Video DSLR?

Video and dSLR are basically two opposite things. I wouldn't suggest making a decision on an dSLR based on it's video functions or even purchasing such a camera to record video. I will say I'm quite surprised at my Pentax's video capabilities, but it's still rather limited. 720p, 24FPS, M-JPEG (so quite large files), mediocre mono microphone, no autofocus, noisy stabilizer, jumpy exposure... Now I can't say much about other brand's capabilities since I've never really used them, but I think you'd be better off getting a nice SLR for PHOTOS and a cheaper HD camcorder for videos.
 
Lots of people are buying Canon's cameras solely for video recording, even House has filmed some scenes using a 5D Mark II!

The Canon T2i would be a great starter DSLR, but note that there is no auto focus on video DSLR's, at least not on Canon's. Everything must be focused manually.
 
The_Other_One said:
Video and dSLR are basically two opposite things. I wouldn't suggest making a decision on an dSLR based on it's video functions or even purchasing such a camera to record video. I will say I'm quite surprised at my Pentax's video capabilities, but it's still rather limited. 720p, 24FPS, M-JPEG (so quite large files), mediocre mono microphone, no autofocus, noisy stabilizer, jumpy exposure... Now I can't say much about other brand's capabilities since I've never really used them, but I think you'd be better off getting a nice SLR for PHOTOS and a cheaper HD camcorder for videos.
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The 550D records at 1080p @24 and 30FPS, and 720p @50 and 60FPS. It probably doesn't get much better. Plus, you have manual focus straight out the box, which you don't normally get from a dedicated video camera without buying a separate 35mm DOF adaptor. It also comes with an external mic jack so you can plug shotgun mics and the like in.

I've currently got a HD camera, but it doesn't have optical zoom or manual focus. This seems to tick both boxes.

[-0MEGA-];1459132 said:
Lots of people are buying Canon's cameras solely for video recording, even House has filmed some scenes using a 5D Mark II!

The Canon T2i would be a great starter DSLR, but note that there is no auto focus on video DSLR's, at least not on Canon's. Everything must be focused manually.
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I really don't mind there being no auto focus. If anything, I'd prefer it to be manual focus. Though I did here somewhere it had some automatic focus whilst in video mode?
 
It's the same thing as live view if you've ever used that, it is the same thing as not having auto focus at all, it won't be able to track anything.
 
Nope, I've never seen it, what is it?

Ah right, doesn't matter too much. It's going to be used for recording a few biking videos, but from what I've seen, the autofocus doesn't matter all that much.
 
Meh, I'm not too fond of the idea of getting an expensive DSLR with not very good video recording quality for a "few biking videos". You'd be better off getting a really nice video recorder that meets all your criteria.
 
Ramomar said:
Meh, I'm not too fond of the idea of getting an expensive DSLR with not very good video recording quality for a "few biking videos". You'd be better off getting a really nice video recorder that meets all your criteria.
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What do you mean by "not very good quality"? Canon's HD video feature of their DSLR's are much better then any of their consumer level HD camcorders.
 
Well I didn't mean specifically picture quality, my response was based on the link Fatback provided (all factors of the act of video recording, not just image quality). I should've specified.

I'm not saying that a DSLR will record crappy videos, apparently Canon doesn't. I'm just saying that buying a DSLR that records video might not be the most convenient thing to do to in this case. That's of course, only my opinion.
 
Ramomar said:
Meh, I'm not too fond of the idea of getting an expensive DSLR with not very good video recording quality for a "few biking videos". You'd be better off getting a really nice video recorder that meets all your criteria.
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I'm wanting to go into video as a job, so it wouldn't just be a few biking videos. It's preparation for a career.

A purely video camera that produces anything near to that standard of quality and features would be super expensive. Even then, I'd have to fork out extra on 35mm DOF adaptor lenses to have any form of manual focus.

Having a camera that does everything I want in video and having the photography seems like a good idea.
 
Well, I guess that's fair enough...

These are the cheapest DSLR's you can get that record video:

Pentax K-x, Nikon D5000, Canon T1i, Nikon D90, Canon T2i, Pentax K-7. Price should go in that order from cheapest to most expensive.
 
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