Where is the movie mode on my DSLR?

OK dumb statement, but most of us have heard it before It ties closely in with live preview on a DSLR, sacrilege to some, a nice added feature to others.

Anyway, I was sorting all my images from the last few years the other day, I am trialing a DAM application (Digital Archive Management). As I sorted through the photos I was finding lots of cool little movies of stuff, not high quality but some quite funny, then it all slowly petered out. What happened, why no cool little movies in the last couple of years? The answer:

The Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera, in this case the culprit is a certain EOS 20D.

The day that camera arrived its predeseccor (Powershot G3) complete with movie mode went to the drawer to gather dust, only to occasionally make a reappearance to justify its continued existence. Fortunalty of late is has made a reappearance, but only after one of our girls discovered it.

Even though the G3 movies were only 15fps, 320x240, I really fell we have missed out on something recently, there was some real cool history there.

Perhaps its time to buy a video camera...

Iv got some really great short clips of friends taken with either my A40 or A80.
They are great memories, and something I will never regret taking instead of a photo.


I think to many people get wrapped up in the "Art" and pursuit of "Technical perfection" side of photography, and forget about its ablity to simply capture memories.

I don't think anyone has truely encompassed photography untill they are able to shoot at a very high technical and artistic level all day, then know when to put the camera in AUTO or Program and just enjoy a night with friends, capturing a few memories.

That’s why I still carry my Nikon 8700. It can take movies at 640 x 480 at 30 fps with audio. It also has a great stop action mode where I can set it on a tripod and at regular intervals it will snap a pic. It’s about all I do with the Nikon these days.

why not just get a little camcorder? The miniDV are cheap these days.

Because if you've tried shooting both video and stills at the same time on different cameras you will know that you only ever end up using on of them, while the other just hangs around and gives you a sore back.

Having both features on a camera that you have a preferance for usieng anyway, means you are more likely to record some video as well, just on the side, as short little clips that make good memories. You also of course get to shoot some really nice photos that you can frame and hang on the wall. Something that isn't yet all that easy to do with Video.

When I got just little get together with friends and what not, I take the wifes, panasonic lumix FX8. Small, takes good enough pics for memories, and does 30fps video. Great little investment to capture those great moments!

Hmmm, my A70 on a little tripod at a wedding reception could give me some interesting material for the wedding photo DVD - even if it's just for the menus.

I sold my Panasonic Lumix fz20 when I got my 20D but I miss having it sometimes. I got some good shots with it when the conditions were right and it was handy to be able to capture video with it. It had a leica lens but it had the maddening shutter lag of the point and shoots so i'll keep my dslr thankyou.

I see what you mean.

I am just used to doing little "projects" and I do goal oriented shoots.

The video cameras take pictures too, u know.

But the quality is comparable to the video quality from the average compact
Which means its nice to have for the Video freaks who like to be able to take the odd still photo, just like video on a still camera is nice for us photo freaks who like to take the odd video

Just use burst mode at low resolution and stitch the results into an animated GIF file - job done...!

Should be able to get a few seconds out of it....

My husband wants me to do more video stuff and has bought me 2 8mm camcorders and 1 cute little SONY miniDV in the last 10 years. The miniDV takes the little tapes and can go straight into my desktop for editing. He bought me software to do all the photo and video stuff with music for my birthday this year thinking I'd enjoy it. I do use both my 20D and my miniDV at events, holding the 20D and putting the other on a monopod (I'm a mother, I can balance things). The resolution on the miniDV is much better than anything a little P&S with recording capabilities can offer. It costs only around $300 now and is so useful. My little kids can use it. And the whole unit with cords and extra batteries can fit in my 4 million Crumpler bag, that's how small it is! I can't get my 20D with 24-70L with hood reversed in that thing!

The more I think about it the less I like the idea of a video camera, having the ability to conveniently take a quick clip that is easily copied to a pc for easy viewing is great. With a video camera (correct me if I am wrong) it is everything ends up on a tape, which needs to be uploaded (if possible) via firewire using capture software etc, too messy.

Digicams are generally smaller too.

I have been at my kids school concerts with a digital video camera on a tripod and my DSLR on a monopod. Works great for a concert. Would be a little difficult for something with a lot of movement in it.

Moppie wrote:
Because if you've tried shooting both video and stills at the same time on different cameras you will know that you only ever end up using on of them, while the other just hangs around and gives you a sore back.

Having both features on a camera that you have a preferance for usieng anyway, means you are more likely to record some video as well, just on the side, as short little clips that make good memories. You also of course get to shoot some really nice photos that you can frame and hang on the wall. Something that isn't yet all that easy to do with Video.

In that case, you need a HDD camcorder then. Very good. We bought a JVC one, still's are very poor on it but I didn't buy it for that, the video is excellent!