What's a good step up for filming equipment from an action camera?

Posts: 18 - Karma: 140

Sep 25 2018 5:21PM

I've been filming skiing stuff for a couple years now and I'm wondering what kinds of cameras and setups filmmakers might use beyond GoPro and other action cameras.

GoPro is great for portability and its ability to take a beating, and I've learned a lot over a couple years of using one to make footage that is a bit more interesting to watch, like using a gimbal/mount to stabilize the shot, shooting as close as possible to the subject, and trying to get more creative angles. This usually helps make the footage a lot more fun to look at than some shaky helmet mount cam view.

However, GoPro and other action cameras that I've seen have pretty terrible dynamic range (whites are washed out and dark colors are too dim) plus they can't zoom to capture action that's a little further away. I'm wondering what the "next step" for filming equipment might be - within a reasonable budget (preferably not more than a new pair of skis so like 600-700 dollars). I've seen crews at Brighton with DSLR/gimbal setups and a lot of edits look like they might have also been filmed with a camcorder or something.

What have you guys been using / what would you recommend?

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isaacwrong

Posts: 2213 - Karma: 16,945

Sep 25 2018 6:19PM

gh3, sony a6000 (even 6300 if can afford)..can find for well under $400

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seancullen

Posts: 19 - Karma: 26

Sep 25 2018 7:07PM

if you plan on moving to a dslr the image quality will look much better but you will not get the same FPS especially if you looking into a entry level dslr. This means that slow mo footy will look a lot choppier compared to the normal buttery smooth slow mo your used to on the gopro. On top of all if you switch to a dslr make sure you get some sort of stabilizer whether it be a steady cam of a brush less motor gimbal.

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fruitstick

Posts: 594 - Karma: 1,033

Sep 26 2018 10:03AM

Panasonic G7 hands down! Super good quality for the price and its small and light. The only bad thing is that it is not weather sealed. I have still used it when it was snowing and I didn't have any problems with it. I got it used with a kit lens for 370 euro.

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chris.goodhue

Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,204

Sep 26 2018 11:02AM

check out the media and arts forum, tuns of good camera info over there

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patskis22

Posts: 360 - Karma: 1,155

Sep 26 2018 11:13AM

isaacwronggh3, sony a6000 (even 6300 if can afford)..can find for well under $400

Just got an a6000 for about $580 w/ lense. Love it

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JAHpow

Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,167

Sep 26 2018 11:40AM

I have an a6500 and love it

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eheath

Posts: 61136 - Karma: 118,557

Sep 26 2018 11:45AM

Personally, I use a gh5, but in the past I used a gh3 (can be found for like $400) an it shoots beautiful 1080p 60fps.

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corona

Posts: 12753 - Karma: 32,280

Sep 26 2018 10:08PM

eheathPersonally, I use a gh5, but in the past I used a gh3 (can be found for like $400) an it shoots beautiful 1080p 60fps.

Would you ever move to a full frame mirrorless system for filming? I ask because there's been like 4 or 5 FF MILCs coming out in the past couple weeks, some that seem pretty darn sweet for filming, but would there ever be an advantage for filming skiing with FF vs MFT? Or since it's 95% good light filming it's just not worth the cost?

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eheath

Posts: 61136 - Karma: 118,557

Sep 26 2018 10:11PM

VinnieFWould you ever move to a full frame mirrorless system for filming? I ask because there's been like 4 or 5 FF MILCs coming out in the past couple weeks, some that seem pretty darn sweet for filming, but would there ever be an advantage for filming skiing with FF vs MFT? Or since it's 95% good light filming it's just not worth the cost?

Full frame isn't really worth it for filming skiing, even filming urban. Having the ability to go to higher ISO is nice with the sonys, but the fs100 is a 1.5x crop that sees in the dark. You don't necessarily need full frame for low light.

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