Never doubt the power of a DSLR for movies again

 Very nice.

 Up 10 days and it's been viewed over 446 thousand times!  And they stopped the download option.  Too bad.

Wow, that was just beautiful, thanks for the share Sam.

Yeah HD video capability is now making its way into quite a few new DSLR models. The only thing keeping me from updating my XSi (aside from price) is the poor on-the-fly-while-in-motion focusing of the video on DSLRs. Sam's video is wonderful, but is also taken from a completely stationary (and likely tri-pod'd) perspective. As soon as DSLR videos can be moved around while still quickly dynamically focusing like a camcorder, I'll be one of the first in line. I'm thinking it's not going to be more than a generation or two away (so 18-36 months).

You're probably more optimistic than me.  Getting continuous AF to work well on a DSLR for shooting video will probably be *MUCH* tougher than on camcorders due to the much shallower DoF (as a result of the lens/sensor diff) *AND* the need to bypass use of the dedicated AF sensor (which is what's needed for fast, accurate AF).  And frankly, I don't think camcorder AF (on most camcorders anyway) works that great either.

_Man_

Man,

I agree there are a lot of obstacles. But I remember it was just one generation of DSLRs ago that the companies were insistent that video wouldn't be possible on a DSLR, at least at a reasonable price range, and that's already been proven to be a myth. All it takes is for one company to figure out how to do it, and the rest will follow suit very quickly.

DSLRs are being updated at a crazy rate now (nearly annually). Whereas before you'd have the same model for 2 years (or more, with the high-end DSLRs). I guess that's why I remain hopeful that it will happen within the next year and a half to three years.

I agree that a lot of camcorder AFs aren't that great, but they're certainly miles better than what you can get on the initial HD video implementation on this gen of DSLRs. They just need to get close to current camcorder video AF to entice me to lay down the funds again and upgrade.

Thanks for the update on your HD video on DSLR journey! I admit I'm starting to get interested in this. I have the Canon XSi, but the recently announced 7D has piqued my interest. If the focus while recording video has improved on that model, I may jump into the pool! (as long as standard PQ hasn't decreased)

Ugh, with all the tradeoffs made by the "pixel race" (i.e. more pixels crammed on the same size sensor resulting in more noise and relatively poorer low light performance) maybe I should just suck it up and get a Leica S2 and be damned with video capability! 

Of course, I could also spend all that money on a down on a house, or pay for a moderately priced car in cash. 

That looks pretty nice, Sam. I've been contemplating upgrading to the D90 for the video, but my current D80 is still doing a nice job (albeit without video), so it's hard to justify the cost. The cheaper D5000 is an option, but I think I might just wait for the next generation version. Things can only get better.

Again, maybe some day...

But for now, I'm fine w/ my D200 -- although I certainly wouldn't mind having the improvements of the D300, let alone the D3...   But I've got mouths to feed and all afterall...   And one of them just started taking photography class too at her new middle school, so I now gotta feed that as well (w/ a nice used Nikon FM2n off eBay) alongside the other $$$ stuff (like the family's violin ventures on top of whatever HT-related stuff)...  

Well, at least on this front, I now get to play around some w/ a neat little, full manual film SLR classic (in the FM2n) in between my kid's school projects.  I never actually got into film before (nor taken an actual photog class), so it's nice to finally have something like that around (and also have yet another common interest to share w/ my kids).  Interestingly, apparently, most/all her photog classmates went w/ the (cheaper) Pentax K1000 -- seems to be a popular choice for a budget used camera for beginners (as recommended by their teacher).  That might mean she'll have easier access to borrowing whatever Nikon lenses available in the school's inventory since most others went w/ Pentax.

Meanwhile, I'm now looking into picking up some decent manual lenses cheaply off the used market both for her uses and for my own enjoyment.  Maybe I'll finally pick up another manual macro lens (to go w/ my Nikkor 55 f/2.8 AIS micro), a fisheye and/or a Lensbaby for instance...

No video features here of course (though I'd love to hear about a video back/upgrade to swap into an old FM2n or my D200, if that sorta pipe dream ever comes true), so sorry if I'm raining a bit on your parade...  

BTW, while checking out some used manual Nikon lenses on eBay, I noticed that used market seems to have partially turned into a DSLR video market w/ some cross-brand/mount lens adapters thrown in to boot probably due to the current need to go w/ manual focusing when shooting video combined w/ doing it in FF mode perhaps (though I don't really know, but am just guessing).  For instance, are there really that many Canon shooters using Nikon lenses w/ a mount adapter on their 5DMk2 to shoot video now?  Just curious as I seem to spot the occasional eBay auction suggesting at least some are trying (or selling) that.

Anyhoo...

_Man_

Hmmm...  Are you suggesting one can actually safely change the aperture (via the ring) on those old Nikkors while shooting video?  That use hadn't occurred to me before since I didn't really/seriously look into shooting video w/ a DSLR (yet).  I was only aware of the need for manual focusing -- and it's definitely (usually) nicer to MF using lenses originally designed for MF use (vs AF lenses w/ minimal MF capability, eg. quality operation/action of the focus ring).

BTW, I did take a quick look into the F3HP while shopping for my kid's photog class.  Seems nice, but looks like there are actually some things more desirable in the FM2n, if certain auto features are not needed.  The used market for film cameras does seem kinda odd now(?) because of the niche that remains leftover, eg. photog class students, DSLR videographers (for manual lenses), etc.  Your much loved F3HP doesn't seem to fetch any more than the FM2n -- it probably even fetches less at times depending on which actual FM2n (as there's one w/ the old Titanium honeycomb-patterned shutter blades and the newer, more common one w/ Aluminum blades as well as some special limited/collector's edition titanium-bodied one that probably still fetches serious $$$).

_Man_
Edited by ManW_TheUncool - 10/2/09 at 2:32pm

Hmmm...  But is it safe to manually adjust aperture (via the ring) in the midst of video capture though, not just lock it on some desired setting to prevent any undesirable auto mode hazards?  IOW, is it safe to adjust aperture (for whatever effect, exposure change, etc) in the middle of a take w/out stopping that take?

On 2nd thought, maybe that's kinda moot, even if safe to do, since doing so would inevitably introduce a fair bit (if not a lot) of camera shake, etc. which would generally be undesirable in the middle of a take...

_Man_

hi guys

I have a BUNCH of Nikon AIS stuff
and a Canon 5D with lenses that I would love to sell

5D with 3 lenses...about 1000 pictures taken on it.

Gregg,

What Nikon AIS lenses do you have for sale?  And what condition are they in?  I might be interested.

Thanks.

_Man_

Gregg,

Which lenses do you have with the Canon 5D? Depending on lens and price, I may be interested.

Full frame becomes more tempting...