Canon 7D video for concerts and interviews

I finally upgraded my still camera gear last week. As many intermediate and professional filmmakers and photographers alike are doing these days, I went in for the Canon 7D digital SLR, which was released in September.

Prior to this, I had used a Canon Digital Rebel XTI for more than a year. So, yes, every photo in my current portfolio was indeed made with a beginning DSLR. I did invest in L-series quality glass, but the subpar XTI body goes to show that great photos can be made with any camera. That is, until the shutter gives out, as my XTI’s did last month.

Since July, I had also used a Canon HV20 for all my video needs. And before that, it was a Canon Powershot with a meager NTSC video function.

Imagine my excitement, then, with the opportunity to upgrade both the quality of my still sports images (18 megapixels at 8 frames per second) and my video capabilities with HD footage.

I put the 7D’s video feature to the test during the past week in my job as camera operator and editor at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center here on campus. With one other camera guy, Cameron Woods, we shot the Four Freshmen’s student outreach performance at Collegiate Academy last Thursday (Dec. 3):

The interviews and Jordan’s standup at the beginning were shot with the HV20 and a Canon GL2, respectively.

Next up was the Biava String Quartet’s public performance on Sunday in the Walker Recital Hall, which is lit terribly. The 7D came through with flying colors, so to speak.

All of the footage seen above was captured with the 7D, including the interviews. The only improvement I’d love to see made is audio monitoring. I’m sure it will come down the road in, if not a firmware update, then the next series of DSLR video bodies. I used a Sony external mini shotgun mic, but even that wasn’t enough to eliminate the camera’s internal hiss on the footage from the auto gain control.

Finally, I shot and edited this piece yesterday (Thursday, Dec. 10) to go along with the Biava concert video. I love the near-perfect lighting and out-of-focus background that can be achieved on this camera. I used a 70-200 f4 for both interviews, but ran audio through the HV20 with that same shotgun mic I used after the concert. The HV20’s clear audio lacks the hiss found in the 7D.

The only problem with this video was originally in the compression. Thanks to Dave Meehan below, both videos look much better now.

Now, the obvious question to ask here is why were these pieces not shot in HD? The answer is quite simple. Besides displaying them on the PAC Web site, they will also eventually be broadcast from the campus TV station, which is currently only capable of sending out a standard-def signal.

I have plenty more personal 7D projects that are only for the Web coming in the next few weeks that will be in full HD, so stay tuned!