I disagree on your cost assessment, you basically only need a micro 4/3 to EF adapter (about $10 on eBay), SD cards (which as I mentioned are actually more cost effective than el-cheapo CF cards), and some batteries which B&H sells for as cheap as $14 a piece.
The problem with your assumption is that those EF lenses are going to look completely different on a micro 4/3rds sensor, and you can kiss your shallow depth of field and wide angles goodbye unless you buy new expensive fast glass specifically with the pocket cam in mind. The add the cost of the $500 speedboster and the fact that your BM batteries can't be recharged without actually using the camera as a charger, and you'll need a dozen of those batteries to get through a shooting day.
So I either buy new glass that is incredibly fast and wide (ie expensive) so that I can get the look I want on a much much smaller sensor, and buy a whole new set of batteries, along with a brand new, relatively untested $1000 camera, or use the multiple canon batteries I already have, the glass I already have, and get a 7D + a $300 fast CF card or two, with 128gb of room on it.
Everyone's situation is different, and I'm sure the BMPC is great for some, but based on my research the past couple days I'm definitely leaning towards the 7D.
Most completed eBay listings on 7D's are in the high $700's to $900, so yes, it's a bit cheaper...a bit. EP6 batteries are more expensive (even the off brand), CF cards are also up there particularly if you go with the more reliable Lexars. Also, shooting in raw will definitely use up batteries faster than in normal mode. Ultimately you're still running a hack on a camera which until fairly recently wasn't even supported. You'll be dealing with glitchy external monitoring, no playback, and the constant fear of not really knowing if the footage you just captured is corrupted.
I've seen used 7D's going for $500-$600 in my area on Craigslist, as well as on ebay. The EP6 batteries may be more expensive, but since I already have a bunch of them as it is, that's not really relevant. Buying a bunch of new batteries for a pocket cam is though... Haven't heard of the Lexars, most of the RAW test videos I have seen online use the Komputerbay CF cards, which are about $300 for 128gb on eBay right now.
Perhaps the glitches have improved since your experience. ML continues to get better, and if it were as terrible and likely to be corrupted as you say, no one would be filming with it.
I'm not saying this because I pulled this info out of my ass, I'm saying it because I've shot extensively with the 7D and ultimately it just wasn't up to my work standards.
Okay. But if we're having a discussion about it, understand that your singular experience and your particular standards (and budget) are not everyone's - and it's rather annoying that you keep insisting I purchase something which costs twice as much that I'm not in the market for.
I think the 5D3 is pretty much the only camera of the bunch which yield a workable reliability with somewhat reliable external monitoring, good ISO/noise ratio, no moire/aliasing, full 1080p resolution, a CF bus fast enough to handle audio and video simultaneously (will come in handy for sync purposes in post), and is the least prone to errors.
Wow, okay, we're back to the "just buy this 3.5k camera...." What part of 10k budget total was unclear?
There is no moire/aliasing with the proper filter. And good old fashioned clapboards will sync your audio fine. Sure the 7D is 10% shy of full HD resolution in raw. Am I going to pay 3x as much money for that extra 10%? No, I am not.
You're of course free to go and learn from your own mistakes, but you did ask for opinions.
Your words "What would be the best camera to go with?"
I think the polite response to my post would have been to acknowledge the information instead of immediately shooting down everything I shared...then again I suppose maybe I have different standards.
You are absolutely right, and you are certainly full of opinions.
There was nothing impolite about my responding to your suggestions with the facts of our production and budget. Just because I didn't do everything you said does not mean I was "shooting down everything" or a"know it all". Grow up. Telling me to spend 3.5K on a camera is like telling some kid hacking his T2i to buy an Alexa. "It's way better for RAW! It's totally worth it!" *roll eyes*
If you can show me a workable solution that is somewhere in the same $$$ ballpark, then I'm all ears.
