5DII Video a Gimmick?

bacchanal wrote in post #7219469
Really, have you ever heard of a guy named Romy Ocon?
http://exposureroom.co​m/members/RomyOcon.asp​x/videos

Does a one-legged duck swin in circles? What Romy does with his camera is his problem but the stills he takes far outshine any documentary video footage he takes.

GSH wrote in post #7220549
At that point, he ceases to be a Photographer.

Yep and its been move'n that way for sports and action for a while.

It's funny because I thought the video wasn't half bad until I started reading all the negative posts about focus and what not. I like the idea that you have both video and still options in one camera, you just have to realize that it can't do both perfectly (not yet at least).

The point is, for this video, he obviously wasn't trying to win any awards. It looks like he was just trying to capture (in video) some of the fun and quirky things that went on during this ski trip. And I think he accomplished that. Yeah, the focus indoors was a little off and maybe some of the subjects needed a little makeup on their foreheads to reduce glare and maybe the coloring on some of those chips looked a little too orange for my liking and maybe the snow wasn't quite white enough but who cares!

samoan_ridah wrote in post #7220641
The point is, for this video, he obviously wasn't trying to win any awards. It looks like he was just trying to capture (in video) some of the fun and quirky things that went on during this ski trip. And I think he accomplished that. Yeah, the focus indoors was a little off...

A little off? hehe, it was never locked on except by accident.

And you're right, I don't mean to critique his video fun, but it is a good example of the limitations when used as a camcorder for everyday shooting. Unless for some reason he needed a 1080p record of this trip, I'd say almost any new high-end point and shoot would've done a BETTER job making the video. With a smaller sensor you wouldn't have to worry about the thin DOF indoors.

And the OP asked if it was a gimmick as if the video proved definitively that it was not. I don't think it was so definitive.

I wonder if anyone has tried a shoulder-support setup like this:

http://bushhawk.shopol​.com/Item/BH-320D.htm

It seems like it could be useful on the 5D2 video to make more stable "hand-held" video with less of the awkward positioning. Anyone?

BTW, I didn't care about the goofing around indoors shooting -- stuff that could be done as well or better with a camcorder. I was interested, though, in the snowboarding action. It would be cool to see a well-done series of snow/boarding/skiing/k​iteboarding action with this camera using say a 70-200 f/2.8.

tonylong wrote in post #7220719
BTW, I didn't care about the goofing around indoors shooting -- stuff that could be done as well or better with a camcorder. I was interested, though, in the snowboarding action. It would be cool to see a well-done series of snow/boarding/skiing/k​iteboarding action with this camera using say a 70-200 f/2.8.

Yup, the outdoor stuff where it didn't have to focus looked good.

Neilyb wrote in post #7220565
Does a one-legged duck swin in circles? What Romy does with his camera is his problem but the stills he takes far outshine any documentary video footage he takes.

That's just the thing though. He's using the exact same equipment that he uses for still, to shoot a few videos...and it really isn't all that shocking that they don't look half bad. I think the fact that you can use still photo equipment that you already have and are already carrying around to capture decent video is more than a gimmick...but maybe that is just me.

I, for one, do not own a camcorder and have no real desire to own one...but that isn't going to stop me from putting the video capabilities of the 5DII to use.

I'm still waiting for someone to slap a 15mm Fish onto the Mark II for some video.

I wont have that lens untl another month or so.

TheHoff wrote in post #7220742
Yup, the outdoor stuff where it didn't have to focus looked good.

not to jump on anyones toes here, while I do agree with the hoff, I also DISagree with him as well.

Yes, outdoors, lens stopped down, no "need" to focus properly, meaning EVERYTHING is already in focus, no bokeh. Any $100 camcorder can do this. in doors, NO direct control over aperture or shutter etc, causes the light to choose for you. Hell, even some of those 500-1000 HD camcorders from CANON didnt have full control over everything, which is why people know of the lens cap trick, or birght white light trick to lock the exposure. Which in this case opens the lens more, and depending on the lens, can put it @ 1.2 and cause virtually "nothing" to be in focus, but maybe the soda can on the shelf and everything else in bokeh.

Following me? Tell me a camcorder that can give you the results of the ability to change lenses, and the ability to give you extremely nice bokeh on the VIDEO if the user HAS the time to figure out and plan your shot? Not even the Canon A1 @ 3000 can do that. Not even the HD cameras can do that without 500+ on adapters.

So if the video is intended for "capture vacation fun" then yes, it might pose problems with out a little extra effort and a camcorder would be better.

Very similar to someone who uses a dSLR in green box mode, while it will take pictures, the best results come from manual mode.

While in video, letting the camera go in "green box mode" will yeild good results (as it would with a $3000 camcorder in green box mode) the best result will be when you can use it in "manual" or "semi-manual" mode that gives you interchangability lenses + a wonderful FF camera for sub 3000.....

am I making any sense?

My point is this. While Hoff is correct in that the focus is not there INDOORS, it is because it is giving the USER the fstop to obtain this.

I don't think we're disagreeing at all. The other part of the point is that nothing else in the 5D2's price range, or even close, has a sensor large enough to make the DOF (and lack of focus) bothersome. So planning is a must, the candids just don't seem to work well with the current limitations.

I agree with you guys the camera has many limitations. The point of my post was one can bring one tool to capture photo and video and do it pretty well. Granted he didn't take many photos this time. But he was having too much fun taking video... Plus I was taking stills. That's the thing. I don't think this camera was ever meant for pro video. Moreso to be used like a p&s camcorder with better quality and MORE flexibility.

drPheta wrote in post #7221227
I agree with you guys the camera has many limitations. The point of my post was one can bring one tool to capture photo and video and do it pretty well. Granted he didn't take many photos this time. But he was having too much fun taking video... Plus I was taking stills. That's the thing. I don't think this camera was ever meant for pro video. Moreso to be used like a p&s camcorder with better quality and MORE flexibility.

While you are correct on some parts, i do NOT think it works lilke a "good" P&S camcorder. Like said earlier, a P&S camcorder will give LESS dof putting more things in focus, so if you use it like a P&S its going to not be as good, than if you had the hf10/hf20 and the many other HD camcorders and what I mean not as good is, not as enjoyable due to the DOF issues the 5dmkII WILL have if used as a P&S. If the 5dmkII was and IS used for a setup shot, then by far, hands down WONDERFUL video/camera.

Granted it takes beautiful video, it just doesnt work "well" in green box mode, and thats what a P&S camcorder is.....

My nokia N95 can record better movie than the 5D2:p

I remember when through-the-lens metering was considered a gimmick. I even agreed. I've still got the old silicon Sekonic Studio Delux meter I used in those days.

I remember when zoom lenses were considered a gimmick for still cameras. Heck, I agreed with that, too, especially as I was still young and strong and stupid enough to carry multiple cameras--each with a different focal length prime lens.

I remember when automatic focusing was considered a gimmick. By that time, though, my eyesight was getting worse, so I was not so sure automatic focusing was a gimmick.

There are still people who argue that digital cameras are a gimmick.