Any of you guys shooting VIDEO with your Digital Cameras?

[JJW]

The Canon 5D now shoots HD in 1080P and the Nikon D90 in 720P. The output from these cameras is in many ways comparable to what you get from a dedicated digital camcorder (and for a lot less money and with much better glass).

Most new P&S digital cameras like the Lumix LX3, Canon SX200 and Casio FH20 now have the capability to shoot 720P HD in 24/30 fps.

Any of you guys actually shooting and using still cameras to capture digital video? How do you edit and present the videos you shoot? What do you use it for? Goofing around and shooting Junior taking his first steps or throwing his dinner around on his high chair? Youtube or throwing something up on Myspace maybe?

Has this changed the way you use your cameras? Does having video matter at all to you or not? Is this just a gimmick or a passing fad in camera design?

 

[SteveM(PA)]

I posted this before (sorry) but there's an update 🙂

I shot this work project with my old canon s230 (although the stills are r-d1), edited with iMovie 6 which I was a complete novice at...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mw4b0WLQ9M

Some guys at work liked it so much, they employed me to edit their grant video...and it's gone over really well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbZYTjUPXz4&feature=channel_page

Today I got a request to do a wedding (compiling/editing only)...not sure if I want to take that on or not.

I think I currently have a mini-crush on video and iMovie 🙂

 

[Merkin]

A good friend of mine shoots video with his 5d mk II, and he recommends buying manual focus olympus lenses and an adapter for EF mount for shooting video, since you cannot control your aperture in video mode with EF lenses.

 

[jefffribourg]

i got my 5dmkii about 2 years ago with the main intention of using it to shoot video. thats still about all i do with it and i love it.

 

[jsrockit]

Nope no video for me... not interested.

 

[zwarte_kat]

Yep

Yep

Both photos and video.

I actually started with video, which I studied in art school. Then when I started working in video production, I got so busy that I didn't have the energy and time to make my own videos. This is when I started photography. It's easier to do in small portions, less equipment, and more pure. At work I was struggling with editing systems and dozens of video formats. So a simple rangefinder appealed to me, it was a completely different direction. Back to the core.

My employers saw my photography work, and I ended up switching to photography 80% - video 20%.
It's kind of hard, because photography really became my passion, and now I have to do that for work...

And now I feel I want to do some videos in my free time again.
If I just did photography, I would have gotten an M9 already, but I have to split my investments, preferably including equipment that can do both.

I have a Canon 550D, which I use as a dedicated video camera for dept of field beauty shots. Sometimes I think about getting a nex to replace it. M-mount lenses do not have IS though, quite important if you want to shoot handheld. Unless you use a tripod you are probably better of using IS lenses, or a rig.

 

[Michael Markey]

Tried for the first time last weekend with a GRD and was surprised how poor it was.

 

[zwarte_kat]

In general the companies who also make video cams have good video quality on their photo cameras. Canon, Sony, Panasonic.

That's why Nikon kind of lagged behind Canon in this, despite being the first on a DSLR.

Ricoh doesn't make anything related to video as far as I now. I have a grd too, and would never use it for video, it's complete crap for that.

 

[Jeremy Johns]

Nope I'm not interested either.

 

[emraphoto]

bought some video gear last fall. dslr, few mics, led light...

love it. about the only thing i use a dslr for but new ways of doing things always gets a thumbs up from this fella

 

[Corto]

Not too long ago there was an episode of Tony Bourdain's show, "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel that was a "Behind the scenes" kinda thing.

Lots of the shots were taken with one of the cameramen using a DSLR on a shoulder rig with a rather large External LCD screen.

Didnt really see what brand.

 

[EcoLeica]

Yes I am...its the only reason why I own a digital camera at the moment. I have got a panasonic GH1 that has had its firmware hacked for a nice usable broadcast codec. Lovely images but to tell you the truth if im doing a paid gig (i'm a professional cameraman) then I would never go there because the ergonomics are terrible and I don't have proper sound capture (a double system is just too hard by myself). But for the odd fun gig then its a great way to experiment with.

here is a short film I made the other day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX3LcNImhzE

 

[jefffribourg]

Both photos and video.

I actually started with video, which I studied in art school. Then when I started working in video production, I got so busy that I didn't have the energy and time to make my own videos. This is when I started photography. It's easier to do in small portions, less equipment, and more pure. At work I was struggling with editing systems and dozens of video formats. So a simple rangefinder appealed to me, it was a completely different direction. Back to the core.

My employers saw my photography work, and I ended up switching to photography 80% - video 20%.
It's kind of hard, because photography really became my passion, and now I have to do that for work...

And now I feel I want to do some videos in my free time again.
If I just did photography, I would have gotten an M9 already, but I have to split my investments, preferably including equipment that can do both.

I have a Canon 550D, which I use as a dedicated video camera for dept of field beauty shots. Sometimes I think about getting a nex to replace it. M-mount lenses do not have IS though, quite important if you want to shoot handheld. Unless you use a tripod you are probably better of using IS lenses, or a rig.

thats the same thing with me. i went to film school and then dropped out for an industry job and after 9 grueling months of not having a second to do any of my own work i started shooting photos full time again. even though video is still my day job i do web content stuff that isnt intensive. its funny because i found that having video as my secondary interest i got more work in it hahah.

 

[zwarte_kat]

It's called the Kiss X4 here in Japan 🙂
It's an amazing value for money. I have often used it as a second camera for work, and the images look the same as the ones from the 7D, also a great value camera BTW for both photos and video. The video function is the reason I chose Canon over Nikon. Besides that I find the 2 brands more similar than different.

I am now finalizing a video shot on the Rebel and... the GRDIII. It's funny because I just posted that the Ricoh cams are crap for video, which they are.

They make great timelapses, though.

 

[fireblade]

nah, no video.....only on my iphone, i film my golf swing and send it to my buddies who cant beat me 😀

 

[bigeye]

I use it for occasional family scenes, but mostly sports/coaching. DSLR Video is a different game.

I'm tempted to get a Zacuto rig for the D90 - it can take some breathtaking video with fast tele glass - really professional results. Like a pro rig, it is very clunky to use; every function is broken down into a manual process, like exposure and pulling focus (which is awkward w/o a Zacuto rig). The D90 also doesn't have a mic jack (but if you're into this stuff, you'll use a remote recorder anyway). If you can control your scenes, it's a very inexpensive way to get excellent results (because of the glass and relatively large sensor). You just have to work it like set-piece film-making.

Though it's neat to play with, I really don't need pro film-making capability. The tiny Canon S100 I picked up now does 1080p and produces excellent video (with AE & AF). A remarkable little machine.

- Charlie

 

[Benjamin Marks]

You know, I pooh-pooh'd it when it started being integrated into all of these still cameras and I don't use it often. BUT. I do use it. NEX5/Olympus EP-2 -- for family stuff, with my son for stop-motion stuff. It is just mo' fun, when I wasn't particularly looking for it. BTW, lack of it wouldn't stop me from buying a camera. But I have reevaluated my early dismissal/lack of interest. Roll film! (er, electrons)

 

[zwarte_kat]

my video of a live paint performance

my video of a live paint performance

Here is a video that I just finished, using the Canon 550d (Rebel) for the normal close-up shots and the GRD III for the timelapse. No extra equipment except for a really light tiny flimsy tripod for the GRD, so everything fitted in a small domke camera bag:

http://youtu.be/JGWOBdKNrGw

Made the music too, though I think that could be better...

 

[ankaka]

I really like my Canon 550D. It's called the Canon Rebel T2i in the US. It has an 18 mega pixel sensor and takes great photos. It also has 1080 HD video, with a choice of frame rates. The video quality is superb, it looks great on my high definition TV.

 

[gdi]

Having a nice small system that I can use to shoot video as well as stills is why I have a m4/3 system. I just use it for capturing special kids' events mostly and use either Premiere or iMovie to edit. I chose a GH2 over other cameras (though I have a Canon system with a non-video body as well) due to its HD video quality and ability to adapt M lenses.