music video. Should I use a DSLR or XH-A1s

[Dave Morgan]

I will be shooting a music video in club setting, should I use my Sony a35 DSLR, or Canon XHA1s? or Both?

I have been using my DSLR, but have access to a Canon XHA1s

any thoughts?

[Alex DeJesus]

If you're recording a long set, go with the camcorder on a tripod. For audio, try to set up a good mi for ambient and a separate feed from the house sound board

[Ana Conlon]

I haven't got a Sony DSLR but I do have a canon DSLR and I love the footage from it. I also have the XH A1 and I actually prefer the footage from the DSLR. I can't speak for your Sony but the canon 550d is excellent in low light conditions. If your going to be in a club I would guess the DSLR would be better. This is a test I found with your camera in low light

sony a35 test low light - YouTube

Most DSLR you can only film a maximum of 12 min at a time IF you have a really good quality memory card.

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This might be OK with a music video because you'll probably shot the entire song straight (3-4min) stop and start and repeat.

If your planning on using both cameras I find a vast difference between the footage from the DSLR and XH A1. You would probably have to add effects to the XH A1 footage to mask the difference. But if it’s a music video you'll probably be messing about with effect in post so you could get away with using the two cameras.

[Oren Arieli]

Can you give us more information about the shoot? Is it live? Are you lighting it? Can you do multiple takes?
Is it a multicam shoot? Are you going for a specific look?

There are too many variables to give you a definitive answer.

[Terry Martin]

As Oren said, we need to know more info. I would suggest you consider what it would take to get through a song without a loss of focus. Easier to do with an XH A1 in available light than a DSLR, but multi-cam work can cover up individual cam problems.

This is an example of a multi cam event, with an XH-A1 as the main camera, tripod mounted on a balcony above the band:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-8eAyLpy5Y

The A1 is very reliable with a useful auto-focus in a club environment.

In a studio with lights and a script, I would go DSLR.

[Sareesh Sudhakaran]

Originally Posted by Dave Morgan

... in club setting, should I use my Sony a35 DSLR, or Canon XHA1s? or Both?

If you have both, why not use both? Music videos usually thrive on different looks without rationale anyway. The DSLR will help you with low light, and the XHA1 with fast setups.