Making Videos with DSLR’s
Digital still cameras have had rudimentary video capabilities for some time. However recent advances in high end models such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1k, Nikon D90, and the Canon 5d mark II have made the idea of creating high-quality video content on a still camera a reality.
For the first time in it’s history Videomaker will review a still camera (Canon 5D mkII) in it’s pages, and we will add the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) as a new category of camcorder henceforth. As you would expect, the focus on the review will be on the video capabilities of the camera, with a brief overview of its still photo functions.
We will focus on using the DSLR in real world shooting conditions, in terms of capacity battery life, audio capabilities and other practical tests. The footage that we’ve seen so far is very impressive, but there are some real limitations to capturing video with DSLR’s at this stage.
In broad strokes, some of the advantages of the DSLR video format are:
- Full Frame 35mm Sensors create a shallower Depth of Field
- High quality and relatively inexpensive lenses
- Integral “film look”
Some of the disadvantages are:
- Limited record times
- Poor audio capability
- Limited video controls
- Lens zoom and focus not designed for motion pictures, only stills
While still very much in their infancy, I expect that DSLR’s will make great strides in the near future in terms of video capabilities, and will be viable digital cinema cameras after a few versions.
March 27th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Cool. I look forward to reading the review.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to suggest a test. I’ve heard these cameras are very susceptible to the artifacts caused by the rolling shutter – the “jello” effect and black horizontal bands. I think that would be a good test because when those artifacts are encountered, they make the video useless.
March 27th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Thanks John!
Will we see ‘DSLR Videomaker’, like we once saw the magazine called ‘Computer Videomaker’ ?
-Andrew Burke
April 1st, 2009 at 7:13 am
I came back from a photoshoot during which I played around with the video function of the Canon 5D MKII. Being able to use professional lenses (50mm F1.2 35mm F1.4 85mm F1.2) with a full size sensor obviously makes for astonishingly beautiful video. No doubt about quality itself. But there are still many limitations. Focusing is basically manual and a bit difficult to be accurate looking at an exposed LCD monitor on a very bright day. Some LCD hood is in order to overcome the problem. There is no obvious control over lens aperture and that is the biggest drawback since using these lenses at full aperture (therefore VERY shallow depth of field) is the biggest difference between the 5D and a prosumer camcorder. My feeling is that this is just the beginning of DSLR Video and that in the next couple of years we’re going to see great improvement in this fieldf. For now, it’s great for photographers to be able to shoot some HD clips when needed and for videographers to have a ‘new look’ to experiment with.
April 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
Thanks for the first hand report Lucab, I’m eager to give it a go myself as well. I agree that there are big things to come with DSLR video, and it’s interesting to be here at it’s infancy.