My interest in video is casual at best. For a professional commentary on this topic, visit bythom.com
and search for "What About Video?" in the 2011 archive. My personal experiences
may still be of some value.
Most recent mirrored digtal cameras (DSLR's) now offer some sort of
video capability. The possibilities are tantalizing: high
quality interchangeable lenses available on behalf of high definition
video using camera bodies delivering top stills performance - no need to
carry a dedicated video unit. Right?
(Comments following based on Nikon D7000 experience.)
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- Often quite stunning image quality. After all, your DSLR lenses
are designed to exploit the 16 mpx (or more) resolution of the
sensor so delivering a quality image at HD's 2 mpx is a no-brainer.
The experts will quibble over interpolation and other details but
really, these images are very satisfying and look great on a HDTV.
- Although much reported by the experts, no evidence yet of
"rolling shutter" effect or other undesireable imaging artifacts.
For many subjects you may never run into a problem.
- It is very easy and quick to switch between stills and video
mode.
- Todays flash cards provide more than enough storage for
capturing video clips long enough to bore your friends to death.
- The mirror has to be flipped up to capture video. This costs you
one of the principle benefits of getting a DSLR in the first place -
optical through the lens (TTL) viewing. You are now stuck using the
LCD for composition and framing - just like users of most pocket
snapshooters. In almost any sort of daylight situation the LCD
washes out and you are in the dreaded "point and pray" situation. If
you need eye-glasses you also lose your diopeter correction so
better remember your reading specs. Consider tossing a towel over
your head and the camera if you want to see the LCD at all. There is
a potential solution - manufacturers could provide a clip-on EVF the
way Panasonic does for some of its pocket shooters. Dream on.
- Optimum placement of controls for still photography is not
optimum for video, be assured. All of a sudden nothing seems to be
in the right place. The manual zoom so prized for stills becomes a
jerk inducing nuisance and the start/stop button should be on the
front of the camera body, not the back where poking it always seems
to induce some swing. When you move your hand to operate the zoom,
you lose some support for the camera body. Unless you are very
careful, the horizon will suddenly tilt. Auto-focus and
auto-exposure, so fast and accurate with the mirror down, begn to
drag their heels as the scene changes. There may be brief periods of
exposure "pumping" and/or blurry focus as the system struggles to
keep abreast of conditions.
- The internal micophone picks up every little bit of mechanical
noise. You will hear grunts and groans from the lens stabilzer,
insect-like chattering from auto-focus and clicks from exposure
control. None of this matters with stills but for video ...
unacceptable. It's a very busy, noisy world in there. Consider an
external microphone on some sort of boom and/or use of manual
controls. But now you have lost much of that anticipated convenience
and compactness.
With much attention to the pitfalls and with careful planning you can
produce impressive DSLR video . The image quality is there for the most
part but if you are serious about video or aspire to seriousness you
will want to invest in a dedicated video camera for now. Of course,
there will be pros out there who will prove "it can be done" with a DSLR
but is it worth all the effort and frustration?
DSLR video is more than a gimmick and very nice to have for those
occasions when you need a short, high quality clip to accompany your
stills but for more than that, the frustrations dominate.
Convergence is coming but probably not in a camera with a mirror.
Don't forget about video editing software. I have tried several
packages and lean toward Sony Vegas. Along with the usual razzle-dazzle
special effects it incorporates some serious photographic tools for
managing exposure accuracy, contrast and color saturation (among other
image parameters you might want to edit). There are other excellent
products. Cyberlink "Powerdirector" has many fans and apparently
outsells Vegas at about the same price. It is easier to learn than
Vegas but IMO does not have available as many facilities for dealing
with problematic video. Both ran reliably and fast during my tests. Avail yourself of the demos and check the reviews. As with
most things photographic and computer-ish one man's meat is another's
poison.
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