Image from The Editman’s excellent blog
The Canon 5D Mark II, 7D, 550D, 60D, Panasonic GH1, Sony A55, NEX VG10, AF100 and more cameras are included in our buyer’s guide and introduction to the world of DSLR video.
Reviews have to be divided up and aimed at different kinds of people. It is no longer enough to give a score to a camera out of 100 and make blanket statements to suit everybody, because people have different needs.
EOSHD.com mainly takes a filmmaker’s perspective whose needs include manual control, 24p, image quality and handling – plus things like adaptable lenses and Zacuto rigs that the average consumer would never even consider.
I believe it’s important to look at DSLR video from 3 different perspectives
Joe The Consumer
Needs fast AF, point and shoot simplicity and high image quality. The trade off with image quality however is that Joe needs to save space on his computer and memory card as he may not have the most powerful computer and largest memory cards available – price is also an important factor. Is often attracted to sexy brands.
Creative Enthusiast
Needs manual control, high image quality and usually has reasonably high level of technical competence. Owns higher end equipment than the average consumer. Understanding of DSLR video is more advanced and he is more demanding of consumer equipment than the majority of the intended audience for the product, so often finds himself frustrated with certain products. Price is an important factor, as the Creative Enthusiast may be starting out on a career, may be a student or may simply not have the cash to throw at expensive professional equipment. This is one of the reasons why the DSLR revolution is so great, since it encourages budding filmmakers and enthusiasts to make better use of their talent.
Mr Professional
Requires the absolute best in terms of equipment, and requires it immediately. Has the money to invest in serious equipment, price is less a limiting factor but still a big consideration. Usually has good understanding of the technology, but does not usually have the time to get bogged down in the gritty details. Will often choose the right tool to get the job done, and rarely falls into the trap of being dogmatic or fanatical about one camera. However, professionals are often loyal to one brand and system for reasons of personal preference.
And who can forget…
Real Camera Club Guy
Doesn’t like anything unless it’s old.
Let’s now look at how the Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 60D and Sony A55 weigh up from the 3 completely different perspectives above.
Canon 5D Mark II
Consumer Joe – 1/10
Would be better off saving their money! Too extravagant for their needs, and too complex
Creative Enthusiast – 8/10
Perfect for most enthusiasts, much lusted after camera, but too pricey for many
Mr Professional – 10/10
Seeks the best spec, and this is a camera which was specially formulated using feedback from professionals
Real Camera Club Man – 1/10
Would rather spend ÂŁ1500 on a crumbling second-hand Hasselblad and use it to take pictures of his children.
Canon 60D
Consumer Joe – 1/10
Frustrated by difficult to use manual control and confused by video mode, plus too pricey and bulky
Creative Enthusiast – 8/10
The camera’s intended market, although may be frustrated that the camera offers little improvement over previous models such as the 12 month old 7D
Mr Professional – 7/10
Useful as a 2nd body
Real Camera Club Man – 1/10
Doesn’t see the point of digital. Technology gone wild!
Sony A55
Consumer Joe – 8/10
The best automatic control of a DSLR in video mode, fast and reliable AF, much better compact like handling and excellent live view, smaller size and lower price pleases Joe endlessly
Creative Enthusiast – 4/10
Good potential but automatic video mode frustrates and this user recognises aesthetic benefits of 24p. Interlaced video wrapper makes editing in Final Cut Pro a pain, and this pisses the enthusiast off no end.
Mr Professional – 1/10
Whilst image quality is not the main issue, lack of creative control certainly is – the professional can afford to spend more for a better camera all round. The professional is not the A55’s intended audience.
Real Camera Club Man – 1/10
If you’re gonna bolt a Leica lens onto something why not just stick it on a Leica not a Playstation!
Current video DSLRs that I recommend
We have been very fortunate to get such incredible video functionality on consumer DSLRs. Here is an assessment purely from my point of view (closest to a creative enthusiast or professional than the average consumer) of each current video enabled DSLR worthy of a mention.
Panasonic GH1
Aimed at the enthusiast market and rich tourist, heavily geared toward ease of use and point and shoot simplicity with the kit lens. However, has comprehensive advanced feature set like 24p and manual controls. 3rd party firmware further extends image quality and feature-set with native 24p and higher bit rates. By far the most unusual product on the market and the most forward facing. Some earlier models had issues with fixed pattern noise (which shows as banding on underexposed areas of a shot) and some later models are currently blocked from being updated with the 3rd party hack. Good lens adaptability, less demanding on glass and can even take Zeiss G and Leica M rangefinder lenses, plus the occasional c-mount bargain. It is easier to have a F0.95 on the GH1, giving it a huge boost in low light boost over traditional DSLRs. 720/60p an advantage for slow motion. Has built in EVF for video mode and is smallest / lightest of the manual-control 24p DSLRs (it is in fact not a DSLR but an EVIL!)
[vimeo]10563576[/vimeo]Canon 5D Mark II
Aimed at the professional photographer and enthusiast market, with a heavy emphesis on high quality stills. Full frame sensor gives a superb looking image. The video mode has been revamped through firmware updates to corner the indie filmmaker market very successfully. Easier to get fast wides lenses due to full frame sensor. Needs good rig and separate audio recording. No video AF, poor in-built mic and audible lens stabiliser buzz if turned on, unlike with GH1’s video optimised kit lens. Works well with the Z-Finder, as screen is fixed and does not flip out. C-mount or rangefinder lenses cannot be adapted due to larger flange back distance and mirror box (same for all non-mirrorless DSLRs). High ISO performance is reasonable but gets very noisy above ISO 1600 despite full frame sensor, due to 22MP crammed onto the chip. More equal to the GH1 and 550D in this regard than people assume. No 60p and image processing shows moire, jagged edges on certain details. Rolling shutter distortion slightly worse than GH1 but not enough for it to be a major influence in buying choice even if shooting handheld or fast action because all current DSLRs have same problem. Really nice shallow depth of field and beautiful build quality.
[vimeo]8058326[/vimeo]Canon 7D, 60D
Aimed at the creative enthusiast who values manual control, but cannot afford professional gear. However both lack the full frame sensor of the 5D Mark II, and both cameras lack the GH1’s smoother image processing approach, though you do gain better low light performance at high ISOs.
[vimeo]7359778[/vimeo]Canon 550D
Aimed at the creative photographer and entry level, but unlike Nikon and Sony entry level models does not insult their intelligence with dumbed down feature-set because Canon also wanted the university and student artist market. Great option for the masses and a chance to save money over the 7D & 60D whilst maintaining image quality.
[vimeo]10314280[/vimeo]Current video DSLRs that I don’t recommend as much as the others
Nikon D90, D3S
An enthusiast camera and a professional product due for update. 720p MJPEG video mode is relic of the past, new models will be promising.
Nikon D3100
Aimed at the entry level market, a step up from a compact. Competes with 550D and has 24p but because of glaring omission of manual control I can’t recommend it’s video mode. Sony A55 is better as an automatic point and shoot camcorder too.
Sony NEX DSLR series
Stylish lifestyle camera aimed at the enthusiast who wants a smaller DSLR or the rich tourist who wants a basic video mode for recording holiday memories. Has heavy moire & aliasing.
Sony A55, A580
Aimed at the rich tourist and mum or dad who wants an easy to use video camera and stills camera all in one. Best video AF but much less than it could have been as a whole for budding filmmakers.
Samsung NX10
Aimed at the enthusiast, who requires higher picture quality than a compact. However, lacks basic manual control in video mode and has poorer image quality than direct competitors (GH1, 550D).
HD video cameras with large sensors
Then we have the future release of various HD interchangeable lens video cameras. The first two we know about.
Sony NEX VG10
Prosumer camcorder aimed at the enthusiast and prosumer video markets, a step up from almost all previous prosumer camcorders and possibly has very good pro broadcast applications. Free of moire & aliasing although does not feature 24p on NTSC model. Has interlaced wrapper.
Panasonic AF100
Not a consumer camera, aimed squarely at the indie filmmaking crowd and professional production crews. Perfect for them, but not as accessible to the rest of market due to cost and lacks small form factor of a DSLR or camcorder. Will be a great camera, but only bought by a niche.
