Canon 1D C

[RobbieKB]

So the Canon 1D C is imminent and offers filming in 4K and the pulling of stills from video that are of exceptional quality. I'm interested to hear what the more established photographers feel about this.

The video linked below is superb even if you just want to watch a video about photography. It's also rather honest about the 1D C's flaws with its revolutionary offerings.

Stills from video (at this standard) has been a long time coming but I feel like it's going to be a hot button topic nearly to the extent that film to digital was with regards to some photographers claiming the decline in necessary skill. Anyway, have a watch:

http://vimeo.com/56241602

What do you guys think?

[RobDickinson]

Basically as a still shooter why should I care?

4k video, great, I dont even have HD tv here.... Besides which video lighting and framing is a bit different from stills.

I'm sure you can pull a 4k still out but I will take my 20mp+ and stitched shots for now.

[14-7]

4k video is good but how many people can actually view it?

As a hobby camera 4k has no use whatsoever. 4k TV's are currently running at something like £50k+.

[neilr]

Stills from video is all very well but most films/video are shot at 24fps or 25fps (30 if its ntsc). WIth the standard 180deg shutter on a movie camera that equates to a shutter speed of either 48th/50th or 60th sec. Its not really as simple as slowing down or upping the shutter speed ad hoc like you can with stills to suit you when you're shooting video.

So, pulling stills is all very well but at those frame rates and shutter speeds a LOT of even fairly sedate motion is blurred. 4k makes it much more usefull i guess and the end results more usable but its no real replacement for a proper still (yet) if a pin sharp image is required. (not to mention file sizes)

I would say the 1DC is intended for PJ's shooting vid, second camera/unit work on lower budget/indie type shoots really when a small form camera is required, and for that id have thought C300/RED/BlackMagic offereings would be looked at first IMO. Horses for courses and all that.

[RobbieKB]

RobDickinson said:

Basically as a still shooter why should I care?

4k video, great, I dont even have HD tv here.... Besides which video lighting and framing is a bit different from stills.

I'm sure you can pull a 4k still out but I will take my 20mp+ and stitched shots for now.

Well I agree that still shooting is still preferable in most situations but portraiture does seem to benefit (if you have enough lighting equipment) from being able to choose a frame with the perfect posture/expression.

I was impressed at the quality of the stills they pulled and printed.

[thehawk]

Can see some very good uses for this, especially where movement is involved. Perfect example in the video with the movement of the dress.

But the price is pretty steep for that camera.

[RobbieKB]

thehawk said:

Can see some very good uses for this, especially where movement is involved. Perfect example in the video with the movement of the dress.

But the price is pretty steep for that camera.

It's a double edged sword though; if the movement is too much all the pictures will get small amounts of motion blur and won't be crisp.

[JustinP1]

14-7 said:

4k video is good but how many people can actually view it?

As a hobby camera 4k has no use whatsoever. 4k TV's are currently running at something like £50k+.

Toshiba had a 4k TV out last year at £7000. I paid £5500 for an HD TV when they first came out.

Toshiba's second generation 4K is out very soon:

http://tech.uk.msn.com/tv/best-new-tvs-2013?page=8

If you are a filmmaker (small or big) a portable 4k camera which accepts a variety of standard high quality lenses is a bit of a game-changer in terms of top end quality being in the scope of independent filmmakers.