Equipment Rentals

Tokina 11-16 is very popular for wide angle, but also very wide, so make sure you frame/use it correctly. Sigma 18-35 has been getting great reviews. I would use the sigma and then an 85+ for head shots/tighter shots. A fader ND would be good to use so that you have more control of exposure/dof. Most importantly though, get a good video tripod (manfrotto 701/501, or a sachtler would be better if it isn't too much), and a microphone. Also set aside a few days just to learn the camera and settings, and practice getting the look/colors you want. That way you will be all ready when you shoot and won't have any surprises. Lens rentals and borrow lenses are both popular sites. Last thing, you may want to look at a gh3 instead of the t5i. If you do, make sure you get nikon mount lenses (and an adapter or speedbooster) so you can change the aperture.

-AM-Hey guys,

So as college applications are approaching, I'm looking to shoot some stuff for portfolios/reels. Most of the colleges I'm applying to require some sort of narrative/short film, but I don't really have any camera gear thats going to produce the quality that I want (1080). I'm looking into renting some stuff online, and I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions? Currently looking at the T5i with a 50mm lens, but am in need of a wide angle lens suggestion (or, if you know of a camera that is a step above the t5i that would still be relatively cheap, Im definitely open to suggestions). Also, is it possible to manually adjust exposure in video mode on the t5i without magic lantern?

Thanks!

If you're just looking to do video, I highly recommend looking at a GH2.

It's the same price to rent as a t5i and produces some really good results (I actually like the image it gives better than the gh3, and am looking to pick one up again)

nutz.If you're just looking to do video, I highly recommend looking at a GH2.

It's the same price to rent as a t5i and produces some really good results (I actually like the image it gives better than the gh3, and am looking to pick one up again)

I would say gh3, maybe g6. The gh2 is good, but stock gh3 footage is similar to hacked gh2 footage, just easier to work with. I like the gh2 image, but if he is renting and doesn't have time to hack/mess around with all that, I think the gh3 will be easier to work with. Gh2 isn't bad stock, so if it is loads cheaper, it is fine. If the price difference isn't substantial though, I would say gh3

p.hawksI would say gh3, maybe g6. The gh2 is good, but stock gh3 footage is similar to hacked gh2 footage, just easier to work with. I like the gh2 image, but if he is renting and doesn't have time to hack/mess around with all that, I think the gh3 will be easier to work with. Gh2 isn't bad stock, so if it is loads cheaper, it is fine. If the price difference isn't substantial though, I would say gh3

Panasonic really dropped the ball with the GH3 in my opinion. They took a GH2, added moiré and a mediocre "hack", then housed it in a nicer body.

In the off-chance that I need slightly smoother luma sampling I'll grab a GH3, but otherwise I prefer the organic look of the GH2 more (and even then, at ISO 320 the GH2 really smooths out its gradients).

lIllIPanasonic really dropped the ball with the GH3 in my opinion. They took a GH2, added moiré and a mediocre "hack", then housed it in a nicer body.

In the off-chance that I need slightly smoother luma sampling I'll grab a GH3, but otherwise I prefer the organic look of the GH2 more (and even then, at ISO 320 the GH2 really smooths out its gradients).

^ although vitaly said there's a 95% chance for a hack on the GH3 so hopefully it'll come out soon.

I really don't think the GH3 is a real "upgrade" from the GH2, they should've just skipped the three and went straight to the four. I've had both, and I actually do prefer how the GH2 looks more, even unhacked.

Thanks for all of the replies everyone!

A couple of things:

As far as moving the camera goes, I should be all set. I have a couple of manfrottos, a glidecam, and a shoulder mount. Same thing goes for sound, I have a ton of shotgun mics, LAV mics, a zoom, etc.

One question though (at the risk of sounding stupid), without the hack on the gh2, am I still able to manually adjust ISO, f stops, and shutterspeed? For some reason, at least with Canon, they tend to leave out features in video mode, and I'm doubting they rent out hacked gh2s.

The other thing I've read about the gh2 is that it has a 2x crop factor, so I'm wondering how much of a difference that makes, and if that is an issue?

I'd suggest you shift your focus a little, not to say that using a camera of a higher caliber will hurt you. Colleges aren't looking for technical quality, what they really want to see is that you have the ability to light and compose images that successfully tell a story. What schools are you thinking of applying to?

.Max.I'd suggest you shift your focus a little, not to say that using a camera of a higher caliber will hurt you. Colleges aren't looking for technical quality, what they really want to see is that you have the ability to light and compose images that successfully tell a story. What schools are you thinking of applying to?

Yeah, that definitely makes sense, I just really want to shoot something thats good quality. Most of the time, I end up filming stuff with other people, so I end up using their gear, and this is not a problem. Everyone I know has nikon gear, so this is also a bit of wanting to branch out and try some other stuff to see if I like it better (looking into buying some stuff later on when I have more $$$ saved up). I am looking all over the place: USC, Loyola Marymount, Fairfield, Ithaca, Emerson, and several more!

-AM-Thanks for all of the replies everyone!

A couple of things:

As far as moving the camera goes, I should be all set. I have a couple of manfrottos, a glidecam, and a shoulder mount. Same thing goes for sound, I have a ton of shotgun mics, LAV mics, a zoom, etc.

One question though (at the risk of sounding stupid), without the hack on the gh2, am I still able to manually adjust ISO, f stops, and shutterspeed? For some reason, at least with Canon, they tend to leave out features in video mode, and I'm doubting they rent out hacked gh2s.

Yes you can that for sure haha, the hacks mainly just improve lowlight performance, increase nitrate, etc. etc. although if you're talking about doing them while in the middle of a recording I don't think you can adjust ISO and shutter speed mid recording.

And yeah it has a crop factor of about like 1.86x actually but shooting wide isn't a super big issue as olympus and panasonic give a couple good options with the 12mm and the 17mm


Also I just saw your other thread, if you have a t3i, there's no point in going out to rent something imo... a T3i can film 1080 at 24 if I'm not mistaken, and if you're looking to make a film for film school you don't need 30 or 60p for the most part.

And install magic lantern on it, I think you'll be surprised at the added versatility you'll get with it.

**This post was edited on Aug 7th 2014 at 10:01:14pm

nutz.Yes you can that for sure haha, the hacks mainly just improve lowlight performance, increase nitrate, etc. etc. although if you're talking about doing them while in the middle of a recording I don't think you can adjust ISO and shutter speed mid recording.

And yeah it has a crop factor of about like 1.86x actually but shooting wide isn't a super big issue as olympus and panasonic give a couple good options with the 12mm and the 17mm


Also I just saw your other thread, if you have a t3i, there's no point in going out to rent something imo... a T3i can film 1080 at 24 if I'm not mistaken, and if you're looking to make a film for film school you don't need 30 or 60p for the most part.

And install magic lantern on it, I think you'll be surprised at the added versatility you'll get with it.

**This post was edited on Aug 7th 2014 at 10:01:14pm

Ahaha when I posted that I was waaaaaay newer to all of this and thought I had a T3i (I actually have a T3).