iPhone 6 and 5D Mark II footage

Hi there,

This is my first post and I'm something of a video beginner, so please excuse any ignorance or glaring stupidity on my part. I've tried to search old posts on this topic, but nothing with quite the answer I'm after.

I'm about to shoot my first serious video and wondered whether, before I start filming, I should be aware of certain settings that will make my edit more straightforward. I don't believe the 5D Mark II can shoot time lapses without a remote control or some kind of plugin, so I'm hoping to use my iPhone 6 to capture some time lapses, and possibly using it as a b-camera during interviews as well if required.

I plan to shoot in 1920 x 1080 at 24fps, in PAL. I use FCPX but don't own Compressor. Will there be a problem when I combine footage from the two devices in the edit? I'll need to do some research about how to import and how to standardise the dimensions, etc., of my final video - any advice on that now would be appreciated, but the most urgent thing I need to know is what I should be doing during the shoot.

Any suggestions? Anyone foresee potential issues?

Thanks for your help!
Pádraic

You must be aware that the two cameras you re using have almost nothing in common; the images will look vastly different. the time-lapse function of the iPhone is a gimmick, a way of compressing time by dropping frames. Real time-lapse captures frames and lets you adjust the speed later. You don't have those frames in the iPhone. The DSLR has an adjustable shutter and focusing. The iPhone has, umm, primitive adjustments. The DSLR is a real camera. The iPhone is a phone with a very nice miniature camera guilt into it. The lens on your DSLR is about 50mm in diameter. The lens on the iPhone is a bit smaller. The sensor on your DSLR is huge. The iPhone's sensor has the pixels but not the real estate.

You would be better off shooting your entire project on a bunch of phones than mixing the DSR and the iPhone, unless, of course, that's the look you want.

Most of us here have been shooting single camera productions for five or more decades, It's just part of the craft.

padraic wrote: ...certain settings that will make my edit more straightforward. I don't believe the 5D Mark II can shoot time lapses without a remote control or some kind of plugin, so I'm hoping to use my iPhone 6 to capture some time lapses...

All the 5D2 requires is a cheap external intervalometer. Here is one for $19: amzn.com/B003F69JBW

However time lapse is often a trial-and-error process, each attempt taking many frames. A DSLR is a mechanical device with a finite shutter life. It is easy to use several % of a DSLR's shutter life in one *day* shooting time lapses. For this reason cameras with fully electronic shutters are nice but there are few with large sensors.

There are multiple ways to generate the time lapse with FCPX. I still use the technique involving QuickTime 7 Pro described in MacBreak Studio episode #208:



In the more recent episode #353, they discussed a different approach using Compressor:

padraic wrote: ...possibly using it as a b-camera during interviews as well if required....Will there be a problem when I combine footage from the two devices in the edit? I'll need to do some research about how to import and how to standardise the dimensions, etc...

There is no technical problem combining footage from a 5D2 and iPhone 6 -- FCPX automatically takes care of everything re conforming frame rates and resolutions. The frame rates will likely differ and this can produce a slightly different motion effects but using the iPhone with a 5D2 has much larger problems:

In general a small-sensor camera of any type (whether iPhone or otherwise) is a poor match to intercut with a DSLR. The DSLR will produce a lush, cinematic "look", whereas the small sensor camera will be starkly different -- "videoish", relatively poor low-light capability, and a deep depth of field which makes it difficult to isolate subjects. Since the iPhone can't really shoot in dark conditions this restricts the two-camera shooting opportunities. A 5D2 can produce content like this, all shot at night (Reverie by Vincent Laforet):

vimeo.com/7151244

That said, cell-phone cameras can produce usable content but it is more work to utilize and hide the limitations. E.g, it can be scripted as "found" footage, or shown split screen taking up a little of the frame while the 5D2 content shows the main subject on most of the frame. You normally would not directly intercut the two on the same subject without taking such compensating steps.

As already stated there are creative ways to use your single 5D2 as if it were multiple cameras. E.g, shoot multiple takes from different angles, etc.