Videography: DSLR or Semipro camcorder?

[mypillowtalks]

Need to ask the pros here

My interest is in videography, and nowadays DSLR are cheaper and can have mic inputs, and i have seen on youtube some of the dslr takes videos almost as good as semi pro camcorders.

So i wanna ask if should i get a DSLR or those semi pro camcorders(those bigger type like panasonic hmc151)

I dont want to buy a DSLR and find out there are many things a DSLR cant do for videos, or buy a camcorder and find out a DSLR is much better:bsmilie:

My usage is more of all in one type, events(car show, model, competitions), interviews, short films, coperate, wedding etc..


I need to ask some questions:

1.WHat is the advantage of getting a DSLR to take video? In terms of quality, overall usage. And if hold on hand for longer time, dslr more tiring on the hand of camcorder?:what:

2. I saw on youtube comments taht using DSLR to take video of fast moving objects will be blurer than camcorders. Is it true?

3. May sound stupid, but im noob here, can these Semi pro camcorder be powered by an adaptor using AC instead of battery? Sometimes i take videos of long talks:angry: And Does DSLR have that feature of AC powering for long recording hours?

4. Advice and recommadations of what should i get?

Thanks a lot!

 

[jaegersing]

If you regularly take videos of long talks, your best bet is a traditional videocam. DSLR will stop recording after several minutes, so you will get a break in the recording and you also need to keep restarting.

 

[jasonjoseph]

i dun think dslr is suitable for your line of work.

without a proper rig dslr's are actually quite painful to hold.

and the 7d tends to overheat quite abit so not suitable for long shooting.

i think what u should look into is a tapless camera with hot swappable recording. Meaning u can record on one memory card and when that one is full, the camera will switch recording to the second slot so u can pull out your full card and dump it off.

Two camera's i suggest would be Panasonic P2 HVX 170 or the Sony NXCam HXRNX5U.
Before deciding on which cam also look into what your editing system can handle.

DSLR would be great second camera to do some highlights/cutaway shots.

(ps to forumers: i wonder if anyone has connected a 5D to a AJAKipro?)

 

[roofies]

5D wont work with a AJA KiPro as well as every one has hoped.

5D HMDI output goes down to VGA as soon as you hit the record button on the 5D.

There are some other issues too, too lazy to type.

But it was a promising solution, but unfortunately doesnt work as well as we had hoped.

=)

 

[Bamboopictures]

Buy both. At Canon's EOS 550D price point....WHAT? You will appreciate DSLR quality for controlled shoots. Of course, you will need to invest in good glass and maybe a follow focus.
If you can wait, rumor is canon is putting a APS-C chip in their camcorder range this year!

 

[DXNMedia]

(ps to forumers: i wonder if anyone has connected a 5D to a AJAKipro?)

I've done something similar but not with a KiPro.

A 7D was connected via HDMI and capture direct to ProRES HQ.
Quality is definitely better since we're getting good quality HDMI uncompressed stream.

 

[mypillowtalks]

If you regularly take videos of long talks, your best bet is a traditional videocam. DSLR will stop recording after several minutes, so you will get a break in the recording and you also need to keep restarting.

Ok, will take that into consideration, thanks

i dun think dslr is suitable for your line of work.

without a proper rig dslr's are actually quite painful to hold.

and the 7d tends to overheat quite abit so not suitable for long shooting.

i think what u should look into is a tapless camera with hot swappable recording. Meaning u can record on one memory card and when that one is full, the camera will switch recording to the second slot so u can pull out your full card and dump it off.

Two camera's i suggest would be Panasonic P2 HVX 170 or the Sony NXCam HXRNX5U.
Before deciding on which cam also look into what your editing system can handle.

DSLR would be great second camera to do some highlights/cutaway shots.

(ps to forumers: i wonder if anyone has connected a 5D to a AJAKipro?)

Hmm, let say for a DSLR with proper rig, will it cost more than a pro camcorder? then if a proper DSLR rig is to take video, i think it will look better than a procamcorder right?

But then again DSLR cant take video for a long time

Yes, im looking into hot swapping, i dun really like tapes:bsmilie:, but then im poor, not sure if ive enough money for those big capacity cards

Actually i forgot to say im a student, and dont have enough money for the panasonic and sony you recommanded, those look really good but im short of cash :cry:

i only started since 2007....and after doing some coperate videos for my father's company, their events, and found out i have a lot of interest in video

Im only using a (dont laugh:bsmilie standard definition HDD consumer camcorder, even though i think it is good, but when starting to do interview, i can do the "focus front, back blur" effect, i also need mic input, if not it sometimes pick out a lot of background noise, the manual control on the camera is hard, as i need to use the joystick to control the iris, shutter, and it is harder to manuver around the menu

So what iam kinda looking for is a semipro camera, because sometimes it will make it look more presentable, not so noob(u noe wad i mean), and some mic functions, and manual controls. And HD of cos.

And is 3CMOS better than 3ccd? my current camera is 3CCD, i heard that 3CMOS is better:bigeyes:

Sorry for a ll the long questions, im a noob into all this

 

[mypillowtalks]

Buy both. At Canon's EOS 550D price point....WHAT? You will appreciate DSLR quality for controlled shoots. Of course, you will need to invest in good glass and maybe a follow focus.
If you can wait, rumor is canon is putting a APS-C chip in their camcorder range this year!

Hmm, will check out ur suggestion, but im kinda short of cash, and can only buy one:embrass:

but one draw back is the need to buy lens and dslr cant take very long videos

 

[jamesjjs]

You might consider the Panasonic GH1 that can record up to the limit of the sd/sdhc card. Also, since it can autofocus during video mode, you will not have a problem if the speaker has a powerpoint presentation that you might occasionally pan to.

The Panasonic GH1 can record either from battery or the mains.

The cost is about SGD 2000 with the 14-140mm (28-280mm equivalent) kit lens

 

[Bamboopictures]

Any idea how long a GH1 battery last in video mode?

 

[engr]

mypillowtalks, I started like you. Didnt have money and I had a SD camcorder. Then I upgraded to a Sony FX1 which was my treasure because it was a lot of $$ to me. I stuck with that for sometime before I upgraded. Only upgrading when the camera limited my work.

Personally I think DSLR is a little advanced for u now, because the accessories and lens will kill you. Can consider going for 2nd hand FX1e at 2k plus. Use that to make some $ over 2 years then upgrade camera or buy something like Canon 550D later on.

Goddluck!

 

[vickee]

I am no pro, but i am a owner of both DSLR and camcorder and a canon G11

most DSLR cannot focus when you zoom in and out.
for DSLR you can only focus (1/2 shutter) before you start taking video. if you want to zoom in on something, you need to manually turn your focus ring. jamesjjs said that GH1 can autofocus, maybe you should take a look at that model. look out for the autofocus part when choosing you DSLR.

semi pro camcorder has image stabilisation which is very important compared to a DSLR. i will appreciate a low lower resolution video which is stable and not a HD video which shakes and give me a headache.

DSLR produces great photos.

i love my both sets of gear and i hope i have 4 hands to handle them all during a outing.

during your research, please factor in the other additional costs that will appear later .
after i got a DSLR, i am tempted by all the good lens, filters, lights and spent a lot more.
after i got my handycam, i realise i am out of harddisk space and my current 3 yr old laptop is too slow to process video. and i had to buy another external harddisk and even order a new laptop to handle editing.

both are different sets of system made to do different things.
DSLR can take good photos and reasonable HD video and sound.
semi pro camcorder takes good hd video and sound but even their 12mp photo are lousy

you mention that you are into videography, maybe you should just consider a camcorder since it is dedicated for video?

thats 2 cents worth comments.

 

[savager]

hmm, how reliable are the AF systems for consumer-range camcorders, or high end compact cameras with full hd (e.g. sx1 is ) ? i tried my friend's sx20is before, and realize it always shifts in and out of focus at times. very hard to catch correct focus. MF-ing is a pain also because there's no zoom ring..

comments?

 

[mypillowtalks]

You might consider the Panasonic GH1 that can record up to the limit of the sd/sdhc card. Also, since it can autofocus during video mode, you will not have a problem if the speaker has a powerpoint presentation that you might occasionally pan to.

The Panasonic GH1 can record either from battery or the mains.

The cost is about SGD 2000 with the 14-140mm (28-280mm equivalent) kit lens

hmm, i have seen the video taken of the GH1 on youtube, and they are impressive

but one thing i want to ask is does it comes with a rock lever zoom function? cos sometimes i do take video of fast moving actions(like car zooming past), and need to have a 'smooth' zoom, and if i turn the lens it seems not very smooth

mypillowtalks, I started like you. Didnt have money and I had a SD camcorder. Then I upgraded to a Sony FX1 which was my treasure because it was a lot of $$ to me. I stuck with that for sometime before I upgraded. Only upgrading when the camera limited my work.

Personally I think DSLR is a little advanced for u now, because the accessories and lens will kill you. Can consider going for 2nd hand FX1e at 2k plus. Use that to make some $ over 2 years then upgrade camera or buy something like Canon 550D later on.

Goddluck!

ok ty for your response, im still short of cash for my poly fees

I am no pro, but i am a owner of both DSLR and camcorder and a canon G11

most DSLR cannot focus when you zoom in and out.
for DSLR you can only focus (1/2 shutter) before you start taking video. if you want to zoom in on something, you need to manually turn your focus ring. jamesjjs said that GH1 can autofocus, maybe you should take a look at that model. look out for the autofocus part when choosing you DSLR.

semi pro camcorder has image stabilisation which is very important compared to a DSLR. i will appreciate a low lower resolution video which is stable and not a HD video which shakes and give me a headache.

DSLR produces great photos.

i love my both sets of gear and i hope i have 4 hands to handle them all during a outing.

during your research, please factor in the other additional costs that will appear later .
after i got a DSLR, i am tempted by all the good lens, filters, lights and spent a lot more.
after i got my handycam, i realise i am out of harddisk space and my current 3 yr old laptop is too slow to process video. and i had to buy another external harddisk and even order a new laptop to handle editing.

both are different sets of system made to do different things.
DSLR can take good photos and reasonable HD video and sound.
semi pro camcorder takes good hd video and sound but even their 12mp photo are lousy

you mention that you are into videography, maybe you should just consider a camcorder since it is dedicated for video?

thats 2 cents worth comments.

Im thinking about the focus and zoom on a dslr too, sometimes need a smooth zoom.

Ya OIS is quite a good feature, i have it on my SD camcorder now, reallyl does make a difference

I also think that i should get a camcorder, because if i were to take video, customers seems to be more convinced by a person holding videocamera than a person holding a DSLR, maybe because of the size?

STill a long way before i get a camera upgrade

 

[doom102938]

GH1 doesnt come with a zoom rocker. The zooms on these removable lenses usually are manual and are not suited for the smooth zoom look. It is due to the non linear gearing and the fludity of the zooming mechanism in the lens.

In that sense, I think its better for you to get the camcorder. You get a linear servo zoom with the rocker. Focusing wouldn't be a problem(unless its in really dark or tricky situations) with the camcorder. Focusing is a major headache with the DSLR thou, but if done right, can achieve amazing footage.

The DSLR is something like a 35mm film camera. You get a sensor about the same size, it requires tonnes of gear to squeeze good footage out of it and post production is quite a headache unless you have a mac and FCP. The bitrate is massive, it records at 48Mbps or about 6MB/s and since the max file size is 4gb, you can only take 12min of video per take. A 1TB hard drive can store about 46 hours of raw footage.

Good luck!

 

[doom102938]

And is 3CMOS better than 3ccd? my current camera is 3CCD, i heard that 3CMOS is better:bigeyes:

Actually both have advantages and disadvantages. 3 means that the camera uses a prism to split up the light into red, green and blue and direct them into 3 different sensors.

CMOS and CCD are the type of sensor used. CMOS is the more recent technology. The largest advantage is that it has better ISO noise control compared to CCD. Another major advantage is its practically immune to smearing compared to CCDs. Smearing is when you point a CCD camera at a very bright source of light and it over exposes severely which causes the entire column of pixels to do this ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vertical_smear.jpg ) CMOS tends to consume less power too. However, most CMOS sensor uses a rolling shutter.


CCD is a pretty old technology but have one major advantage over the CMOS, it uses global shutter. Which means that the data is read off the sensor altogether. Rolling shutter is when the data is scanned from the top to the bottom of the sensor. It introduces artifacting to the image. This can explain more about rolling shutter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_shutter )

cheers