OT: Thinking of buying a DSLR?
JackW
wrote on 6/6/2010, 11:15 AM
Comments
ushere
wrote on 6/6/2010, 4:47 PM
thanks - great article....
Dan Sherman
wrote on 6/6/2010, 5:56 PM
That Bloom guy makes 'em look sexy.
I'll stay with something a bit more conventional for the short term though.
Gotta upgrade the 'puter, buy groceries and the wife has invited me on a vacation.
I pay.
But if you do buy one, report back.
I can live vicariously through your experiences. : + )
I'll stay with something a bit more conventional for the short term though.
Gotta upgrade the 'puter, buy groceries and the wife has invited me on a vacation.
I pay.
But if you do buy one, report back.
I can live vicariously through your experiences. : + )
ushere
wrote on 6/6/2010, 6:07 PM
i'm contemplating upgrading my d70s - i do a little commercial work with it, and i can't fault it, other than when i'm shooting large paintings and i have to get a chip chart in the frame - i lose a lot of pixels on a final crop.
so i'm looking at the canon 550 (?), the cheap video enabled version. it'll give me more pixels to play with, and i can start playing with the video....
BUT, i see absolutely no way that it would be a substitute for my z5. yes, i've seen the gorgeous pics derived from dslr's, and they are stunning, but my clientele would be more interested in good sound, simplicity of shoot, etc., and since i usually control the environment i shoot in, good lighting with almost any hdv camcorder will yield spectacular results.....
so i'm looking at the canon 550 (?), the cheap video enabled version. it'll give me more pixels to play with, and i can start playing with the video....
BUT, i see absolutely no way that it would be a substitute for my z5. yes, i've seen the gorgeous pics derived from dslr's, and they are stunning, but my clientele would be more interested in good sound, simplicity of shoot, etc., and since i usually control the environment i shoot in, good lighting with almost any hdv camcorder will yield spectacular results.....
Laurence
wrote on 6/7/2010, 5:54 AM
I would also look very seriously at the Sony Nex5 which is a 4/3rds camera. Same large sensor, same interchangeable lenses, same quality HD video, but no optical viewfinder (which is akward for video) and instead a large display that moves out from the camera and can be angled up or down.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&N=0&Q=&Ntt=Sony+Nex5&A=endecaSearch
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&N=0&Q=&Ntt=Sony+Nex5&A=endecaSearch
farss
wrote on 6/7/2010, 5:59 AM
Panasonic will shortly have a 4/3" camera with HDMI and HD-SDI outputs for monitoring etc. In camera recording will be AVC-Intra. Expect to pay under USD 5K. Initial version will take Leica glass.
I'd seriously suggest waiting. I think there'll be a lot of 5/7Ds going very cheap soon.
Bob.
I'd seriously suggest waiting. I think there'll be a lot of 5/7Ds going very cheap soon.
Bob.
MarketStreet
wrote on 6/7/2010, 6:42 AM
I too was checking for information on the NEX-5 by Sony but found out that the menu system seems to be a pain...
The 1080 video mode is interlaced video.
Another article that could be nice to read:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-nex5.shtml
The 1080 video mode is interlaced video.
Another article that could be nice to read:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony-nex5.shtml
rs170a
wrote on 6/7/2010, 6:47 AM
The following portion of the article is what I found very interesting.
I doubt that this restriction would apply to the North American market.
"Recording durations have yet to pass about 12 minutes of run time. Since they were not originally designed for continuous operation, heat was an issue, but interestingly, this limit was reportedly more a function of European import taxes. It seems that if the cameras were able to record more duration, they would jump out of the still camera tax category and be considered a video camera, subject to a much higher EU import tariff."
Mike
I doubt that this restriction would apply to the North American market.
"Recording durations have yet to pass about 12 minutes of run time. Since they were not originally designed for continuous operation, heat was an issue, but interestingly, this limit was reportedly more a function of European import taxes. It seems that if the cameras were able to record more duration, they would jump out of the still camera tax category and be considered a video camera, subject to a much higher EU import tariff."
Mike
24Peter
wrote on 6/7/2010, 9:09 AM
The following portion of the article is what I found very interesting.
Mike - I'm pretty sure that is a limitation of the FAT32 file system (4GB max file size).
For anyone interested in the new Sony NEX's, dpreview put up it's review today http://www.dpreview.com/news/1006/10060704SonyNEX5nex3review.asp OK cams but no manual control over video shooting.
Personally I went from a DVX100 to a HV20 and now shoot almost exclusively with my Canon T2i (I also own a 5DII but use that more for stills - I like the smaller size of the T2i for video). For me, ergonomically DSLR's s*ck for video - that's the biggest drawback. Video IQ is the highlight of most DSLR's (though the rolling shutter CMOS phenom can be a pain). A lot of bang IQ-wise for the buck.
Interesting comparison between DSLR's and between DSLR's & film here:
3- parts - close to two hours of tests/samples
http://www.zacuto.com/shootout
Mike - I'm pretty sure that is a limitation of the FAT32 file system (4GB max file size).
For anyone interested in the new Sony NEX's, dpreview put up it's review today http://www.dpreview.com/news/1006/10060704SonyNEX5nex3review.asp OK cams but no manual control over video shooting.
Personally I went from a DVX100 to a HV20 and now shoot almost exclusively with my Canon T2i (I also own a 5DII but use that more for stills - I like the smaller size of the T2i for video). For me, ergonomically DSLR's s*ck for video - that's the biggest drawback. Video IQ is the highlight of most DSLR's (though the rolling shutter CMOS phenom can be a pain). A lot of bang IQ-wise for the buck.
Interesting comparison between DSLR's and between DSLR's & film here:
3- parts - close to two hours of tests/samples
http://www.zacuto.com/shootout
CClub
wrote on 6/7/2010, 12:02 PM
From Ushere's post above: "I see absolutely no way that it would be a substitute for my z5." Very wise. I was shooting a concert over the weekend with 3 V1U's. I went on Saturday night just to set up lighting and work with my audio tech, and I brought along my T2i. There's no way in hell that you can shoot anything live that is not absolutely a controlled environment without a lot of movement with a DSLR. Perhaps if you had a crew with you (focus puller, etc.), but how many of us have that? I was almost contemplating selling my V1U and going fully with the DSLR's... good thing I got a chance to experiment in a live setting. Until Sony comes out with something like http://www.hdwarrior.co.uk/2010/04/12/sony-shows-a-sdof-camcorder-at-nab/This[/link], the only thing I'll be using my T2i for is short films and very controlled settings (e.g., documentary interviews).
RalphM
wrote on 6/7/2010, 7:17 PM
As I remember the Panasonic H1 can shoot beyond the 12 minute limit (until the memory card is full). Panasonic's glass does not receive the ratings of Canon or Nikon. Adapters are available however.
ushere
wrote on 6/8/2010, 2:31 AM
this might be blasphemous, but dslr, why on earth make so much trouble for yourself?
yes, i know the pictures are stunning, given adherence to all the criteria, ie, good lighting, ability to set-up, etc., but if you're being paid to shoot 'video' why kill yourself figuring it all out, or bleed to death paying for all the 'extras' that are needed....
yes, i know, you're creating art, not video. ok.
but with good lighting, and judicious use of cc, or even mb looks, you can make even a humble hd handycam look stunning (as long as it's in focus!).
yes, i know, you want perfection (as we know it today).
but tomorrow they'll be something come along that'll make dslr's look like the kludgy video tool they are today.
yes, i know, you want to be ahead of the pack.
fine, but they'll always be someone ahead of you (well, according to the general level of expertise here. ie. someone shooting 2/3" hd, or heaven forbid, FILM!)
meanwhile, we're all, more or less, delivering sd dvd's to be played on hd lcd / plasma screens that have been totally f'd up by using 'theatre mode', oversaturated colours, and played through dvd players that don't always have the best of up-rezzing technology in them.
and yes, it's a quiet day today.....
yes, i know the pictures are stunning, given adherence to all the criteria, ie, good lighting, ability to set-up, etc., but if you're being paid to shoot 'video' why kill yourself figuring it all out, or bleed to death paying for all the 'extras' that are needed....
yes, i know, you're creating art, not video. ok.
but with good lighting, and judicious use of cc, or even mb looks, you can make even a humble hd handycam look stunning (as long as it's in focus!).
yes, i know, you want perfection (as we know it today).
but tomorrow they'll be something come along that'll make dslr's look like the kludgy video tool they are today.
yes, i know, you want to be ahead of the pack.
fine, but they'll always be someone ahead of you (well, according to the general level of expertise here. ie. someone shooting 2/3" hd, or heaven forbid, FILM!)
meanwhile, we're all, more or less, delivering sd dvd's to be played on hd lcd / plasma screens that have been totally f'd up by using 'theatre mode', oversaturated colours, and played through dvd players that don't always have the best of up-rezzing technology in them.
and yes, it's a quiet day today.....