DSLR with Video - Why??

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
It took me quite a while to move from film to digital and now I'm seeing the trend toward Video as a DSLR feature. My question is::cool: WHY? What's the attraction?
 

blueiron

New member
It has appeal to the consumer who wants one device that can be all things. Unfortunately, a still camera makes a poor video platform and a video camera makes for a poor single image camera.

It will sell more DSLRs and that is what Canon and Nikon are after in that market segment.

I don't understand the appeal.
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
Thanks blueiron, I personally think it degrades the DSLR and won't consider purchasing a camera that has the feature. Market Share/Price etc. and product proliferation has ruined many companies ... 'keeping up with the Joneses' is NOT necessary a good business strategy. If I were a videographer then I would purchase a videocamera - duh - I'm not, so I will continue to buy the 'straight' DSLR as required/needed. Nikon, concentrate on the perfect DSLR and the perfection of your glass... leave the video stuff to Sony, etc.
 
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Farnog

New member
Thanks blueiron, I personally think it degrades the DSLR and won't consider purchasing a camera that has the feature. Market Share/Price etc. and product proliferation has ruined many companies ... 'keeping up with the Joneses' is NOT necessary a good business strategy. If I were a videographer then I would purchase a videocamera - duh - I'm not, so I will continue to buy the 'straight' DSLR as required/needed. Nikon, concentrate on the perfect DSLR and the perfection of your glass... leave the video stuff to Sony, etc.

I utterly agree with you, sadly no upgrade to a 300s for me!
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
Hi all..while I completely agree with you I do own the D300S as I was choosing between the D300/D300S. I basically went for the newer technology as there are slight improvements and as it is newer Nikon will continue to support it with firmware updates etc..longer than the D300, but am highly disappointed in the trend to have DSLR's that do video and I will never be using that feature..that is why I have a Sony video camera (which by the way takes utterly crappy pictures).
But my point in all this I guess is don't avoid a camera just because it has that feature...simply avoid using that feature on the camera...make sense?
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
Good input zx7dave! A friend of mine showed me a Sony Video Camera ($26K) a while back that would allow you to 'freeze frame' the video and then edit it as though it were a photograph. Thought this was a spiffy idea, but for $26K price tag it had better offer more than that. Does the D300s allow/provide this feature?
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
Hi Dave - So my video camera is a Sony HDR-CX520V (much less than $26K) that does 1080p HD Video as well as 12MP jpg's. As I mentioned above the pictures while large are bad except in good sunlight...and even then has the potential to have the bleached out look. There is software out there where you can freeze the playback and basically do a screen shot of teh video and make it into a JPG, but the quality is poor on the few programs I have seen.
I honestly do not know about the D300S as I truely don't intend to ever use the video feature...
 

ophiuchus

New member
howdy all. im still a beginner photographer and bought the D90 because i felt it was the best camera for my level. While my focus is on still photography I feel that having a DSLR with video capability allows for experimentation with another type of image capturing. The D90 is definately not reknown for having great video, but for my needs it lends a broader spectrum for my wanna-be-artist to explore things a little more. I never even considered the video when choosing but as it was, I was throwing up between the D90 and Canon 550D (because they were both in my price range), which has incredible video, yet still went for the D90. So i recon having a DSLR with video capabilty is great, so long as the capacity for the camera to create superior stills remains the company's focus
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
Thanks for the perspective! You have made the right choice in going with Nikon, the D90 is a very nice camera. What lenses did you purchase - will purchase?
 

ophiuchus

New member
I got the 18-105mm kit lens, because i didnt like either the 35-55mm nor the 55-200mm. My next lens im tossing up between the 85mm f3.5 (?) micro and the 105mm f2.8 micro. Still unsure. I'd also like to get the 50mm f1.8 or, money willing, the 50mm f1.4. I'm not much into telezoom lenses, but if i did buy a zoom i'd possibly go for a 3rd party lens, like the Tamron 18-270mm. See how things pan out :)). Still very early days for me. Theres alot to it, as I'm certain (!!) you guys know all too well, and it's real easy to get lost in all the info. Baby steps, i keep telling myself. Baby steps
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
Ophiuchus,
You and I are looking at the same two lenses (85mm and/or the 105mm), I'm really leaning toward the 85mm as the input that I have had, and some touch and feel at a local Nikon dealer has pushed me toward this lens. In fact, I've pretty much have decided that the 85mm is the better choice (for me). In terms of tele-zoom lenses, and all other lenses, I'm somewhat of a purest in that I will only buy Nikkor/Nikon lenses. And, will pay as much as I can afford, and then some, for my them. If you do buy a telephoto lens, I highly recommend the 70 - 200mm VR. It's a very versatile lens and will give you razor sharp images. Pricey, but worth every penney (actually dollars). Couple this with the TCII 1.7X or the 2.0X and you're in a different world altogether. Message of the day: "It's all in the glass" !!
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
It has appeal to the consumer who wants one device that can be all things. Unfortunately, a still camera makes a poor video platform and a video camera makes for a poor single image camera.

It will sell more DSLRs and that is what Canon and Nikon are after in that market segment.

I don't understand the appeal.

I totally agree with you on that , blueiron. I don't get it either, and I would never buy a still camera that has a video feature, whether I used it or not.
 

Curt

Senior Member
Can I way in as well…lol. I totally agree that a DSLR should not be used to shoot video.
I have both still cameras and video, I would never think of shooting still shots with my camcorder, even though it has that feature, nor would I do the reverse with my DSLR.
But I guess for first camera buyers the option to be able to shot video on your DSLR seems attractive….lol???
 
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