digital camera for stills and video

[msbarnes]

This is not for me but for a friend's friend. She is wanting to get into photography and videography. Well I'll try to give her some advice without going overboard and too technical.

Well for someone with both of these interests I think that DSLRs and M43's make the most sense. I'm thinking Canon/Nikon or a Panasonic GH2/GH3. I'm for the most part aware of the pros/cons for stills and ofcourse price/portability but I'm really not sure bout video. Any thoughts or other camera's to look into for some semi-serious video work?

I oftentimes here great things about the GH2/GH3's in regards to video so there must but something magical about them.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I've just bought the Panasonic TZ40 (AKA the ZS30) and I'm very impressed with it. It reminds me of the Nikon EM: it just works. Like the Nikon EM, it delivers really good quality at a sensible price and it's very simple to use.

In my opinion, for a beginner, simplicity is far more important than anything else.

 

[redisburning]

5d mark II

it's the digital equivalent to the F. not too difficult use, it's a great camera for stills and a good one for video. it also takes the type of lenses you actually want to use for video (those with proper focus helicals and quality/accurate apertures).

 

[cpc]

The GH3 is a true hybrid photo/video camera. It has a great codec, articulated screen which is nice for video shooting, timecode (for the serious videographer), manual audio control, clean hdmi out for video monitoring, headphone port for audio monitoring, touch focus in video mode, 60p for slow motion, and you can put pretty much any lens on it with adapters.
Its pretty much only downside is the moire/aliasing in video mode. Moire is actually the bane of photo cameras when it comes to video. There are 3 (yes, three) decent photo cameras which have minimal moire and aliasing in video: Canon 5d mk3 and Nikons d7100 and d5200. Nikon's codec is a bit weak, but both of the Nikon cameras are pretty nice. And 5d Mk3 is a video monster when you put the unofficial hacked firmware Magic Lantern on it.
The new Canon 70d has an awesome feature for video - it can track focus in video without hunting. For the record, no other camera can do it right. It is still moire ridden though. Nevertheless, it can be a very good option.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Good forum for videography.
http://forums.planet5d.com/forum.php

Used Canon 5D MKII with old MF primes. 35mm video and FF stills.
Or any newer DSLR to have advantage of photo lens for video.
Plus focus adapter, steadicam unit and portable video light, external mic and so on.
And for video the editing software is as high as 90% of the final outcome.
Like Sony Vegas Pro.
You could film it with iPhone and make it looking great with NLE software.
Or you could film it with Canon 5D MKIII and 50L lens, but without editing it is still like home video.