I need a Video Camera, and maybe an SLR upgrade?

[Trooper]

What I currently own is a Nikon F4s, Nikon FE, Nikon D200, Nikon D70, a lot of great Nikon lenses, GoPro, a Horseman 980, a daughter, son, and a beautiful wife. Its a pretty good system, but it isn't flawless.

My trouble is the cameras I have are too bulky for me to carry all of the time, which violates rule number one of creating great photographs: Have a damned camera! My wife is wanting to make instructional videos that would be posted on Youtube and Facebook. I want something that is as capable as my D200, but in a smaller package. I also don't have the money to spend on a digital Leica MP right now or in the foreseeable future.

What options I've come up with:

• Nikon D600 or D800: Doesn't save me much, if any, bulk. Fills my video gap. Works with my present investment of Nikon lenses.
  
• Fuji X100: Meets the everyday carry requirements. I tend to favor the mid-range telephoto lenses, and this thing is wide-angle. It also doesn't fix the video lacuna I have. I'll have a lot of Nikon glass not being used.
  
• Nikon Df: Updated version of the Nikon FE, which was my first camera. It has the same sensor as the D4, in a smaller and less expensive package. It will work with all of my present Nikon lenses. I still need a video camera.

So, what do you suggest I do? I'm not limiting myself to the above list, but I wanted to show you my current thought process.

 

[daveleo]

Coincidentally, I started playing with video, using my Nikon D5100 and an assortment of manual and auto Nikkor lenses.

It is enormous fun ! Do a Youtube search on "manual control of D5100 for video".

The hard parts:
# a script! and a backdrop
# learning to do 100% manual controls in Nikon "Live View" mode.
# auto-XXX sucks, as you will learn.
# EDITING ! ... how are you planning to edit video clips ????

Shooting for YouTube grade quality is way way way below what you are shooting for still image prints. So expensive lenses and cameras are silly.

 

[Trooper]

... how are you planning to edit video clips ????

I haven't gotten that far yet. I've got a 2009 MacBook Pro, so maybe there's something preinstalled?

If the video quality is that much lower than print, then should I look at getting the Df and a cheap video camera?

 

[daveleo]

I haven't gotten that far yet. I've got a 2009 MacBook Pro, so maybe there's something preinstalled?

If the video quality is that much lower than print, then should I look at getting the Df and a cheap video camera?

I have no experience with the DF or with dedicated video cameras.

But, if you are going to buy a DF anyway, just do some homework and see what it's video capabilities are. You don't need any in-camera bells and whistles to make YouTube instructional videos. The bigger problem there is your script writing and editing skills. You will make short video clips with the camera and blend them into movies in the computer.

Also, be sure to check the cameras use with external microphones.