Godless said:
Nah.

Didn't think so...

Nah.

I picked up the Nikon microphone at the camera shop and mounted it on a flash bracket to get it away from the lense noise, which is much better, but for handheld I'll need a rig where I can support the camera on my shoulder. There is way I can chimp with a 70-200 lens for more than a second or two.

As primarily a stills shooter, I do a good bit of video, I think it is ignorant to write off and insult the video capabilities of the current crop of DSLRS.

I don't mean this as an insult, I certainly felt the same way before I discovered the camera's abilities and now I find the video feature on the DSLR to be fantastic.

Everyone keeps mentioning oh i'll use a camcorder, or if I need to shoot a longer video, i'll use a camcorder. I'm not sure what kind of camcorders you are using, but I find the DSLR's video to be far superior to most of the consumer grade camcorders. I can't find where to adjust the aperture, ISO, or manual focus with the majority of camcorders. I can't imagine what kind of scene you are shooting where you would need more than 20 minutes of video that the dslr shoots per scene either.

Regarding the AF issue, Im pretty sure professional level video cameras do not auto focus, I never use autofocus while shooting video.

I currently use a Nikon D7000, and I find its video quality to be quite a bit better than the T2i. Though the T2i's interface is slightly easier to use.

The video on the current crop D800/5D MKIII should be fantastic. Though I think perhaps they should make two lines of cameras, A video and a non video version, as I would like to see more dedicated buttons on each type of camera. I think canon is headed in the right direction with the new 1Dx

Just my 2 cents as an amateur video enthusiast.

I experimented with video on my D800 yesterday for the first time. I was very impressed with the video results, as were all the people who saw the results (baby video--how can you go wrong). But I am completely new to video.

If I'm going to do any more of this, I'll need to get an external microphone and a video rig. Any suggestions? I'd like to know what others have tried and where they thought their money was well spent.

Thanks!

Hi,

I do video on the D7000 as part of my routine day-to-day operations.

Shot a small interview for the Mayo Clinic for a PBS show next season this week. It was part of a hectic day of a hectic week.

One of the really cool things with the multipurpose DSLR cameras is that you can shoot promotional films on Monday, University catalog shots on Tuesday, Girl Scout 'Flip Book' videos on Wednesday, and work on a broadcast documentary on Thursday, and work a benefit for 'Feed the Work' on Friday, and I'm still, 'mostly retired' - the D7000, isn't. ;-)

My best,

Mike

Currently using D4 primarily for Video. I'm loving it. Here's my latest test shoot in real life scenario: http://youtu.be/3av49u1O5NU

Why do you think the T2i is better for video?

What features make it better or do you think the image quality is better?

I'll shoot video sometimes when something happens nearby (example, when a car caught fire across the street from me). Most of the video use on my D7000 has been as second shooter for one of my friends who is an amateur videographer. He has a Canon T2i which is better for video, but I have better / a wider variety of glass. I've even had someone else using my D5000 to get a third angle when we were doing stuff.

I guess for me, it's important enough that I'll save a bit further toward a D4 instead of going for a used / refurbished D3s. (Though there are plenty of other attributes to justify those extra couple thousand dollars.)

I work in the lights department and have also directed a few short shorts. Have hardly worked as a DOP (except for some light documentary stuff) so technically speaking "I" don't do video -unless timelapses count as video.

SkintBrit said:
Er, well actually he's over here in London tonight at the premier of his new film War Horse. Shall I get him to call you? ;-)

Yes please!

LOL...

bjrichus said:

Where is Stephen Spielberg when you need him? ;-)

Er, well actually he's over here in London tonight at the premier of his new film War Horse. Shall I get him to call you? ;-)

bjrichus said:
@TaoTeJared ... Just like you, I must have shot 2 mins of video by accident. I know what I am not able to do well, so avoid it. Play to my strengths...

All: I think what I am reading here is that very few people actually shoot video exclusively for a living. While some of us have shot video as a part of a career I need to NOT set my expectations so high for my "local" wedding people.

Where is Stephen Spielberg when you need him? ;-)

The wedding shooting around me seems to be really finicky due to the added cost/time. A couple of guys I was talking to hired a recent grad to shoot a video for a high end wedding and it was just great. They use it as a "sales tool" to great avail but they have only had one more wedding willing to pay for it in 2 years. Some others use maybe a total of 5 min and use it as part of the custom pages and DVD intros for the wedding. All of them struggle with the amount of time it takes for post and the learning curve.

Personally I'm trying to figure out were media is going and try to figure out what is needed to learn in that direction. From what I have seen, it looks to be quick clips that supplement images rather than being the focus.

To elaborate on my earlier post, I don't do video because I feel like it's a lot more work than just taking photos.

Nor do I have a decent video rig anyway- my point and shoot does it at a whopping quality of 640x480.

I only shoot for my own enjoyment, so I'm not all that pressed for video.

Mike, can you post an example of the type of video you use the D7000 for? This is something I did late last summer with it and it works well (I think) for this type of work. It's nice to have it in the same body that I use to shoot pictures of listings (not sure if I know how to embed so I placed a link to the video below). Start at about 1:30 into the video to skip into most of the D7000:

http://www.iplayerhd.com/playerframe/progressive/c45237b9-3bb5-4e7f-b0fe-d4e2cb03a803.aspx?autostart=false&width=400&height=225&cbartype=bottom

http://bitcast-g.bitgravity.com/iplayerhd/data/8/321254d8.mp4

Hi bjrichus,

Not to be misunderstood I shoot my video with the D7000 and the Panasonic GH2. The GH2 is easier to shoot and somewhat sharper. It also has meters for monitoring audio and light and runs as long as I have time on the chip.

Two days ago I was shooting a group of children 'weather watchers' for a TV station, both stills and video, same set up, same group, a few seconds of each, then an action, shot -- fairly routine stuff. That feature is made for those sorts of gigs.

My best,

Mike

@TaoTeJared ... Just like you, I must have shot 2 mins of video by accident. I know what I am not able to do well, so avoid it. Play to my strengths...

All: I think what I am reading here is that very few people actually shoot video exclusively for a living. While some of us have shot video as a part of a career I need to NOT set my expectations so high for my "local" wedding people.

Where is Stephen Spielberg when you need him? ;-)

I think I have shot 2 minutes of video in 5 years - all by accident. The video of the inside of my pocket from my iPhone is some of my best video work to date for sure.

I have seen some great video shot with DSLRs/m4/3rds but very little if any of it was Paid work. I have heard more along the lines of what Aesnakes does with clip shooting.

I am amazed by the accessories that basically turn a DSLR into a full video rig. That stuff is not cheap for a full set up, and to me, it would make more since to buy a dedicated system rather than re-engineering one. For fun I priced a set-up out on B&H and I was at $4,000 in a heartbeat. With Sony and Canon's entrance with video rigs that use their lenses & the Red system, I think eventually that is where the market buyers will go and DSLR video will be basically where it is now for quite some time.

Not I.

I do video, but not on my DSLR. Mostly documentary style videos, somewhat artsy.

Just casual video for me—definitely not for a living. I do love it, though, and I'm not ashamed to say I'm glad to see Nikon include it in their SLRs.

I work in Movies and Television mainly as a compositor / FX Artist but I find myself shooting for elements,and plates both as stills and video. It is so useful in my industry to be able to handle both sides. Some pieces of my landscapes have made it into many shows like Red, Eureka, V, Invictus, 30 minutes or less, Limitless etc. Im one of the many waiting for a D800...I almost preordered the D4 but I was able to hold off a little longer. Sadly it is the reason I sold my D700 because of the versatility of have both video and stills in 1 camera.

My D7000 video feature gets used about 2%. It is nice to know that it is there, but I did not buy it for that feature.

@SquamishPhoto Your friend did a great job. What body was he using?

Cheers

I never do video on my camera, never have even on the P&S's I owed in childhood. I always use a camcorder for that.

If Nikon makes a D4 without all that video shit and prices it at USD 3,500.00 I will but it pronto.

We already know the specs for D800, but I hope they at least make the D400 more a camera than a camcorder.

bjrichus said:
It just seems that most of the so called "Wedding Videographers" in my area are just pure rubbish. I may just have a bunch of idiots in my area but... One even turned out to be an ex-student at my employer that we wouldn't (no names here you understand) let use any of our gear, let alone trust to do a decent video of a wedding... The words "clumsy" (as in banging lenses into things like vases and walls) and camera shake come to mind with this individual.

It might be that they are just rubbish. I know plenty of guys out there making full film production with DSLR's and 4/3rds rigs. Here is a video from my friend Alex made while touring the US and Canada this year. Its a rock climbing video, so it may be a bit boring for most of you, but you can see his use of booms and creative positioning on ropes in the video. Seems pretty nice to me at least. :]

http://vimeo.com/31618494

He's using a Pentax for his videos.