Comments on: Photo world begins grappling with video SLRs

Photography buffs left cold by home video get new aesthetic possibilities with video SLRs. But adapting to the technology isn't always easy.

[Hep Cat]

You may no longer need a grip truck and people who know how to handle film, but you do need talent. Unfortunately, the do-it-yourself mentality pushed by Canon and Nikon really doesn't work with the masses of specification-addicted "gear queers" out there who are often stymied when it comes to making photographs with any artistic or technical merit.

[Robot-Killer-Bee]

It's geared for the amateur-approaching-prosumer, but it's a trade off compared to prosumer cam-corders. It'd be great to shoot video with high quality exchangeable lenses without having to rent/buy a higher end camera ($6000+), but at it's core, it's still a DSLR camera so you won't get features or be able to add accessories that normally are available for med-high end camcorders, such as matte-boxes, follow-focus, shoulder mount, variable frame-rates, shutter-speeds, etc.

To me, it's for the still photographer who wants to dabble a bit in video, not for a videographer.

It's an innovative step, but time will tell whether there's a market for it.

[Shankland]

One phenomenon I find interesting is that there doesn't have to be a *market* for it. Hobbyists will do this sort of thing on their own time, often spending a lot of time and money on it just because they enjoy it. The more expensive it all is, the harder it is to justify without being a pro, but amateurs are producing a lot of still photography that is in my opinion are professional-grade standards.

Another data point is the microstock market, which leaves room for hobbyists to make a little money on the side without working 40 hours a week on photography and having to be as consistent as a professionals. And note that microstocks accept video.

And yes, you're right that this is more a SLR with video grafted on than a true higher-end videocamera. I just detect a lot of excitement among enthusiasts right now.

[Jeff Putz]

The whole "jello wobble" problem with the Nikon pretty much makes it not usable. The indie crowd is also begging for 24p and variable shutter angle on the Canon. Regardless, it makes you scratch your head and wonder why Panasonic, Sony and JVC aren't embracing giant sensors like this for their pro gear. There's a serious cost disconnect there. Even Canon, who gets it pretty close to right, should be exporting this system to their gear and ditch the HDV nonsense.

[MadLyb]

A few lenses?! The list is several thousand dollars worth of lenses. From Canon's site:

EF Lenses used in the making of REVERIE:
FD 7.5mm f/5.6 (converted to EF mount)
EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
EF 135mm f/2L USM
EF 200mm f/1.8L USM
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF 500mm f/4L IS USM
TS-E 24mm f/3.5L
TS-E 45mm f/2.8

Don't get me wrong, this is a huge step forward, but it still takes a fair amount of money.

[basraw]

just get an adapter for an hg10/hf10 series and use a lens.

anyways, VIMEO.COM does HD video.

I love it!

[smiles8584]

rent all the lens' its much cheaper and if you can do what Laforet did you can probably sell it and buy the lens'.

[inachu]

I still photographs refused when getting them printed out saying they could be copyrighted as they seem to appear as "TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE."

SLRs really are making the regular john does guilty of nothing.
Shame on you photo finnishing labs!

[clayteague]

Great start and I wish I had one.

However, half (or more) of any good video is audio. How well do these cameras acquire sound and do they allow for connection of professional audio gear?

[Shankland]

The D90 doesn't, but the 5D Mark II has an audio jack so you can connect your preferred gear. I've heard some advise against it, synchronizing the soundtrack later. Sound is a whole new ball game for SLR shooters, too: I think there's a reason Reverie and several other 5D Mark II videos circulating have a music soundtrack.

[jchastn]

I think that these features are really just for play. Now that many people have HD televisions it will be fun for them to record short vacation videos that they can display in tremendous definition on the TV. That shot of Junior catching his first wave on the beach in Kauai in 1080 will provide many years of entertainment. Being able to zoom in on Junior's blissed out face when he realizes that he is wave riding is the thing you could never do before. Pros will continue to use the big video cameras, but this brings great quality and versatiliy to the home video enthusiast.

[timothypowers]

The Nikon D90 video capabilities were just what I needed to convince my wife to let me purchase this beauty for myself. In my opinion, it will likely be 2-3 years before 1080P video becomes mainstream with the standard DSLR's and I'll be ready for an upgrade by then.

I'd like to include some video in my photo slideshows. I need an SLR that will let me shoot at least one hour of video with stereo sound so it looks like I'll just have to wait until such a camera is available. I do believe that there's definiitely going to be a demand for SLR's with video capability.