Why I Choose to Film with a DSLR

by: Josh with Broken Pine Outdoors

You hear this question getting asked every day. Should I or shouldn’t I disregard the league norm and film my hunts completely with a DSLR? It’s a valid question. For so many years people have flocked to video cameras because of their ease of use, their professional audio and their ability to function well in the heat of the moment. This is not to mention the fact that most video cameras don’t require you to change out lenses, manually control every feature and physically put on ND filters. They are simply the easiest way to film and to capture your hunts on camera.

I myself started filming with video cameras. I began with a simple Sony Handycam and moved my way up to an AX2000. This camera was awesome and did absolutely everything I needed it to as far as smooth and reliable zoom, dual audio support and manual control over many functions. This camera launched me into my professional career and has been featured with me in many magazines, websites and more.

The problem with it though wasn’t really the camcorder itself, but more or less the fact that it was a camcorder. I found myself more often than not reaching for my crop sensored DSLR rather than my dedicated video camera. It wasn’t that the AX2000 was bad, but rather that the Sony a77 was that good.

I will admit that I am partial to the look from the image of a DSLR. Many other outdoor film crews are using them to get all of their B-Roll shots. I think Tom Petry from Campbell Cameras said last night on his online seminar that most shows are filming almost 80% or more of their entire productions with DSLRs. I would have to agree with him. It’s not uncommon to see everything but the kill filmed with a DSLR over a dedicated video camera. I found myself being one of those guys. The reason is because of their massive sensors. These sensors allow you to achieve an amazing depth of field that helps to give the cinematic look that so many of us love to watch. We are also attracted to DSLRs because of how creative you can be with them. You can get almost any lens for almost any situation that can help you film the most insane and beautiful shots. It also helps that you can use wide aperture lenses to gather a ton of light when filming in low light situations or even when filming around the camp at night.

As I began to book more film jobs and started to move up in the industry, I had decided it was time to upgrade from my AX2000 to a video camera that could give me a look more similar to what I could get with an SLR. The issue I ran into? They don’t make them. You can find cameras, tweak their picture profiles and do some massive editing in post to try and create the look of an SLR, but good luck getting it to be the same. SLRs are in their own class and to get that look with a video camera your best bet is to step into an interchangeable lens camcorder, like the Sony FS line. These, however, can be expensive after you add in the cost of lenses.

After months of searching for the perfect video camera, I finally realized that 95% of the time I went with a DSLR over my video camera, so why don’t I just find a way to film 100% with it? I mean, if we all love that look so much that we film most of our shows with these cameras, then why not film all of it with them? Why not try to capture the kill with that same cinematic look? The reason is because it is so hard to set up a DSLR just right and so many things become a factor when going that route. Focusing becomes extremely difficult. Finding out how to run dual audio becomes expensive. Having to mess with every little setting gets annoying when you have a monster buck headed your way. But if you can pull it off, you suddenly have some of the best footage you’ve ever taken in your life. That’s why I chose to make the switch.

So if you’re like me and you want to go the DLSR route, then here is some advice on how to make it work:

One of the best things about going with an SLR is their price. You can get a Sony a77 with an unbeatable kit lens from Campbell Cameras right now for $1,399.99. This is substantially cheaper than a lot of your professional dedicated video cameras. To get dual audio, Beachtek makes an adapter that screws into the bottom of your camera and can be phantom powered as well. I run the SLR Pro series, but you can get their SLR Pure Adapter for $299.00 and with it you will have audio meters to help monitor your sound.

With this money saved when buying a DSLR over a video camera, you can purchase some good lenses to cover different focal lengths. I personally run the Sony line of G lenses, but you don’t have to spend that much to get a good image. Look for lenses that have a constant aperture, preferably a 2.8 or better for use in low light. One of the best lenses to use for filming bow hunts would be a 70-200mm f/2.8. This allows you to zoom in or out with a constant aperture and is the perfect range for filming deer in or just out of bow range. For rifle hunts or anything with a much further distance, I would suggest a 70-400mm lens. These typically have an aperture of 4.5-5.6. On crop sensor cameras, like the a77, the max distance would actually be closer to 600mm. This is nearly equivalent to the 20x zoom found on the AX2000.

Other great lenses include primes for filming. The “nifty fifty” is a 50mm 1.4 lens that is often referred to as the go-to lens for independent filmmakers. These allow you to gather a ton of light, get great bokeh (blurred out backgrounds) and preform some super creative shots. These are also fantastic for filming interviews and can be found for $350 or less. Do you like the look of a time-lapse at night (starscape) showing off the stars? This can be obtained using super wide angle lenses (14-24mm) with apertures of 2.8 or less and a  intervalometer from Campbell Cameras. 

Other than lenses, a great way to enhance your production value with DSLRs is to drop the contrast, the sharpness and the saturation in your picture profile to get a “flat” look that you can manipulate more in the editing room. You can also get jibs, sliders, glide cams, rigs and more to help you produce other cinematic shots with your DSLR cameras. If you want to have two cameras going, try getting one crop sensor SLR and one full frame, like the a99. This allows you to have multiple cameras in the tree or blind so you can swap lenses with both and have both a primary and secondary angle.

This is just a summary of why I chose to switch to a DSLR and what types of equipment you can get to make them work for you. If you decide to take on this tough but rewarding road, I would highly recommend the Campbell Cameras Advanced Production School to help you better learn how to control your DSLR camera. Bear in mind that if you are new to filming and/or aren’t wanting to spend days/weeks/months on YouTube trying to learn the ins and outs, then filming with an SLR may not be for you. But if you have experience filming with video cameras, are looking for a way to enhance the look of your films and don’t mind an extreme challenge, then give DSLR cameras a shot.

Keys to Using a DSLR (the basics) - Featuring the Sony Alpha a77

Keys to Using a DSLR (the basics) - Featuring the Sony Alpha A77
by Rock Road Pursuits

DSLRʼs have revolutionized the professional video production industry since their introduction just a few years back. They have become an essential and vital tool for almost every type of production. DSLRʼs have opened up new doors to affordability, flexibility, and most importantly the potential to create. In this article we will be breaking down how to operate a DSLR, how to choose what to buy and how you can take your creativity to new levels.

So what is a DSLR and why do you need one?
Filming with a DSLR definitely is a joy when used correctly. Using a DSLR allows great flexibility and creativity across a broad range of needs. DSLRʼs have three fairly simple exposure adjustments that can be changed to account for different lighting and situations. Those adjustments are the ISO, Shutter Speed, and the Aperture. The ISO and Shutter speed are both changes that take place inside the hardware of the camera while the aperture is relative to the lens you are using.

Manual Settings:
The ISO is how light sensitive the sensor inside the camera is. For example in
broad daylight ISO 100 would be a great choice, while at dusk ISO 640 might be
better. When looking at footage that is noisy the ISO is typically the culprit. We try
to adjust the ISO as a last step of adjustment, in most daylight cases we put it at
ISO 320 and leave it.

The shutter speed is how long the camera exposes each image. It is important
to note that the shutter speed is very different from frame rate, and frames per
second. Frame rate is relative to the videos you shoot , for example 24p, 30p, or
60p are fairly standard. Frames per second relate to how fast your DSLR can
take photos. This can range anywhere from 3-15 depending on your camera.
Your shutter speed can be set on most cameras anywhere from 30 seconds for
one photo, all the way to 1/8000 of a second. A 20-30 second exposure is great
for shooting at night such as shooting a star lapse, this will allow you to grab
more light. While 1/8000 will freeze the motion of most all fast moving objects
such as a bird flying. Adjusting the shutter speed is what we do to fine tune
exposure settings, of the three main manual settings itʼs the one we change most
often.

Aperture is another adjustment that is commonly confused and misunderstood.
Every lens has two sets of important numbers to consider when buying. The first
is the focal length, for example the Sony A77 is sometimes sold with a 16-50mm
F2.8 lens. 16mm will give you a much wider field of view than 50mm. The second
number is the F-stop or Maximum Aperture. For example a 16-50mm F2.8 is
telling you that the maximum aperture is F2.8.
Aperture is by far the most important of these three settings. A lens with a fast f
stop of F1.8 will let nearly four times more light in than a lens with an F-stop of
F5.6. This is similar to how the human eye works. When your eye needs more
light your iris (or aperture) opens wider, allowing more light into your eye or
camera. F1.8 is actually a larger opening that F5.6. Using a faster lens is crucial
for filming indoors or at dawn and dusk. It allows you to grab more light by
adjusting the F-stop rather than having to crank the ISO up.

The Sony Alpha A77:
There are hundreds of DSLRʼs on the market today, so figuring out which is right
for you is possibly the hardest part of the process. The Sony A77 brings a lot to
the table for a fraction of what some other DSLRʼs cost. It features continuous
shooting of 12 frames per second. This means if you hold down the shutter
button the camera will take 12 pictures per second of 24.3 Megapixel RAW
photos...very impressive. Another cool feature of the Sony A77 is the OLED EVF.
This means when you look through the viewfinder to take a photo you are looking
at an LED screen opposed to a piece of glass like in most Canon and Nikon
DSLR'S. The screen is extremely bright and accurate.
The feature that stands out most on this camera is the Vari-Angle LCD. This
allows you to position the LCD screen almost anywhere you want when filming.
This comes in handy in the field when you are in an awkward position and need
to adjust the LCD screen to see it clearly to get the shot!

Getting Great Results using Great Gear:
A DSLR is only as good as the person using it. The difference between great
DSLR footage and footage that is useless comes down to a few simple, but very
crucial things. Make sure you can run your DSLR efficiently and adjust settings
on the fly. Adjusting exposure for various lighting conditions is important
especially as lighting conditions change throughout the day. Becoming familiar with your camera is something that will take time, patience and an enormous amount of practice.

The next step is being sure that you have the right gear to compliment your
DSLR. A good tripod is crucial in order to capture great footage. We have had excellent luck with our Manfrotto fluid heads. The Manfrotto 500AH fluid head and Campbell Cameras 525 Hunter Tripod legs is a great basic

setup that will run you about $180.

The next thing to consider is upgrading from your kit lens (the lens included with the camera). Buying a fast lens is a natural next step, a lens similar to a 50mm f1.8 is a great addition to any photographerʼs gear. This type of lens is a must for low light conditions at dawn and dusk. Another great lens to have in your bag is a telephoto lens. We use a Canon 100-400mm to accomplish this but any lens over 200mm will give you great results filming wildlife at a distance. There are many lens options out there and we suggest to do your homework on all options before making the purchase. Campbellcameras.com is a great place to browse through lens choices and decide what lens works best for you.

Microphones also make a big difference with DSLR filming. Great footage is lost without great audio to go with it. We use the Rode Stereo Videomic Pro, Rode makes great microphones for DSLRʼs starting at $100. Investing in a good audio solution is crucial to obtaining the results you desire.

Conclusion:
There are dozens of other uses for DSLRʼs. Advanced subjects like time-lapses,editing, framing, slow motion, slider shots and many more can be found by looking for tutorials on www.campbellcamerasprostaff.com. Owning a DSLR opens a whole new world of possibilities as a outdoor videographer and forces a person to put their creative abilities to the test. Buying the gear is the easy part, the tough part is taking time to learn your equipment inside and out, learn to take constructive criticism from your peers and most importantly practice...practice...practice. Film what you love to do and share it with the world!

Password: 1234

2013 Turkey Season for Buckhorn Outdoors

2013 Turkey Hunt
by Buckhorn Outdoors

100% Filmed on DSLRs


Buckhorn Outdoors Spring 2013 Turkey Hunt, 100% DSLR from Chris Sheen on Vimeo.

What a DSLR Can Do For You

What a DSLR Can Do For You

by: Nick Ventura

If you are looking to take you videos to the next level a DSLR might be just what you need.  A digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) will not only give you the options to get any creative shot you need but force you to become a better photographer and videographer.  These cameras can take videos and pictures and give you the opportunity to customize virtually all aspects of the camera.  With numerous cameras offering a wide range of customizable settings and interchangeable lenses, you will learn over time how to get the most out of your camera.  Where a camcorder allows you to use autofocus and automatic settings, a DSLR allows you to individually pick each of these settings and or choose which ones you want to be automatic.

Since these cameras have had video capabilities these have been the choice of many videographers because of the options it has.  You can get a basic level DSLR with a basic lens set-up and by simply upgrading the lens you can be taking professional level video clips and pictures.    Why these cameras have become so widely used is the way hunting videos have evolved.  To tell a story of the hunt a picture must be painted of everything leading up to the climax of the hunt.   These shots also known as “b-roll” can all be taken with the DSLR.  The creative shots that it can take range from slider shots to time lapses.  Some of the things that stand out with the DSLR compared to the camcorder is the ability to get a great depth of field.  This type of shot has become very popular, where you can have the subject in focus while having everything else out of focus.  The lower your aperture, the more depth of field you can have.  The depth of field depends on the lens of course and is essentially the amount of light that is let in, the more you zoom the more limited you are on how low your aperture can be.  The depth of field is what can usually set apart a shot from a camcorder from a DSLR.  When the subject is in focus and everything around it is not it makes it stand out more, which gives it more clarity.


While filming a hunt may be a challenge with the DSLR some of these camcorders feature the ability to actually auto focus in video mode giving them another advantage over a camcorder.  The benefits of the DSLR go as far as you can take them, the more you learn the better shots you can get and the better footage you can get.  When the hunt is done all that is left to do is to figure out how the story is going to be told.  What had happened and your words is the best way to portray a hunt.  Through quality and clear footage you can show your audience how the hunt actually happened.  When all the footage you want has been captured with the small and handy DSLR the only thing left to do is take trophy photos.  It is only until now that you can get amazing quality photos out of the same tool you use to film your hunts.

While the thought of customizing everything to your liking and all the options may scare away those just starting to use a camera its automatic settings can teach you how to properly use your camera.  Every camera has different features however some of the things a DSLR can allow you to set to automatic are the shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and in some cameras the focus.   This will teach you what each setting means and ultimately allow you get the best out of your camera.  Every videographer whether it is beginner or veteran has a vision of what they would like there footage to look like whether its color, clarity, or what’s in focus the DSLR can allow to get that look.  You no longer have to limit yourself to just what your camera is capable of.  A DLSR does not have to break the bank and with its lenses can give you the opportunity to advance yourself when you are ready.

The next time you are watching a hunt think to yourself how long the kill is and how long everything that is showed before takes.  The story and all the footage that goes along with it can be just as important as the actual shot.  The DSLR can be your best friend when it comes to telling the story, through time lapses, rack-focus, slider shots, and many other cool techniques the DSLR should be your next purchase.  The possibilities are endless and this camera will make you a better videographer.  Do not make your next purchase based on how easy it may be to use, but the purchase that will supplement any footage you get and force you to be a better videographer.

Watch a DSLR in Action:

What a DSLR can do for you from Nick Ventura on Vimeo.