viewers on youtube are satisfied with every shitty camera quality. if you making a film for a big festival or anything bigger than this you should get a better camera.
I think people miss the point on why he does videos like this. I believe he makes these videos for people like me or people who thought like him who think "I need a very expensive camera to make good videos. " But these videos show me every time that you can make high quality things with decent gear that you don't have to break the bank for. I appreciate the vids, Simon.
Dylan Ransi That's not what he was saying. He means, that you don't necessarily need a super high budget camera, because it's not that mich better. If you have the money to spend (Believe me, Lucasfilm _totally_ does), you should use a great camera. But it would be overkill to use a 50,000 dollar camera for TH-cam. Ask MKBHD for advice, if you need some. ;)
Dylan Ransi Considering how much of Star Wars is CGI and whats not is highly edited, you honestly could probably film those portions with an inexpensive camera.
It would not be that crazy; compare these cheap DSLR to how Star Wars Ep 2 & 3, which were one of the first big movies to be shot digital (on the Sony CIneAlta). You put good glass on a Canon 5d mk3 and record low compression on the HDMI out and you are not just in the same ballpark as the SW ep2&3 camera, you are both playing infield. Back at the turn of the millennium all the talk was of the mythological day digital would final break down all the financial barriers to anyone making Hollywood level cinema....get on board, that day is here. Sound is cheap, editing is cheap, & cameras are cheap. The only thing that cost any substantial money is lighting & lens and there are "ok" alternative to those too. The only real barrier to making a good film is finding talented crew & cast. That is where you invest your money. Equipments cheap, talent takes time and/or money. Boring preach mode: off
Normally I'm a large advocate of your content, but this video is misleading and manipulative for your narrative only. Let me explain: For starters I understand why you used the same lenses, same colours, control variable etc. But that's an 'L' series lenses (24 - 70, 24 - 105 maybe), you're pairing a $500 camera with a $1000 lens, and a $50,000 camera with a $1000 lens - not at all an accurate representation. Large film productions are filming on Cine lenses normally costing between $5000 and $15000. Secondly, you simply skimmed over the 'ND filters' and 'SDI outputs bit'. You said in build NDA filters were 'another little feature'. ND filters are incredibly important for maintaining shutter speeds and open apertures. Having an in build ND is great, regardless of the lens diameter you always have NDs. SDI outputs are also vital, with the likes of live production, and external monitors for assistants and focus pullers. Also there was no crop in on this video to show just how much detail these cinema cameras pull. You don't watch a film on a laptop screen as many people will for this video - you watch it on 22meter wide IMAX screen. What about picture profiles on the Alexa, the flat profiles are key for better grading and more dynamic range. What about when you have shots that, for one reason or another, you need to try and recover to make usable - the Alexa is great there too. You skimmed over the high frame rate bit, also. That sin't a small feature. When representing the passage of time slow motion is a key tool - and I'm sorry but no one can say the 720p 60FPS video on the t3i is a good solution to that. What about low light performance? What about how the Alex deals with skin tones. What about any IBIS in any of the cameras. I understand your narrative, I think it is important people don't obsess about gear, but this video was a manipulated representation to push your narrative. I shoot on a t5i, and am moving to GH5 after renting the GH4. I'm not talking from spec sheets, I'm talking from experience. Why nto rent an A7S II for a couple of weeks, I guarantee your opinion would be much different after that fact.
dudu, this comment! I just commented saying the same thing about the sony! He picked the Alexa to mislead and manipulate the whole video just to show that although Alexa is 100x more expensive, the image quality is not 100x better. He "forgot" to talk about all the features Alexa provides the user. One major thing that would kill the t3i right away would be the ability to film raw. every camera that has the exact same specs as the t3i but can record raw footage, is better than that canon. It would only take the A7Sii to kill this stupid arguments that Simon still uses to legitimate his option to not buy another camera. For someone who doesn't know a thing about this stuff, this video will sound legit. But in fact is just wrong.
Estuca Again more good points. His whole argument is that he won't upgrade his camera because he doesn't need to, but if he did upgrade his camera it's not like he'd be buying the alexa anyways. You only have to look at the views he's getting on these videos to see why he keeps doing it. The A7SII costs what around 5x the price of the T3i, but gives you a full frame sensor, stellar low light performance, 4K, 1080p @ 120FPS, the list goes on! Take a look at the GH5, it too does 4K, but at 60FPS, it does 1080p at 180fps, it's weather sealed, has dual SD card slots, records in 10 bit, has in built stabilisation for even less than the A7S II. We get it, the t3i is a good camera, but it's now a limiting factor. I don't like to moan, but this video is so manipulative it's annoying
I don't agree. Simon is addressing the importance of story telling, Lighting and great acting. Regular people don't care about what cinematographers care about. Look at the films that were shot back in the day and the quality is terrible comparing to what we shoot on today. However When a film is just a great piece of work, people can't deny it. I have seen some of the most beautiful cinematography on youtube but seriously lacking in the story..
Kristjan everything is important, camera gear is important, sound is important, story is important theyre all equal...if you dont focus on one of them you cant make good films, you should focus on all of them, cameras,sound,ligthing,story, everything
camera gear is very important. yes the story is important but it's literally impossible to make the movies we make today on cheap cameras. They just don't compare. If it didn't matter than studios would save money and film Jurassic park on a t3i haha!
Canon should be sponsoring you PERMANENTLY! Your love for the T3i is second to none. Love your content and have been a long time sub but please know that if you ever upgrade to something like a gh4 or A7s nobody will look down on you for finally moving on from your first camera. Nothing wrong with better quality, especially when you are talented. Take care.
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I'm always impressed how much does he really sticks to his DSLR. Let's face it, camera is quite old and entry level, but he always manages to pull great shots.
Lazar Popović those weren't great shots..but I dig the concept..there is something called 'Diminishing returns' the more you pay the lesser and lesser you get for your money
KanKollOpen - most of the viewerbase know the price of that canon lens. but if 1000 for a lens is too much, let's say you use a cheaper prime lens. like the 35mm f2, 50mm 1.8 or 85mm 1.8? quality will be same if not improve a bit. those lenses can be had for around 350 bucks.
Yea but when we shoot with the Alexa we don't use those cheap lenses, we typically use cinema lenses like cooke, cp2 etc. The image is MUCH sharper with better lenses.
What cheap lens? thats an L lens. plenty of sharpness for a 2k image. not to mention Cooke lenses arent exactly known for technical sharpness theyre more known for a combination of "subtle" sharpness with great color rendering. Its not all about sharpness. come on man alexa isnt even meant to be super sharp anyways. its meant to produce a more film like image.
How about making a video or doing a live stream speaking about this, but answering the comments criticising this video? There's a lot of them (including mine) with really god points that you opted to omit and would be good so people don't get misinformed by this video.
Agree on colors with nikon, always get real looking tones with it. I shoot all my videos on a nikon DX body and completely satisfied. Where it lags is obviously sharpness but it's manageable.
as I've already stated that everyone has failed to understand. Budget shouldn't ever go towards equipment. Budget should come after you already own equipment. Regardless of price. Before I plan to work on a higher budgeted production I will first put aside a solid 3 to 4 years to save for equipment that will help me get there. The only thing renting will do is make your schedule a land slide for people wanting to make features and I tell ya, Making the move to save for expensive gear when you're young is a much wiser choice than waiting and hoping to be successful using cheap equipment. Don't rely on fate to be for future, that's just gonna waste you decades.
I like how you start of your argument with "fuck you", then at the very end to receive minimal backlash, try to make it a joke. If I were a brainwashed asslicker I would agree with most of his point in this video which I don't(the alexa is way fucking better) but... that doesn't mean you should start off with that.. The funny thing is I saw you as an asslicker for the Alexa. But of course since you have a one sided argument with no real evidence or talking points you call me one. His subscriber count doesn't affect my opinion, and if you where to at least look through the comments you would see that many of these so called asslickers actually disagree with him, and want him to stop making videos about how the t3i is so amazing. The only reason he continues to make these videos is because people keep bringing it up that you need amazing equipment when you don't.
No its a great subject that we need to keep hearing so we can stop going broke on the next big thing. We are chasing Pixels like crazy these days and not great stories.
This is not really a comparison to make, because of not really challenging dynamic range. But if you try to under exposed or overexposed and recover skin tones, Alexa beats pretty much any camera on the market today, its weather sealed and well protected. Has been prepared for any kind of pro workflow. No rolling shouter, higher bit rate and frame rates, and log options. Better dynamic range and the list goes on. Ability to use Lut's and export to multiple monitors on set for dailies etc. Ability to add many accessories that you would have a hard time on your DSLR. No overheating on longer shoots, and delivery in various formats needed for various workflows. For a youtube low dynamic range of London always cloudy weather, video of mostly static not very challenging street shooting, no problem with most camera, but any kind of more challenging work and you quickly find out why it costs so much. You simply cannot make videos with DSLR that you can with pro cameras and especially Alexa even Mini. So people don't be fooled by thinking it looks similar enough, that is not a situation where you need Alexa quite simply. Its an overkill. But if you are shooting anything more challenging or feature film, you will know, quite quickly why its the money well invested in Alexa.
Almost all cameras (even Pro cinema, like RED and Alexa) with CMOS sensors still have rolling shutter(except the Sony F55, I believe). It's just way less noticeable than "stills" cameras used to shoot video.
Let me end the comment debates by saying that Simon shows us this because he wants you to know that a t3i is enough to portray a good film. Because his TH-cam is for the beginners and the storytellers who need to know that. He isn't saying to turn down that camera that costs more than your car. Of course if you're working for true professionals your quality will need to be on that level. But you need to start somewhere and a DSLR is more than enough.
Simon, thank you, thank you, thank you for this! I'm seventeen and my film crew is whichever friends are free that day and my camera is a canon 1200D. Over the past few days, I've been filling in for a last minute drop-out on a college film set shooting on the Alexa and I've never felt more creatively drained after a project. There was so much empahsis put on that goddamn camera that I felt depressed thinking about my T5i back home... I always have to remind myself that a great film made on a bad camera is more impressive than a great film made on a great camera. The industry's looking for voices- not gear.
Embrace the qualities of your gear. If you were renting, or even if you OWNED the Alexa, you wouldn't be able to just bring it around with you, improvise and try new things, throw together scenes with the people in your life. You're using the DSLR as a tool to creatively liberate you, which is supposed to be the point, isn't it? A lot of people seem to have missed that in the pursuit of the 'cinematic' - in this case, meaning the pursuit of gear or its own sake. Of course the Alexa is the 'better' camera, but it could never do what yours can. There's room in enough in this world for both sketchbooks and oil canvases.
He was purely talking about the sharpness and quality of the image. He briefly mentioned that the Alexa has many more options and that's where the price comes from, but didn't delve in to it because that's not what he was trying to point out. This video is for people who think they need an expensive camera to make films.
He made a video in a way so his T3i would preform in the best way possible. As he said, with sufficient lighting. When you come into darker scenarios, Night shots and stuff like that, Alexa in better. It's only in this narrow comparison that they preform that similar. And even here downscaled 4k looks way sharper. But he made his point and I respect that. I think T3i is more of a room camera, that someone like Pewdiepie or equivalent uses as face camera..
I mean, I love filmmaking and cameras but i mostly watch your videos because of your amazing voice one time a actually fell asleep listening to your video
I think the difference in sharpness doesn't necessarily come from cheap vs expansive camera, but rather 1080p vs 4K in general, in addition to the different sensor sizes. Still, nice to see the two compared :)
beuster{se} Disagree. Take a look at an iPhone 6s or 7, that shoots 4K but compared to an A7S ii or that Alexa it's soft af. Just because something is 4000 pixels wide doesn't mean it's sharp. Shoot that Alexa in 1080 and put it next to the t3i at 1080p and the Alexa will be still be 10x sharper
James Cousins , I think what he meant is that 4K footage is generally more sharper than 1080p footage. Obviously it also depends on the type of camera, but if you were to shoot on the same device, a video in 1080p and then in 4K, you can clearly see that the 4K footage is sharper.
Elliot Jay I'm sure he would, because they do have nicer features and he did enjoy playing with it. I think the main reason he doesn't is that he'd rather spend the money on something more useful, like sound, lighting, actors, production design, etc.
gundamzerostrike Yes, I agree. The story you are telling through the film (or movie) matters most. Most filmmakers started creating movies through a low-end camera (say, a DSLR, or a camcorder, like the JVC Everio camera Simon Cade first used, or even a smartphone).
he is in love with his camera that's why he keep posting video like this. For me i like this way...when you love your equipment you will produce something different...make emotional relation with your staff!!
It's great for an artist to love their tools, and really get to know their strengths and quirks. But it's a creative tool, right? Surely the love for it should be primarily about how it allows you to express yourself, and not just to direct attention back to the tool itself.
Extremely helpful and well produced video, I feel like you're getting a lot of flack but the footage doesn't lie. I think you presented both sides well thanks again
You should try a C100. It has one of the best body designs of any camera, built-in NDs, focus peaking, zebras & waveform monitoring, XLR inputs; everything you need on a cinema camera. It's very lightweight compared to building out a DSLR with similar options. You can also shoot in CLog vs Prolost. The best part is you can buy a used C100 for the same cost of a used 5D mark iii, also for the same cost as renting an Arri Alexa for one day. I love the Alexa, but it's not always in the budget.
You really should upgrade to GH5 or even a 5D m4. My Logic: It doesn't matter what camera u use but a better camera will yield better results in a better hand..
I'd have to sell my truck 100 times over to buy an Alexa anything. Yeah, $500. Or I could sell my truck, my house, my rag tag dog, and just about everything else I own. Maybe I could make a video about that.
I LOVE your work man, since I first started film years ago. But these things are getting a little repetitive(I know it's fun to troll and annoy all the snobby film critics and this was a great opportunity from videoeurope rentals). I think we can all agree that lighting is one of your strong suits and you've taught me how to be super resourceful with what little I have. More lighting setup videos please?
Great channel for those of us starting out in DSLR film-making. Have found it reassuring that my Canon DSLR, bought second hand from a exchange shop, will be sufficient for most of my early projects. Thanks for the effort you put in. It makes things very clear.
actually it might be 100 times better, but this video does not show the strengths of alexa properly. You have to consider that a movie is one of the single largest investments a business can make. Often time costing hundreds of millions of dollars, and one of the weakest points in the creative process is the camera. When you are paying for a cinema camera you are getting that extra reliability shot after shot. Of course a talented DP can make a iphone look good by lighting with its dynamic range, etc. But having the extra latitude alone gives the creators more options to finesse their images. It's not quite as simple as he is making things.
pixelatorNYC also, footage isn't the only thing to consider when stating a camera is or isn't 100 times better. Good luck getting a feed to multiple monitors with the t3i, or connecting multiple high-end audio devices, monitoring with a lut while recording without, etc, etc.
For what you can get out of a dslr is amazing. I am a big advocate for people to get a cheap dslr for filmmaking like how I started. But I am also the first one to say that every bit counts. You have the lighting, expertise, and work ethic to get amazing results out of any camera. I think that getting a better camera won't harm or change the way you think about your work but will just make it better. I always think to my self "wow that looks good for a t3i" when watching the content you make but it should just be "wow that looks good." Because you make such a point of it, it becomes almost distracting to the whole visual element. But that's just me I guess.
I respect you going out and trying another camera. Whether you upgrade to something better or not it's always important that as a filmmaker you at least know what options you have and what the limits of each are.
I think what you take away from this is buy the starter cameras and learn how to make films. Just because you can buy an expensive camera starting out doesn't mean you should. Learn how to light for the camera that you have which like he said, bad lighting can make a good camera look terrible. Once you learn how to light for your cheaper camera and achieve a killer image with that, then when the time is right you can move on to something more expensive that provides more opportunities. Just my two cents.
The only reason I'm saving up for an Alexa isn't because I think it will make me a better film, even though that is true to an extent, But that saving up for a 50k camera when you're young is an extremely smarter move than waiting till you're in your late 20s.. Be wise with your choices. You can't get any where in this industry with out money and a film shot on an expensive cinema camera is what generates you money in the long run.
I think buying an expensive camera might be the wrong move, though. Almost all of the production companies rent their expensive gear for the days the shoot them. Cheaper DSLRs work just fine for videos that are only going to TH-cam or or other social media.
Tryst Films you're going to sell that camera at a huge loss 2 years later. Focus on other aspects of filmmaking then rent the Alexa. No reason to own, especially with how fast the technology is progressing.
huge loss? What would I be losing wanting to buy an insanely good camera? The camera? OHHH you mean 50k? well guess what people don't buy expensive cars expecting money back and that's exactly how I treat film equipment ;) not to mention Alexa's have been the best film digital camera for decades. There is not going to be any "fast progressive changes in technology" if you own one of if not the best digital camera in the world LMAO, All Arri cameras share the same sensor.
I agree this is getting a bit over done. We get your point about not obsessing about gear, but it seems you are now obsessing over NOT using high end gear. I like the how Ryan Connolly puts it when he says you can get high quality images out of cheap gear, but the end goal is to work with better gear and bigger crews. But regardless, keep up the good work!
Defiantly not. Some projects should be shot in RAW on an Arri or RED, others are more suited to pro-res on an FS7. If you are shooting with 4 cameras on a doc style commercial with quick turn around time, the size would quickly become too much.
I LOVE your videos, and I’ve learned a lot. I made my first short this year, and entered it into a local film festival. Everyone loved it! Thanks for helping us, and creating these videos!
If you don't know the possibilitys the ARRI gives, why bother to make a comparison? Do you think that people using an ARRI is using a sub $1000 zoom lens or a set of cineprimes (again) costing 100 times more? How much can you grade your T3i's H.264 footage before it's breaking up? Would you show your footage in a movie theatre in 1080? Why didn't you tell Spielberg, that he's wasting a lot of money?
Only amateurs don't bother with color grading. When you shoot video you do it with a flat picture profile, so if you leave footage as is it is going to look dull and boring. That is why it is extremely important how the footage holds up in post.
the worst part is is that he uses a cheap lens for such an expensive camera and writes off as the reasoning why the alexa is blowing his out of focus t3i out of the park. Most importantly, the alexa is meant to be veiwed in movie theatre, and will be breath taking on a huge screen. I get his point. But it's a bullshit way to say "I dont need a cinema camera because I'm making youtube videos"
That's really interesting. I went to film school and we shot on all T3i's, I even bought one for myself but of course - after I graduated, they bought a Red One MX and several Scarlet-Dragons. I have a film shoot in about two months and I've been stressing about what camera to rent - Red One MX, Scarlet, Sony FS700, etc. Thanks for doing this comparison. Obviously the Alexa (or any 2-4k camera) is a better choice for films that are shown in theaters simply for the fact of resolution. But it's interesting to see that the two cameras look fairly identical under the same circumstance. The dynamic range of the Alexa is great and would certainly make for easier lighting rigs, however. Thanks for this video and your channel!
What I like about this video is the fact that is shows aspiring filmmakers that you don't need that fancy camera - just start creating. Decent lighting and some grading goes a long way. Not many people will notice the difference. I have an Ursa mini and I love all the capabilities with raw, dr etc. But really, any camera today is a good camera! Create good films with what you got, then by all means upgrade if you have the money for it!
Honestly dude, there are only so many videos you can make on "why you won't switch from your t3i" it's getting old, it got old about 3 t3i videos back...sorry for the hate.
I don't ever hear something like "Gear comes first!" from people that are rushing for the great gear. But on the other hand I hear all the time this pure bs from those who can't have the good stuff so they create a world around them where rushing for great gear somehow means you don't put enough effort or understanding into storytelling. A good moviemaker tries to bring every aspect to the better level. Why arguing what comes first. Everything matters and one can't be replaced by another.
I have never heard "I bought the latest iPhone because the commercials influenced me". I always hear "I bought the latest iPhone because ". It doesn't mean that nobody is ever influenced by advertising (or someone should tell Apple to stop spending $1.8 billion per year in marketing). When it comes to consumerism, we are masters at rationalization (Wikipedia: "In psychology and logic, rationalization or rationalisation, also known as making excuses, is a defense mechanism in which controversial behaviors or feelings are justified and explained in a seemingly rational or logical manner to avoid the true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable-or even admirable and superior-by plausible means."). It is not a conscious process. We're not even aware of it. Don't pay attention to what people say, pay attention to what their actions say. Rushing for the high-end gear doesn't necessarily mean that you don't put enough effort into the other aspects. But when you're a beginner filmmaker, who already has a camera but doesn't already have what he needs for his next film (like actors, locations, etc), what are you going to spend your money on in priority? On a better camera, so you can renew what you already have in order to improve it, at the expense of what you don't even have at all? How smart would that be? Even Hollywood studios have constraints, and can choose to cut corners (for example on special effects, in order not to increase the budget of the whole movie by 5% for a 10 second scene). Not every effort is reasonable. The smartest choice can be to search for the highest return on investment, instead of improving every aspect just because "A good moviemaker tries to bring every aspect to the better level". Especially when you're not in a competition with Lucasfilm.
This is really inspiring as your T3i footage looks almost as good if you aren't pixel peeping. Definitly means that I won't upgrade my 70d for a while.
I recently watched a video about why 4K doesn't matter. So many more things go into what makes a good image than it's resolution. Dynamic range, for example. The show Supergirl is recorded with some incredible cameras, but only in 1080p. But that's because those cameras excel at every thing else
I love this. I love filming/cinematography as a hobby, nothing serious. My favorite camera to use right now is the Panasonic GX8 for its form factor and quality. I used to be all about the gear but scaled it back, really learned the ins and outs of the GX8, took time to study the picture profiles, how to best grade, how it handles focus, light, etc. Then I look at TH-camrs (specifically tech youtubers) who have $10,000's of camera gear but it's obvious once they take it off their "remote controlled sliders" and go outside, they have no idea what they're doing. It's never about the camera, it's about the shot, framing, color grading, and composition. These days, you can get amazing results out of inexpensive cameras but people tend to forget to learn how to use them in the first place.
I hope everyone knows that you don't actually have to own the ridiculously nice cameras we all drool over. It's okay to own something that's just okay and then rent the nicer cameras for a weekend when you shoot your next film project. I doubt anyone's honestly shooting a new film every week that needs a Red, C300, etc..
I wish I knew this before. I wouldn't have spent $15,000 a few years ago on my C300 nor would I Have Spent another $8000 when I Purchased My C100 when they first came out...
I've already asked Film Riot about this, but I also want your opinion on the lower budget questions because you seem more into that: *I use Hitfilm 4 Express as my free software, but (because I'm basically on a zero budget) I need a solid audio editing software to pair with Hitfilm. Any suggestions?* Thanks a lot :)
jaredcochran Audacity is good for making voiceovers.
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Audacity for simple stuff and batch editing of many clips, then Reaper for larger stuff especially mixing the whole thing together. Reaper is not free though, but it has a reaaaaally long evaluation period. Just reinstall when its up. Also consider from swithing from HitFilm to Davinci Resolve as it is getting seriously more and more featured in both video editing and audio.
This guy is brilliant, i love how he takes advanced photography and puts it into layman's terms and his knowledge of photography is vast as well. Well done!
Why use a 50k camera when you could use a A7Sii or a black magic or something not as expensive as the Alexa, to show that you could indeed get a cinematic quality footage with a camera that costs only 4 times the price of yours, instead of 100x like the Alexa. I mean, obviously, you're playing smart here, because you're showing that although the Alexa is 100x more expensive, the image quality is not 100x better. So, next time, just get a Sony or something in that price range and be completely honest. Oh, and you forgot to talk about that "smal" thing called "raw".
Estuca I love it how he referred to the high frame rates, in build NDA filters and ZDI outputs as 'little extra things', it's not like they're crucial to film production. This video is so skewed to suit his narrative it's embarrassing
James, I would just love to see some big DP that Simon loves coming here and destroying this video. He didn't even talk about raw! wtf is this all about then? He's comparing two cameras and doesn't speak about what both can and cannot do!
Film Production's cost half-a-million+ to run. Shitty pseudo-film production's cannot replicate Film Production to a rewarding degree. You're up on some weird high horse.
So what? Does that make this video true? No! He doesn't have to pick a 50k camera when he can get REALLY good results with a Sony A7Sii. He just didn't want to show the sony because the price wouldn't be that much different to the canon.
this goes back to purpose.. If your purpose is very small productions you can get away with a dslr. but when you want high quality content. idc if its a T3I or gh4. they don't cut it anymore. Its not only color and sharpness its how your camera records footage.. Ursa, red, arri when used in video production looks like film. its very smooth and natural motion. Dslr doesn't do that. when you're shooting in Raw, of high quality pro res. You're able to bring back the details the dslr lost. Shooting on SSD's. and having the ability to do Real time color grading. is something dslr don't offer. While i agree 100% that their is no point in buying a new camera or more expensive cameras to shoot a 60 second skit. yet when your ready to start shooting Shorts, and want production value. you need a higher quality camera, to start pushing the limits of what you an do in camera. vs relying on editing
darren grant - For your first few shorts even? How many people you think can afford that...? Sure, the $20,000 cameras look amazing, but don't try and shoot your very first short film on one... you'll have no idea what you're doing...
@elite lens films lets not get to caught up in price because we know we can pick up a c100 or c300, for 2 to 5k. Ursa mini 4.6 3 to 5k. used Red epic 7 to 8k with a full kit of add ons I get where Simon is coming from on the importance of not getting lost of wasting money for Cameras when money is better spent else where. Yet its Also very important to buy a camera that's purpose built for what you need it for.. its Better to learn and build off buying a cine grade camera than a t3i/t5i/t6i/7d/ a7s ect.. its better because as you learn you have a greater ability to use the camera you already own to work with paying customers because you already have a camera that's in demand
darren grant - I see where you're coming from. Just hear me out. I'd honestly love to have any of those cameras you mentioned. I'm a 16 year old aspiring filmmaker who's been putting in hours of work for a year or so. I don't have a job. My only source of income is from the odd jobs I do for friends and family. It'd take me a year to save up for just the body of a C100, even if I went out and got hired somewhere part time. Does that mean I shouldn't make short films? Only TH-cam videos & "60 second skits"? Does that mean I can't grow in short film production or work for clients on a DSLR like the T3i (exactly like Simon has)??? I can't compete in major festivals (just as many many people have) on my budget? I'm not saying that's what you're trying to say. But now that you've seen where I'm coming from, you may want to clarify what you mean. Because I'm getting the impression that you won't take a short seriously simply because it's shot on a DSLR and not a professional cinema camera. Is that really how you feel? Or do we both agree that a cinema camera is great for a more experienced person who can really afford it (like Simon, lol), but unrealistic for someone like me?
@elite lens films - always remember my original post. i spoke on understanding your purpose. Its about having the right tools for the job. You can use whatever camera you have or can afford to use. when you start talking about working with clients that's an entirely different conversation.. when you look at sites like "production hub" or "staff me up" and you start seeing what cameras clients want you to either own or have experience using you'll see the 7D movement is basically dead. its all c100 c300 Fs7.. NOT EVEN RED, NOR ARRI. That doesn't mean you can't get work with clients. it means you're going to be in a very small %.. This is why i push having newbies start using atleast cine grade cameras.. just to get a feel for them.
Bravo Simon. Good job man. You had so many people recently hating on you for saying you still wouldn't buy a new camera... this is / was an AWESOME rebuttal to those "haters"
You're so badly missing the key technical data that begins to explain why there is such a price difference. For a start, you ignore entirely the bonus of RAW recording. You can't colour grade, not proffesionally. You weren't even shooting in 4:4:4 which the Alexa is capable of. You literally took a 50k camera and set it to some of it's weakest settings and then colour graded it badly. We all love the DSLR boom, we love the ability to get out there and film whatever we want, whenever we want, but stop trying to portray this superiority complex. You're only damaging your own reputation by showing your ignorance and lack of knowledge.
+ChrisTifferBerry Can you point out a video that provides a better comparison? If there really is a huge difference, then I guess there must exist at least one video somewhere that shows it.
brinckau If you don't understand why the Alexa and other professional cameras are better than dslr cameras then you need more than just a comparison video to explain the difference.
Hey simon thanks for keeping the alexa files up on google drive! saw this video earlier this year but didn't find downloading it useful due to a lack of technical knowledge about cinema cameras. now after lots more experience in video this is definitely something i want to check out! thanks again!
@DSLRguide Dude that´s SO COOL, to have the possibility to download the original footage! Dude, SOOOOOO COOL!!! Thank you very very very much! This is awesome! Now I can examine it closer, without youtube compression. SO COOL! This is priceless! GREAAAAT! Yes I´m freaking out! THANK YOU! I´m downloading it right now. Can´t wait to see it! You´ve got a new subscriber. :) Greetz from Germany!
@3:49 Its a Canon 16-35mm f2.8L ii USM which cost about £1300! A much cheaper alternative is the Sigma ART 15-35mm f1.8. Costs half the price and some say its better in many regards (although you lose AF, but who needs that for video!).
Great video, it made me think that a expensive camera can do so you just shoot without actually thinking about the light and then fix it in post, while the cheaper camera teaches you to use light in the best way in camera before post.
The only thing i'd say is jesus christ.. putting an L lens on an ARRI is such a waste of the arri's potential. I know this is a side by side comparison so fair enough but you are limiting the output of the camera by not using PL mount lenses and you're sugar-coating this test by making the arri achieve base results. I think this is misleading and unhelpful.
Then watch the video in 1080p so the 4K is downscaled to 1080p. Not perfect as downscaling can be a bit better than using the native resolution, but certainly far from dumb.
DSLR Cinema Movies I've seen lots of short film with the Sony a7s and its look great. And I've seen lots of short film with the 70d and it's not the best looking. That's just my opinion
A GH4 comparison would make more sense since Canon is stupid in terms of providing high quality video features. It's not like they couldn't do it, they just preserve these better features for the more expensive models I'm afraid ...
Though you aren't wrong with what you've said, Canon has better color technology than both Nikon and Sony. You spend less time getting good skin tones and such in post with Canon
It's really sad to see a lot of hate on this video. I understand that he did skip over things that are super convenient to have, as well as things that improve the quality ten fold. But this video is encouraging to younger students who are too concerned about the camera they have. The lens is expensive, but not out of any price range if your budget on your camera is $500. Give this guy some credit. This video is great.
It's all about the dedication, Sure a higher end camera will get you better results with half the effort, but sometimes we need to learn to put in that effort to get the same results. It's the only way I've learned and its taught me well. Great video.
The thing to keep in mind is you have a lot more control over the image of the Arri. If you were to try and drastically change the image of your T3i the codec would not hold up as well. It's not just about good lighting and grading it to a basic look. It's about having control/freedom.
Really cool video - would absolutely die to get the kind of quality from the Arri Alexa to use as a vlog camera but that's obviously next to impossible rn. Also saw you on your bike the other day by itsu :D
I think others have said it, but just the fact that one camera is 1080p and a few years old vs a 4K top of the line camera automatically makes the images appear better. I bet if the T3i was 4K the pictures would easily be a huge step up.
For the Indy wanna be filmmaker you have proved yourself once again the single most important source on the internet. God bless your truth seeking bottom line sensibilities towards inspiring young filmmakers to focus on what is absolutely most important. STORY SOUND AND LIGHTING.
To those who say Simon's been beating the same drum too long, here he illustrated why as opposed to simply making assertions. Some I don't agree with - simply turning around for better light isn't always a valid solution if your shot needs to include certain elements that need to be in frame. Composition is important. As an ex-Canon user, I know I can't push my grade as much on my 7D as I can on my GH4. Having said that, SImon gets a real cinematic look in his videos, because he understands how to use composition, lighting, framing and cameras movement to help tell his story. With narrative film making, he has the opportunity to maximise what he can get out of his camera. Many camera owners who disagree are often event, news or documentary videographers, but they have different needs because they have to make the most out of the challenging environments they're presented with
He built a half of a million subscribers TH-cam channel of off that T3i...
viewers on youtube are satisfied with every shitty camera quality.
if you making a film for a big festival or anything bigger than this you should get a better camera.
OverDev You think anyone here makes a high-budget movie?
no but at some point you have to upgrade ...
Most people watch on phones or not at full screen, so it doesn't matter as much
there're people who built a channel off a phone or webcam
I think people miss the point on why he does videos like this. I believe he makes these videos for people like me or people who thought like him who think "I need a very expensive camera to make good videos. " But these videos show me every time that you can make high quality things with decent gear that you don't have to break the bank for. I appreciate the vids, Simon.
well said
OK we get it, let's film the next starwars with a rebel t3i
Dylan Ransi That's not what he was saying. He means, that you don't necessarily need a super high budget camera, because it's not that mich better. If you have the money to spend (Believe me, Lucasfilm _totally_ does), you should use a great camera. But it would be overkill to use a 50,000 dollar camera for TH-cam. Ask MKBHD for advice, if you need some. ;)
J. H. I'm joking, I understand
your sarcasm is just shit bro
Dylan Ransi Considering how much of Star Wars is CGI and whats not is highly edited, you honestly could probably film those portions with an inexpensive camera.
It would not be that crazy; compare these cheap DSLR to how Star Wars Ep 2 & 3, which were one of the first big movies to be shot digital (on the Sony CIneAlta).
You put good glass on a Canon 5d mk3 and record low compression on the HDMI out and you are not just in the same ballpark as the SW ep2&3 camera, you are both playing infield.
Back at the turn of the millennium all the talk was of the mythological day digital would final break down all the financial barriers to anyone making Hollywood level cinema....get on board, that day is here. Sound is cheap, editing is cheap, & cameras are cheap. The only thing that cost any substantial money is lighting & lens and there are "ok" alternative to those too.
The only real barrier to making a good film is finding talented crew & cast. That is where you invest your money. Equipments cheap, talent takes time and/or money.
Boring preach mode: off
Normally I'm a large advocate of your content, but this video is misleading and manipulative for your narrative only. Let me explain:
For starters I understand why you used the same lenses, same colours, control variable etc. But that's an 'L' series lenses (24 - 70, 24 - 105 maybe), you're pairing a $500 camera with a $1000 lens, and a $50,000 camera with a $1000 lens - not at all an accurate representation. Large film productions are filming on Cine lenses normally costing between $5000 and $15000.
Secondly, you simply skimmed over the 'ND filters' and 'SDI outputs bit'. You said in build NDA filters were 'another little feature'. ND filters are incredibly important for maintaining shutter speeds and open apertures. Having an in build ND is great, regardless of the lens diameter you always have NDs. SDI outputs are also vital, with the likes of live production, and external monitors for assistants and focus pullers. Also there was no crop in on this video to show just how much detail these cinema cameras pull. You don't watch a film on a laptop screen as many people will for this video - you watch it on 22meter wide IMAX screen.
What about picture profiles on the Alexa, the flat profiles are key for better grading and more dynamic range. What about when you have shots that, for one reason or another, you need to try and recover to make usable - the Alexa is great there too.
You skimmed over the high frame rate bit, also. That sin't a small feature. When representing the passage of time slow motion is a key tool - and I'm sorry but no one can say the 720p 60FPS video on the t3i is a good solution to that.
What about low light performance? What about how the Alex deals with skin tones. What about any IBIS in any of the cameras.
I understand your narrative, I think it is important people don't obsess about gear, but this video was a manipulated representation to push your narrative. I shoot on a t5i, and am moving to GH5 after renting the GH4. I'm not talking from spec sheets, I'm talking from experience. Why nto rent an A7S II for a couple of weeks, I guarantee your opinion would be much different after that fact.
dudu, this comment! I just commented saying the same thing about the sony! He picked the Alexa to mislead and manipulate the whole video just to show that although Alexa is 100x more expensive, the image quality is not 100x better. He "forgot" to talk about all the features Alexa provides the user. One major thing that would kill the t3i right away would be the ability to film raw. every camera that has the exact same specs as the t3i but can record raw footage, is better than that canon. It would only take the A7Sii to kill this stupid arguments that Simon still uses to legitimate his option to not buy another camera. For someone who doesn't know a thing about this stuff, this video will sound legit. But in fact is just wrong.
Bingo. Filming RAW video files is a must for serious productions
James Cousins I completely agree
Estuca Again more good points. His whole argument is that he won't upgrade his camera because he doesn't need to, but if he did upgrade his camera it's not like he'd be buying the alexa anyways. You only have to look at the views he's getting on these videos to see why he keeps doing it. The A7SII costs what around 5x the price of the T3i, but gives you a full frame sensor, stellar low light performance, 4K, 1080p @ 120FPS, the list goes on! Take a look at the GH5, it too does 4K, but at 60FPS, it does 1080p at 180fps, it's weather sealed, has dual SD card slots, records in 10 bit, has in built stabilisation for even less than the A7S II. We get it, the t3i is a good camera, but it's now a limiting factor. I don't like to moan, but this video is so manipulative it's annoying
I don't agree. Simon is addressing the importance of story telling, Lighting and great acting. Regular people don't care about what cinematographers care about. Look at the films that were shot back in the day and the quality is terrible comparing to what we shoot on today. However When a film is just a great piece of work, people can't deny it. I have seen some of the most beautiful cinematography on youtube but seriously lacking in the story..
Finally it doesnt matter what gear you use, its always the stories that interest the most :)
Boooooom, and there we have it, finally, I've seen some amazing films shot on iPhones and the like. single most important thing is the story.
Kristjan everything is important, camera gear is important, sound is important, story is important theyre all equal...if you dont focus on one of them you cant make good films, you should focus on all of them, cameras,sound,ligthing,story, everything
camera gear is very important. yes the story is important but it's literally impossible to make the movies we make today on cheap cameras. They just don't compare. If it didn't matter than studios would save money and film Jurassic park on a t3i haha!
You wanted to film the next James Cameron's Avatar with a T3I?
noted.
Canon should be sponsoring you PERMANENTLY! Your love for the T3i is second to none. Love your content and have been a long time sub but please know that if you ever upgrade to something like a gh4 or A7s nobody will look down on you for finally moving on from your first camera. Nothing wrong with better quality, especially when you are talented. Take care.
I'm always impressed how much does he really sticks to his DSLR. Let's face it, camera is quite old and entry level, but he always manages to pull great shots.
Lazar Popović those weren't great shots..but I dig the concept..there is something called 'Diminishing returns' the more you pay the lesser and lesser you get for your money
Lazar Popović I agree!
Lazar Popović yes but he never mentioned that this is a 1000$ lens
yes.. its the man be hind the gun. not the gun. just look at casey neistat 80d vs jon olson in his 8k camera.. its not the camera.. its the story.
KanKollOpen - most of the viewerbase know the price of that canon lens. but if 1000 for a lens is too much, let's say you use a cheaper prime lens. like the 35mm f2, 50mm 1.8 or 85mm 1.8? quality will be same if not improve a bit. those lenses can be had for around 350 bucks.
Yea but when we shoot with the Alexa we don't use those cheap lenses, we typically use cinema lenses like cooke, cp2 etc. The image is MUCH sharper with better lenses.
You can use those with canon's. Just get an EF mount
What cheap lens? thats an L lens. plenty of sharpness for a 2k image. not to mention Cooke lenses arent exactly known for technical sharpness theyre more known for a combination of "subtle" sharpness with great color rendering. Its not all about sharpness. come on man alexa isnt even meant to be super sharp anyways. its meant to produce a more film like image.
we get it - you use a T3i...
DSLRguide save the money and be the first TH-cam filmmaker with great actors.
How about making a video or doing a live stream speaking about this, but answering the comments criticising this video? There's a lot of them (including mine) with really god points that you opted to omit and would be good so people don't get misinformed by this video.
Agree on colors with nikon, always get real looking tones with it. I shoot all my videos on a nikon DX body and completely satisfied. Where it lags is obviously sharpness but it's manageable.
any ideas to use a high end smartphone or gopro for a future 4k video?
"The winner for best film is... Star Wars episode 9! Filmed by DSLRguide on youtube, because he outbid Disney for the actors and they caved." LOL
GET THIS MAN A NEW CAMERA OR ELSE HE WILL MAKE VIDEOS LIKE 'why I still won't buy a new camera' FOREVER
Morale of the video: have good lighting
Yeah, lighting isn't my strong suit
morale of the video, if you're gonna use an expensive camera, USE GOOD GLASS. not some shitty canon glass lmao
very true
Tryst Films He was making a point that the camera body isn't everything and you shouldn't spend your whole rental budget on it.
as I've already stated that everyone has failed to understand. Budget shouldn't ever go towards equipment. Budget should come after you already own equipment. Regardless of price. Before I plan to work on a higher budgeted production I will first put aside a solid 3 to 4 years to save for equipment that will help me get there. The only thing renting will do is make your schedule a land slide for people wanting to make features and I tell ya, Making the move to save for expensive gear when you're young is a much wiser choice than waiting and hoping to be successful using cheap equipment. Don't rely on fate to be for future, that's just gonna waste you decades.
Talent always wins the battle over what gear is the best. Awesome video, Simon!
This subject is getting old fast here.
then don't click the video.
Wow goat man way to continue with that constructive criticism, what are you salty about. "Asshat".
yeah, he is dragging it way too much...
I like how you start of your argument with "fuck you", then at the very end to receive minimal backlash, try to make it a joke. If I were a brainwashed asslicker I would agree with most of his point in this video which I don't(the alexa is way fucking better) but... that doesn't mean you should start off with that.. The funny thing is I saw you as an asslicker for the Alexa. But of course since you have a one sided argument with no real evidence or talking points you call me one. His subscriber count doesn't affect my opinion, and if you where to at least look through the comments you would see that many of these so called asslickers actually disagree with him, and want him to stop making videos about how the t3i is so amazing. The only reason he continues to make these videos is because people keep bringing it up that you need amazing equipment when you don't.
No its a great subject that we need to keep hearing so we can stop going broke on the next big thing. We are chasing Pixels like crazy these days and not great stories.
That T3i has taken you a long way, crazy.
This is not really a comparison to make, because of not really challenging dynamic range. But if you try to under exposed or overexposed and recover skin tones, Alexa beats pretty much any camera on the market today, its weather sealed and well protected. Has been prepared for any kind of pro workflow. No rolling shouter, higher bit rate and frame rates, and log options. Better dynamic range and the list goes on. Ability to use Lut's and export to multiple monitors on set for dailies etc. Ability to add many accessories that you would have a hard time on your DSLR. No overheating on longer shoots, and delivery in various formats needed for various workflows.
For a youtube low dynamic range of London always cloudy weather, video of mostly static not very challenging street shooting, no problem with most camera, but any kind of more challenging work and you quickly find out why it costs so much. You simply cannot make videos with DSLR that you can with pro cameras and especially Alexa even Mini. So people don't be fooled by thinking it looks similar enough, that is not a situation where you need Alexa quite simply. Its an overkill. But if you are shooting anything more challenging or feature film, you will know, quite quickly why its the money well invested in Alexa.
I'm pretty sure it has rolling shutter, or at least one of the alexa cameras do anyway
Almost all cameras (even Pro cinema, like RED and Alexa) with CMOS sensors still have rolling shutter(except the Sony F55, I believe). It's just way less noticeable than "stills" cameras used to shoot video.
It depends on which camera model you are referring to, many have a global shutter, which eliminates rolling shutter effect.
Krunoslav Stifter
what about Red Epic 8K Compare to Alexa ....
Im wondering too
Let me end the comment debates by saying that Simon shows us this because he wants you to know that a t3i is enough to portray a good film. Because his TH-cam is for the beginners and the storytellers who need to know that.
He isn't saying to turn down that camera that costs more than your car. Of course if you're working for true professionals your quality will need to be on that level. But you need to start somewhere and a DSLR is more than enough.
Can you do more episodes of lightning techniques?
kurczak kukurydziany yeah I'd like to see this too.
ale nicka wymyśliłeś :D
Cinematic Database is the channel you're looking for.
he has already done this, check the channel search bar
joshmdmd thanks
Simon, thank you, thank you, thank you for this! I'm seventeen and my film crew is whichever friends are free that day and my camera is a canon 1200D. Over the past few days, I've been filling in for a last minute drop-out on a college film set shooting on the Alexa and I've never felt more creatively drained after a project. There was so much empahsis put on that goddamn camera that I felt depressed thinking about my T5i back home... I always have to remind myself that a great film made on a bad camera is more impressive than a great film made on a great camera. The industry's looking for voices- not gear.
Embrace the qualities of your gear. If you were renting, or even if you OWNED the Alexa, you wouldn't be able to just bring it around with you, improvise and try new things, throw together scenes with the people in your life. You're using the DSLR as a tool to creatively liberate you, which is supposed to be the point, isn't it? A lot of people seem to have missed that in the pursuit of the 'cinematic' - in this case, meaning the pursuit of gear or its own sake.
Of course the Alexa is the 'better' camera, but it could never do what yours can. There's room in enough in this world for both sketchbooks and oil canvases.
The Alexa Mini is way, way better than the DSLR than you're making it out to be.
Actium Films He did say the Alexa is much better. WTF are you talking about?
No he didn't, he basically tried to make a point which is the Alexa is not that much better that T3I...
He was purely talking about the sharpness and quality of the image.
He briefly mentioned that the Alexa has many more options and that's where the price comes from, but didn't delve in to it because that's not what he was trying to point out.
This video is for people who think they need an expensive camera to make films.
He made a video in a way so his T3i would preform in the best way possible. As he said, with sufficient lighting. When you come into darker scenarios, Night shots and stuff like that, Alexa in better. It's only in this narrow comparison that they preform that similar. And even here downscaled 4k looks way sharper. But he made his point and I respect that. I think T3i is more of a room camera, that someone like Pewdiepie or equivalent uses as face camera..
I'm fairly certain out of the 4 clips he showed us here, there were 10's of others where the arri blew away the t3i.
I mean, I love filmmaking and cameras
but i mostly watch your videos because of your amazing voice
one time a actually fell asleep listening to your video
I think the difference in sharpness doesn't necessarily come from cheap vs expansive camera, but rather 1080p vs 4K in general, in addition to the different sensor sizes.
Still, nice to see the two compared :)
beuster{se} , yeah true. As it is higher scaled footage, so when scaled down it is more sharp.
Agreed... yet the T3I would hold the comparison much better if using MLraw.
Also, canon compression is notoriously bad; it often looks more like upscaled 720p
beuster{se} Disagree. Take a look at an iPhone 6s or 7, that shoots 4K but compared to an A7S ii or that Alexa it's soft af. Just because something is 4000 pixels wide doesn't mean it's sharp. Shoot that Alexa in 1080 and put it next to the t3i at 1080p and the Alexa will be still be 10x sharper
James Cousins , I think what he meant is that 4K footage is generally more sharper than 1080p footage.
Obviously it also depends on the type of camera, but if you were to shoot on the same device, a video in 1080p and then in 4K, you can clearly see that the 4K footage is sharper.
I really like this channels, I respect that you keeps on going testing his opinions and take on things instead of just "sticking to it".
Do you use this T3i as a matter of pride? If someone gave you a 5D Mark IV or A7RII/SII as a gift would you accept it?
If course he would. Wouldn't anybody? He explained in a prior video that he just wants to put more money into other aspects of his equipment
Elliot Jay maybe he's just going to keep making these until someone sends him a whole set. Like lenses and everything before he switches.
Elliot Jay I'm sure he would, because they do have nicer features and he did enjoy playing with it. I think the main reason he doesn't is that he'd rather spend the money on something more useful, like sound, lighting, actors, production design, etc.
dave091790 why would he be expecting someone to do that (I don't think that he is)?
gundamzerostrike Yes, I agree. The story you are telling through the film (or movie) matters most. Most filmmakers started creating movies through a low-end camera (say, a DSLR, or a camcorder, like the JVC Everio camera Simon Cade first used, or even a smartphone).
he is in love with his camera that's why he keep posting video like this. For me i like this way...when you love your equipment you will produce something different...make emotional relation with your staff!!
It's great for an artist to love their tools, and really get to know their strengths and quirks. But it's a creative tool, right? Surely the love for it should be primarily about how it allows you to express yourself, and not just to direct attention back to the tool itself.
Extremely helpful and well produced video, I feel like you're getting a lot of flack but the footage doesn't lie. I think you presented both sides well thanks again
You should try a C100. It has one of the best body designs of any camera, built-in NDs, focus peaking, zebras & waveform monitoring, XLR inputs; everything you need on a cinema camera. It's very lightweight compared to building out a DSLR with similar options. You can also shoot in CLog vs Prolost. The best part is you can buy a used C100 for the same cost of a used 5D mark iii, also for the same cost as renting an Arri Alexa for one day. I love the Alexa, but it's not always in the budget.
You really should upgrade to GH5 or even a 5D m4.
My Logic:
It doesn't matter what camera u use but a better camera will yield better results in a better hand..
i've beenwanting to see a comparison video like this for a long time...good job dude
Im gonna sell both of my cars to buy an Alexa rn.
Nah just get a t3i... and Write a great story and pocket all the money you make from the amazing film you made.
lol it was a joke and I already have an 80D.
I'd have to sell my truck 100 times over to buy an Alexa anything. Yeah, $500. Or I could sell my truck, my house, my rag tag dog, and just about everything else I own. Maybe I could make a video about that.
Maximumus that's even better. I just got the 80d too. How do you like it?
Oh man, I love it so much considering its my first DSLR.
You still have a way of pulling that much out of the t3i. I've seen your vids yet it's still crazy.
I LOVE your work man, since I first started film years ago.
But these things are getting a little repetitive(I know it's fun to troll and annoy all the snobby film critics and this was a great opportunity from videoeurope rentals).
I think we can all agree that lighting is one of your strong suits and you've taught me how to be super resourceful with what little I have. More lighting setup videos please?
Great channel for those of us starting out in DSLR film-making. Have found it reassuring that my Canon DSLR, bought second hand from a exchange shop, will be sufficient for most of my early projects. Thanks for the effort you put in. It makes things very clear.
It's not 100 times better, so why pay 100 times more...
bijomaTV ohhhhh you are soooooo smaaaaaarttttt....:/
bijomaTV you have discovered the law of diminishing returns my friend
bijomaTV nobody buys Arri cameras...
actually it might be 100 times better, but this video does not show the strengths of alexa properly. You have to consider that a movie is one of the single largest investments a business can make. Often time costing hundreds of millions of dollars, and one of the weakest points in the creative process is the camera.
When you are paying for a cinema camera you are getting that extra reliability shot after shot.
Of course a talented DP can make a iphone look good by lighting with its dynamic range, etc. But having the extra latitude alone gives the creators more options to finesse their images.
It's not quite as simple as he is making things.
pixelatorNYC also, footage isn't the only thing to consider when stating a camera is or isn't 100 times better. Good luck getting a feed to multiple monitors with the t3i, or connecting multiple high-end audio devices, monitoring with a lut while recording without, etc, etc.
unboxing 2 unbelievably great videos in a row means Im subbing
For what you can get out of a dslr is amazing. I am a big advocate for people to get a cheap dslr for filmmaking like how I started. But I am also the first one to say that every bit counts. You have the lighting, expertise, and work ethic to get amazing results out of any camera. I think that getting a better camera won't harm or change the way you think about your work but will just make it better. I always think to my self "wow that looks good for a t3i" when watching the content you make but it should just be "wow that looks good." Because you make such a point of it, it becomes almost distracting to the whole visual element. But that's just me I guess.
im on 30 seconds into this video and i can tell you right now the camera you used to record this video in general is amazing.
High time to change the name of this channel from "Dslr guide" to "T3i Guide"
Z Talks how rude
I respect you going out and trying another camera. Whether you upgrade to something better or not it's always important that as a filmmaker you at least know what options you have and what the limits of each are.
I think what you take away from this is buy the starter cameras and learn how to make films. Just because you can buy an expensive camera starting out doesn't mean you should. Learn how to light for the camera that you have which like he said, bad lighting can make a good camera look terrible. Once you learn how to light for your cheaper camera and achieve a killer image with that, then when the time is right you can move on to something more expensive that provides more opportunities. Just my two cents.
BlackInkFilms in other words, he's ready to move on from the t3i.
The only reason I'm saving up for an Alexa isn't because I think it will make me a better film, even though that is true to an extent, But that saving up for a 50k camera when you're young is an extremely smarter move than waiting till you're in your late 20s.. Be wise with your choices. You can't get any where in this industry with out money and a film shot on an expensive cinema camera is what generates you money in the long run.
I think buying an expensive camera might be the wrong move, though. Almost all of the production companies rent their expensive gear for the days the shoot them. Cheaper DSLRs work just fine for videos that are only going to TH-cam or or other social media.
Tryst Films you're going to sell that camera at a huge loss 2 years later. Focus on other aspects of filmmaking then rent the Alexa. No reason to own, especially with how fast the technology is progressing.
huge loss? What would I be losing wanting to buy an insanely good camera? The camera? OHHH you mean 50k? well guess what people don't buy expensive cars expecting money back and that's exactly how I treat film equipment ;) not to mention Alexa's have been the best film digital camera for decades. There is not going to be any "fast progressive changes in technology" if you own one of if not the best digital camera in the world LMAO, All Arri cameras share the same sensor.
This was one of the best camera comparison videos I've seen keep up the good work
I agree this is getting a bit over done. We get your point about not obsessing about gear, but it seems you are now obsessing over NOT using high end gear. I like the how Ryan Connolly puts it when he says you can get high quality images out of cheap gear, but the end goal is to work with better gear and bigger crews. But regardless, keep up the good work!
end goal is to make a good movie, to some, shooting raw over-complicates things.
how is that relevant?
@@bertogonzalez1426 Always fucking shoot in raw someone with 3 IQ in the interactive media industry understands that.
Defiantly not. Some projects should be shot in RAW on an Arri or RED, others are more suited to pro-res on an FS7. If you are shooting with 4 cameras on a doc style commercial with quick turn around time, the size would quickly become too much.
I LOVE your videos, and I’ve learned a lot. I made my first short this year, and entered it into a local film festival. Everyone loved it! Thanks for helping us, and creating these videos!
If you don't know the possibilitys the ARRI gives, why bother to make a comparison?
Do you think that people using an ARRI is using a sub $1000 zoom lens or a set of cineprimes (again) costing 100 times more?
How much can you grade your T3i's H.264 footage before it's breaking up?
Would you show your footage in a movie theatre in 1080?
Why didn't you tell Spielberg, that he's wasting a lot of money?
You are so right about the lenses thing.
If you don't know want you want (H.264 grading before it's breaking up) don't put it in the camera. You don't make an image in post production.
Only amateurs don't bother with color grading. When you shoot video you do it with a flat picture profile, so if you leave footage as is it is going to look dull and boring. That is why it is extremely important how the footage holds up in post.
the worst part is is that he uses a cheap lens for such an expensive camera and writes off as the reasoning why the alexa is blowing his out of focus t3i out of the park. Most importantly, the alexa is meant to be veiwed in movie theatre, and will be breath taking on a huge screen. I get his point. But it's a bullshit way to say "I dont need a cinema camera because I'm making youtube videos"
Henrik N. Jensen sony full frame mirrorless are really good with those cine lens
That's really interesting. I went to film school and we shot on all T3i's, I even bought one for myself but of course - after I graduated, they bought a Red One MX and several Scarlet-Dragons.
I have a film shoot in about two months and I've been stressing about what camera to rent - Red One MX, Scarlet, Sony FS700, etc.
Thanks for doing this comparison. Obviously the Alexa (or any 2-4k camera) is a better choice for films that are shown in theaters simply for the fact of resolution. But it's interesting to see that the two cameras look fairly identical under the same circumstance. The dynamic range of the Alexa is great and would certainly make for easier lighting rigs, however.
Thanks for this video and your channel!
LOVE YOUR CHANNEL! UR Genius!
What I like about this video is the fact that is shows aspiring filmmakers that you don't need that fancy camera - just start creating. Decent lighting and some grading goes a long way. Not many people will notice the difference. I have an Ursa mini and I love all the capabilities with raw, dr etc. But really, any camera today is a good camera! Create good films with what you got, then by all means upgrade if you have the money for it!
Honestly dude, there are only so many videos you can make on "why you won't switch from your t3i" it's getting old, it got old about 3 t3i videos back...sorry for the hate.
lmaoooo
Here from the states, great video and test! You and TheSlantedLense have to be my two favorite photo/video channels. Keep up the great work!
I don't ever hear something like "Gear comes first!" from people that are rushing for the great gear. But on the other hand I hear all the time this pure bs from those who can't have the good stuff so they create a world around them where rushing for great gear somehow means you don't put enough effort or understanding into storytelling. A good moviemaker tries to bring every aspect to the better level. Why arguing what comes first. Everything matters and one can't be replaced by another.
I have never heard "I bought the latest iPhone because the commercials influenced me". I always hear "I bought the latest iPhone because ". It doesn't mean that nobody is ever influenced by advertising (or someone should tell Apple to stop spending $1.8 billion per year in marketing). When it comes to consumerism, we are masters at rationalization (Wikipedia: "In psychology and logic, rationalization or rationalisation, also known as making excuses, is a defense mechanism in which controversial behaviors or feelings are justified and explained in a seemingly rational or logical manner to avoid the true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable-or even admirable and superior-by plausible means."). It is not a conscious process. We're not even aware of it. Don't pay attention to what people say, pay attention to what their actions say.
Rushing for the high-end gear doesn't necessarily mean that you don't put enough effort into the other aspects. But when you're a beginner filmmaker, who already has a camera but doesn't already have what he needs for his next film (like actors, locations, etc), what are you going to spend your money on in priority? On a better camera, so you can renew what you already have in order to improve it, at the expense of what you don't even have at all? How smart would that be?
Even Hollywood studios have constraints, and can choose to cut corners (for example on special effects, in order not to increase the budget of the whole movie by 5% for a 10 second scene). Not every effort is reasonable. The smartest choice can be to search for the highest return on investment, instead of improving every aspect just because "A good moviemaker tries to bring every aspect to the better level". Especially when you're not in a competition with Lucasfilm.
This is really inspiring as your T3i footage looks almost as good if you aren't pixel peeping. Definitly means that I won't upgrade my 70d for a while.
Is it worth comparing 1080p against 4k...I mean regardless the price.
next up SD vs 8k....... lmao
I recently watched a video about why 4K doesn't matter. So many more things go into what makes a good image than it's resolution. Dynamic range, for example. The show Supergirl is recorded with some incredible cameras, but only in 1080p. But that's because those cameras excel at every thing else
I love this. I love filming/cinematography as a hobby, nothing serious. My favorite camera to use right now is the Panasonic GX8 for its form factor and quality. I used to be all about the gear but scaled it back, really learned the ins and outs of the GX8, took time to study the picture profiles, how to best grade, how it handles focus, light, etc. Then I look at TH-camrs (specifically tech youtubers) who have $10,000's of camera gear but it's obvious once they take it off their "remote controlled sliders" and go outside, they have no idea what they're doing. It's never about the camera, it's about the shot, framing, color grading, and composition. These days, you can get amazing results out of inexpensive cameras but people tend to forget to learn how to use them in the first place.
I hope everyone knows that you don't actually have to own the ridiculously nice cameras we all drool over. It's okay to own something that's just okay and then rent the nicer cameras for a weekend when you shoot your next film project. I doubt anyone's honestly shooting a new film every week that needs a Red, C300, etc..
I wish I knew this before. I wouldn't have spent $15,000 a few years ago on my C300 nor would I Have Spent another $8000 when I Purchased My C100 when they first came out...
I purchased the T3i because of you. This proves you know what's up! Great video!!!
I've already asked Film Riot about this, but I also want your opinion on the lower budget questions because you seem more into that:
*I use Hitfilm 4 Express as my free software, but (because I'm basically on a zero budget) I need a solid audio editing software to pair with Hitfilm. Any suggestions?*
Thanks a lot :)
Audacity. :)
Though I would switch from HitFilm to Da Vinci Resolve - it's free and on par with Premiere (and the colour grading is amazing!)
Lucas Scott I honestly just use Audacity and Reaper for my audio work
Audacity, it's completely free.
www.audacityteam.org/
jaredcochran Audacity is good for making voiceovers.
Audacity for simple stuff and batch editing of many clips, then Reaper for larger stuff especially mixing the whole thing together. Reaper is not free though, but it has a reaaaaally long evaluation period. Just reinstall when its up.
Also consider from swithing from HitFilm to Davinci Resolve as it is getting seriously more and more featured in both video editing and audio.
This guy is brilliant, i love how he takes advanced photography and puts it into layman's terms and his knowledge of photography is vast as well. Well done!
Why use a 50k camera when you could use a A7Sii or a black magic or something not as expensive as the Alexa, to show that you could indeed get a cinematic quality footage with a camera that costs only 4 times the price of yours, instead of 100x like the Alexa. I mean, obviously, you're playing smart here, because you're showing that although the Alexa is 100x more expensive, the image quality is not 100x better. So, next time, just get a Sony or something in that price range and be completely honest.
Oh, and you forgot to talk about that "smal" thing called "raw".
Estuca I love it how he referred to the high frame rates, in build NDA filters and ZDI outputs as 'little extra things', it's not like they're crucial to film production. This video is so skewed to suit his narrative it's embarrassing
James, I would just love to see some big DP that Simon loves coming here and destroying this video. He didn't even talk about raw! wtf is this all about then? He's comparing two cameras and doesn't speak about what both can and cannot do!
Film Production's cost half-a-million+ to run.
Shitty pseudo-film production's cannot replicate Film Production to a rewarding degree.
You're up on some weird high horse.
So what? Does that make this video true? No! He doesn't have to pick a 50k camera when he can get REALLY good results with a Sony A7Sii. He just didn't want to show the sony because the price wouldn't be that much different to the canon.
Estuca even the a6300/500 would kill the t3i... And the results are awsome
This was an important video to make. Thanks for sharing the original footage.
this goes back to purpose.. If your purpose is very small productions you can get away with a dslr. but when you want high quality content. idc if its a T3I or gh4. they don't cut it anymore.
Its not only color and sharpness its how your camera records footage.. Ursa, red, arri when used in video production looks like film. its very smooth and natural motion. Dslr doesn't do that.
when you're shooting in Raw, of high quality pro res. You're able to bring back the details the dslr lost. Shooting on SSD's. and having the ability to do Real time color grading. is something dslr don't offer.
While i agree 100% that their is no point in buying a new camera or more expensive cameras to shoot a 60 second skit. yet when your ready to start shooting Shorts, and want production value. you need a higher quality camera, to start pushing the limits of what you an do in camera. vs relying on editing
darren grant - For your first few shorts even? How many people you think can afford that...? Sure, the $20,000 cameras look amazing, but don't try and shoot your very first short film on one... you'll have no idea what you're doing...
This is why i clearly said " but when you want high quality content. idc if its a T3I or gh4. they don't cut it anymore."
@elite lens films lets not get to caught up in price
because we know we can pick up a c100 or c300, for 2 to 5k. Ursa mini 4.6 3 to 5k. used Red epic 7 to 8k with a full kit of add ons
I get where Simon is coming from on the importance of not getting lost of wasting money for Cameras when money is better spent else where.
Yet its Also very important to buy a camera that's purpose built for what you need it for.. its Better to learn and build off buying a cine grade camera than a t3i/t5i/t6i/7d/ a7s ect.. its better because as you learn you have a greater ability to use the camera you already own to work with paying customers because you already have a camera that's in demand
darren grant - I see where you're coming from. Just hear me out.
I'd honestly love to have any of those cameras you mentioned. I'm a 16 year old aspiring filmmaker who's been putting in hours of work for a year or so. I don't have a job. My only source of income is from the odd jobs I do for friends and family. It'd take me a year to save up for just the body of a C100, even if I went out and got hired somewhere part time. Does that mean I shouldn't make short films? Only TH-cam videos & "60 second skits"? Does that mean I can't grow in short film production or work for clients on a DSLR like the T3i (exactly like Simon has)??? I can't compete in major festivals (just as many many people have) on my budget?
I'm not saying that's what you're trying to say. But now that you've seen where I'm coming from, you may want to clarify what you mean. Because I'm getting the impression that you won't take a short seriously simply because it's shot on a DSLR and not a professional cinema camera. Is that really how you feel? Or do we both agree that a cinema camera is great for a more experienced person who can really afford it (like Simon, lol), but unrealistic for someone like me?
@elite lens films - always remember my original post. i spoke on understanding your purpose. Its about having the right tools for the job. You can use whatever camera you have or can afford to use.
when you start talking about working with clients that's an entirely different conversation.. when you look at sites like "production hub" or "staff me up" and you start seeing what cameras clients want you to either own or have experience using you'll see the 7D movement is basically dead. its all c100 c300 Fs7.. NOT EVEN RED, NOR ARRI.
That doesn't mean you can't get work with clients. it means you're going to be in a very small %.. This is why i push having newbies start using atleast cine grade cameras.. just to get a feel for them.
Bravo Simon. Good job man. You had so many people recently hating on you for saying you still wouldn't buy a new camera... this is / was an AWESOME rebuttal to those "haters"
You're so badly missing the key technical data that begins to explain why there is such a price difference. For a start, you ignore entirely the bonus of RAW recording. You can't colour grade, not proffesionally. You weren't even shooting in 4:4:4 which the Alexa is capable of. You literally took a 50k camera and set it to some of it's weakest settings and then colour graded it badly.
We all love the DSLR boom, we love the ability to get out there and film whatever we want, whenever we want, but stop trying to portray this superiority complex. You're only damaging your own reputation by showing your ignorance and lack of knowledge.
L
+ChrisTifferBerry Can you point out a video that provides a better comparison? If there really is a huge difference, then I guess there must exist at least one video somewhere that shows it.
ChrisTifferBerry L
brinckau If you don't understand why the Alexa and other professional cameras are better than dslr cameras then you need more than just a comparison video to explain the difference.
Joeyissexy Feel free to list any video or article you think is helpful.
Hey simon thanks for keeping the alexa files up on google drive! saw this video earlier this year but didn't find downloading it useful due to a lack of technical knowledge about cinema cameras. now after lots more experience in video this is definitely something i want to check out! thanks again!
dammit where's the apple at the end? disliked! unsubbed!
John Nalus you forgot... SAD!!!
he already ate them all
can't afford anymore apples
Apple is too expensive nowadays lmao
really? i can get one from the super market down the street for a few bucks
@DSLRguide
Dude that´s SO COOL, to have the possibility to download the original footage! Dude, SOOOOOO COOL!!! Thank you very very very much! This is awesome! Now I can examine it closer, without youtube compression. SO COOL! This is priceless! GREAAAAT! Yes I´m freaking out! THANK YOU!
I´m downloading it right now. Can´t wait to see it!
You´ve got a new subscriber. :)
Greetz from Germany!
What lens were you using with the t3i?
BreakofDon it's probably more than the t3i. Glass makes a big difference
@3:49 Its a Canon 16-35mm f2.8L ii USM which cost about £1300! A much cheaper alternative is the Sigma ART 15-35mm f1.8. Costs half the price and some say its better in many regards (although you lose AF, but who needs that for video!).
Looks like the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II
Great video, it made me think that a expensive camera can do so you just shoot without actually thinking about the light and then fix it in post, while the cheaper camera teaches you to use light in the best way in camera before post.
The only thing i'd say is jesus christ.. putting an L lens on an ARRI is such a waste of the arri's potential. I know this is a side by side comparison so fair enough but you are limiting the output of the camera by not using PL mount lenses and you're sugar-coating this test by making the arri achieve base results. I think this is misleading and unhelpful.
Very nice comparison video bro! I liked it :)
what lense did you use on both cameras?
Love how you're still hammering away with the t3i!
"The colors are pretty similar" - Simon
(laugh cry emoji)
Wonderfully objective comparison of the two cameras. Nice job, Simon :)
Comparing 4k to 1080p is pretty dump, no matter of the price!
Then watch the video in 1080p so the 4K is downscaled to 1080p. Not perfect as downscaling can be a bit better than using the native resolution, but certainly far from dumb.
not at all
Also downscaled 4k looks MUCH BETTER, you can test it yourself
This is quite interesting comparison, which shows, that what you can achieve even with cheap old DSLR.
oh the buzzfeed effect
The DSLR footage was 86MB and the Alexa footage was 4.2GB. Damn. Great video Simon!
More like 250 dollar camera vs 50,000 dollar camera. I'll argue the t3i is not the best for it's price as well.
you never cease to amaze me with your great educational videos!!! they diffidently come in handy!!!!
Buy an a7sii
thats what i want to get. currently have the canon 70d
He spent the money on that lense instead! Wise choice imo...
The battery life is bad on A7s ii and it has an over heating issue..
Keep you 70d.. That auto focus is amazing. And The Canon Colors POP. They Look Very Cinematic.. Sony Looks like Video Just Like Panasonic..
DSLR Cinema Movies I've seen lots of short film with the Sony a7s and its look great. And I've seen lots of short film with the 70d and it's not the best looking. That's just my opinion
Your voice is so calming and full of wisdom. Matches quite well. Thank you for making what you are making.
So size does matter.. 😜
AND WE DANCE. That works on so many different layers. Really. I'm a theoretical physicist, it does.
J. H. 😏
nice video and good comparison. also excited to see this episode shot right beside my office. shame I missed you guys on the day of shooting.
You need to stop with this comparison videos man, it's clear that you want a free camera from canon or another company
A GH4 comparison would make more sense since Canon is stupid in terms of providing high quality video features. It's not like they couldn't do it, they just preserve these better features for the more expensive models I'm afraid ...
clearly people disagree with you as this has massive views
canon is not good anything now .. videos , you got sony .. stills ,nikons are there .
Though you aren't wrong with what you've said, Canon has better color technology than both Nikon and Sony. You spend less time getting good skin tones and such in post with Canon
Great comparison, I’ve always trusted your perspective given the fact that you bring out the best in any camera body you use.
Move on.
Great side by side. I'm more and more leaning toward running with my iPhone rig. Thank you for helping me stay grounded!
It's really sad to see a lot of hate on this video. I understand that he did skip over things that are super convenient to have, as well as things that improve the quality ten fold. But this video is encouraging to younger students who are too concerned about the camera they have. The lens is expensive, but not out of any price range if your budget on your camera is $500. Give this guy some credit. This video is great.
Just when I was about to trade in my Canon 60D for an upgrade. Thank you for proving there is still life in my crop frame DSLR!
It's all about the dedication, Sure a higher end camera will get you better results with half the effort, but sometimes we need to learn to put in that effort to get the same results. It's the only way I've learned and its taught me well. Great video.
Awesome experiment! Seeing them side by side really put things in perspective. Good cinematography = good lighting, almost irrelevant to the camera.
The thing to keep in mind is you have a lot more control over the image of the Arri. If you were to try and drastically change the image of your T3i the codec would not hold up as well. It's not just about good lighting and grading it to a basic look. It's about having control/freedom.
thanks man ! i've been waiting for a video like this !
Really cool video - would absolutely die to get the kind of quality from the Arri Alexa to use as a vlog camera but that's obviously next to impossible rn. Also saw you on your bike the other day by itsu :D
I think others have said it, but just the fact that one camera is 1080p and a few years old vs a 4K top of the line camera automatically makes the images appear better. I bet if the T3i was 4K the pictures would easily be a huge step up.
Moonlight was shot on the Arriflex Alexa and it looks fantastic, just as good as film I would say.
For the Indy wanna be filmmaker you have proved yourself once again the single most important source on the internet. God bless your truth seeking bottom line sensibilities towards inspiring young filmmakers to focus on what is absolutely most important. STORY SOUND AND LIGHTING.
I just got my first camera and it is Canon 600D/ T3i. Nice to find your channel today.
Always a good day when DSLRGuide posts
To those who say Simon's been beating the same drum too long, here he illustrated why as opposed to simply making assertions. Some I don't agree with - simply turning around for better light isn't always a valid solution if your shot needs to include certain elements that need to be in frame. Composition is important. As an ex-Canon user, I know I can't push my grade as much on my 7D as I can on my GH4. Having said that, SImon gets a real cinematic look in his videos, because he understands how to use composition, lighting, framing and cameras movement to help tell his story. With narrative film making, he has the opportunity to maximise what he can get out of his camera. Many camera owners who disagree are often event, news or documentary videographers, but they have different needs because they have to make the most out of the challenging environments they're presented with
its pretty incredible, this just shows a camera that most of us really only need a camera thats 1 - 2k