5D MkII Birding Video - incredible

[argyle]

Check out this video taken with a pre-release 5D Mk II. Shot with a 400/2.8LIS and 2x converter, 3200 ISO. Incredible detail and clarity (and did I mention ISO 3200? ).

http://naturescapes.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=139850

[DDWD10]

One thing I am quickly realizing about the 5DII... naysayers of video mode say "If I wanted HD video I'd get an HD video camera!"

The 5DII takes better HD video than just about any video camera money can buy!

[deeeez]

that's really cool. Couple of years from now, all the DSLRs will have this feature. Good on Nikon and Canon for getting this going. For us casual shooter the video from both these cameras is more than adequate.

[MaDProFF]

One thing I am quickly realizing about the 5DII... naysayers of video mode say "If I wanted HD video I'd get an HD video camera!"

The 5DII takes better HD video than just about any video camera money can buy!

Prob some truth in that, because of the lenses you can put on it
Wonder what the resolution of a frame is if you edited it and chopped a frame out of the video and printed it??? is this the start to the end of still life photography as we know it?

[tonylong]

Did you note that this was taken with a 400 f/2.8 lens with a 2x TC? Sweet -- better keep this camera away from us birders or we'll all be in trouble:)!

[Tom W]

Very nice. It's especially interesting that we'll be able to use lenses like the 400/2.8 with teleconverters. My interest for this camera is rising.

[tonylong]

A whole new genre for BIF!

[gooble]

Prob some truth in that, because of the lenses you can put on it
Wonder what the resolution of a frame is if you edited it and chopped a frame out of the video and printed it??? is this the start to the end of still life photography as we know it?

It's an HD video size frame: 1920x1080 or 2 megapixels versus a the 5D II still image of 21 megapixels. In order for it to do video with all the pixels it'd have to render 10 times the data and have 10 times the storage capacity. It'll happen someday but don't hold your breath.

[Sfordphoto]

the camera was so good the bird sh*t its pants :D (around 2:27)

[fubarhouse]

Gotta admit, I was very skeptical about Video on SLR's, but the technology could be used for a revolution, My only worry is storage, being somewhat a videographer myself I prefer tapes because it's always uncompressed and untampered, I would consider the 5DII as my next camera provided there was an accessory that outputted the data to tapes, I would be really interested....

[tonylong]

Gotta admit, I was very skeptical about Video on SLR's, but the technology could be used for a revolution, My only worry is storage, being somewhat a videographer myself I prefer tapes because it's always uncompressed and untampered, I would consider the 5DII as my next camera provided there was an accessory that outputted the data to tapes, I would be really interested....

I wonder if they have a video tape deck that could take a USB input -- I'd imagine those would be common at this juncture.

[silvex]

A whole new genre for BIF!

BIV...BirdsInVideo ...:)

[RandyMays]

BIV...BirdsInVideo ...:)

:lol::lol::lol:

[Duder]

It's an HD video size frame: 1920x1080 or 2 megapixels versus a the 5D II still image of 21 megapixels. In order for it to do video with all the pixels it'd have to render 10 times the data and have 10 times the storage capacity. It'll happen someday but don't hold your breath.


The Red cameras can already do it: http://www.red.com/cameras

also, check out this screen shot from a video.
(http://www.derylgroup.com/downloads/DERYL/REFERENCE/Tunnel.jpg)

[Anke]

That's really nice. Although I still don't see myself getting into video, after all my compact has it and I've felt the need to use it only a couple of times. You just can't hang a video on a wall, and showing someone a picture is much easier/friendly than making them sit through ages of video.
Useful addition, but can't see it being for me.

[gooble]

The Red cameras can already do it: http://www.red.com/cameras

also, check out this screen shot from a video.
(http://www.derylgroup.com/downloads/DERYL/REFERENCE/Tunnel.jpg)

No digital video camera does 21MP video. The RED has a 12MP sensor.

[gooble]

Gotta admit, I was very skeptical about Video on SLR's, but the technology could be used for a revolution, My only worry is storage, being somewhat a videographer myself I prefer tapes because it's always uncompressed and untampered, I would consider the 5DII as my next camera provided there was an accessory that outputted the data to tapes, I would be really interested....

What's the difference regarding compression between tapes and storing on a hard drive? Isn't it a major PITA in time getting tape data into a computer? Why would you want to do that?

From what I've read you download the clips off of your compact flash card to your hard drive which moves very quickly and can open up in Final Cut or Premier and immediately play and/or edit. Much quicker and easier than tape or so I've read.

[Duder]

No digital video camera does 21MP video. The RED has a 12MP sensor.

:rolleyes: I wasn't claiming they did 21mp's. I was merely pointing out that high resolution combo-cams already exist, and will quickly evolve to that sort of resolution. The Red Epic is due out early next year and may not be far off 20mp.

[Trainboy]

It's starting to look like I'm going to start shooting video....and using my 40D a ton when I don't need 5D capabilities!

[tkoutdoor]

Prob some truth in that, because of the lenses you can put on it
Wonder what the resolution of a frame is if you edited it and chopped a frame out of the video and printed it??? is this the start to the end of still life photography as we know it?Wouldn't it be 1920 x 1080? That's editable for small print, but it's still not RAW and it's still small when it comes to pro requirements. Video will never keep up with still photography resolution. It's totally unnecessary as the video format is incredibly forgiving due to the constant visual stream. It's way more information than a viewer can pixel peep in one setting.

[Sp00ks]

I've never been interested in video but I must admit this has peaked my interest.

[tkoutdoor]

I'd love something like this to set the context for the stuff I'm shooting. Pair that with the pics and I think there is a lot of potential for a nice total product.

[echo]

Gotta admit, I was very skeptical about Video on SLR's, but the technology could be used for a revolution, My only worry is storage, being somewhat a videographer myself I prefer tapes because it's always uncompressed and untampered, I would consider the 5DII as my next camera provided there was an accessory that outputted the data to tapes, I would be really interested....

I shoot several interviews a week and also take stills. I use the XH A1 for video and 1DmkIII for the stills.

I am seriously thinking about trading the XH A1 for the 5DmkII. As good as the A1 is, I can't get the quality 'look' of the stills, DOF etc and ingesting several hours of video is a PITA. The only upside of tape is that it is a good backup medium and I have a ton of tapes (I never re-use, just archive). If I switched to the 5DmkII I'd have to figure out a storage system for backups, possibly DVD's as the file size limitation works out just right, 4 gig per 12 mins roughly fits on to a DVD. I'm running several RAID's with over 10TB of storage and the file sizes won't be any larger than ingested HD footage.

The only downsides are the audio inputs. I can plug any studio mic in to my cam but suspect that a separate wav recorder with XLR's would do the job.

Assuming the the HDMA output can feed in to a portable monitor I don't see any hassles with the layout/config of the 5D.

I can't wait for the new 5D to be here :)

[arizona85224]

I've never been interested in video but I must admit this has peaked my interest.

same here

[bieber]

What's the difference regarding compression between tapes and storing on a hard drive? Isn't it a major PITA in time getting tape data into a computer? Why would you want to do that?

From what I've read you download the clips off of your compact flash card to your hard drive which moves very quickly and can open up in Final Cut or Premier and immediately play and/or edit. Much quicker and easier than tape or so I've read.
The problem is that the video being stored on your card is compressed. A single MiniDV tape can hold up to 56GB of data total: try to store uncompressed data on a CF card, and you wouldn't get hardly anything onto it.

[gooble]

The problem is that the video being stored on your card is compressed. A single MiniDV tape can hold up to 56GB of data total: try to store uncompressed data on a CF card, and you wouldn't get hardly anything onto it.

A 56GB tape holds 4.5 hours of video, right? A 56GB compact flash card (if it existed) could hold 56/4 x 12 = 168 minutes or 2.8 hours. So which one is more compressed?

64GB and 100GB compact flash cards are on the market now. I doubt very many people are feeling nostalgic about tapes.

[echo]

The problem is that the video being stored on your card is compressed. A single MiniDV tape can hold up to 56GB of data total: try to store uncompressed data on a CF card, and you wouldn't get hardly anything onto it.

What goes to tape is compressed, roughly 5:1 if I remember correctly?

[bieber]

What goes to tape is compressed, roughly 5:1 if I remember correctly?
If it's compressed, it must not be much: that stuff takes up a couple hundred megs a minute :O

[buffalophotographer]

Just a quick question-Does anyone know how a 12 minute hd video fares on the battery in the 5d2?

[fubarhouse]

The problem is that the video being stored on your card is compressed. A single MiniDV tape can hold up to 56GB of data total: try to store uncompressed data on a CF card, and you wouldn't get hardly anything onto it.

Unlike the supposed 64-100GB CF cards, MiniDV tapes are only a few dollars each. I never recycle my tapes, I preserve each and every one! The idea is compression, no resolution edits, quality loss or any of that. It's exactly like shooting in RAW, except with video!

[liquidstone]

Just a quick question-Does anyone know how a 12 minute hd video fares on the battery in the 5d2?

Based on my brief hands-on (8 GB used half the battery), I expect a freshly charged one to last 12-16 GB of footage (36 - 48 minutes).

[idahofarmer]

Prob some truth in that, because of the lenses you can put on it
Wonder what the resolution of a frame is if you edited it and chopped a frame out of the video and printed it??? is this the start to the end of still life photography as we know it?

As I see it, I think the slow shutter speed would be a bigger issue than the lack of resolution. I don't see how it would be possible to have a fast enough shutter speed to stop motion on a frame grab.

[bieber]

As I see it, I think the slow shutter speed would be a bigger issue than the lack of resolution. I don't see how it would be possible to have a fast enough shutter speed to stop motion on a frame grab.
Why not? 1/1000 of a second isn't any longer if it's part of a video capture than if it's a still...

[idahofarmer]

Why not? 1/1000 of a second isn't any longer if it's part of a video capture than if it's a still...

Are you suggesting that the video can be recorded at 1000 frames/second? From what I have read the shutter speed tops out at 1/125 sec. in video mode. I understand that you can interrupt the video recording and take a full res. still shot, but that is not what is being discussed.

[bieber]

Are you suggesting that the video can be recorded at 1000 frames/second? From what I have read the shutter speed tops out at 1/125 sec. in video mode. I understand that you can interrupt the video recording and take a full res. still shot, but that is not what is being discussed.
There's nothing stopping you from recording at 30 frames/second and 1/1000 second per frame: that only adds up to 3/100 of each second with the shutter open, leaving plenty of empty space. The problem comes if you want to use a longer shutter speed than 1/30. There is apparently a 1/125 limit on the 5D, but that's only a limitation of that particular camera: if they can get the electronic shutter to operate faster, there's nothing stopping them from allowing video recording all the way up to the camera's max shutter speed. That being said, 1/125 should be plenty fast enough to freeze most motion...

[idahofarmer]

There's nothing stopping you from recording at 30 frames/second and 1/1000 second per frame: that only adds up to 3/100 of each second with the shutter open, leaving plenty of empty space. The problem comes if you want to use a longer shutter speed than 1/30. There is apparently a 1/125 limit on the 5D, but that's only a limitation of that particular camera: if they can get the electronic shutter to operate faster, there's nothing stopping them from allowing video recording all the way up to the camera's max shutter speed. That being said, 1/125 should be plenty fast enough to freeze most motion...

I am far from an expert on video or the 5D MII, but if I am reading correctly the camera is indeed preventing you from recording video with a 1/1000 second shutter speed. The way I read it 1/125 is the MAX shutter speed. This is a quote from the original video link.

"Video "frame grabs" from the 5DII will be very nice, but you have to realize that the shutter speed tops out at 1/125 sec. You're not going to freeze action in video mode, and you're only going to get 2MP "stills" from it."

[bieber]

I am far from an expert on video or the 5D MII, but if I am reading correctly the camera is indeed preventing you from recording video with a 1/1000 second shutter speed. The way I read it 1/125 is the MAX shutter speed. This is a quote from the original video link.

"Video "frame grabs" from the 5DII will be very nice, but you have to realize that the shutter speed tops out at 1/125 sec. You're not going to freeze action in video mode, and you're only going to get 2MP "stills" from it."
Read the post more carefully: I noted that there is, in fact, a 1/125 second shutter speed limit on the 5DII, and went on to discuss it. And, as I already said, 1/125 should be more or less sufficient for stopping most motion, especially if you're panning. But the camera would most certainly not have to record 1000 fps to use a 1/1000 shutter speed: at this point, it's probably just a matter of how fast they can cycle the electronic shutter.

[idahofarmer]

Read the post more carefully: I noted that there is, in fact, a 1/125 second shutter speed limit on the 5DII, and went on to discuss it. And, as I already said, 1/125 should be more or less sufficient for stopping most motion, especially if you're panning. But the camera would most certainly not have to record 1000 fps to use a 1/1000 shutter speed: at this point, it's probably just a matter of how fast they can cycle the electronic shutter.

Good point. I was wrong when I suggested that you would need to shoot at 1000 frames/sec. to use a 1/1000 second shutter speed. However, I was confused when you said there is nothing stopping you from using a 1/1000 second shutter speed, except for the camera.

[Stealthy Ninja]

Nice video... but it needs to be cut shorter (boooooring). :p

For years us videographers have been encroaching on the still camera business, now it's you photographers turn! :shock:

[yf920]

very cool!

[JMHPhotography]

No digital video camera does 21MP video. The RED has a 12MP sensor.

Yes... but the video mode isn't capturing 21MP video. It's 1080P which is 1920x1080... in other words... just over 2MP.

[ben_r_]

Wow thats awesome!