Some video shooters lazy and cheap

RichA wrote:

They cry and whine about what their DSLR's cannot do right in video,
but if they'd just bought a VIDEO camera and had been willing to carry
both, they wouldn't have any problems.
DSLR video is a "quick fix" for not having video, it isn't a perfect
substitute for a REAL video camera.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/19415...anon_dslr.html

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RichA wrote:

DSLR video is a "quick fix" for not having video, it isn't a perfect
substitute for a REAL video camera.

I agree, most still cameras don't do video that can be used for serious
purposes no matter what resolution etc they claim.

A real video camera needs manual controls, the problem I see with most
amateur footage is lack of manual exposure, focus and audio levels: as the
camera pans across the scene the image goes brighter and darker depending
on the amount of sky in shot due to autoexposure continually adjusting the
levels, really the exposure should be locked on at the start of shot to
prevent this. Similarly auto-focus hunting during a shot, focus should also
be fixed at the start, and if it needs changing during a shot you need the
responsive controls and good viewfinder that allow precise manual shift of
focus between two subjects, ideally setting up a number of focus presets
before you start. Finally audio levels - same issue as auto-exposure.

How many compact cameras or DSLRs offer these features when shooting video?
Not even the claimed true "hybrid" cameas one seem to offer any of them
last time I looked.

On Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:04:16 +0000 (UTC), Gordon Freeman
wrote:

RichA wrote:

DSLR video is a "quick fix" for not having video, it isn't a perfect
substitute for a REAL video camera.

I agree, most still cameras don't do video that can be used for serious
purposes no matter what resolution etc they claim.

A real video camera needs manual controls, the problem I see with most
amateur footage is lack of manual exposure, focus and audio levels: as the
camera pans across the scene the image goes brighter and darker depending
on the amount of sky in shot due to autoexposure continually adjusting the
levels, really the exposure should be locked on at the start of shot to
prevent this. Similarly auto-focus hunting during a shot, focus should also
be fixed at the start, and if it needs changing during a shot you need the
responsive controls and good viewfinder that allow precise manual shift of
focus between two subjects, ideally setting up a number of focus presets
before you start. Finally audio levels - same issue as auto-exposure.

How many compact cameras or DSLRs offer these features when shooting video?
Not even the claimed true "hybrid" cameas one seem to offer any of them
last time I looked.

One of my 3 year old superzooms does just that. Manual exposure
compensation, manual focus, manual audio recording levels (in 44kHz
stereo), etc.

Why do you people make bald-faced lies about cameras that you've never used
before and know nothing about?

In article , Gordon Freeman
wrote:

RichA wrote:

DSLR video is a "quick fix" for not having video, it isn't a perfect
substitute for a REAL video camera.

I agree, most still cameras don't do video that can be used for serious
purposes no matter what resolution etc they claim.

A real video camera needs manual controls, the problem I see with most
amateur footage is lack of manual exposure, focus and audio levels: as the
camera pans across the scene the image goes brighter and darker depending
on the amount of sky in shot due to autoexposure continually adjusting the
levels, really the exposure should be locked on at the start of shot to
prevent this. Similarly auto-focus hunting during a shot, focus should also
be fixed at the start, and if it needs changing during a shot you need the
responsive controls and good viewfinder that allow precise manual shift of
focus between two subjects, ideally setting up a number of focus presets
before you start. Finally audio levels - same issue as auto-exposure.

How many compact cameras or DSLRs offer these features when shooting video?
Not even the claimed true "hybrid" cameas one seem to offer any of them
last time I looked.

Canon 5Dii with recent firmware ticks all those boxes kinda sorta. Some
of it is clunky. Some of it is forced on you, like there is no
autofocus during a shot whether you want it or not. Not even its mother
would call the manual focus precise with or without presets. You /can/
buy follow focus and shoulder mount rails and evf eye-pieces for silly
money. I'd have thought you could make it behave quite well in a
professional situation as you describe above. The glass alone would
make it worth trying. It is quite a challenge to get it to work like a
wave-it-about camcorder, but then why would you want it to be that bad?


I bought a Steadicam Merlin to use with mine, and in the right
conditions it turns out rather good results.

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