Thinking about a 7D after some trade ins

I have recently purchased a canon XS from BH photo and I'm thinking about returning it for store credit. I would also sell my canon hv30 to either BH or eBay and use the money and credit to get a 7D kit. I would also purchase a 50 - 250 ef lens. My questions are as follows:

Would the 7D fully replace my hv30 in terms of HD video?

I have a beachtech XLR converter for non xlr cameras, would this work in a mic jack in the 7D?

Are there lenses specific to video and still that would require me to spend more?

Is this worth the trouble for a nicer camera in both the still and video categories?

Thanks.

7D is a great camera, but don't expect it to be like using a regular video camera.

If you don't mind picking up a good external mic and don't mind manual focusing, then sure, the 7D will do a pretty snazzy job as a video camera.

But if you rather aim and record and let the camera AF for you like, well... a camcorder, then you're better off with a dedicated camcorder. The 7D (and other current dslr's w/ video mode) are more for "creative/artistic" shots. Ones where you can plan and stage out. Not really up to the task of capturing little Jimmy running around the park or in the house.

I have an external mic. Where does it capture to? A card? And is there live view or could I use my laptop as a monitor?

Mike787 wrote in post #9371767
I have an external mic. Where does it capture to? A card? And is there live view or could I use my laptop as a monitor?

it captures to a CF card. and iirc, anything slower than a 266x (i believe) will result in jumpy video.

to take advantage of the full HD, you need to use faster UDMA cards, the bigger the capacity, the better. a 4GB card is only about 12 minutes of full HD video.

imo it is better to use a dedicated HD video camera than use the 7D as your all-in-one. you will go through CF cards like popcorn.

I was talking to someone in production and he was saying a lot of amateurs film makers are using dslrs because they are very cost effective. How much do cf cards cost? And can I capture directly to a laptop?

Mike787 wrote in post #9372610
I was talking to someone in production and he was saying a lot of amateurs film makers are using dslrs because they are very cost effective. How much do cf cards cost? And can I capture directly to a laptop?

The UDMA cards will typically run you about $150-$200 for 16gb I believe. Which gives you about 40-50min worth of video.

Production people like the 5d2 and 7d because it is a much cheaper alternative to their traditional gear. That said, unless you're really into videography/cinematogr​aphy... you'd likely be happier with the dedicated camcorder.

The DSLR contours is not the most video-friendly design. You need to hold the camera with both hands, which then really leaves you with no hands for zooming/focusing manually. So you'll want to look into some kind of custom rig. And suddenly, it's not "compact" anymore. And you can forget your wife or girlfriend willing to lug all that hardware around (unless she's really into movie making as well).

I'm not trying to discourage you. I just want you to know it's not a simple point and record type of setup.

Mike787 wrote in post #9372610
I was talking to someone in production and he was saying a lot of amateurs film makers are using dslrs because they are very cost effective. How much do cf cards cost? And can I capture directly to a laptop?

the key word there is "amateurs". again, the video capability is just a selling point from a marketing point of view to rival the competition. however advanced it may be, it is NOT cost effective to use a DSLR as your primary video camera.

plus, like what jwcdds said, as easy as it sounds to shoot video in a DSLR configuration. you'd have to extend the camera away from your body with both hands. i wont even go to how akward it will be to focus and change perspective. you'll end up with stiff arms in no time.

Ok. Looks like the money will go towards a better lens. Thanks for the advice guys.

sixsixfour wrote in post #9371907
it captures to a CF card. and iirc, anything slower than a 266x (i believe) will result in jumpy video.

to take advantage of the full HD, you need to use faster UDMA cards

Nope. Full HD doesn't need a data transfer rate higher than around 5.5 MB/s - which is easily within the capabilities of all but the most ancient and decrepit cards.

sixsixfour wrote in post #9371907
the bigger the capacity, the better. a 4GB card is only about 12 minutes of full HD video.

Except that the filing system used won't allow files larger than 4GB - so you're not gonna get anything longer than 12 minutes, even with a 64GB card.

hollis_f wrote in post #9377669
Except that the filing system used won't allow files larger than 4GB - so you're not gonna get anything longer than 12 minutes, even with a 64GB card.

I know it doesnt save files more than 4GB. what I meant was that you wont need to swap cards as often as you would if you had something like an 8 or 16GB card.

When you look at what the more "professional" videographers do to their 7D or 5D Mark II cameras, to make them good to work with, you realize what kind of "emergency tool" a DSLR is for video today.

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/garrette/423285​9326/
http://vimeo.com/22236​02

While there are some impressive examples of what is possible with the 7D video, I agree with the fact that it is no replacement for a dedicated camcorder. In addition to the file size limit and weight, the biggest downside to me is no AF during recording. I'm sure if you know what you are doing it's not all that difficult to MF during recording but for me it's just not convenient.