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My sister’s wedding is coming up, and we are trying to figure out how to record it. Will it hurt my Nikon DSLR if we use it to record the ceremony?
I don’t recommend it. I have used Nikon DSLR’s for recording several times, always with mediocre results. I’d recommend finding/borrowing a video camera or a camcorder instead. Here are a few of the problems that I’ve run into.
#1. The European Union. I’m not kidding. Your Nikon camera will always stop recording at 29min:59sec, or 4 GB, whichever comes first. This is NOT a setting. An EU rule of 2007 states that “any digital still camera with a resolution higher than 800×600 and the duration of video of 30 minutes of more (at 23 fps or higher) must now be classified as a ‘video camera recorder’ and hence be taxed at a higher rate.” Major camera makes (like Nikon) make their DSLR’s so they can be sold in Europe without incurring those extra taxes.
If, of course, you are simply outputting the camera’s video signal via HDMI to a separate video recording device (i.e. OSB Studio or similar software on a computer) this isn’t an issue.#2. I’ve never reached this 30-minute limit with a Nikon DSLR, because the battery life isn’t good enough. If you’re not watching out, the camera will simply turn off (and won’t always save the video). Canons tend to be better on this. (Caveat: maybe if you have a good-quality Nikon and/or batteries, that will be different. I worked almost exclusively with lower-end DSLR’s, both Nikon & Canon)
#3. Especially, again, with Nikons, you will sometimes notice (especially if the room is hot and/or poorly ventilated) that the camera will heat up quite a bit when recording for a long time. I had one get so hot, when I was filming a baptism once, that I was scared something was melting inside. Again, maybe higher-end Nikon cameras (or batteries) are made better. It ran an error message and turned off. I am thankful it was fine afterwards. I am doubly thankful that I had a backup, a camcorder, running too.
#4. The sound quality on DSLR microphones is passive at best. Take it for granted that in an auditorium, (which are very resonant places, generally) you won’t be able to hear anything said more than 10 – 15 feet away from the camera. That goes for Canon as well. Dedicated videocameras tend to be designed with this in mind.
Of course, if your sound technician is recording the audio separately, this doesn’t matter.#5. For amateur recording, unless you have a lens with some really serious vibration reduction, and a really, really smooth zoom ring, (or a really, really steady hand) a videocamera will do a far, far better job for panning/moving/zoom shots.
Of course, if you just set the camera up on a tripod and leave it, that doesn’t matter either. But almost everyone who wants a wedding videotaped wants certain special moments caught as closeups.So although the video feature on DSLR’s is really great for brief snapshots, I thoroughly recommend the use of a video camera or camcorder for filming anything longer than 5-10 minutes.
If you’re going to use a DSLR for recording the ceremony, I would definitely recommend an AC Power Adapter like this one to run the camera for longer than a single battery could keep your camera going: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XN37YW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I just started using one of these for my webinars that run for over an hour, and haven’t had any problems with my Canon 7D Mark II overheating.
I doubt video recording will hurt your camera, but a plug-in adapter from AC to your camera like James suggested would be great. I don’t normally do long video shots with my camera, but I frequently do 7 hr. time lapses using an AC battery dummy/adapter. I definitely am glad I purchased the dummy/adapter as I previously was only able to do two-and-a-half hour time lapses before the battery would die.
(I use a Nikon D5600)Jerrell
Wow, 7hr exposures! I’ve not heard it described as a “dummy/adapter” before. Is there a special reason it’s called that @jerrell?
I am not doing seven hour exposures, that is just the maximum duration of time lapse my camera allows. I normally do 3-6 second intervals between pictures.
I described it as a dummy/adapter because it looks like a battery but plugs into the wall and isn’t an actual battery.-Jerrell
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