Video with canon T4i HELP!!! I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My brother just asked if i would do the video for them, its their 30th, an renewing their Vows. 1. It will be...

ramblin21 Loc: Sharon,Wisconsin

I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My brother just asked if i would do the video for them, its their 30th, an renewing their Vows.
1. It will be outside 2. It will be a little windy, but at 6:30pm we still have lots of light. an hopefully the wind will die down.3. I bought a Bi-directional mic for camera to keep noise down. I need any suggestion as to what settings are best to set this camera on! I think the ceremony will only take 15-20 min., I will have it on tripod an bringing monopod with just in case. HELP Please! Oh an it happens tonight!!

cmc65

ramblin21 wrote:

I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My b... (show quote)

You might want to walk outside right now with your equipment and do a run through. Just make sure you have a clean card for tonight that will handle the length of what you are filming.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

ramblin21 wrote:

I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My b... (show quote)

Why not just shoot some practice video in different lighting situations until you are happy with the process and results. Follow the manual instructions. I've had goood results with a t3i.

Biggest issue will likely be that you will need to shoot separate sequences. The largest single file you can have is 4GB which is around 12 mins at hi def.

If you are feeling adventurous, check out Magic Lantern. It is very useful, but I doubt you have time to get setup and familiar enough with that before an event today.

Good luck, and plan for multiple sequences, you don't want the camera to stop recording at a critical moment. Take a few largish high speed cards.

Steve_m Loc: Southern California

ramblin21 wrote:

I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My b... (show quote)

If you don't have some kind of hood for the LCD screen, you wouldn't know what you are shooting. You need something like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?=Hoodman+Compact+HoodLoupe+Optical+Viewfinder+for+3.2%22+Canon+LCD+Screens&N=10899482&InitialSearch=yes&sts=pi

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Steve_m wrote:

If you don't have some kind of hood for the LCD screen, you wouldn't know what you are shooting. You need something like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?=Hoodman+Compact+HoodLoupe+Optical+Viewfinder+for+3.2%22+Canon+LCD+Screens&N=10899482&InitialSearch=yes&sts=pi

Useful, but not necessary. I have one, but the OP doesn't have time.

He can always drape a towel over his head and create a photo op for others! :)

Especially for an evening shoot, it will not be 'needed'.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

ramblin21 wrote:

I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My b... (show quote)

The first problem I see is sensor heat. I have a t3i and as is typical with dslr cameras and video the sensor is running all the time you're recording. There's a pre-set camera limit of about 12-minutes of video because of sensor heat. That heat can destroy the sensor and internal components if allowed to rise too high thus the limit. So at about 12-minutes the camera will stop recording.

If I were shooting it I'd do everything hand held and in segments to be edited later. Making sure to get the vows and the ring exchange along with the pronouncement of Mr. and Mrs. In other words just the highlights because one long roll, as you describe it, won't happen with a dslr because of the heat I wrote about above.

Good luck.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

jimmya wrote:

The first problem I see is sensor heat. I have a ... (show quote)

Very good observations, but the time limits are more complicated than that. The 12 minute limit is more about file size than heat. If it was heat it would vary between the Sahara and the Arctic and so a numerical value would be hard to validate.

Heat is one (variable depending upon conditions). File size is another (variable according to video resolution but capped at around 4GB). Import duty categories are another (Capped at around 29 minutes for arbitrary taxation reasons). They all have different attributes.

However, Jimmy, have you tried magic lantern on your T3i? I strongly recommend it, especially for video work. It even tells you the sensor temperature!

Cheers

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

ramblin21 wrote:

I have a canon T4i an a 18-135mm IS STM lens. My b... (show quote)

Well, I have used my T4i for video at an outside wedding, with some success. At this point my experience is about as useful as yours was last night, though. I used an external recorder for audio, as I knew that the camera audio would not cut it. Turned out, I should also have gotten a wind-shield for the mic. I had a lot of wind noise on the recording, but it still worked out ok.

Just think of it as better than the recording they would have had if you hadn't been there to do it!

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Peterff wrote:

Very good observations, but the time limits are mo... (show quote)

No thanks. Too many horror stories about "now my camera won't even turn on much less work." I'll stay with what I have thanks.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

jimmya wrote:

No thanks. Too many horror stories about "now my camera won't even turn on much less work." I'll stay with what I have thanks.

OK. I've not heard of a real one of those, but it can also depend upon following the instructions precisely.

Since I'm a computer guy I know how literal those things are, and I have managed to "brick" things in the past, although I have found out why and found a way to recover in every situation. Familiarity with tech does help.

That said, if not comfortable do not do it, but on a T3i it seems to work like a dream from what I can tell, and I'm generally a 'Luddite' when it comes to tech. The bleeding edge makes a mess on the carpet!

Anyhow, thanks, and keep adding your value to the forum. I appreciate your contributions. Best, Peter ff

dabirk23 Loc: Middle of Nowhere, WI

Make sure you are using a Class 6 or higher SD card. Wasn't needed for video on my SX20, but is on my T3i.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Peterff wrote:

OK. I've not heard of a real one of those, but it... (show quote)

Thanks for your kind words... I look through the forum every day and comment where I feel that it will be of at least some value and not a burden.

I do mostly video with my t3i and I'm always pleased with the full 1080 results, no problems at all.

Thanks for your comments as well.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

jimmya wrote:

Thanks for your kind words... I look through the forum every day and comment where I feel that it will be of at least some value and not a burden.

I do mostly video with my t3i and I'm always pleased with the full 1080 results, no problems at all.

Thanks for your comments as well.

You add huge value, but at least to me you seem to be very cautious. Magic Lantern is extremely unlikely to damage your camera. You also seem to have a history that would indicate that you would value what it can do. It does not modify the firmware of your camera, it is a run-time extension, otherwise known as software.

Perhaps we should chat off line if you would be interested. PM me. I understand your concerns, I work in the computer industry and I'm very reluctant to use new stuff, but I have learned to trust this in my own situation.

PM me if you want to follow up!

mickeys Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

make sure you have a class 10 or better sd card.at least 16 or higher gb

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Peterff wrote:

You add huge value, but at least to me you seem to... (show quote)

I would be interested in learning more about this, for my T4i. If it is software, and doesn't modify the firmware, this would imply that it has to be installed on the memory card you are using at the time, yes? If this is true, then would this have to be reinstalled each time you format the card?