Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

I'm shooting with the Panasonic GH2 and GH3. Great cameras, but I really miss the ergonomics and other features of a dedicated camcorder. The problem is the DOF; it's too deep on any camcorder I've owned (my most recent one was the Panny HPX170). Is there a mid-range camcorder from Panasonic, Sony, Canon, or JVC that offers the glorious shallow DOF you get with DSLRs and the like?

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

You can go with a Sony FS100. If you need to have future 4k or would like built in ND filters the FS700 is a good choice for the money.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

I should have added "I want servo zoom capability." Which pretty much eliminates anything with interchangeable lenses.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Sony VG30, EA50 both come with the SELP18200 lens with servo zoom.

And if you buy the SELP18200 lens separately you can have servo zoom on the FS700 & VG900 as well.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Depending on what you're ergonomically happy with, there are things like Zacuto Z-Motor that give servo zoom capability to still lenses.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

The sony cx900 or ax100 with a 1 inch sensor can give you a shallower dof then "regular" videocamera's (like the HPX170) and they have functionality closer to a videocamera.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

The fixed servo lens is going to limit your ability to get a shallow DoF.

Shallow DoF with video erganomics then you want to look at the Sony FS100 or Canon C100. Canon do make a servo driven cinema lens but last I saw it was $30,000.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Take a look at the Sony F3 as well.

There are 1/2" and 2/3" 3-chip camcorders that improve DOF performance over the 1/4", 1/3" or smaller chipped you used previously. Only Sony has the 1/2" 3 chip but JVC, Panny, and Sony all have 2/3" units.

The larger the sensor, the more expensive, larger and heavier are quality zoom lenses. Zoom lenses in the DSLR market have greatly varying lens ring positions and ratios which makes zoom motors model specific. Then there's powering the motors if the camera body wasn't designed for that (basically the case with stills cameras used for video) .... you get the idea.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Unfortunately that also eliminates anything under $40k since servo zoom lenses that work with imagers large enough for a dSLR DOF look start near $40k.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Bill was asking for a mid range camcorder :)

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

I agree with Noa's suggestion of the CX900 or the AX100, best ideas for the money. A 1" sensor for under $1.5K is hard to beat. Won't have the shallow DOF you're used to with the GH4 but it will have more than just about anything else for the price.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

1" is indeed about as good as you're going to get. you can get a plenty pleasing DOF out of it, but i'm not one for completely bokeh'd background, i like a moderate blur, which i can get even with the 1/2" EX1 at f1.9

You can also tinker with a b4 lens on a gh4, with the spare resolution it should be quite a bit better than my trying that on a c100:

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

"Midrange" is ambiguous. Regardless, the F3 on eBay is one of the best deals around with many selling for around $5k. :-)

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

My Sony EA-50 can get really nice shallow DOF especially if I use my Nikon still lenses on the camcorder body ..My favourite is the Sigma 18-35 constant F1.8 which is a stunner at receptions!!

The camera even with the stock 18-200 F3.5 also gives a neat DOF due to the cam having an APS-C sensor ... I wouldn't swop them for anything as I get DSLR features is a decent shoulder mount/or handheld video camera body with all the camcorder features including decent XLR audio. Really the best of both worlds at an affordable price too!! Under $4K over here

Sorry I haven't posted much but since the server crash here I can only access the newest topic in the weddings forum, not anything else!!

Chris

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Thumbs up also for the Sony EA50 - Get good shallow DOF with the stock lens that has servo zoom (very slow though) but really good results with my Canon EF lenses and adapter :)

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

I was absolutely delighted when the EA-50 came out... here was a video camera with a shoulder mount and everything that a video camera needs (and more actually) but it shot like a DSLR without the hassles of a DSLR!

I tried DSLR's when the hacked GH1's came out and never could get to grips with the tiny form factor and limitations. The fact that with a simple adapter I can use the entire range of my Nikon still lenses too so I can buy lenses that will not only shine with my Nikons but also with my Sony's is also a huge asset for me .. Pete uses Canons and Metabones make a speedbooster too for the camera !!

It was a stroke of genius from Sony to design this hybrid and at an affordable price too!!! With the right adapter you can also use vintage glass (really top stuff) from ebay for a bargain price and get outstanding results.

If you want a handheld camera then the shoulder pad simply slides under the camera (I keep mine out!)
One small word of warning though ... it IS front heavy especially with a big fast lens hooked on so if you are shooting hand held it's quite tiring! I use a support rod under the lens to sort this out ... details are on the EA-50 forum here and it solves all weight issues.

Chris

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

The EA50 looks like a really great option, somehow I've missed it. Appears to be an amazing value. Just looked it over and it appears to be a tremendous camcorder.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

But the EA50's stock lens is awfully slow… 3.5 to 6.3...

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Didn't catch that. That is very slooow. I think I did look at the camera when it came out, possibly, and ruled it out because of the slowness of the stock lens. That seems like years ago, maybe it was a different camera...

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Once you use the stock lens, yes it's not the brightest penny in the pile but I will say that 99% of Church weddings I have done have been on the stock lens and I had no issues. In most Churches even zoomed up F4 or F4.5 isn't too shabby! Then again if you are a "shoot from the back guy" then yes it will be too slow but then again I wouldn't like to have to play with tiny DOF at long distances in a Church anyway!

It's perfectly usable up to say 50mm zoom in a Church. At receptions on goes my Sigma F1.8 18-35 and even dim venues look like the sun has come in so you are certainly not stuck with a slow lens. Just for interest the EA-50 is available as the "K" model which excludes the lens so then all you need is the adapter of your choice and your own lenses

Chris

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Chris ~

Have you cleared your browser cache and deleted your cookies? Gave me my access back :)

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Thanks Chris

All fine now. I just forgot to re-enable cookies so I ended up having to log in each visit which was a pain but everything is 100% sorted now thanks

Chris

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Lots of good cams mentioned previously. I too was in this boat... technically I'm still in this boat, but I've found a temp stop gap solution to get me by for a while.

For a while, I've been debating between a Canon C100 and Sony FS100, but over time, I think I've got the C100 more in my mind. Mostly because I'm seeing a trend in a lot more outdoor weddings in my area, and I really need NDs and the fact that the C100 has them built in is pretty nice.

Right now, the EA50 (one I had considered) is $2,725 which is a great price, but for me, it's too big, and I'm really trying to downsize some and bring less with me to gigs. Lugging in lots of bags and cases and tripods use to not bother me a bit, but these days, I'm trying to be more efficient.

Ea50 | B&H Photo Video

I'm going to see how the rest of this season goes and maybe by next year I'll get a new camcorder.

In the meantime, I've been using my Nikon V1 mirrorless camera with the FT-1 adapter and my F2.8 lenses and have been more than satisfied with the video quality out of it for wedding work. It 100% meets my needs to shallow DOF shots when I need them (which is typically just a few for eye candy and slider shots etc)... so for a base price of $300 for the camera, I'm 100% satisfied with that solution.

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Will any or all of these camcorders record AND send a live signal out on HDMI for live streaming?

Re: Any camcorders out there with shallow DOF?
 

Hi Robert

Most decent pro video cameras will have an HDMI out plus a composite out as well so I wouldn't worry too much about that. The EA-50 as an example has HDMI or Component output as 1080p or 1080i, 720p or 720i and also 480p and 480i

Chris