The DP of a feature I'm cutting this fall is thinking of using the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. It's a still frame camera that also shoots full HD video at 1080p. Here's the link:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662

Workflow we have in mind is to shoot this camera (at 30p), offline on Media Composer and create an HD master, then do a film-out to introduce grain and additional contrast, then color the negative, mastering back to HD. 

Wanted to see if anyone here has dealt with this camera for filmmaking before. And if so, what sorts of problems I might need to look out for, both with the media and the workflow?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

The big problem is that this camera is limited to 30 frames per second, which means you have to convert somehow to 24.  There are two ways to do that:  either expensive, or low quality.  Using it for a few shots as a gag, or for slight slow motion could be reasonable.  To do a whole feature that way doesn't make sense.  Wait for them to release a model that does 24 fps, how hard could that be? 

-- J.S.

Yeah you would think it wouldn't be that hard... there were rumors that 24p was in the works for this camera but those turned out to be false. 

I'm pretty sure we're removing this camera from consideration but thank you for the reply.

The other issue is that it is a 30.00fos camera and not 29.97. Any sync sound would need to be recorded 48048 if doing a frame for frame inport into a 29.97 project type.

There has been rumors of a 24p version, but latest rumors seem to indicarte it wouldn't be an update to this model, but a different model camera altogether. We shall see.

Michael

Here it is, they've released a new model 7D:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09090105canoneos7d.asp

It does 29.97 and 23.976.

-- J.S.

Oh man .... just when I thought it was safe to back into the camera store!

Wow, that was fast! Looks like my digital to film and back again workflow might actually be saved. And now for some more research... Thanks for the link!

We've used this camera (rented one first and then purchased one) - it's awesome.  Check for firmware updates before you shoot.  We didn't use the audio from the camera but it's not bad.  I imported the 30p media directly into a 29.97 project - didn't seem to cause any problems.

OSX Leopard can play the media natively if you have the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.6 installed.

They have a 24p/25p firmware upgrade coming early next year:

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Digital_Photography/Still_Cameras/K2B2J6P7

-- J.S.