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reeltime
11 days ago
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DSLR for video?
I'm considering finally making the investment leap to replace both my film SLR and camcorder with a D90 (hopefully the newer model if they ever release one). I was wondering how it actually feels day-to-day to shoot video with it.
I'm not talking about 2 hour shoots, just casual situations like kids fooling around in the backyard, hockey game, etc. Is it too cumbersome to carry around? Do you find yourself editing and sharing the video any more than you did with taped footage?
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ben-s
10 days ago
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I haven't got a video DSLR, so I can't realy comment on usability, but it should be no more cumbersome to carry than any other SLR.
Be warned though, the video on the D90 is reputed to be rather distorted when you pan (the problem is known as CMOS wobble, and it causes the picture to slant when you move sideways) You can find hundreds of Youtube clips showing this effect off.
If you're careful and use a tripod, the problem is far less noticeable, but for fast moving handheld stuff it might be a bit problematic.
Also bear in mind that most video DSLRs don't do continuous autofocus in video mode, and no DSLR as yet has a servo powered zoom, so you have to zoom using the lens ring as you would when shooting stills. If you're used to these features on a video camera, you'll have to adapt the way you shoot.
You might want to consider renting a D90 or trying one in a store to determine if this is likely to be a problem for what you want to do.
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reeltime
10 days ago
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Thanks for the input. I was aware of those issues from the reviews. That's why I'm hoping they come out with a newer (slightly less deficient) model soon. I was hoping for some first hand experience from someone who tried actually using it day-to-day. I'm wondering if those issues preclude the camera from being useful. Is it too much of a pain to do the focusing that way? I had no idea that I could rent a camera, though. I'll try a local store. Then I can get my own experience with it. Thanks for the tip.
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ben-s
10 days ago
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I think it all depends what you define as useful to you.
As an aside, in Pro video manual focusing is the rule rather than the exception.
Broadcast & Professional video lenses usually have servo (power) zoom, servo iris and manual focus.
You can get an add-on servo for remote control focus, but it's still manual, just on the end of a wire.
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reeltime
9 days ago
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Thanks. I've always been somewhat bored by the focusing on my camcorder, or at least bored with the outcome. I wonder if you can set the focus at infinity, or really wide depth of field what you wind up with. I will look into renting a camera and let you know what my experimentation results are. It'll probably be a little while before I get to that though.
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reeltime
8 days ago
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Ben, I checked at Helix, the closest thing to B&H Photo in Chicago and was told, "We don't rent anything that inexpensive!" How's that for helpful? I have to say, B&H has always been courteous and helpful. I'll ask around and see if any of my friends has a D90 or D5000 I can borrow for an hour.
In the meantime, I found this recent article that I thought might be helpful to anyone with a similar question:
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/90058
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ben-s
5 days ago
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You might try Calumet if there's one near you, although I suspect you'll get a similar response.
As you say, borrowing from a friend or acquaintance is looking like the best route...
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ben-s
5 days ago
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Looks like they've expanded their stock dramatically since I last looked...
I've heard good things about them too, although I've never used them.
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theandyjoh
ns
5 days ago
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I have a D90 and would recommend against getting it if your only reason is video. Particularly so, if you want shots of your family, kids, pets (anything that moves around a lot). I would recommend something like the Mino HD or Kodak Zi8.
The D90, D5000 and all of the other DSLR's (yes, Canon's too) still have a long way to go before video integration is seamless.
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reeltime
5 days ago
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That's exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. Well, except for the part where you recommend something like a Flip. I've edited video off of one of those before. It's a pain to edit and the lack of image stabilization is downright nauseating. I appreciate the recommendation to wait to purchase if my purpose were video (which is a large part of it). If you had to compare the video from a D90 with the video from your point and shoot camera which is better (HD aside)? I'm talking the audio, focusing, things like that.
I find myself using my point and shoot camera more and more for video simply because I have it with me. The video is ok, not HD, but the sound is bad (flash-writing mechanism can be heard over everything else). But the video is much more stable than a Zi8, Mino or Aiptek.
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theandyjoh
ns
4 days ago
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You can right click on this link (http://www.theandyjohns.com/test.avi) and download the file. It's an unedited AVI straight out of my D90. I took it while the camera was resting on my knee on the subway. It gives you a pretty good idea of the limitations when the camera is not on a tripod. The video is choppy, sound is not so hot (there is no audio in port) and the manual focus is not easy to nail from using the LCD. And it's a pain in the rear to switch from still to video and then back.
The main reason why a person walking around with a DSLR shooting video looks smoother is because of the weight. Screw a 2lb weight into the tripod mount of your point and shoot and it will be just as smooth. Or make one of these http://www.instructables.com/id/1-Camer … tabilizer/ and it's small enough to fit in your pocket with your point-n-shoot.
And yes the Flip has limitations, but it was designed to be a one button device, I only mentioned it because, well, that's all most people need. The Zi8 when used with a stabilizer is a much better device for shooting video than my D90.
Don't get me wrong, if you're going to be shooting still's 99% of the time, then the D90 is the way to go, but if you're shooting video more than 2% of the time, get something that has video as it's primary function.
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reeltime
4 days ago
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Thanks so much! I played with the footage in Final Cut this morning. It looked good to me, for my purposes. I found an interesting post regarding how to edit the footage in FCP and specifically about the use of the D90 for video.
http://vimeo.com/forums/topic:14641#comment_1601735
Any chance you have some more "real life" footage I could play with? Maybe something with people in it?  Thanks again.
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theandyjoh
ns
2 days ago
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I don't really have "real life" footage, I got annoyed quickly with how cumbersome it was to switch between still and video mode. I'll be shooting some video this weekend with it and will post a link again so you can take another look.
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reeltime
2 days ago
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Thanks. I appreciate the feedback that it's clunky to switch between photos and video. That's all stuff I need to know.
Superdewa, thanks also for the tip on borrowlenses.com. I found a friend with a D80, which I know doesn't have video, but at least I can play with carrying it around and shooting photos of my gorgeous children. Well, I'm a bit biased.
Andy has given me an opportunity to edit some video files. So, between the two I should get a good feel for the equipment.
In the mean time, I'm entering the contest for the D3000 as many times as I can. I figure a free lower-end DSLR should carry me over until Nikon invents one with good video.
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