Camera for long range video

[eric2381]

Hello,

I need a bit of help. I'd like to be able to take high quality video of long range shooting. I don't mind spending some money on a good camera.

I have a Swarovski STS 80 HD spotter and the Swarovski TLS 800.

Can somebody point me in the right direction on this?

Is Camera Land New York a great place to purchase from?

Thanks for your time, Eric.

 

[westcliffe01]

Canon EOS C100 EF Cinema Camcorder (Body Only) 6340B002 B&H

Takes EF lenses. The default lenses of game photographers the world over. A 600mm F4 is about the entry point for wildlife photography.

SLR Lenses| B&H Photo Video

Plenty of lens options. Perhaps a 300 2.8 with 1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters for the L series lenses ? Then you just need a mule to carry everything...

We don't do video, but I got my wife a 70-200 F2.8 and both of the teleconverters and she actually uses it quite a bit on wildlife. With the reduced size of the sensor on the camera (less than full frame) the 200 lens is already looking like a 300 F2.8. add the Teleconverter and it is a 600mm F4. Add the 1.4 converter and it is a 1000mm F5.6

 

[LouBoyd]

Hello,
I need a bit of help. I'd like to be able to take high quality video of long range shooting..

Are you trying to document your hunts?
Simultaneous video of the shooter and the target?
See bullet impacts on paper or criters at long range? What's "long range" in yards for you?

"high quality" video won't happen with the camera more than a couple of hundred yards from the target in most atmospheric conditions. Do what film makers do and move the camera close to the action but not so close the perspective is obviously wrong.

 

[eric2381]

Thanks guys,

I'm hoping to video my shooting at 800-1500yds. Been doing the shooting, just think it would be cool to show it.


Am not a professional by any means, just want to have some fun with it and show off in a humble way later on.

Thanks

 

[Broz]

Holy Crap !! $6499. for a camera with no lens. Makes the Nightforce scope look pretty reasonable. Definitely a priority choice again.

Jeff

 

[LouBoyd]

If you have a location where you're likely to have game at a particular location you can set up a HDTV resolution camera within a hundred yards of where you expect the game to be. High resolution color IP cameras (including and especially 1920x1080 color CMOS cameras are quite reasonable and a 5.6 ghz ethernet microwave link with antennas are getting cheap too. (Ubiquity Nanobridge for example) It should cost under $1000 including a suitable lens for 100 yards. You can still take your shot at 800-1500 yards but record it from a much shorter distance. The camera and link can run for hours from a couple of motorcycle batteries. The receive end is a typical modern laptop which also does the recording.

You can make videos easily enough from 800 to 1500 yards but they won't be very clear. A $10,000, camera won't do significantly better than a $400 camera since the atmosphere in between will limit l the image quality.

 

[westcliffe01]

The OP did not state his budget... If cost is a big factor and he is into photgraphy also, he can get a Canon 60D body for $900 Canon EOS 60D DSLR Camera (Body Only) 4460B003 B&H Photo Video

It will shoot full HD at 30 frames per second in addition to its use as a camera. That is the one my wife has. Takes the exact same lenses. No matter who you get it from, quality glass costs money. The aformentioned 70-200 F2.8 lens has a 77mm diameter front element. Its price is relatively modest at $1300 and actually BH is not the cheapest place around, just the most reliable. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens 2569A004 B&H

That combination cost about the same as my Savage 12 + Shilen barrel + Vortex scope. Only that it was money spent on my wife and not on me.

Holy Crap !! $6499. for a camera with no lens. Makes the Nightforce scope look pretty reasonable. Definitely a priority choice again.

Jeff

 

[eric2381]

Thanks everybody.

I currently have an iPhone 4. I really like it. I'd be really just buying the camera to use with the spotter to make videos. You know, blowing up gophers, crows, target shooting at long range, just fun stuff like that.

I never bought the Swaro TLS 800 with plans of doing photography. I bought my spotter used and the guy threw in the TLS 800 for free because he had no use for it.

Could I get just as good of results with my 20-60X eye piece and the iphone 5s and adapter? I don't wanna Mickey Mouse it, but I understand the iPhone 5s had a 13mp camera and it's almost time for a new phone anyways

Thanks again.

 

[eric2381]

I checked out the phoneskope product. It looks good.

 

[joseph]

These stills are taken with my Olympus SP-570UZ. It will take video, but never tried it. The distance is at least 1/2 mile. The picture of the blue grossbeak was at about 75 yds. at maximum of 20x.

joseph

 

[7mmRHB]

I have a Nikon P520 that will do amazing things at long range and is pretty cheap as well. $399 or less on a sale. It has a 42 power optical zoom, 18.1 mega pixels, HD video, low light capability without using a flash and tons of menu options for folks that are smarter than I am. You can take pics of Deer/ Elk @ 2000 yds and count the points. I've taken pics of airliners going overhead at 35,000 FT. and 5 miles down range, zoom the camera in and read the name of the Airline!! You can take pics of your groups at 1000yds so you don't even have to bother to drive to the gong unless you need to paint it. I haven't played with the video much but it looks way better than my Sony!

This camera is a lot of bang for the buck!! ----- RHB

 

[joseph]

Incase you are interested in getting a Nikon P520 look at this review first:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQAnzUG-sAY]Nikon Coolpix P520 Review - YouTube[/ame]

joseph

 

[mdslammer]

Thanks guys,

I'm hoping to video my shooting at 800-1500yds. Been doing the shooting, just think it would be cool to show it.


Am not a professional by any means, just want to have some fun with it and show off in a humble way later on.

Thanks

Hi Eric,

You don't need to spend tons of cash to do what you want to do. I produce short films of me and my friends shooting mostly at ELR distances.

Here's what I use:
2 Panasonic Handycams: These are most likely no longer available and have
been replaced with newer models. I paid around $350.00 each.
HDC-SD80 (42x zoom)
HDC-SD60 (35x zoom)
Res: 1920x1280

Something like this would be fine:
Amazon.com: Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi (Black): Camera & Photo

I use a GoPro H2 camera for some shots.

I also use my higher end Panasonic HPX-170 when I need 3 cameras which really isn't too often.

You'll need some type of video editing software as well. There are all kinds available and various prices. I use Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.

I place two of my camera's down range. 1 is zoomed in to frame the target entirely. The other is framed to show the target as well as the misses. Usually zoomed out to where there is 15-20' of dirt showing the misses.

The other camera is positioned where the shooter is. Various camera angles make for a more interesting film. OTS (over the shoulder) shots show the shooters perspective. Angles from the side and front are also good. The more angles you have, the better editing will be.

Also, proper framing. Refer to the rule of thirds for example. Sorry to go off a bit here but I guess what I'm trying to convey is, it's not how much money you spend on gear but knowing how to get the most out of your equipment.

Here's a link to a few of my films that will give you an idea of what can be achieved with the gear listed above.

Long Range Shooting at 2300 Yards within AccurateShooter.com

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me and I'll be glad to help out .

Good luck.

MDslammer

 

[joseph]

A friend of mine has one of these and I second mdslammer for this one:

Amazon.com: Panasonic HC-V520 HD Digital Camcorder with 80x Zoom and Wi-fi (Black): Camera & Photo

joseph