Steven Bodo wrote:
a camcorder may be better suited for your need than a DSLR

****

sorry, now i see you just bought one

Ya haven't got it yet though. I want it for pictures too though and just basic video.

AG_Boston wrote:
Are you using the built in mic? You will benefit greatly by using a mic which is not mounted on the camera.

I haven't got my t3i yet but I will buy a mic if the built in one sucks.

As far as my webcam ya I use the built in mic.

Lady Akara wrote:
I just bought a Canon T3i and I've heard that the 18mm-55mm lens it comes with isn't very good for video as it isn't able to auto focus fast enough and it's VERY loud.

Lady Akara wrote:
What would be a good lens for HD video with a quick silent/quiet auto focus? Nothing extreme just want a nice video. Mainly for product reviews.

The T3i doesn't autofocus while recording, so noise, and overall autofocus is a nonissue.

For good audio, getting the mic as close to you, and away from the camera will make it great. I played with this one and for under $20 it is quite nice, especially since you record straight to the camera, and you don't have to deal with syncing audio.

-JAY- wrote:

Lady Akara wrote:
I just bought a Canon T3i and I've heard that the 18mm-55mm lens it comes with isn't very good for video as it isn't able to auto focus fast enough and it's VERY loud.

The T3i doesn't autofocus while recording, so noise, and overall autofocus is a nonissue.

Problem solved!

VA Photographer wrote:
I know you just bought a T3i, but if you are able too, might consider upgrading to the T4i (sorry not sure what the price difference would be).  This lens might meet your needs, but the continuous auto focus only works on the T4i

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 … ncake.html

Will that work on the t3i as well?

Lady Akara wrote:
Thanks. There is a bunch of videos of it auto focusing though:-(


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTSWs-sufRY

That's just autofocusing while recording, different from continuous autofocus. No different than just manual focusing. For what you're looking for, what do you need autofocus for?

Lady Akara wrote:

Will that work on the t3i as well?

On the T3i, it will work just like any other lens. The 40mm, and the other STM lenses are all about continuous autofocus, which the T3i doesn't do.

-JAY- wrote:

That's just autofocusing while recording, different from continuous autofocus. No different than just manual focusing. For what you're looking for, what do you need autofocus for?

Ohhh I see. Just for videos, nothing extreme just sitting in front of the game but moving in close on my face. I shoot the videos myself so it would be nice to have auto focus lol.

DraganSutic wrote:
if you're going to be making extreme movement from up close to far away, you either want a camera operator to track you, or use a ton of lighting so you can use a small aperture and give yourself deep DOF.

Oh I didn't know it was extreme haha. I might buy a camcorder too rather than a expensive lens. Suggestion on a camcorder?

MZ PhotoFilm wrote:
its actually perfect for video, your just using the auto features which isnt going to get you anywhere! Auto focus and white balance are better for snap shot cameras...I have done plenty of videos using my basic T3i and lens, they all came out clean

Oh ok but is there any chance I can record video myself without having to have someone there to focus it for me?

Lady Akara wrote:
Just something like this. So the loud auto focus would be bad since I get so close to the camera lol

http://images.kinkbomb.net/images/P/108 … ock-01.gif

With plenty of lighting and a small aperture, you wont have to worry about a small depth of field.  If you have decent lighting and shoot at f4 to f8ish you're area of focus will be big enough for work like that .gif you posted.

Lady Akara wrote:

Oh ok but is there any chance I can record video myself without having to have someone there to focus it for me?

it really depends on what your expectations are.  when they use DSLRs for TV shows they have a shit ton of other gear attached to it and a full crew, not just someone pulling focus.  At the other end of the spectrum is iPhone videos.  tell us where you wanna be and we can tell you what you need or if your expectations are too high.
One thing for sure is getting the mic off-camera instantly helps with the audio. I use a 20$ wireless mic from walmart and I can just hand it to them and let them talk.  If they hold it near a band its not bad at all but not pro recording.  again what do you want to do? it all boils down to that.

Lady Akara wrote:

Oh ok but is there any chance I can record video myself without having to have someone there to focus it for me?

Put something where you will be. I put my laundry hamper in my chair.

Focus on the thing (my hamper) then once it's in focus, turn the lens from AF to Manual focus so it won't change.

Start recording, remove the thing (my hamper) take its spot, and start your video.

Edit out the whole moving the hamper bit.

-JAY- wrote:

Put something where you will be. I put my laundry hamper in my chair.

Focus on the thing (my hamper) then once it's in focus, turn the lens from AF to Manual focus so it won't change.

Start recording, remove the thing (my hamper) take its spot, and start your video.

Edit out the whole moving the hamper bit.

I think you forgot to mention the whole "dont move out of the chair or move around a lot" thing.  If you move, you have to redo the "chair focus" thing and restart recording.

AVD AlphaDuctions wrote:

I think you forgot to mention the whole "dont move out of the chair or move around a lot" thing.  If you move, you have to redo the "chair focus" thing and restart recording.

*** focus on the chair area, with settings to give you 3-5 feet of in focus area*** move around all you want

Lady Akara wrote:
I am going to be ordering a lens off amazon willing to spend $1000 or less. Suggestions for a fast and quiet lens for recording video? :-D

17-55 2.8IS

However, it will pretty much work exactly like your 18-55 in pretty much every respect.

Things will be blurry when you move in, you'll then press your wireless trigger, and it will try and focus, and it'll be in focus while you're close. When you move back into your normal position, you'll be blurry while you press your wireless trigger again, and the camera tries to focus on your new position. It's a somewhat slow process.

It will not be seamless, your camera does not support this feature, you will have to press a wireless shutter release halfway down, and wait for it to acquire focus any time you move. Half a second or more each time you move will consist of pressing a button to get it back into focus.

Even spending $2,500 on canon's best zoom for this range will only net you a slightly less noisy focus, it will still be time consuming and awkward.

Canon's T4i and STM lenses can potentially get what you want, but even the new continuous autofocus on these cameras takes 3-5 seconds if you're lucky.

Lady Akara wrote:
If you suggest I buy a camcorder, then which? :-)

If you're looking for a camera to Vlog with... why not the Vloggie, since that's what it was made for?