Shooting video with a DSLR takes a bit of investment to really get the most out of the video capabilities.
If, for instance, you’re in the market to shoot professional interviews, you MUST shoot second system audio, and you MUST have a good system to support your camera (to avoid the long list of problems these cameras can have with movement).
Below is my setup….
Start with your favorite video-capable DSLR. My choice is the Canon 5D Mark II
The next step is to determine the best support for your needs. I want a matte box and (eventually) a follow focus, but I also want to be able to convert the system to shoulder mount or tripod mount with very little time delay. Therefore, I choose 18 inch 15mm rods with a shoulder mount attachment and a baseplate capable of screwing into a tripod.
An important investment with any camera is a set of filters. I’m in the market to purchase some Tiffen 4×4 filters. I’ll probably end up with a polarizer, one or two graded ND filters, and a IR filter. Having a matte box setup is the best way to use the same filter on all of your lenses.
A decent monitor is key. The 3″ LCD on the camera can be a challenge to work with, if you don’t have a DSLR viewfinder
The whole setup quickly expands to much more than just a small DSLR camera setup!
I also have an audio system that hooks onto the back of the rails system positioned for easy access in tight situations (not pictured).