I’ve been watching the DSLR world with some interest for some time now. Top of my list has been PhilipBloom and Zacuto. Their DSLR shootout has been quite eye opening to say the least. However, I have been held back for a number of reasons:
- Video Recording
The resolution is great; maximum resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio, lovely. But there are a few things that concern me:- Recording time is limited to 12 minutes in the so-called HD mode. Really only an issue when filming events – which I do (at Southpoint Church)
- AVC / H.264 compression – this obviously sacrifices some of the quality, maybe not so much on the actual image, but when you start editing and applying visual effects. Imagine if there was a RAW option that could be streamed to a Hard Disk.
- 4:2:0 Color sampling, can it get any worse for green screening? Although it can come out at 4:2:2 through live HDMI.
- RED Scarlet
- Lenses
- Processing Power
RED are making some serious progress in the DSLR realm with unbelievable resolutions at RAW 4:4:4 formats. I would like to see how this pans out before committing to any changes, but it has been constantly delayed.
With the 7D, as with the 5D, and the RED Scarlet (not the fixed lens), the camera comes without the body. It does not make sense to purchase a great camera only to limit it with a cheep lens. However there in lies the problem – good lenses can be way more expensive than the body.
Ok, so once I have the great High Resolution DSLR footage, and maybe converted it to ProRes, I will need a good computer. My PowerMac G5 Single processor will not work. The MacBook Pro I use (from Southpoint Church) will struggle, this I know because I have edited Canon 5D footage before. I can only dream of a high powered Mac Pro do be able to work efficiently with HD footage, until then my workload would double and slow down if I went DSLR – or plain HD for that matter.
That being said, if I had to go ahead and get a DSLR – I would have to first sell my Panasonic DVX 100BE. Interesting that it could be a clean swop (price wise), talk about disparity.
[Edit: Just an addition here - to give credit where credit is due:]
I have never been that serious about DSLR until I started watching the Zacuto Shootout series. But even then, in my mind, I could not see that I could possibly use one – thinking that the compression formats were too difficult to edit with. However I read a series on this at PowerProduction on the issues of DSLR and the DSLR workflow (and that got me thinking and having heard from someone who works with the 7D):
[/Edit]
Are you thinking of going DSLR?
Are you currently using a DSLR?
So what do you think?
[Image by: snapeverything]
DSLR is certainly making things look super – check out http://www.rayromanblog.com for what I think is one of the best ‘wedding’ videos I’ve seen and it was shot on 7D.
Yeah, I had a look – very good looking. Maybe I will be able to hire one and try it out first – that or a Canon 5D. Hmmm, will be interesting to hear/read more about the differences (besides the different sensor sizes), when I was watching the Zacuto shootout, the 5D just seemed so much better in dynamic range.
Huh. I don’t know what I use. But it’s a Canon. And it takes nice pictures. For this amateur anyway.
(Your comment at Green Inventions made me laugh! )
Thanks for including our posts here – I’m glad that we were able to make you think about an alternative way of pursuing your production pipeline. The main thing is to not wait around for the technology to tell your story – I’m so guilty about do so. The 7D and it’s baby bro the T2i (or 550D in some markets) really have me moving toward that workflow myself.
Also very soon I’ll be offering sales support for all of the Canon line (as well as 700 other vendors), I’ll have more details on that very soon!
I must find out more about the T2i/550D
I LOVE my DSLR! I don’t use mine for Video at all. Just pics. I have a physically disabled child and sometimes her movement is involuntary. With the standard digital camera, I would loose the shot with the delayed shutter. Changing over to DSLR and immediate shutter response has allowed me to get much better shots. And like L.L., I am an ameteur. But the shutter speed was my reason for purchase. I have a Nikon.
Think that if I get a DSLR that I will get more into Photography
thats for sure. But I will be filming a lot more with it. lol
I think that you would find your workload could be eased by careful conversion and possibly even proxy use. I also think that the sad truth is that your dvx and your g5 are both a little long in the tooth. They work perfectly together (i assume) but if you upgrade one you will force the upgrade on the other as well.
Even if 1080 ends up being too high of a processor strain for your tower, you could shoot 720 or even standard def on the 7d /5d until you get a better workflow dialed in.
One issue for you to consider is that unlike your panasonic, all of the canons have a 12 minute max recording length. If you are used to set it and forget it (for example a fixed camera of a church service) then no canon dslr will easily allow that.
Good luck! Dslr shooting is a ton of fun, and having a still camera around always helps with your composition, framing, and understanding of how it all comes together in the “black box”
yeah, long in the tooth indeed. Think I will first start my an upgrade to my computer before anything else – strengthen the foundations.