What would you recomend for low lighting as far as shoe lights, or other ways of lighting for a wedding. I am considering getting into wedding shootin. ;-)

Also, is a GL2 a good camera or is there a better choice for weddings. I am torn between a GL2 and a VX2000.

Any help on either question is appreciated.


Joe

www.hyperjoes.com

People say the VX2000 and PD150 have better low light capabilities than the Canon cameras. I haven't used them in low light conditions, so I'm not sure if/how much better they are.

Regardless, the GL2 will still be a very capable wedding camera.

Thanks Dylan for your answer. I was wondering if anyone here can tell me if the difference is something that would be a factor in determining in buying the gl2 or the vx2000?


thanks all

joe

Both would make good wedding cams, though the VX is a bit better with lower light. Both cams would perform better with a Beachtek and decent external mic. A Lav would also be good. An external light would help for either cam---for those very low light moments. I suggest going and seeing these cams and trying them before making your final decision.

Thank you so much Frank for your reply.
The trouble is there are no Sony dealers that have them to see. They only order them for you...

I have shot several weddings with the GL2 and it works great.

One wedding was a candle light wedding and the couple did not want me to use light on my cam. No problem put it in TV mode and changed the shutter speed. The footage looked great the couple loved it and I got Paid

This last Saturday I shot a wedding on the beach at sun set again the footage was beautiful and again I got paid.

I love this camera. I am purchasing a DVX 100 as my main cam and plan on using the GL2 for B-roll. I hope I don't regret not buying another GL2.

Joe, I've used the VX2000 and I've used the GL1. I've also played around with the GL2. My opinion is this:

Both are good cams for shooting weddings. Both cams have manual low shutter settings for shooting lower light scenes and for creativity (like with lower light / flashing-changing light on a dance floor). The VX2000 seems heavier and more solid (more of a tripod cam in my books). The GL2 is perfectly ballanced---easy to hold---and so I lean more towards the GL2. However, having shot a lot of footage where lighting was low, I would lean toward the VX2000 for weddings. For example, I would never buy the 1/6" CCD'd PV-DV953 for shooting weddings because its lux requirements are higher. I don't think there's a big difference in lux requirements between the VX and GL2, but if I wanted to make a living shooting weddings, I'd get the cam with the cleanest video in lower light. So I'd go for the VX2000. But wait, if I had a little more money to spend, I'd look for a JVC DV500. This is a great wedding cam, because you can also stabilize it with your shoulder, and it has big 1/2" CCDs.

Now don't laugh. I've shot weddings. Know what I use? Almost 5 year old 1 chip JVC cams called the GR-DV9500U. Why? Good low light, good controls, GL1-like footage, lower shutter settings, progressive scan, and reliable.

So in short, if I wanted to do weddings and need a cam, I'd go for a VX2000. If I had more to spend, I'd look for the discontinued DV500. If I wanted a good all-around cam for doing many things, including weddings, I'd jump on a GL2 purchase. Nothing is simple in life, and there's no perfect cam. But some cams do certain things better than others. Oh, one last thing, the GL2 is very easy to use.

Frank, I think you have made up my mind. Im doing the GL2. Weddings are not going to be the primary function of this camera. I just want a good all around camera. If it is really bad lighting, I can always use a fill light.

Is there a good shoe light that you recomend that will not blind the crowd and show that "home video" look? I have a lot of learning to do with using the features of the GL2. I am really fresh out of water when it comes to lenses and such. Thanks again Frank!!

Joe

Joe,
Within the Canon product line, there's a 3 watt light that mounts to the Smart Shoe and is powered by the GL2's battery. Not very powerful but very handy for fill on close shots.

Canon also makes a 10 watt (VL-10i?) that mounts to the shoe but is powered by a BP-series battery. A bit more muscle, very handy due to it's use of BP batteries, but certainly not a full-powered ENG-style camera light.

For more power you'll have to look toward the 12 volt lights such as those from Frezzi and others.

Joe, good man! You can't go wrong with the GL2. It's a great cam. Deciding is always difficult; it sure was for me when I wanted to buy my first miniDV cam. Might I suggest buying from one of dvinfo's great sponsors?

http://www.dvinfo.net/sponsors/index.php

Thanks for the link, ill check it out. Although I am real addament on supporting my local Dodd camera shop, thats of course if they have it in stock.

Thanks Frank =)

Also, do you know of any good shoulder mounts for the unit? How about more of a full hood?

I don't know, perhaps start a different thread.

I have the verilux light from NRG but everyone tells me it is too bright. So I bought a Sony hvl-20dw2 it uses Sony lithium battery. This light has two 10-W bulbs you can use it in two modes with one bulb or two. For interviews I use one and for more light you can bring on the other bulb for a total of 20-W. If I have a really dark shoot I use the NRG. But not that often. The neat thing about the Sony light is with two NPT-750 batteries I can shoot for over two hours. The battery attaches to the light and is shoe mounted. The hole package is quit compact. My NRG requires a very large battery that I have to lug around on a belt or on the tripod. I have my cam In a pluck foam metal case with tapes batteries light ready to go. If something requires that I go light a fast I forget the tripod grab my monopod camera case and I have everything I need for almost any run and gun situation.

Thanks Ron for the great info. I am going to look into the combo light. That may be what I need to be most versatile.

Thanks again guys!

Joe

<<<-- Originally posted by Joe Cirino : What would you recomend for low lighting as far as shoe lights, or other ways of lighting for a wedding. I am considering getting into wedding shootin. ;-)

Also, is a GL2 a good camera or is there a better choice for weddings. I am torn between a GL2 and a VX2000.

Any help on either question is appreciated.


Joe

www.hyperjoes.com -->>>

I do wedding videography and work soely with the GL-1. It's a great camera with many features. The only downsides to it are it's lack of audio control and it's low light performance. Sure I have the onboard video light for it but some couples don't want you to use any additional lighting at the reception...which is tough. I've heard the VX2000 and Sony's in general are better in low light conditions. I don't know much about the VX2000 but if it does have audio level control I'd go with that. Otherwise it's pretty much a toss up.

Glen I have worked with both cams VX2000 and GL2. I worked with an independent film maker on a feature length made for video release production about two years ago. He used the vx2000 with all natural light. “The video is being released next month at Hollywood video nationwide it is a vampire movie.” The director wanted to make a dark film that is why he did not add light. The VX2000 handled the natural light very well. But the audio was terrible. It took a lot of work in post to make it work. That is why I chose the Gl2 the audio on this camera is great I use a Sennheiser wireless 500 series mic and I love the sound. The GL2 handles it well in either manual or auto mode. In fact I just shoot a beach wedding and trusted the auto mode and was not disappointed. The Candle light wedding I shot last month had beautiful pictures so I am not disappointed there eather. I have the new dvx100 on order to use as my A roll cam and I hope I won’t regret not buying another GL2.

So Ron, from what I have compiled thus far, it seems as though the GL2 is the best buy. You can always use extra lighting, but what I cant change is the quality of the zoom and picture itself. Besides, the vx2000 is somewhat old isn't it?

THanks for the continuing dialogue.

Ron, I'm getting my DVX100 today as a matter of fact. I'm sitting here in anticipation for the big brown truck. lol

Joe, I don't know if you saw my other post regarding this...and I don't know if it was fixed on the GL-2 but- the GL-1 is prone to a few problems. It seems the LCDs go on them pretty often, and sometimes people find hot pixels in their footage. Hopefully Canon got their arses in gear regarding these issues with the new incarnation of the GL cam. I think the single best addition to the GL-2 is audio control. You have no idea how frusterating it is NOT to know what your audio is doing. Even a good pair of monitoring headphones aren't accurate enough.

Hey guys I got my DVX 100 today and man this thing is cool. I can hardly wait to start using it. So far I don’t have any weddings to do this month so I am going to get a little time to play with it before I use it on a actual job.

My GL2 is now my B-roll cam and I think it is a great choice. It is smaller and simple to use. I am thinking about getting a Flow pod for the GL to use during the reception so I can keep up with the action. The DVX will go on my Bogen with the 501 head. I extend the legs all the way and extend the crank extension. I can get the cam above all the heads during the dancing and shoot down on the dance floor. I mix that footage with the roving cam and I have movie like cuts of the action.

I think this is going to be a great combination to make my videos look very professional.

The PAGLight C6 is a light you might consider for the GL-2. Why? Price...about $290. Comes complete with 20W lamp, battery, barn doors, rotatable diffuser and dichroic filter. It hasn't been battle tested yet but it's lightweight and stays cool. Should be a good fill light.

http://www.paguk.com/c6/

Bob

That PAG light really looks sweet. Maybe next year that will be one of my equipment upgrades.

Ben Lynn

Glen did you get your DVX100 yet? I was just wondering what your first impressions was.