Attn: dslr filmers, give me some quick advice

[s.]

We're gonna have a borrowed 5d mk2 tommorow for a few hours, will try to film as much as possible. I'm experienced with video camera shooting, but never filmed with a dslr, so give me some tips if you think of any. I'll have access to canon 50 1.8, and some m42 lenses with an adapter: Zenitar 16mm fish, Tair 135 2.8 and a Helios 55 2.8. I'll also have a tripod, but it's not the greatest so only for static shots.

And some tech questions for anyone who used 5d mk2:
1. How many hours will I be able to shoot with one stock battery?
2. How much time does recharging it take?

[sharkyROL]

I can't help you with the battery info but I can tell you you're better off using the m42 lenses than the 50mm f1,8. The m42 lenses have wider and more precise focus rings.

Actually wait, recharging will take aprox. 90 minutes.

[Muppet4Eternity]

The main thing you will find is that it's a lot harder to hold steady.

[sharkyROL]

The main thing you will find is that it's a lot harder to hold steady.

Yeah, it's like trying to pee in a bottle from a distance.

[jonathan]

Here's a tip for getting a steady shot. Place the camera strap around your neck and pull the camera away from your neck. This pressure will give you a better ability to keep the camera steady without the use of any tri-pods or steady cams. I actually prefer this. Because you're relying on the pressure from the camera strap, and not your shaky hands to keep it steady. You know what I am saying?

[Kevinphan]

I also always film with my camera on my tripod. The extra weight helps to keep the camera still when it's off the ground.

[Muppet4Eternity]

Here's a tip for getting a steady shot. Place the camera strap around your neck and pull the camera away from your neck. This pressure will give you a better ability to keep the camera steady without the use of any tri-pods or steady cams. I actually prefer this. Because you're relying on the pressure from the camera strap, and not your shaky hands to keep it steady. You know what I am saying?

This works really well.

[coldzombie]

Here's a tip for getting a steady shot. Place the camera strap around your neck and pull the camera away from your neck. This pressure will give you a better ability to keep the camera steady without the use of any tri-pods or steady cams. I actually prefer this. Because you're relying on the pressure from the camera strap, and not your shaky hands to keep it steady. You know what I am saying?

.

[codywi608]

Here's a tip for getting a steady shot. Place the camera strap around your neck and pull the camera away from your neck. This pressure will give you a better ability to keep the camera steady without the use of any tri-pods or steady cams. I actually prefer this. Because you're relying on the pressure from the camera strap, and not your shaky hands to keep it steady. You know what I am saying?

This sounds like it'll work fairly well. My 50mm is really hard to keep steady freehand. I noticed the 18-55mm is a lot easier to keep steady in low zoom, could be that it has image stabilizer though. Will be trying this....

[StarScream]

uh, keep it steady

use wider lense if handheld.

don't pan too fast.

check your whites

and turn off the "image optimizing" stuff

[nameant]

Manual focus everything. I think stock batteries are like 2 hours.

[Robert1]

Try to get a Canon 15mm if you can.

[gen2roller]

The wider the lens, the less you'll notice camera shake. I use a combo of Jonathan and Kevinphans tactics.

[s.]

I think stock batteries are like 2 hours.

Actually wait, recharging will take aprox. 90 minutes.

Thank you all, especially for that, sucks that we won't have any extra batteries :/

don't pan too fast.

it has something to do with the type of shutter, right?

check your whites

you mean white balance? got that shit on lock

[wujcik]

charging from 0 takes 90 minutes

You will use the entire battery in about 40 minutes if you are shooting continuously.