So you’re looking for an upgrade to your camera equipment and you do a little research. You’re suddenly bombarded by a swarm of formats, cameras, companies, reviews, and suggestions. HDV, flash, hard drive, consumer, pro-sumer; it’s overwhelming. Sound familiar?

I’m Nardeep, and I am the post-production specialist and an independent filmmaker at Howcast who just went through this crisis when shopping for my camera. I needed something that gave me the flexibility to shoot freelance gigs in low light, while still giving me high-quality images for my personal projects. I wanted and loved that 35mm depth of field, but all of the cameras that offered all these features were out of my price range! Because of this, I was intrigued by the dSLR.
A dSLR? You’re crazy, Deep! They only take pictures! Well, not anymore.

Over the past year, the independent film community (not to mention TV-show makers: see the House season finale) has experienced a revolution. Companies such as Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic began releasing digital Single Lens Reflex still cameras with the ability to shoot video. And not just any video, but high-quality HD video comparable to professional-grade HD film equipment such as the RED camera, all at a fraction of the cost. Not only that, these cameras offer an affordable interchangeable lens system, and a large sensor chip gives you that creamy 35mm depth of field that up until now was only available on top-of-the-line equipment.

There were a few specific cameras that interested me: The Panasonic GH1, the Canon 5D Mark 2, and the Canon 7D. Each camera had its own perks involving ergonomics, shooting codecs, and image quality, but none seemed like the right fit for me. As I took my time perusing the internet, dreaming of what could be, Canon released the t2i (or 550D outside the U.S.) and I made my decision. Essentially the newest model in their Digital Rebel line of entry-level dSLRs, the t2i has the ability to shoot video indistinguishable from the 7D at half the price of the 7D (only $800) with the kit lens! It’s light, sturdy, is compatible with any EOS-mount lens, and shoots 1080p at 24 fps. And boy, does it look good. It shoots to SD cards — no more tapes! — and I got that filmic look with the frame rate and that buttery 35mm depth of field! This is an absolute “bang for your buck” purchase for the person wanting to enter the dSLR arena.

T2i First Footage test from Nardeep Khurmi on Vimeo.

Here is some of the first footage I have shot with my new Canon T2i. Some minor color grading was used and most of the shots are hand held.

The main thing about these cameras is there is no longer any excuse not to shoot. Owning my t2i has gotten me off my butt and back to shooting not only video, but also photos! I’ll return to write a post outlining exactly what my workflow is with this camera and how I’ve learned to best work around its shortcomings. And be sure to check out the EFP Facebook page for ongoing conversations about filmmaking tips and tricks!

-Nardeep K., Post-Production Specialist