Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Google it.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Most Nikons are fantastic for stills, but not optimal for video.

If you want an excellent hybrid (stills plus video) system, look at the Panasonic Lumix S1H full frame plus Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma lenses (they all use the Leica L mount). They are expensive, but for video, they are reasonably priced. The S1H meets Netflix standards for pro-grade video! The ONLY weak point of this and other Lumix models is contrast detect autofocus, but filmmakers usually pull focus manually, so we just don't care. Bloggers are another matter... But the S1H is total overkill for blogging.

Also look at the Panasonic Lumix GH5 and GH5s. The Lumix G9 is better at stills, but it records excellent video. The GH series are hybrid-optimized for video first. The GH5s is aimed at filmmakers who work in low light or cannot use in-body image stabilization in run-and-gun situations.

All Lumix G-series cameras are Micro 4/3 format and use the same 110+ lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, Panasonic Leica, and several others. They can adapt SLR and dSLR lenses with varying degrees of annoyance. Canon EF-mount lenses adapt best, and Nikon lenses adapt worse. If you just want a totally manual experience, a $30 adapter is available to work with most old lenses.

Remember that AUDIO is the big challenge. If you are using Canons or Nikons, you will probably want to use a separate audio recorder and record at a 48KHz sampling frequency. Then you will need to sync the audio in post. The Lumix cameras have excellent pre-amps, limiters, meters, an XLR input adapter, and usable 70 to 76db signal-to-noise ratio. That makes onboard sound recording from external microphones useful for documentaries and other simple production work.

I've used GH4 bodies for several years, and I'm amazed by them every time I pick them up. I had several dedicated video cameras from 1983 to 2012, and hated the camcorder form factor. I grew up with Nikons in my hands, so I wanted that form factor for everything. My GH4s feel like my old F3s. They're built like them, too, and weather-sealed.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

Hilarious maybe, but very true. That is why DSLR cameras shut off at 30 mins. A video camera is at a different tax bracket, possibly for import. I assume you did not know that.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The vast majority of videos are edited series of clips. The 30 minute limit is true for a lot of cameras, but is usually meaningless in practice. The exceptions are long (boring) recordings of a speech, lecture or concert.

Good luck finding viewers if you ever make a single shot 30 minute recording!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Or even 3 minute boring clips of a boring vacation or birthday party.

The Capt.

Yes, but the Nikon D850 and I assume some others can stream video until the battery runs out.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I was shocked a few years ago when I read a book about video. It said, the scene or "clip" needs to change every 3 to 5 seconds. I didn't believe it. I watched some TV while counting "One thousand one, one thousand two, etc". It is true. Try it.

If you do that, the odds on someone watching your vacation or birthday videos will improve markedly.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Perhaps.
That is a lot of work and literally hours on the cutting room floor.
I also critically watch TV and movies this way as you did.
It is a lot of very hard work to produce a movie/video worth looking at.
Perhaps some immediate family might enjoy home movies if they are in them as well.
I watch some my Grandfather did with his 16mm camera (Which I have) They technically suck and would bore to death strangers but I enjoy seeing my mother young and siblings and cousins as very young children and we laugh.
Some of the combat zone in the Pacific my uncle took are only interesting because of the period and unique subject, WWII. But others might find them also uninspiring and boring.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I have to add a camera to the Lumix list: the new S5. It borrows from the S1 and the S1H, and adds quite a few refinements. Again, the tracking performance of AF for video is NOT good, so bloggers will dismiss it, but otherwise, it is a great stills camera for weddings and portraits, and a filmmaker's budget full frame camera. It even handles anamorphic lenses for wide-screen cinema movies. Encouraging reviews are showing up on YouTube by the usual reviewers. Gerald Undone has a very detailed analysis.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

LOL, too much time behind one of those and one learns to keep both eyes open, each looking at something else. An eye and half a brain operates the camera, keeps focus & composition while the other half brain and eye, looks at the surrounding to keep from tripping over something as one moves about while shooting.

I still remember the Betamax video recorder. Feels like lugging a car at the end of the day, cost almost the same as a small car too. The VHS was even bigger and pairs to a handbag (shoulder strapped) recorder.

That's me with the bazooka LOL, way back in the 80's

sweedsss31

I've been using camcorders for some years. I just started using a Canon Vixia HF G50 -(4K) camcorder
(a round a $1000.00) I'm very happy with the quality of video and the photos.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Things have have changed so very far.

From the jerrycan sized video cameras with a 640x480 pixel VGA resolution of the yesteryear to present days' matchbox sized 4096x2160 pixel 4k go pro and the even smaller snake probes.

Technology is amazing stuff.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

For most people’s video needs just about any current mirrorless offering does good video. Yes the Panasonic GH5 is a great video centric mirrorless camera but he could get a Nikon Z6 or even Z50 and get really good video and a great stills camera be able to use his existing lenses with the adapter.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

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