is canon eos c500 cinema camera better than Black magic?

Hi, I dnt know exactly, tell me which is the best either canon eos c500 cinema camera or black magic cinema camera for a low budget independent feature film?

They're both fine. The BMCC has a smaller sensor and can't under or overcrank so much, but after that it's superior to the Canon. The other points are moot because it's also far less expensive. I'm still recommending you get a DP for your movie, though.

And if you have $26,000 to spend on a camera then...I don't really know why you haven't just hired a guy to recommend the right camera for the job. Technically, neither camera is actually available right now so, really, if you have to shoot next month I'd say forget about the camera. Let the DP do that. Just approve the budget. You shouldn't be worried about what camera to shoot on, you should be focusing on the tone of your film. 95% of my demo reel is shot with an EOS T2i/550D with a few $25 halogen shop lights from a home improvement store. Get the best DP you can afford, explain the budget and how you want the film to look and let him do his job. A good DP will make decisions and recommendations based on what's best for the film, not his pocketbook. Have $2000 for the camera/genie budget? We'll get an Arri 3-light open face kit and a HVX200 cuz that's the best you can afford for 4 weeks. Keep the crew fed, follow the 12on/12off unwritten rule and let the people do their jobs.

The fact that you're comparing a $3000 camera to a $25,000 camera says a lot.

They're both fine. The BMCC has a smaller sensor and can't under or overcrank so much, but after that it's superior to the Canon.

That's not only what's better on the Canon C500. You have balanced XLR with phantom power, genlock, sync out, SDI AND HDMI out, ND filters built in, T/C IN & Out, and the ability to control the camera from a tablet to name but a few benefits over the BMCC.

It's a $25,000 camera compared to a $3000 camera. Of course it will have more options. The C500 is completely in another league. But for the OP's need for a low budget solution? The BMCC is more than enough. But, again, that's the DP's call.

Personally, I go sync sound, have no need for genlock, no desire to use HDMI, have a mattebox and a lovely set of ND and other filters, and could care less about control via tablet. But, that's just me. The BMCC seems like a great camera for a controlled narrative set situation, and has been shown to be adept at casual shooting. The C500 seems like a great camera too, one that might make a lovely solution for documentary work; in point of fact: all the reasons you mentioned.

Bang for buck, however? Cinema camera, hands down. Tell Canon to drop the C500 to $5000 and I'll change my mind.

Please help me out too! Which one is better: a knife, a fork or a spoon!

Please help me out too! Which one is better: a knife, a fork or a spoon!

I'd say overall the knife is sharper, but the fork has good points too. The spoon has better storage..

It's a $25,000 camera compared to a $3000 camera. Of course it will have more options. The C500 is completely in another league. But for the OP's need for a low budget solution? The BMCC is more than enough. But, again, that's the DP's call.

Personally, I go sync sound, have no need for genlock, no desire to use HDMI, have a mattebox and a lovely set of ND and other filters, and could care less about control via tablet. But, that's just me. The BMCC seems like a great camera for a controlled narrative set situation, and has been shown to be adept at casual shooting. The C500 seems like a great camera too, one that might make a lovely solution for documentary work; in point of fact: all the reasons you mentioned.

Bang for buck, however? Cinema camera, hands down. Tell Canon to drop the C500 to $5000 and I'll change my mind.

Agreed, but there were more advantages that you missed when describing the camera which you forgot to add.

Please help me out too! Which one is better: a knife, a fork or a spoon!

I'd say overall the knife is sharper, but the fork has good points too. The spoon has better storage..

Good one!

Jason, Sneakers pimps 6 underground for your showreel. Nice choice.

Jason.. Nice demo reel! That motorcycle shot was very reminiscent of "Easy Rider".. Well done!

For audio, I would strongly suggest a dedicated audio recording device and a dedicated person responsible for the audio being recorded. So many independent productions have production value issues directly related to audio quality. Having the camera operator also pay attention to audio levels, quality, etc. while managing focus, composition, movement is a lot. If the film is a documentary, run and gun style, then all that gets a pass for the most part. But for anything scripted and time for multiple takes should have separate and dedicated audio processes.

As far as sync, decades of filmmaking worked great with a slate and no timecode sync reference between the two devices. It still works. If you have timecode sync, LTC or jam-sync, then so much the better. Also, please show some love to your editorial team and slate correctly: http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/ ... ike_a_pro/

Michael

Michael, Bill: thanks! I'm old school...

Modern NLE also will help syncing a lot.

One could make nice clap out of ipad for decent sync for manual syncing.

Personally, I go sync sound, have no need for genlock, no desire to use HDMI, have a mattebox and a lovely set of ND and other filters, and could care less about control via tablet.

...

Tell Canon to drop the C500 to $5000 and I'll change my mind.

100% spot on. Bang-for-buck with no disadvantage to image quality, BMCC for indie film is the clear winner.

for advert work also with bmc expanded image capability when your budget is relatively small.

this is the field i'm looking now to use it.

syncing with dslr has been simple and bmc does not change that just gives you 70 k camera image
on the dslr price range.

Have yet to see anything REMOTELY close to this from a BMCC.... yet

"Indie" film means alot more than cheap cameras, bad lighting and poor music choices.

https://vimeo.com/43168838

Have yet to see anything REMOTELY close to this from a BMCC.... yet

Give Jeff Cronenweth a Blackmagic Cinema Camera and the production team this short film had, and I bet the final image quality would not be any worse.

to me it just seems that is the way you use the tools is important not the tools.

yes good tools make your work simpler and faster etc. but does not change the concept of job
and the way it is done.

this was when dslr film was really fresh it was ranted what can been done.
now i see that on this c500 thing.

also i have seen ton of red alexa stuff that looks bad.
so i'd say it s not the camera but the people that make it happen.

bmc gives it to us the ability to get great material on fraction of the cost of alexa lets say
but it dose not change how you make light setup or other aspect of the production or does that ?

No, the idea of needing to compose and light the scenes in a movie like a movie does not change, thoigh a crew's approach may differ from set to set; but the fundamental nature of any movie is it must be lit and composed, even dogme95 -- a form of cinema verite but with more rules -- still has a narrative-driven visual language. Lght is light. It's how you control the light that seperates the cinematographers from the "cinematographers," if you catch my meaning.

oh yes it makes so big difference