Anyone filming their hunts? I've had a canon rebel T3i for a little bit now and notice a huge use of DSLR cameras being used to do most of, if not all the filming for a lot of the hunting shows or videos on YouTube. Along side with the Gopro's. I kind of wanna try doing my own just for me kind if thing and am wondering what lense and other equipment I would need to do this? Anyone that is filming their hunts use a DSLR camera? If so what make,lense,etc.?
Spielberg?!?!
- Thread starter 808phreak
- Start date
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I film mine with a mirrorless SLR - The Nikon J1. The pluses are it is super light with excellent video quality. It also has hybrid contrast/phase detection autofocus and lenses that are capable of continuous silent autofocus. Its disadvantage is it won't have quite the picture quality of a APS-C sensor DSLR, because the Nikon 1s have a smaller 1 inch sensor.
The newest Canons are going to hybrid autofocus and the STM lenses should be silent and active during video, so they would be good choices too. Especially the tiny SL1 DSLR coming out this summer.
The newest Canons are going to hybrid autofocus and the STM lenses should be silent and active during video, so they would be good choices too. Especially the tiny SL1 DSLR coming out this summer.
Sweet!!! You ever post them on YouTube or Vimeo? Would love to see some of it. You think I'll be ok with just useing my rebel t3i? I have 20-55mm and a 85-250mm macro lense (I think. Gonna have to double check that)
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
The t3i has awesome video quality, as I am sure you are aware. The downside is that without contrast detection autofocus, you are going to have some focus issues in some situations, but there is no reason that you can't use your camera for filming your hunts.
This was filmed with the J1. Telephoto shots were digiscoped through Zeiss Diascope 85tFL. Video was compressed substantially for Youtube. The raw footage was quite high resolution:
http://www.eastmans.com/forum/showthread.php/4345-2012-DIY-Alaskan-Moose-Video
This was filmed with the J1. Telephoto shots were digiscoped through Zeiss Diascope 85tFL. Video was compressed substantially for Youtube. The raw footage was quite high resolution:
http://www.eastmans.com/forum/showthread.php/4345-2012-DIY-Alaskan-Moose-Video
Wow Bitterroot!!! That's a great video and congrats on such great bulls!!! That looks like a hunt I would love to go on one day. The clips where you're walking up to the bull are you just holding your camera in your hand or do you have a stabilizer?
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
Thanks 808P. All footage was shot with the kit 10-30 VR lens. The VR really helped smooth out those shots. Now I have the 18.5 1.8 lens as well, and that one has nice shallow depth of field and decent bokeh, so I use it a lot. I will be adding the 6.7-13 wide angle for landscapes when funds allow.
When I walked up to my bull, my buddy was just handholding the camera. The only thing I was trying to hold was my heart in my chest.
Oh wow that VR really helps! Lol!!! I'm sure your heart was just pumping. Ill just be messing around with what I have till funds allow me to get a fixed aperture lens. Mahalo for such great info!!! Good luck this season!!!
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I think you mean fixed focal length lens (commonly referred to as "primes" - like my 18.5 referenced above). You definitely want to be able to adjust aperture for exposure and DOF reasons.
Your existing kit should get you out there making vids!
Good luck.
LintonOutdoors
New Member
I just had to join in guys. I'm a video nut on the side 
I really enjoy filming hunts, solo and group hunts. I am a big fan of DSLR's and always pack one on my hunts along with my "kill shot camera". I like to film all b-roll video with the DSLR and then use a lightweight camcorder to film kill shots.
I have a few favorites you might want to check out. The Tokina 11-16mm 2.8, is a great low light wide angle lens. Use this a lot around camp or when filming in tight places. Also its a great lens for timelapses and is semi affordable. $600ish. If you want to bring a prime into the backcountry you will might like something in the 30mm to 50mm about right. The old Sigma 30mm 1.4 is a great priced prime, but Sigma is releasing a new version of their popular 30mm 1.4 lens. Hopefully you already know but pay attention to lenses in regards to crop sensor lenses (APS-C) and full frame (35mm sensors). Most primes (2.8 or faster) are full frame lenses, meaning a 50mm become an 80mm on your Canon T3i. Anything over 80mm prime is super hard to handhold steady. When i first started with DSRL's, I was on a tight budget and used old Nikon primes (50mm 1.4) with lens adapter rings. They worked great. I currently have the Canon 50mm 1.4, but I would skip that lens and go for a 30mm 1.4 instead.
All my backcountry hunting camera gear is fairly low budget gear (Canon 7D, Canon T3i, ContourGPS POV camera, Sony HX20v Cybershot, Canon 50mm 1.4, Tokina 11-16mm 2.8) there are much better cameras & lenses but they come at a much higher price. I like compact, lightweight gear after packing around a Panasonic HVX200 for two season. The Canon T3i is an awesome camera for the weight, compact, and shallow DOF ability when teamed with the right lens.
Here are a couple of videos I have done or have been apart of.
https://vimeo.com/55913287
https://vimeo.com/58763936
https://vimeo.com/58752579
https://vimeo.com/54995483
I really enjoy filming hunts, solo and group hunts. I am a big fan of DSLR's and always pack one on my hunts along with my "kill shot camera". I like to film all b-roll video with the DSLR and then use a lightweight camcorder to film kill shots.I have a few favorites you might want to check out. The Tokina 11-16mm 2.8, is a great low light wide angle lens. Use this a lot around camp or when filming in tight places. Also its a great lens for timelapses and is semi affordable. $600ish. If you want to bring a prime into the backcountry you will might like something in the 30mm to 50mm about right. The old Sigma 30mm 1.4 is a great priced prime, but Sigma is releasing a new version of their popular 30mm 1.4 lens. Hopefully you already know but pay attention to lenses in regards to crop sensor lenses (APS-C) and full frame (35mm sensors). Most primes (2.8 or faster) are full frame lenses, meaning a 50mm become an 80mm on your Canon T3i. Anything over 80mm prime is super hard to handhold steady. When i first started with DSRL's, I was on a tight budget and used old Nikon primes (50mm 1.4) with lens adapter rings. They worked great. I currently have the Canon 50mm 1.4, but I would skip that lens and go for a 30mm 1.4 instead.
All my backcountry hunting camera gear is fairly low budget gear (Canon 7D, Canon T3i, ContourGPS POV camera, Sony HX20v Cybershot, Canon 50mm 1.4, Tokina 11-16mm 2.8) there are much better cameras & lenses but they come at a much higher price. I like compact, lightweight gear after packing around a Panasonic HVX200 for two season. The Canon T3i is an awesome camera for the weight, compact, and shallow DOF ability when teamed with the right lens.
Here are a couple of videos I have done or have been apart of.
https://vimeo.com/55913287
https://vimeo.com/58763936
https://vimeo.com/58752579
https://vimeo.com/54995483
AnthonyVR
New Member
I totally agree with LO on this. For the average guy who is looking to improve the quality of his footage without selling his truck to pay for it, the T3i is tough to beat. It basically has the same internal video components as the Canon 7D and they added manual audio functions. The Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 is one of the best lenses (at any price) that you can buy for a crop sensor camera. I would say that you might want to consider the 50mm 1.8 as well, It's not the brickhouse that the 1.4 is but for much less money it is hard to beat. With an SLR your biggest issue is going to be getting those long distance shots, your most affordable option would be to just make due the the 55-250mm kit lens because a quality telephoto zoom lens is going to cost you a small fortune.
The biggest thing that you can do to enhance the quality of your video is to start shooting everything off of a tripod, glide cam, or slider. Some of those shaky youtube hunts can almost make a guy seasick at times! The catch22 is that no one wants to carry heavy camera equipment on a backpack type hunt. Thats why 90% of hunting tv shows are filmed out of outfitter camps or lodges...
The biggest thing that you can do to enhance the quality of your video is to start shooting everything off of a tripod, glide cam, or slider. Some of those shaky youtube hunts can almost make a guy seasick at times! The catch22 is that no one wants to carry heavy camera equipment on a backpack type hunt. Thats why 90% of hunting tv shows are filmed out of outfitter camps or lodges...
Huntography
New Member
- Jan 1, 2013
- 39
- 0
Filming yourself and your own hunt is not the easiest thing to do and do well. This is especially true if you're using a DSLR.
From my personal experience filming deer hunting documentaries since 2010, solely with DSLR's, I hate to say it but using a DSLR to film a hunt is like using a bow to hunt vs a rifle. It's much more difficult and technical. Hence, I don't recommend it to most folks as many people may prefer to just push play and record.
That being said, I applaud anyone who uses a DSLR to film their hunts. You just have to become a student of the camera and practice under all lighting and shooting scenarios.
- Rudy
Sent from my camo iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
From my personal experience filming deer hunting documentaries since 2010, solely with DSLR's, I hate to say it but using a DSLR to film a hunt is like using a bow to hunt vs a rifle. It's much more difficult and technical. Hence, I don't recommend it to most folks as many people may prefer to just push play and record.
That being said, I applaud anyone who uses a DSLR to film their hunts. You just have to become a student of the camera and practice under all lighting and shooting scenarios.
- Rudy
Sent from my camo iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
Mahalo everyone for sharing such great info!!! LO those are some great videos, mahalo for sharing!!! I hope to share my first effort at filming in the near future. Aloha!!!
Huntography
New Member
- Jan 1, 2013
- 39
- 0
I use Final Cut Pro X and the entire Adobe CS6 suite.
Rudy
Sent from my camo iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
Rudy
Sent from my camo iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
Darktimber
Member
This was all done with a DSLR and a Sony action cam. The software is Cyberlink Ultra.
http://vimeo.com/63760914
http://vimeo.com/63760914
Huntography
New Member
- Jan 1, 2013
- 39
- 0
@808 - No, not really. If you're on a Mac, iMovie is a good editing program to learn with.
I don't use PC's so can offer help there.
Rudy
Sent from my camo iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
I don't use PC's so can offer help there.
Rudy
Sent from my camo iPhone 5 using Tapatalk
I've heard IMovie is a good place to start. I'm getting a Mac soon. Mahalo for all the great info and help.