Is it very inconvenient to shoot video on a DSLR?

Question

Video

Challenge: Shoot beautiful, dynamic video, often in poor conditions. I am faced with a choice: take the Canon EOS 7D, Sony SLT-A57, or a more complete Sony NEX-VG20 camcorder. A full-fledged camcorder is not often needed, a full-fledged 7D is much more necessary (I consider 7D in view of further operation as a reportage camera), and the Sony A57 is certainly not really needed. But I have already come across the fact that shooting dynamic video on a DSLR is a hassle. Question: if paired with a DSLR to use external gadgets, like Follow Focus, it will really be much easier to shoot dynamic scenes, or will the operator be extremely dissatisfied anyway? Or choose a compromise in the form of the Sony SLT-A57, which seems to shoot both a camera and video with autofocus? Or is a camcorder still inevitable?

Answer 1

There is a different grip on DSLRs, less comfortable than on a camcorder, therefore, the picture will “wobble” more, and in the future you will want some kind of rig or steadic, and they, like a tripod, always stay at home when needed. Regarding the quality of the picture, DSLRs, even 5DMIII and the latest Nikons, give out details worse (FYI: Philip Bloom compared not so long ago ) and dynamics (stupidly because of the sweep, the top of the frame has already gone to the buffer, and the bottom one is still being removed). As for the focus, you can get used to everything with proper skill, lotions add only convenience. Again, it all depends on the tasks, budget and fleet of lenses. 7D is unkillable, according to crash tests!

Answer 2

Panasonic GH2 not considered as an option?

Answer 3

The Sony SLT-A57 is a very balanced new DSLR. Of course, it should be recommended to a beginner in DSLRs (if he has enough money :))
But for video - xs (especially dynamic). It seems that Sonya shoots a video, but maybe it’s true - it’s better not to take a camera, but a video camera ???

Answer 4

I own a Canon 60D and often shoot video. Magic Lantern gives a huge bonus when shooting video : it shows histograms, the distance at which the lens is focused, allows you to focus more accurately, helps in sound recording, allows you to change both the video bitrate and the audio gain. The only thing that I personally lack is noiselessness at iso 1600+, I have to suppress noise in post-processing for a smooth picture, only full frame saves from this.
On Youtube there is a video of a guy named Devin Graham , he uses a Canon 5d Mk2, 60D and 7D for shooting, shoots a lot of dynamic videos, and at the same time copes with manual focusing, using only the simplest steadicam.
Another friend of mine makes a lot of extreme videoson a bunch of Canon 60D + GoPro (I don’t know which model), it doesn’t seem to complain.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to install Magic Lantern on 7D due to its dual-processor nature: each processor runs its own DRYOS instance, and the developers have not been able to synchronize them. But it works on the Canon 5D Mk2, porting to the Canon 5D Mk3 has already begun.

Answer 5

Buy a camcorder - You still want to shoot video ...
The camera is good for shooting "live photography", and the camcorder for dynamic scenes.
On the other hand, if you have a lot of free time, you can spend it on staged video shooting with a camera. I can advise Sony A57 - they really have a working autofocus. And the autofocus is very fast...

Answer 6

as for convenience, it’s convenient, the only thing that appears is the effect of sharpness when you change the position of the camera when you move

Answer 7

For dynamic scenes, definitely not.

Answer 8

I'm probably a bad video shooter, but I suffer terribly without autofocus (Mark2). I shoot from a tripod, diligently focusing, but slightly shifted the shooting point - everything is new. Apparently, you need to know some kind of trick, or learn how to adjust the sharpness on this screen ... I suspect that the 7D has the same issue. My videos are therefore not of high quality, often blurry, often the focus is not where I intended. Once I picked up an ordinary household video camera from a friend, how convenient it is to shoot, changing the angle and shooting point! Of course, I'm just learning, besides, I don't shoot videos professionally, I don't fulfill orders. But still, I want to enjoy the results of shooting. If you can overcome this problem, you will get excellent quality videos.
The second problem, let's say, is the battery. On a shooting day, one battery is clearly not enough. Having bought a battery pack, since then I have been trying to put batteries in 0. So far it hasn't worked out once :-)
Successful shots!