Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

So DSLR's are awesome but for us event filmmaker's the 12 minute record limit can really be a pain. We tried out an idea at our last wedding and loved it, and thought we'd share it with the world. Check it.

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Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I believe another member here has found a way to use an intervalometer in conjunction with the camera's IR port to be able to make the camera stop and restart at certain intervals. I didn't quite understand the explanation he gave but it sounded as though it was set up to stop the recording around 11 minutes (safely before the 4gb limit) then restart it again, with only a few seconds gap in between. Perhaps he'll chime in here and correct my horrible explanation of his device!

Of course, with the T2i you can just use Magic Lantern to automatically restart the recording.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Interesting idea, Travis. But what if after your 10-12 minutes are up, you don't decide to immediately continuing recording on your DSLR? That would throw the Gymboss's timer and the DSLR's timeline out of sync.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Yes, Magic Lantern on the T2i is fantastic. I just used it for a wedding where I positioned it half way up the aisle and let it run for 40 minutes. The Rabbi wanted the photographer and us to stay only in the back, 100 feet away. The best version is one of the latest deveolpment by Alex which not only does a restart at 12 minutes but also allows you to turn the LCD screen off. The camera can overheat (mine does at about 20 minutes), but with the screen off it should record for over an hour. I am able to record for 90 minutes to fill a 32GB card with no overheating and still have power in my battery. Here is the version I use:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!ms...s/5yhzpBgXyBoJ

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I'm sure many people are aware of this, but I will mention it again just in case... The american version of the Panasonic GH-2 DSLR essentially has no record limit, so provided you have large enough external batteries and one of the new SDXC 64 GB cards, you can shoot one take for 5+ hours. ( I haven't confirmed it, but I image that 10+ hours would be possible with a 128 GB SDXC card )

I mention the american model, because I believe that the european GH-2 model has an artificial 30 minute limit per take imposed on it.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Great find Travis!

I give another vote for Magic Lantern. I've used it on two weddings now, there's a few quirks that I have to keep in mind, but the benefits are plenty!

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I'm compelled to keep on pointing this out -- the Panasonic GH2 is *not* a D-SLR.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

The GH2 in the US is also nearly impossible to buy, new or used. High demand.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I did see that but personally I don't feel like I have the time to try and build a device to keep the camera recording. Also, we don't use T2i's so Magic Latern is not an option. Thanks, though!

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Easy. You simply press one button on the timer to stop and reset the timer. Then hit the button again when you decide to start recording again. That's why I liked this timer. Ease of use.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

My video cameras don't have any limits... maybe worth a try?

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Your video cameras can't match the image quality and low light ability (or DoF) of my DSLR's. d;-)

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Hold that thought big boy!

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Yeah, that cam is looking nice but most of us probably aren't going to run out and replace our DSLR's with it right away either. d;-)

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Wow, amazing camera...though I guess it's about twice the price of the Panasonic AF-100. I wonder if this Sony has servo zoom and continuous autofocus.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Weddings are so "run and gun" that it looks difficult with this camera to change your settings quickly. With the 7D, my thumb and forefinger are right where they need to be.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

No, it's only about 15% more expensive but it does have some weird omissions like no built-in ND filters & it only has one card slot to record to.
They do with the right lens e.g. Sony NEX-FS100EK (NEXFS100EK) Super 35mm Exmor CMOS Sensor Camcorder with 11x Zoom E-Mount Lens

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

powered zoom? and what lens that would be?

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Ah, the original report I read was in yen, so I converted to dollars which came out to be $8,500 or so. But actual price is $6,550.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Sorry, you are right. I mis-read the specs of the lens that I linked to. It says "11x zoom power" which I had read as " 11x powered zoom"

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

This is the prototype of the IR emulator that stops/restarts the camera every 11m30s. We could make the board quite a bit smaller and probably use a much smaller chip too. We just had these lying around.

It runs off a 9v battery, which lasts for several 32GB cards. The button (to the left) is the start/stop button. The two red LEDs are the 'recording' and 'heartbeat' lights. The heartbeat was there for debugging only and emitted a short flash once every second. The main IR emitter is the white blob just below the 6 pin connector, which is a debug port.

It works, but the 60D is not 100% reliable. I've yet to see the 7D or 5D2 fail with it.

If you are using the 550D/T2i then use the Magic Lantern firmware!

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Try putting a DSLR next to an EX1, the EX1 hammers it in resolution, and there is not a lot of difference in low light performance, "using a 1.4 lens on the DSLR". I have an EX1, Nex-5 and a 550D, the Nex-5 matches the EX1, colour wise, quite well. The 550D is very usefull for infills etc, even more so with Magic Lantern. We all find strenghts and weaknesses in various cameras, but using all 3 of mine on a regular basis, I would never use anthing other than an EX1 / video camera as my first tool of choice

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I 2nd that. Im very happy with the 20k ive spent in canon 5d's and L-series lenses. A few bumps to work around as a filmmaker but this is not gonna make me wanna go buy another cam. Eventually you need to stop buying and start filming... LOL

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Colin Im not sure you have experienced the right "DSLR" tool yet. A 550 is not the right tool for weddings in most cases. Put a canon 5d with a 1.4 lense next to an EX1 (especially in low light) and you would probably sell the EX1 the next day. T2i, 550. and even 7D do not perform well in low light so I can almost see why you would feel that way. After using a 5D with L series lenses, you would start trying to match your EX1 to it, and soon find out that nothing compares.

the main reason I replied to this was after readin "the EX1 hammers it in resolution, and there is not a lot of difference in low light performance," - I cant even bare to look at my ex1 footage anymore, i hate it compared to my 5d's. so glad i sold my ex1 last year

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Sorry Adam, I dissagree. I have used a 5d and was very impressed with it, but it still didnt come close to the resolution of the EX1. Dont get me wrong, I love the way DSLRs have become such a useable tool in video production, I look at images, I am not, or ever have been, interested in figures or pixel peeping, just the image any camera will produce. I dont know exactly what DSLRs resolve, but I do know its way less than an EX1. But hey, its all subjective. I was hoping to make the transition to all DSLR, but I couldn't live with the line skipping down conversion, moire and aliasing. Give it a few years and most video cams will incorporate large sensors, without the aformentioned drawbacks, and by that time, something else will have come along. Thats electronics. And I do love shooting with a DSLR, I do think the images are excellent, just not up to the EX1,

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I think it's fair to say that different people have different views. Coming from HMC151s the DSLRs are a major improvement in both resolution and low noise, but I'd happily admit they aren't the sharpest tool in the box.

I recently tested the Canon XF300 and to my surprise it beat the hell out of the DSLR in terms of resolution. When trying to edit them together I needed to apply a 0.5 gaussian blur to the XF300 to bring it down to the DSLR level (shot with sharpness and contrast turned down).

However (and this is a big one for me) the DSLRs completely blew the XF300 away in low light. In fact I could shoot the 5D2 at ISO2000 and still have less noise than the XF300 at 6db, which is where I found myself shooting inside a couple of churches we did the tests in. Needless to say, without good low light capability (at least for the wedding videographer), the sharpest camera in the world is no good.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

I don't think this "my camera is better than your camera" accomplishes very much. First comes the skill of the shooter and then the choice of cameras is his or her decision based on style, preferences, familiarity, budget and a host of other factors. Also, a shooter who shows "good stuff" has a demonstrated right to an opinion that may differ from that of others.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

The 5DII looks 'sharper' even with sharpness dialled down. This gives the illusion of detail & a higher resolution than is actually being resolved. The XF305 has much higher resolution than the 5DII if you look at video shot side by side. It also has much more natural looking colour & contrast. The 5DII looks more 'filmic' but the XF305 looks more like real life.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Good Lord. Not another DSLR argument.

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Seriously. People. The purpose of this thread was to help those who HAVE chosen to work with DSLR's. It's not a thread for discussing the advantages/disadvantages of every camera on the market. If you don't use DSLR's and don't want to, feel free to leave this particular thread alone. Thanks. d;-)

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Please folks, the proper way to respond to an attempted
threadjacking is to simply click the Report Post button
(it's the little "!" icon at the bottom left of any post).

Re: Solution For DSLR Record Limit
 

Back on track to the OP a bit, here's another idea that can help with restarting multiple cams: set the camera to self-timer (or remote control) and use the Canon RC-1 remote to stop and restart. Setting the remote to the "2" setting (for 2-second) will toggle recording while in live-view. Only issue is the cam must be in live-view, otherwise it will take a still, not start recording. This is great if you don't want to walk all the way around to a camera stuck in a corner, or maybe placed in a balcony. So it will be good for restarting before the 12 minute limit using Travis' timer method.

Here's a link to the RC-1: Ignore that it doesn't list the 5D, I have it and it works on the 5D and T2i, and would think it would work for the 7D & 60D.