Action Sequences From ‘The Avengers’ Were Partially Shot With the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D

First off, if you haven’t had the chance to check out Marvel’s latest superhero action-adventure flick, The Avengers, I strongly urge that you do so – it’s a fantastic film. Moreover, if you are a Canon HDSLR shooter, today’s news might give you an added incentive to give it a watch.

Canon has just announced, via the press release below, that the 5D Mark II and 7D were both used throughout The Avengers various action sequences. In fact, a total of five 5D2s and two 7Ds were utilized to capture “thrilling point-of-view” perspective shots which were than seamlessly inter-cut between the principal 35mm photography. As The Avengers cinematographer Seamus McGarvey puts it:

The 5D Mark II and the 7D digital SLR cameras produce excellent, cinema-worthy images. They are great for shooting additional angles that give film editors more options for creating powerfully immersive and kaleidoscopic views of action scenes.

McGarvey continued to state:

The cameras’ small size was a major advantage to us. We were able to place them in tight locations that were really close to the big stunts, which would be too risky to do with bigger cameras that would require an operator and two assistants.

Of course, while the news isn’t exactly ground-breaking, as many feature-films have employed the use of DSLRs before, it’s sure to create the discussion from the conspiracy theorist as to why The Avengers chose to use Canon cameras specifically, landing on the likely topic of marketing rather than need. Nevertheless, it’s a great sign to see the continued implementation of DSLRs in Hollywood features, especially one of the magnitude of the film in question.

A few images of the camera being used on-set can be found below along with the official Canon press-release – take a look:

Canon Press Release

Canon EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 7D Digital SLR Cameras of Choice for Stunts and Action Work on Set of “Marvel’s The Avengers”

1920 x 1080 HD Recording And 24p Frame Rate Enable Gripping Point-Of-View Shots for Theatrical Filmmaking

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 9, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce that its EOS 5D Mark II and 7D Digital SLR cameras have been used on the set of Marvel’s latest movie, “Marvel’s The Avengers,” to capture thrilling point-of-view (POV) action shots that can be seamlessly intercut with footage from the film’s principal 35mm and digital cinematography cameras to heighten the film’s visual impact. “Marvel’s The Avengers” shows an epic confrontation between nightmarish super villains attacking the Earth and the super-heroic team of Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye and Black Widow. Directed by Joss Whedon, the film is the latest and most extraordinary Marvel Studios Super Hero movie to date.

With intense action and visual effects captured by the Canon cameras, “Marvel’s The Avengers” required close-quarter action work with unrepeatable stunts. “The 5D Mark II and the 7D digital SLR cameras produce excellent, cinema-worthy images. They are great for shooting additional angles that give film editors more options for creating powerfully immersive and kaleidoscopic views of action scenes,” explained the film’s cinematographer, Seamus McGarvey.

On the set of “Marvel’s The Avengers,” McGarvey and his crew used five Canon 5D Mark II cameras and two 7D models. Using multiple cameras limited the need to re-shoot complex action scenes, and the affordability and compact size of the cameras enabled the crew to obtain ample coverage by strategically angling them from various vantage points throughout the set. “The cameras’ small size was a major advantage to us. We were able to place them in tight locations that were really close to the big stunts, which would be too risky to do with bigger cameras that would require an operator and two assistants,” McGarvey said. He was able to slide one of the Canon cameras into a sewer grating, while placing another under a pile of debris for a key shot of a car hurtling toward the lens, flipping through the air on fire.

“We are thrilled that the EOS 5D Mark II and 7D Digital SLR cameras were called to action on the set of ‘Marvel’s The Avengers.’ We designed these cameras with versatility and flexibility in mind, and their ability to record beautiful 1920 x 1080 HD video, coupled with their compact size, make them an ideal fit for filmmakers looking to capture tight action shots,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A.

Compact, lightweight, and compatible with Canon’s wide selection of EF Series lenses, the Canon 5D Mark II and EOS 7D digital SLR cameras are equipped with large Canon CMOS sensors and Canon DIGIC 4 image processors that enable them to record exceptional full 1920 x 1080 HD video at the user-selectable frame rate of 24p (23.976 fps), which is the standard for today’s high-end filmmaking. Additionally, the cameras’ low-light capabilities were of major importance on the set of “Marvel’s the Avengers,” as many of the film’s scenes were shot at night.

Via: PhotographyBlog | Source: Canon