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Why use DSLR as a video camera?

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BigRedNole

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I am asking out of curiosity. I bought a DSLR to take pictures, not video. I bought an HD camcorder to take video and not pictures. Both excel for their purpose. Neither one can come close to doing the job of the other.

I did take a small video with my T1i and couldn't stand even trying it. AF is horrible, video is questionable at best. I took the same video with my HV20 and it is astounding. I can understand people only wanting one device. However, I think it will be a long while before a DSLR can be as good as a camcorder for video. They would have to create a specific "video lens" to manage for the speed of autofocus necessary.

For me, I'll stick with two separate devices.
 
As with P&S vs DSLR a DSLR offers more control, changeable lenses, better low light performance (IQ wise) etc. Therefore using a DSLR as a 'P&S' video camera it's inferior of course. But as a cinematographers tool on a budget it can be much better than current HD video cams with a smaller CCD/sensor. You can use shallow DOF using the DSLR and often the aperture blades on camcorder are not rounded giving hexagon shaped OOF highlights.

Try using the T1i with a 85mm f/1.8 wide open and shoot a person in video at 4m distance, now try to emulate the look and feel of the shot using your camcorder :)
BigRedNole said:
I am asking out of curiosity. I bought a DSLR to take pictures, not video. I bought an HD camcorder to take video and not pictures. Both excel for their purpose. Neither one can come close to doing the job of the other.

I did take a small video with my T1i and couldn't stand even trying it. AF is horrible, video is questionable at best. I took the same video with my HV20 and it is astounding. I can understand people only wanting one device. However, I think it will be a long while before a DSLR can be as good as a camcorder for video. They would have to create a specific "video lens" to manage for the speed of autofocus necessary.

For me, I'll stick with two separate devices.
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I totally disagree with you BigRed. From the videos I've seen, the IQ from a T1i/T2i/5D blows away anything short of a pro camcorder. They are harder to use and not as versitile, so the subject matter being recorded could change all that, but the DLSRs are capable of some incredible video if used right.

For me, even though it is difficult, I won't spend the money on a HD camcorder because I've already got the ability to record with my T2i and SD780is. I've had to practice a bit to get good results, but now I get good results so it works for me.
 
big image sensor => long focal length lenses => shallow depth of field => more subject isolation and dramatic video. And the combination of less noise/grain and greater resolution possible with the physically larger sensors.

Same reasons celluloid movies shot on 70mm film is preferred over 35mm is preferred over 16mm is preferred over 8mm.

And just as with the other formats, getting these more professional results means more difficult handling. Like tripod mounting and manual follow focus instead of a hand-held camcorder with AF.
BigRedNole said:
I am asking out of curiosity. I bought a DSLR to take pictures, not video. I bought an HD camcorder to take video and not pictures. Both excel for their purpose. Neither one can come close to doing the job of the other.

I did take a small video with my T1i and couldn't stand even trying it. AF is horrible, video is questionable at best. I took the same video with my HV20 and it is astounding. I can understand people only wanting one device. However, I think it will be a long while before a DSLR can be as good as a camcorder for video. They would have to create a specific "video lens" to manage for the speed of autofocus necessary.

For me, I'll stick with two separate devices.
Click to expand...
 
BigRedNole said:
I am asking out of curiosity. I bought a DSLR to take pictures, not video. I bought an HD camcorder to take video and not pictures. Both excel for their purpose. Neither one can come close to doing the job of the other.

I did take a small video with my T1i and couldn't stand even trying it. AF is horrible, video is questionable at best. I took the same video with my HV20 and it is astounding. I can understand people only wanting one device. However, I think it will be a long while before a DSLR can be as good as a camcorder for video. They would have to create a specific "video lens" to manage for the speed of autofocus necessary.

For me, I'll stick with two separate devices.
Click to expand...
I used to think the same way. I had a DSLR and a pretty good Sony Handycam. I had a couple of point-and-shoot cameras that took HD videos as well, hence I thought what the heck - my DSLR is for pics, not for vids.

That was until I bought my Canon 7D. So my response to why I use it for videos - IT ROCKS!

A lot of people complain about the auto-focus, etc in using the video capability of a DSLR. First off, using my 7D I can record videos at ISO1600 and they appear crisp and clean. Now imagine if you use a lens that has a really wide aperture (I use my 50mm f/1.4 USM) for videos, at ISO1600 and shutter speed of 1/30 - there is hardly any scenery that you cannot capture, including lowlight. Bump it up to ISO3200 and noise increases but the overall video quality still is very good.

On auto-focus, the reason you would like to buy a lens with FTM (full-time manual focus) is because you would like to adjust the focus manually while you record videos using the 7D (or 550D for that matter). But it is not true the screen is dark; that only means you have not selected the right ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Or perhaps the lens you are using is not the kind that is ideal for lowlight.

My 7D at 24fps full 1080 HD video produces cinema-quality videos. And oh by the way, it does take awesome stills! So that is another reason I became a convert - I do not really need to carry a separate device anymore, and that is sort of liberating.

Try connecting your Canon DSLR with HD video capability on an HDTV and see for yourself. Or simply play it over your PC that uses a monitor that is at least 19 inch big.

--
Noogy
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I have a HD camcorder but there are times when I'll shoot some video with the T2i. It's just nice to have the option.
 
Thanks for the feedback. As I said, I did not know why people did. I will have to take a look at the capabilities. I just know my HV20 takes some damn good video and always used it instead.
 
Since my XSi does not shoot video, I cannot say I have any experience with video on a DSLR. But last week during the Perseid meteor shower, I wanted to take some video of the sky to see if I could capture any meteors. I also have an HV20, but found that it just would not perform at 3:00 am with no light source other than the stars themselves. My DSLR, on the other hand, captures the stars beautifully at higher ISO settings and longinsh exposures.

I got to wondering as I sat there if having video on the DSLR might allow me to capture low-light situations better than the HV20. Since the sensors are bigger, and one can get get more aperture on a DSLR, I think this might be a good way to go.

Like I said, I do not have a DSLR to find out, but if those with experience could shed some light (no pun intended...), it might convince me to jump on one of the newer models with video.

Chris
 
long ago people used to question why use your phone as mp3 player, as GPS, as voice recorder, as book reader, as game console....

now we have iphone and an army of HTC andriod, no one is asking these questions anymore.
 
T2i is better, but looking at future release that will offer more control and AF.

Video is the area of growth for dSLR.

Another big reason: who wants to carry two camera?
 
Why not? Remember when a cell phone was JUST a cell phone? Now try and list everything it does. Does it do them all well? NOPE, but EVERYONE buys a cell phone for its many uses.
 
Guardian Flash, "There are many film makers who uses the Canon 7D. I don't think they would shoot with a Sony camcorder"

Well said!
 
It's a simple answer... People are using DSLRs to shoot movies because you now have the ability to achieve more cinematic results than using a camcorder.

With full-time autofocus and no depth of field, the results from camcorder are flat. Video from a DSLR is typically more creative since you have a wider choice of lenses and complete control over focus and depth of field. Just do search on YouTube or vimeo for T2i and you'll see tons of examples.

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BigRedNole said:
Thanks for the feedback. As I said, I did not know why people did. I will have to take a look at the capabilities. I just know my HV20 takes some damn good video and always used it instead.
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Hollywood is among the most profit-oriented communities in the planet. And one of the most popular TV series "House" last episode was produced using 5dM2s and 7Ds. Don't you think they would have used your HD videocam if it were better in terms of quality?

--
Noogy
'Photography is my therapy.'
Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 400D, Canon D10, Lumix TZ5, Kodak V1253
 
I am thinking of dumping my HV20 and T1i for a 7D sometime early next year if this is the case. I have to do some research. I asked out of ignorance because I never bought the T1i to record video.
 
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