stills and video camera convergence

[Fordo]

Ive been reading a few articles of the latest batch of dslrs that can shoot full hd video, and a lot of people are predicting that we'll see a convergence of still and video camera technology in the near future.

I wondered what everyone on here thinks?

Have a look at this:

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArt...

Its filmed on a Canon EOS 5D MKII - a dslr

I come from a background as a video cameraman- and i think some footage there is absolutely stunning in places. It was shot as a promo for canon to show the capability of that camera. I read a 'making of' about the film, and I think a total of 10, very expensive lenses were used. While the footage is great, if you include the price of hiring that many lenses, I'm sure the same quality footage could have been filmed, probably cheaper, on a pro HD camcorder, with some decent lenses.

The idea of video and stills cameras coming together worries me slightly- I do like the idea in theory- still camera lenses are much cheaper than video camera lenses- Id love the ability to bolt on a fast 50mm prime and get a really shallow dof, on a budget shoot that normally couldnt afford that look.

But, it also worries me that a lot of stills cameramen will now think they can be video cameramen, and vice versa- to me, theyre very, very different fields, needing experience in very different things. Im a very experienced cameraman, but im only an amateur when it comes to photography.

Also, I can see people trying to cut corners by hiring in a dslr for video, instead of doing things properly and hiring in a proper pro video camera. It would be my worst nightmare to get on set to find Someone's hired me a dslr instead of the xdcam hd id asked for- I cant put a dslr on my shoulder, I cant mount a dslr properly on my steadicam, the dslr doesnt have xlr ports for sound, the dslr doesnt have built in ND and colour wheels, dslr lenses can suffer form focus breathing (which doesnt matter in stills), I cant get a remote focus controls for a dslr lens, dlrs wont generate time code or have a genlock port, I cant adjust the colour matrix to match other on set cameras.... and so on

However- I can see some great advantages to dslrs that can do video. If im shooting a film, and need to put a camera somewhere awkward or dangerous- the smaller form factor and solid state of a dslr, could make them very suitable.

I just cant see video and stills cameras every fully coming together- its like swiss army knives- can be useful, but youd never use one for performing surgury or cutting down a tree!

Id be interested to know what people think

[Fordo]

I wish, instead of adding bells and whistles, that someone would make a camera that goes the other way.

I want a really simple camera- metal case to make it tough, 35mm sensor size, 35mm bayonet lens fitting so i can hire in 35mm film lenses, a decent standard recording format, like hd cam, and a record button and a viewfinder. - i dont need an lcd screen, i dont need shot transition, i dont want auto tracing white balance, i dont want auto iris etc etc.

Same with dslrs really- i dont want to pay £1000 for a really decent one- but why cant i have a stripped down one, without the bells and wistles, for less cost? I dont want face recognition, just a decent lens and decent chips in the camera.

Edited by Fordo on Tuesday 23 September 11:52

[Fordo]

Cuban said:

Personally I am delighted at this new direction and am about to purchase the
Nikon D90 having tried it out today.

id love to see some footage once youve settled in with the d90- it looks like a cracking bit of kit

I must admit, I can see myself eventually getting a dslr with HD capability- it like you said, great for those moment when you need to capture something, and you dont have or want to have a hd video camera with you.

I can see the low consumer end of the market becoming saturated with point and shoot camera / video camera hybrids soon- ones that probably compress the footage horribly with avchd format or similar, and i'll have endless conversations with clients explaining why theyre point and shoot HD footage actually isnt full HD.....