Acceptable iso on 7D for videography at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon EOS Crop Sensor for HD

Canon EOS Crop Sensor for HD
APS-C sensor cameras including the 80D, 70D, 7D Mk. II, 7D, EOS M and Rebel models for HD video recording.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 20th, 2011, 05:08 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Flemington, NJ
Posts: 120
Acceptable iso on 7D for videography

Hey Everyone!
I recently got a 7d and do videography, mainly for weddings. I am somewhat disappointed with it in low light when shooting alongside my NX5u because it seems at least a stop lower, probably two... but that's beside the point....
What would most consider to be the acceptable iso for the 7d when in lowlight situations. I shoot on neutral, 1920x1080, 30p, and use several sigma lenses (30mm 1.4, 50mm 1.8, 70-200 2.8, 24-70 2.8).

I mainly use the Sony hvl-lbpa light with it and still have a hard time on a dark dance floor. I understood from the beginning that the 7d would have it's up's and down's, but need to know to what extent it can be pushed with out getting a grainy awful image. When I say "acceptable" i mean may not be perfect, but doesn't look like crap either. or to those who use the nx5, the same amount of noise that you would see at 6db gain.

Thanks!
Nick Popa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2011, 06:31 PM   #2
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: York, England
Posts: 1,323
We shoot weddings with 7D, 5D2 and HMC 151. No matter what you do, the 7D & 5D2 beats the HMC 151 hands down. I even shot some footage at ISO 6400 on the 5D2 and was 'gob smacked' at the results!

However, ISO1250 is about the limit I use with the 7D. I don't mind pushing the 5D2 to 1600 and 2000, but the 7D gets a little too noisy for my liking past about 1250.
__________________
Qualified UAV Pilot with CAA PFAW
Aerial Photo / Aerial Video | Corporate Video Production
Dave Partington is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 20th, 2011, 08:42 PM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 69
If necessary, I'll go as far as 3200 and, quite frankly, the results are pretty damn good.
Lance Watts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2011, 10:21 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Posts: 499
1250 on the 7d, 1600 with noise reduction software. On the 5d, up to 3200.
Greg Fiske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2011, 10:28 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Flemington, NJ
Posts: 120
Thanks for the input, any other suggestions?
Nick Popa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2011, 02:16 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 696
Make sure to stick with your native ISO's, 160, 320, 640, 1250, 2500. These are much cleaner with less noise. I shot a Kendo class in Japan last week at 2500 ISO under horrible mercury vapor lights and it turned out pretty good.
Daniel Weber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2011, 01:22 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 34
ISO 800 for me

I guess I must be picky. On the 7D, I prefer to use 800 or lower. At 800 the shadows start "crawling". It is easily cleaned up with noise reduction software and looks fantastic afterwards. 400 and below I don't use the NR software. Obviously to get footage, you use what you have to use. Nothing beats adding light, though!
Nathanael Iversen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2011, 05:02 AM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 259
what noise reduction software are you guys using?
Chris Westerstrom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2011, 10:04 AM   #9
Trustee
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada
Posts: 1,051
I personally use anything I need up to ISO 1600 and never used a noise reduction software. Footage is more than adequate.
__________________
Jean-Philippe Archibald
http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib
Jean-Philippe Archibald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2011, 10:12 AM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Satellite Beach, Fl
Posts: 784
1250 is my cutoff point, after that I change lenses or add light.
Jerry Porter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2011, 01:29 PM   #11
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Camas, WA, USA
Posts: 5,513
Neat Video does a very nice job at a reasonable cost. Vincent Laforet used it on Nocturne.
__________________
Jon Fairhurst
Jon Fairhurst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2011, 11:23 PM   #12
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 552
Agree with previous posts, will only go to 1250 and Neat Video make great noise reduction software although don't go too nuts or it will look weird.
Jonathan Shaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 7th, 2011, 08:22 AM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Flemington, NJ
Posts: 120
I recently purchased neat video as well.... The render time becomes a lot, LOT longer... but the result is beautiful.
Nick Popa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 8th, 2011, 11:12 AM   #14
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 528
I recently shot in the evening under available light - which was pretty much no light. Not much moonlight and just a small light from a nearby house but it is useable footage. Focusing is much more of an issue than noise really, especially filming a martial arts teacher as I was. This is raw screenshot.
I used min 2000 ISO and went up to 3200 ISO.
Attached Thumbnails
Acceptable iso on 7D for videography-screen-shot.jpg  
Jon Braeley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 8th, 2011, 02:33 PM   #15
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 696
I notice that no one has talked about sticking with the native ISO's when shooting with the 7D and 5D. These would be 160, 320, 640, 1250 and 2500. The other ISO's introduce noise even when shooting at a lower ISO level. This was documented by Zacuto when they did the Great Camera Shootout last year.

Daniel Weber
Daniel Weber is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon EOS Crop Sensor for HD

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:38 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network