kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

Very nice to have video capabilities in a camera. Quality is excellent. (1080p). I shoot a lot of racing (auto)pictures, and I love being able to shoot a pit stop video. Videos are .mov (QuickTime) format. Sound quality is first class.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

To do DSLR video with sound you will need an external microphone. The internal microphone picks up the motor of the lens as it adjusts focus. However, from the results it is well worth it. My D7000 has 2 card slots. I've dedicated the second slot completely to video. xseabee has inspired me to take more video...especially of my grandson.

xseabee Loc: Northern California; Northern, Colorado

Steve,
Not necessarily so with the Lumix GH2. I have a 'Rode' mic. but rarely use it as the sound quality is so good right out of the camera.. One note on the previous video post; there was NO post production or stabilazing done to the video. The stabilazion in the GH2 Camera and the vibration dampers on the "Cinestar 6" copter is that smooth...as stated by Jeff the videographer of the videos.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

If know that if the camera were left in manual mode there would be no problem, especially if focused on infinity. Closer, personal shots where AF is required is more problematic, however.

xseabee Loc: Northern California; Northern, Colorado

You may be correct as I have not done close personal vid's yet with this camera. I should experiment with that.

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

When I got my d5000 video was just something that came with the camera. My wife is a singer, and I decided to film her with sound. Using a tripod, a primary lens on manual, and the mic on the camera, I got excellent video and sound. Now I have to figure out how to edit, but I have time. My biggest issue if forgetting that I can shoot video and stills with the same tool.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I have the same question about editing. I'm just about ready to buy Photoshop Elements anyway. Does it have video editing tools?

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

No
Whole different ballgame
Do some research

xseabee Loc: Northern California; Northern, Colorado

I first started with Windows Movie Maker. It isn't pre-installed. But, you can download it for free. Movie Maker is handy for making quick edits to your videos. Or, use it to piece together smaller clips and photos. Of course, you can also add transitions and video effects. Movie Maker includes a library of transitions. It is very basic, but a good learning tool.
I moved on to the #1 rated "Cyberlink Power Director 10-Ultra". It is the fastest 64-bit program out there. The "Ultra" version is $99.

http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Since we're on the subject I just asked.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I use Pinnacle Studio 14 and I think 15 is newly released. It is an excellent editor, easy to learn and feature rich, does 1080p and burns to blu ray if you have a blu ray burner. I have a friend who uses Adobe Premier but at the time I started burning blu rays, Premier would only do 1080i which is not equal in quality to 1080p by any stretch. To take full advantage of 1080p it has to be put on blu ray. DVD is recorded at 480p which is 2 steps down in quality from blu ray at 1080p with 720p being in between them. I have, and recommend, the LG brand blu ray burner, around $150 from Micro Center (microcenter.com)

1080p video is shot at 2 megapixels per frame, considerably less than the resolution of a still from a Canon 5d MkII, for instance, which is 21 megapixels. The main reason the DLSR's that do 1080p are so desirable is because of the powerful glass that's available for them. Video from high quality lens of either Nikon or Canon at 1080p compete with video cameras that range in cost from $60,000 to $500,000. There probably isn't a consumer level video cam that will get as fine an image. Panasonic puts out a couple of cams starting at around $2000 with Zeiss/Leica lens that come real close but those weren't available until just recently.

The negatives of DSLR's is that panning often isn't smooth, you cannot either zoom or focus when recording without bumping the lens around unless you buy one of the stabilizer harnesses just newly having been released. The major noise contributor that affects the mic is probably not focus, it is the stabilizer motor (IS/VR) which needs to be turned off. It is better to use an external mic even with the IS off because the least bump or careless movement of the camera is picked up by the internal mic.

I have had a Canon 5D MkII since Jan 2009. I believe it was the first DSLR to have 1080p. I have been doing video with it since I first got it. If you'll go back and watch those clips that are behind those urls offered in this thread and look closely, the technique with very minor exception is to take short clips without attempting to move the camera, stop recording, move the camera, refocus, and record another clip, repeating that procedure 'til done and then editing the short clips together. In a couple of those clips the operator has the stabilizer package which cost about $1000 and doesn't solve all the shortcomings of DSLR and video.

If you're willing to respect it's limitations, it sure makes some nice 1080p video to toss up on a 60" or 70" tv. Tripod and remote release are very desirable. If you're going to do continuous video such as recording a music video without the performers having to stop and restart when you need to reset the camera, use more than one camera two, or perhaps three and have them set up before beginning so it becomes record on one while moving and setting the other up. Rent the extra bodies if you have the lens. Otherwise the performers will have to stop and restart ahead of where they left off and blend it with the editor. It can be done but will require a little extra work. Of course, at 75 I'm not as steady as stronger, younger people so their mileage may vary. I'm just allowing you to benefit from my experience if it's convenient for you. Good luck.

Just a short addendum, I've been using Pinnacle Studio for video editing since version 7 in 1999 and have tried Adobe Premier and Cyberlink, among others, and find Pinnacle to be more intuitive and functional for my use than anything else I've tried. They update their products yearly to include the latest innovations and the others seem to lag behind as in the case of offering 1080i v. 1080p and the ability to burn blu ray. For Apple users, Canon 1080p is produced in Apple's lossless .mov format and the various Apple editors readily use it although the most popular Apple editor, Final Cut Pro, if I recall correctly, wouldn't do 1080p when I got my 5D MkII. I'm sure it would now if it didn't then. I had to go through so many different software packages to find what I needed that I can't remember everything I learned then.

lacsar Loc: Columbia SC and Newland NC

I just bought a Sony A65v and having video capabilities was the last thing I cared about. I may at sometime use it, but I have a couple of video camera's I use for specific type of videos and the dslt will not work for the type of video's I take.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Not my thread but looks like it's true that "you can't please everyone all the time." I will only emphasize that if you're after some really fine looking video, can adapt it to your needs, and are willing to accept the limits, a DSLR can do really well.

xseabee Loc: Northern California; Northern, Colorado

What he said
P.S.; Where Colo. ?

:thumbup: :thumbup:

nivek340 Loc: South Hadley Ma.

your very limited in what you can do and the time element with dslr.
I shoot a horse show every year in new england and we'd never be able to shoot the show with a slr for video production. I believe it is a consumer idea for a family on vacation or a party etc. so you'll only need one piece of gear, but that's not entirely true. Except nixon's new cam can do both, see where I'm getting at. two for the price of one. a high price.
I need both, so I have both.