SLR vs Camcorder

I suggest getting a dedicated camcorder. IMO a dslr is at best a poor compromise for video, take a look at any current photographic magazine and to get acceptable video you need to acquire another grand in video specific attaching gear to take it. Dslrs are awkward at best in video mode and due to Japanese tax regs video time length is curtailed. If you are just shooting extremely short clips the dslr is marginally adequate. For recording say a birthday party for one of your kids you will run up on the mandatory video length limit probably just in time to miss the blowing out of the candles or the present openings. Yes you can immediately restart the recording mode but there will be gaps in continuity.

Joe Ravenstein wrote in post #12655526
Dslrs are awkward at best in video mode and due to Japanese tax regs video time length is curtailed.

Actually I think that is actually our fault, well at least the EU's as IIRC it is EU Tax regulations on video cameras that is at fault. I think the import duty into the EU for video cameras is about 40%, I'm not sure about the duty rate on still cameras, but I think it's under 10%, which is a big difference.

Alan

ive been actually thinking about this a lot more know, and had no idea people were still posting in here, i appreciate it! I watched a youtube video of someone that filmed with the T2i and it looked amazing, but it wasn't fast moving. I like how you use a lot of DOF. So im still tossing it up in the air. Im just having a problem picking out what is a good camcorder and what isnt.

here are a few i was looking at. (these are all local for me, so i could buy, try and return easy if i didnt like it)

http://www.futureshop.​ca …ba96d8a2b8517d2​e4a3fden02

http://www.futureshop.​ca …e893a20bb935001​483ffben02

http://www.futureshop.​ca …eb4aeeaad4d7001​26135fen02

Canonero wrote in post #12653254
Look over the dark side. D7000 autofocus in vid mode

and it is pants. Just bollocks. It shouldn't even be mentioned as a feature.

The GH2 is probably the only large sensored camera that can do continuous AF during video that is as slick as a dedicated video camcorder. I've moved my secondary rig from Nikon to M4/3 exactly for this reason... video AF.

What I usually do is zoom in on the furthest point you will be shotting at. Then focus the len, then zoom back out. No need to worry about focusing at all.

Canonero wrote in post #12653254
Look over the dark side. D7000 autofocus in vid mode

But is it any better than the AF that Canon offers in video mode? Everything I've heard is Nikon's video AF is equally as useless as Canon's video AF.

here is a video of the style of filming i would like to do, just how the into is and what not. Do you think it was filmed with a dlsr or a pro camera?

http://vimeo.com/20870​719

As mentioned, the auto-focus on the D7000 is horrible. It's all jumpy and inaccurate.

My buddy just picked up a D7000 as opposed to a Canon for that very feature... and it's a huge disappointment.

IMHO auto focus on video with large sensors is useless. i remember my old Canon A1 hi8 camcorder that had a .5 inch sensor. Autofocus was horrendous. Remember, most if not all pro cameras had manual focus only in the day. Jump up to a few yrs ago with my Canon HV20 HD camcorder. It has an instant auto focus that I use all the time. No hunting-it locks on and stays locked-but it has a very large dof because of the smaller sensor.

I was wondering whether to bring my DSLR to Hawaii last yr or my camcorder. I decided to bring my camcorder. It actually has decent stills in good light. Worked out ok. I did miss some great high quality stills but the video made up for it. I did see some pro using his dslr for video at some of the water falls. Today if I had a choice I would probably use the dslr and video but do the manual focus thing and make short clips. The only problem I see on a vacation is the need for so many memory cards or ability to transfer to dvd etc. With my HV20 I had to buy DV tapes.

RHChan84 wrote in post #12670777
What I usually do is zoom in on the furthest point you will be shotting at. Then focus the len, then zoom back out. No need to worry about focusing at all.

No, that doesn't work with many (most?) so-called zoom lenses, especially the less expensive ones. Modern autofocus "zoom" lenses aren't zoom lenses at all; they are varifocal lenses, which lose focus as you zoom them. Normally, no one cares anymore since the camera autofocuses anyway, but the old technique of zooming in to set precise focus and then zooming out to take the shot no longer works.

DSLR's are pretty crappy camcorders in terms of usability, and the lack of a good, quiet autofocus while shooting / zooming is right up there at the top of the reasons.

Image quality doesn't mean diddly squat if you can't get the shot.

anyone have any inputs on post #18? also ive been watching lots of clips online that is making me want to use manual focus, it looks like its fun to play with, but wish i could change from manual to auto...

The biggest thing that sucks about camcorders is the lenses. They are all pretty low end until you spend huge bucks. Your average $300-800 camcorder has a lens starting at about 38mm equivalent, which totally sucks indoors or for certain sports (like skateboarding), and is not even as sharp as the kit lens from a Rebel T2i.

Oh, also, if you spend $1000, you still don't get a sensor even as big as the one in the cheapest compact camera. The $1000 cameras have a 1/3" sensor and the $400 ones have a 1/5" sensor.

So I would actually use a camera of some sort. Either a compact like the SX230, or ELPH 300, or a DSLR with even a basic lens.

well i was looking into the T2i, and using my sigma 17-70 2.8 lens for filming. so its either going to come down to the T2i body, or spend $400-500 on a camcorder. My buddy has a cheap jvc thats worth like $300 and it just seems out of focus often and i just dont want to put money into something thats just not going to make me happy at the end of the day

tkbslc wrote in post #12699290
...The $1000 cameras have a 1/3" sensor ...

Some of the cameras in that price range have 3 sensors (one for each color, RGB), but even so, the total sensor size (adding all 3) is not as large as APS-C sensors.

well i finally got into FS to check out some cameras, played with the T2i a bit and i really like it, then i looked at the camcorders and only really liked the higher end ones for $700-1000. So im selling my rebel xt and going to move onto the T2i. I think i will be able to make the video work for what i want, plus i will have both in 1 camera in case i need both at the same time. Thanks for the help guys, cant wait to get it!