Reddit mentions: The best professional video vtr decks

That's a tough one. If budget permits, you might want to consider stepping up to an [$897.99 GH3] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009B0WREM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009B0WREM&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20), which has live HDMI out.

Like the A6000, this camera is limited to 1080/60p but, unlike the A6000, it has a headphone jack and a mic jack plus manual audio level control for higher quality sound.

And it can produce image quality like this:

Narrative:

[Genesis] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/49420579)

[Clash] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/59543338)

In Camera Slow Motion:

[Native Slow Motion 40% Test] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/69851611)

[Summer - GH3] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/69811331)

[9 to 5] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/90567096)

Music Video

[Titanium - Sky] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/53834993)

[IRIZZ - Light of the Day] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/65332657)

[Mario Romano - Double Trouble] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/61530432)

[Waitress - Young In Mind] (http://player.vimeo.com/video/89653989)

It's a great still camera too: https://www.flickr.com/groups/gh3/pool/

To be fair, the A6000 is probably a better still camera - but the G and GH cameras are a much better all-around choice for both video and stills.

That said, if you can't stretch your budget that far, the [$398 body-only A6000] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8BICCG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00I8BICCG&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) plus an external HDMI recording solution with 3.5mm line audio inputs you can use with amplified external mics (e.g., the [$295 Atomos Ninja 2] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IN8I3XM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IN8I3XM&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)) might be the best solution for you.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful - hope you have a great New Year!

Hi /u/geekbrother - I noticed that the sample video you shared runs for 7 minutes - I hope you're not planning on anything longer than 12 minutes with your T3i? If so, you'll have a challenge because the camera will shut down and need to be restarted.

It also has a tendency to produce moire on patterned clothing, especially striped shirts and ties. This can be a problem if you don't notice it until you get to the editing suite.

And the T3i's audio recording quality is horrible - necessitating the purchase of an external recorder or preamp and the hassle of syncing your sound in post.

Plus, it has no headphone jack and a tiny monitor that is not really suited for studio work.

I have Panasonic GH3 and GH4 cameras that have headphone jacks and shoot for hours at a time, but they suffer from some of the same limitations as a DSLR for studio work (e.g., tiny screens).

If I were setting up a dedicated studio today, I would get a $1995 Blackmagic Design Studio Camera and a $328 Blackmagic Hyperdeck Shuttle. You won't need an external audio recorder with this camera, because it has built in XLR jacks with phantom power.

I saw this camera at NAB, and it's the real deal. A broadcast quality studio camera for less than $2000.

Here's a hands-on from the show with a run-down of the features: http://youtu.be/o7AnluDDvj8

Note the size of the built-in monitor. Your cameraperson will thank you. If you're the camera op, you'll be thanking yourself :)

Here's how I would put a $4K studio together around this camera [Referral Links]:

CAMERA

• [Blackmagic Design Studio Camera - $1995] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQQXWXG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JQQXWXG&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• [Blackmagic Hyperdeck Shuttle - $328] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00701AN5Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00701AN5Y&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• [Fujinon 14x 9-126mm f/1.7 B4 Lens w 2X extender and B4 to MFT adapter- $499] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=181464392622&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)
  
  
• [12V Battery Pack to power the lens, with cables - $124] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=181153545343&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)
  
  SOUND
  
  
• [Rode NTG-1 shotgun - $229] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=390882224988&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg)
  
  
• [On Stage wheeled mic boom - $170] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00097CJ76/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00097CJ76&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  
• [Senal SMH-1000 monitor headphones - $90] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ASWZO6U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ASWZO6U&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  SUPPORT
  
  
• [Manfrotto MVH502A,546BK-1 Professional Fluid Video System with Aluminum Legs and Mid Spreader - $440] (http://www.adorama.com/BGMVH502A546.html?KBID=66297)
  
  LIGHTING
  
  
• [3 Soft Box lighting kit with 3 backgrounds (white, black and chromakey green) - $170] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TYFT4G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003TYFT4G&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)
  
  For $4000, this setup will deliver high quality audio and video to your audience.
  
  Hope this is helpful and good luck!
  
  Bill
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

FZ1000 can output clean HDMI to an external recorder, but displays "recording" on the HDMI out once you start recording internally - so it cannot be used with an external monitor while recording to SD card (please see [this] (http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/07/31/the-panasonic-fz1000-can-output-clean-hdmi-video) reference from Imaging Resource).

A relatively inexpensive solution is a [$295 Ninja Star] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KO1XFZW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00KO1XFZW&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) with HDMI "pass through" and a [relatively inexpensive CFast card] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JYFTEKY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JYFTEKY&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20).

That way, you could record 1080p ProRes 4:2:2 to the Ninja and simultaneously send the signal to your external monitor.

Hope this is helpful!

Hmmm...pricing this - doesn't seem any cheaper than the camcorder option ($4,000):

a6500: $1,800
70 200 mm: $1,700
Ninja-2: $1,300

That's actually more expensive...$4,800

Sorry, am I missing something? I thought this was to be a cheaper solution...?

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/sony-sony-a6500-mirrorless-camera-body-only-ilce6500-b/10509379.aspx

https://www.amazon.ca/Sony-SEL70200G-70-200mm-Interchangeable-Cameras/dp/B00I8BICEO

https://www.amazon.ca/Atomos-Ninja-2-Camera-mounted-Recorder-Monitor/dp/B00IN8I3XM

There must be a cheaper way - I'm really not concerned about video quality - 1080 should be more than enough ... considering an iPhone records the video just fine - we just need to get the audio in to some video...

Thanks again!

The only real way to bypass the recording limits is to buy a field recorder like this one Atomos ATOMNJA003 Ninja-2 10-Bit HDMI DSLR Video Hard Disk Field Recorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IN8I3XM/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_xBguybW16Y4P8