Thats cool stuff Wuffy, those transitions from normal to slow speed are brilliant and so smooth.
I'm not a fan of video on the DSLRs either, but this goes to show what you can achieve with vision, preparation and application. Great stuff.
You might need to start a new Your Videos thread for this gear.
Like the choice of music as well, have you checked out the dead weather?

Very cool little film wuff.

wolffman1 wrote:You might need to start a new Your Videos thread for this gear.

I'd keep them in here - the number of video posts in here will be pretty minimal, and I reckon that most of the posters/watchers in here appreciate them. And if people don't, it's just a link/play button to not click on.

wuffy wrote:Here's the edit from today. Got rained out so only got 1/3rd filming down, but still quite happy with it!

http://vimeo.com/15681286

nice. checked out some of the ones on PB too - bloody good stuff!

Jono wrote:So it turns out that my g7 didn't just have dust on the inside of the lens, but also had a scratch. The repair bill will prolly be $500, which is a good enough reason to buy a new camera.

At the moment the thoughts I've got are between a 550d and a 60d. Does anyone have any thoughts about the differences between them? Am I going to notice the additional $1K I would spend?

I've been looking at lens options, and the kit lenses don't seem to be a good choice, so I guess I've got a bit of searching to do. I was thinking about the 17-85mm IS USM lens, but I'm a bit concerned that it might be too slow in the low light situations that I'll often be using it when mtbing. Any thoughts on this?

Hey Jono - make sure you handle both. Both are more than capable, but they are quite different to hold. I find the 550 a little small, much prefer the bigger body of the x0D series.

A couple I took on a trip to Blenheim aaaaaages ago and never did anything with...

Nice pics!

Like the bottom one very much. Balanced composition.

thelivo wrote:Hey Jono - make sure you handle both. Both are more than capable, but they are quite different to hold. I find the 550 a little small, much prefer the bigger body of the x0D series.

Yeah - I've had a fondle of a 60d, and the heft was quite nice. I'm not sure how it'll feel after a couple of hours on my back riding, but there's always a brick that I can practice with I guess.

Any suggestions on lenses? The 17-85mm IS USM looks like it'll have at least the ranges that I'm looking for, but I'm not sure about the speed (f4-5.6) in low light. Any thoughts on how useable F4 would be in the bush? Or is just a matter of ramping up the ISO levels?

The 60D does awesomely well in high ISO conditions. Anything up to 3200 is still very sharp and relatively noise free, anything over that you get a bit of noise but it's nothing too bad.

Jono wrote:

thelivo wrote:Hey Jono - make sure you handle both. Both are more than capable, but they are quite different to hold. I find the 550 a little small, much prefer the bigger body of the x0D series.

Yeah - I've had a fondle of a 60d, and the heft was quite nice. I'm not sure how it'll feel after a couple of hours on my back riding, but there's always a brick that I can practice with I guess.

Any suggestions on lenses? The 17-85mm IS USM looks like it'll have at least the ranges that I'm looking for, but I'm not sure about the speed (f4-5.6) in low light. Any thoughts on how useable F4 would be in the bush? Or is just a matter of ramping up the ISO levels?

You wanting this for riding shots primarily? I tend to take a 15mm semi fisheye, a 24 - 105 f4 L and a 200 mm f2.8 L. F4 should be fine and the more modern bodies do really well at higher ISO's (i am still using a somewhat battered 20D till I can afford to upgrade). Having said that on a dull day you might struggle, but fill in flash might be a better option anyway - just see anything by Caleb!!
I would just spend as much as you can afford on lenses, even to the point of getting a 50D rather than a 60 if you are on a budget. I was amazed at the difference once i started using the L stuff. Have never used the 15-85, I understand its competent but not stellar.

How do you guys get on for carting your kit around when riding? I've not taken the DSLR out on a ride yet - and to be honest it scares me a bit.
I happily take my video camera everywhere, but it't tiny and I've got a nice wee padded case for it - and to be honest it's not worth much so don't care (as much) if it gets trashed/soaked.
but a bag full or SLR + lenses seems risky, not so much from a crash damage view but also a mud/dust point of view while using. Caleb obviously carts a load of gear with him a lot of the time - so I guess once you've got a decent bag sorted and a good routine for getting stuff in/out and changing lenses it's no drama.

Any suggestions of a good camera bag for riding with?

wuffy wrote:Like the bottom one very much. Balanced composition.

Chur bol. Complete fluke + a bit of cropping to get the balance. Was going for the shot of them all lined up side by side as they approached, and just kept clicking as they went overhead and that turned out to be the best one of the lot!

Im with you there conners... part of the reason I want to get a newer body is to have backups in case one gets knocked around... the 40d is getting a bit old, but it still gets treated like a baby.

I dont rate the 17-85 at all.

The only thing it has going for it is the USM focusing, no other cheapish canon zoom has it.
Opticaly it distorts and is soft at the wide end and slow.

A tamron 17-50f2.8 (non VC) is a much much smarter option. If you want IS then the sigma 18-50OS is good .

If you want canon then the 18-55IS kit lens is OK or the 17-55 or 15-85 are both great.

I find 24 too narrow at the wide end for my use on a crop.

I dont ride to often with my SLR if I do it gets sling in the webbing on the back of the mule it barely fits in..