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 p.1 #12 · Nikon D3200 for recording video of weddings? | |
We shoot wedding videos all the time and have used a variety of cameras over the years, including Canon DSLRs (550D, 60D, 7D, 5D2) and also the D800. We've now sold all the Canon DSLRs 
Multiple angles are absolutely needed if you want to give the viewer some relief during a long section (vows, exchange of rings etc) and for sure during speeches. Doing it on the cheap is almost always problematic though and requires multiple people to do it when using DSLRs.
Shooting with cameras that are time limited is not such a problem as long as you have them all manned, can see each other, can communicate with each other silently (pre-arranged hand signals) and you are all paying attention instead of getting sleepy, bored or having fun listening to a great speech. DSLRs do not allow for unmanned cameras for most ceremonies (they are too long), which is why the 550D with magic lantern firmware was so useful at the time.
However, after a while, the call of the DSLR wears off, especially when you realise it's almost impossible to get both bride and groom in clear focus from a side shot! We've migrated back to using regular video cameras for the ceremonies and speeches because of longer run times and easier focusing (more depth of field). There are some things DSLRs are great for and then there are times when a regular video camera is better. We're not talking cheap handicams either. Don't buy cheap consumer handicams and hope it will be OK, the picture will die on you when the light goes!
We tend to use the DSLRs more for the creative shots where shallow DOF is useful, and for when it's really low light (though to be fair our video cameras with some noise reduction do just as well, and the speakers can move and you aren't as worried about maintaining focus).
If you are planning on putting together a cheap system using primes be very aware of how your planned shooting style is going to impact the day, particularly the photographer. There are too many people thinking wedding videos are easy (they are not) and don't pay attention to the needs of everyone else on the day. If you get in the way of the photographer too many times, he can find ways to really screw you in return. You need to be able to stand well back and not be in the line of sight of the photographer, in the face of the couple and/or who ever is taking the ceremony.
When we are shooting video we have an absolute minimum crew of two, usually three for video cameras and a minimum of three when using DSLRs. When we shoot photo and video it's four, just like paparazznick. Can it be done with fewer people? Of course. Can it be done 'well' with fewer people? That depends on what style of video you are trying to do.
If you are are a single person trying to rig, run and pull down multiple cameras, you may well get the guts of the ceremony or speeches, but what you will lose out on is the transitional sections, leaving the ceremony, leaving church, arriving at the reception etc. You'll be spending more time running around clearing up your kit and less time shooting, which is never good.
Also, if you've never shot a wedding video, my guess is you've never edited one either. Shooting weddings requires good planning, good foresight for what is about to happen, great teamwork on the day, being aware of what everyone else is doing, great shooting skills on the day (no retakes!) and good editing skills afterward. But there is still MORE to it than that. It's no good shooting for the moment and later coming back and realising you should have started 2 seconds earlier and hung on to the shots for another 2 - 3 seconds because now it's too late and you are about to make a nasty cut that could have so easily been avoided. So, you'll need to learn another skill, one which most amateur video people never quite master, and that's "shooting for the edit", rather than for the "moment", and 'that' takes experience.
In terms of using cameras and lenses, primes are gorgeous, but they don't give a lot of flexibility. Zooms are slower but allow more framing options. Also, remember that when you are stood at the back of the church, looking down the isle, trying to frame the B+G so you get a close shot (say top half) of them for the ring shot, you could easily be at 200mm, f2.8 and DOF of just a few inches (maybe 6" !). Your focusing skills need to be spot on.
Now, you've thought about cameras, but you didn't even mention audio and lighting. Picture is only half, perhaps less than half of video. You need to be skilled at capturing, processing and mixing audio too. If you think audio comes easy you are in for a big shock! People can put up with all sorts of problems with video but if the sound is bad it's totally unwatchable. I've only once used the audio recorded on a DSLR and that's because all the 5 (five!) other audio sources had problems and we had no choice.
Don't learn this stuff at a real live wedding, even one you are doing for free. Make sure you have this stuff down before even thinking about a wedding. Then have a backup plan. And a plan C, D, E & F. And then a plan for when something happens you didn't plan for 
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