expert" but I did make a significant # of jumps with T2i before switching to Panasonic GH2 recently. Almost all my jumps were on my belly with 18-55mm kit lens stabilization ON and they turned out pretty good, but you might get different results if you sitfly and/or head down. I would try with OIS on first and see if you see any weird vibration on the footage.
Good luck with your new toy. In a default setting, it does not give you spectacular footage, but after you learn all about shuttle speed, f-stop, picture style, composition, color correction/grading, you are going to get cinematic quality to your videos.
After around 6 months of practice, I was finally able to get the look I was going for.
http://youtu.be/a-qEb0HG83w

If you have the time, you can scroll though my blog and see the progress I have made on T2i. The footage in the beginning was not so hot, as far as filmy look is concerned, but it gets better progressively better.
Oh.. really cool thing you can do with T2i/T3i, along with other high end camcorders, is that you can shoot at 60 fps and simulate super slow motion during post.
http://youtu.be/mv4XQKm9wHI

Good luck, and we look forward your posting on Youtube!
Bill
http://4dbill.com

[Yorick 0]

Quote

set aperture to 7.1,shutter speed to 400 [...] the frame rate at 25fps (or 30 for NTSC) full HD and video becomes jerky. 720p and 50fps (or 60 for NTSC) does seem to give smoother video.

About the jerkyness; Did you try a longer shutter speed? And gives it better results?
Nice example in difference: Sample video 5 and Sample video 6.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos600d/page15.asp

"The 'perfect' parachute jump was thought to be one where the opening shock and touchdown were simultaneous" -Lyle Cameron, ~1965
---
Falling-With-Style.com

[Costyn 0]

Quote

About the jerkyness; Did you try a longer shutter speed? And gives it better results?
Nice example in difference: Sample video 5 and Sample video 6.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos600d/page15.asp

Well looking at my earlier posts, I did try the slower shutter speeds and just got a lot of motion blur, which I didn't like. I might try it again sometime.

The water in the sample video's do look nicer at a slower shutterspeed.

Costyn van Dongen - http://www.flylikebrick.com/ - World Wide Wingsuit News

[willpenny 0]

The Canon Cameras are the present and the future

I have been using them for about a year in the sky and the results are nothing comparable to Camcorders.

This is the digital film revolution.

You need to operate everything manually, which is great, but you need to know what are the optimal settings.

There is a slight difference in the image of the 550D and the 5D, I use both. If you use a lens with an IS on it helps also.

The real advantage here, it might seem very obvious, is that you can use a huge range of high quality glass, while having all the control of the app, speed, ISO and focus.

The flowing vid was shot with the 5D and the 24-105 with IS on.
http://vimeo.com/25502097

The opening scenes of this one and the slomo in the beginning and end were shot with the 5D and the 550 respectively.
http://vimeo.com/25346196

This is the new generation of digital film, that will only be embraced by those who search for that different image, high quality and the brave who are prepared to spend the cash and then put the weight on your pip.