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Sony NEX 5/6/7 for hockey

post #1 of 11
11/20/12 at 8:48am
Thread Starter 
Hi,
Do you think is it a good idea to use as a Sony NEX with Kit lenses as video camera for hockey?
Thanks.
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post #2 of 11
11/20/12 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobk77 View Post

Hi,
Do you think is it a good idea to use as a Sony NEX with Kit lenses as video camera for hockey?
Thanks.

Hi bob - don't know what your requirement is, but these cameras are very nice for short narrative film clips edited together (see this example). They are not so good for long, continuous video recording due to overheating and a 29 minute clip duration limit.

If you want to shoot video with an NEX camera, you may want to look at the $1100 NEX-VG20 - less money than the $1200 NEX-7, it is a real camcorder, with essentially unlimited video recording time. It takes great 16MP RAW and JPEG stills too.

Here is what it can do at a hockey game (please watch at 1080p): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl4L15EuxHM

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution
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post #3 of 11
11/20/12 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
Bill,

Finally one with the live experience!!!!!
I am not planning long clips.Generally clip as long as a hockey shift. I will not have TV lights - This is youth and hopefully high school hockey.
I am looking an NEX cameras because I am also planning to take pics (complely different lens).
Do yoy think video quality will be compatable with Panasonic V700/Sony CX580/Sony GW77 or simular cams using kit lenses - they are slow.

Thank you.
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post #4 of 11
11/20/12 at 4:54pm
The NEX cameras are particularly *badly* suited for hockey. You need a fast lens (as you say) and a power zoom. A power zoom lets you gently, at a speed you choose, follow the action. You also want fast autofocus and shallow dof. The NEX has a slow (kit) lens, no power zoom, relatively slow autofocus and shallow dof. Camcorders have fast lenses, extended telephoto, power zooms, fast autofocus with tracking. They are also higher-resolution than the NEX for video. The camcorder videos will look better in every way.


And yes, I have "live" experience shooting hockey:

https://vimeo.com/37751356


And I have a NEX-5N (nice camera for stills) too.
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post #5 of 11
11/20/12 at 5:01pm
Hi bob - Glad I could help - but I'm a little confused - the CX580 and GW77 have f1.8-3.4 lenses and the V700 has an f1.8-3.5. Any of these are fast enough to do a good job at the rink.

Best,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

P.S. thanks for weighing in with practical experience, Mark.
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post #6 of 11
11/20/12 at 5:34pm
Thread Starter 
Bill - I meant NEX kit lenses are slow...
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post #7 of 11
11/20/12 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Mark,

I have been enjoing your videos for quite some time (especially hockey) and learning quite a few things on the way.
We don't skate division one:( and light at the youth hockey games are pretty bad.

I did have TM700 and kind of hate it, could never get white balance right and exposure was jumping up and down all the time.
I currently use Panasonic FZ150 and like it as a universal travel kit, but I don't think it suited well for indoor sport shooting. Videos are not smooth.
I hoped Panasonic will address this with new FZ200, but I can see same problems at the other people videos and tests.
That is why I am seriously thinking either get back to camcorder or NEX. Seems from your experience NEX is not good fit either.
Which one of those you would recommend: Panasonic V700/Sony CX580/Sony GW77 or Sony HDR-CX260V - I like the price wink.gif
or anything else in that price range.
I really like idea of GW77 - it is a toy looking piece and no one expect great quality from you.

Here is an example of FZ150 video - mine https://vimeo.com/50991091
And here is FZ200 test from Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/50898608

You can see there that video is not smooth - I cannot really put technical term to it.

Thank you for your help.
Edited by bobk77 - 11/20/12 at 7:01pm
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post #8 of 11
11/22/12 at 5:16pm
"You can see there that video is not smooth - I cannot really put technical term to it." The FZ200 video was shot *incorrectly*: the photographer used aperture priority mode, choosing a wide-open aperture. This resulted in the camera having to select a high shutter speed, which results in strobing motion - not smooth.

You need to shoot at 1/60th of a second to get smooth motion when using 60fps; that video may have used 1/500th of a second in the bright light. Any camcorder that shoots at 108060p, with the proper shutter speed, should give smooth video. Note that this implies you need a camera for which you can set the shutter speed. Note also that Vimeo converts 60p video to 30p, so you are not seeing the smooth video that 60p gives.

The CX580 and the GW77 are fine camcorders with excellent low-light performance and stabilization but you cannot set the shutter speed, so if you are concerned about smooth motion, important for sports, these are not ideal.
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post #9 of 11
11/23/12 at 6:26am
Thread Starter 
Make sence. I actually suspected something like this.
Do you think I can get away with Panasonicc HC-V700?
It does allow manual setting, has same numbers for lens -1.8/3.5 and has a slighly bigger sensor - 1/2.33 vs 1/2.88 Sony.

Thank you so much!
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post #10 of 11
11/23/12 at 6:59am
"Do you think I can get away with Panasonicc HC-V700?"

It will be fine, at $399, it's a great deal and well-suited for your use.
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post #11 of 11
11/23/12 at 7:31am
Thread Starter 
Thank you Mark for your help!
Just placed an order.
Happy holidays smile.gif
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