I have a Nikon kit which I love, a D700 and great Nikkor glass, which I'll use for stills. I have audio equipment, mics, etc.
However, I need to evaluate and decide what camera to use for recording HD video.
Writing helps me process decisions like this, so I decided to write up a post about it.
My context will be shooting in a variety of conditions, some dust, some bright sun, lush green hills, and also shooting indoors which will typically be low light or very low light. I'll also be shooting some in early mornings and in the evening. I'll be shooting landscape, people, agricultural lifestyle, schools, homes, neighborhoods, some interviews, and some larger gatherings. I may bring a couple small LED lights for video, but I'll mostly shoot available light for both stills and video. I'll be in and out of vehicles, and walking a lot. I'll have a tripod along but preferring to not use it most of the time.
My video camera options include:
- a DSLR (several choices), or
- a compact but good quality HD video camera with tapeless media, or
- a new Panasonic or Sony high quality, larger sensor HD video camera
I could probably rent or purchase any of these cameras, and that choice (rental or purchase) depends on which camera I decide to go with.
I've shot plenty of video over the years, mostly with "real" video cameras (pro-sumer and pro), and because that's what I'm familiar with, it's also what I'm most comfortable with. But I don't mind doing something new as long as I have a few weeks to become real comfortable with it.
Here are some pros and cons of these video camera alternatives.
DSLR Video Camera - Pros
- good or great low light (high ISO) sensitivity (depends on camera)
- great lenses (I already have Nikon glass, if I use a D7000 for example)
- can use the same camera for stills and video, rather than single-use
- great depth of field with prime lenses or fast zooms
- small, relatively lightweight
- moderate cost
- variable frame rate options (depends on the camera)
- good quality video file
DSLR Video Camera - Cons
- ergonomics - not ideal for shooting video, limited controls, some settings require menu selections
- audio recording - need to record to separate external audio device, manage files, sync in post-production
- audio levels adjustment and monitoring
- requires optional optical viewfinder for stable handheld shooting
- requires optional electronic viewfinder for low- or high-angle shooting
- cropped sensors may require some different lenses than for full-frame DSLR kit
- crop factor affects effective focal length
- limited recording length per clip (6-20 minutes, depends on the camera)
- limited frame rate choices (depends on the camera)
Tapeless Pro HD Video Camera - Pros
- great ergonomics for shooting video
- great built-in audio monitoring and controls
- no external audio devices needed
- XLR audio inputs
- good (but not great) low light sensitivity
- great built-in viewfinder
- built-in articulating screen
- built-in neutral density filters
- great direct access to camera controls
- easy access to selectable frame rates (24, 30, 50, 60)
Tapeless Pro HD Video Camera - Cons
- higher cost
- requires dedicated lenses (though some Nikon/Canon lenses can be used with adaptor)
- larger and heavier camera (not by a lot, when audio issues are considered)
- crop factor 2x or 1.6x (depends on the camera) affects wider focal length lenses
- no VR (vibration reduction / image stabilization) on some cameras
Tapeless Compact HD Video Camera - Pros
- smaller, lighter
- several audio pros similar to Pro HD Video Camera option above
- most unobtrusive and portable video option
- moderate cost
- built-in omni mic
- good zoom controls
Tapeless Compact HD Video Camera - Cons
- shooting ergonomics not quite as good, due to smaller size
- some controls limited or accessed via menus
- no interchangeable lenses, limited depth of field, slower aperture
- smaller sensor; ok low-light sensitivity, but not great
This is not a comprehensive list but it represents three pairs of pros & cons for three video camera alternatives. It's wonderful to have three excellent types of video cameras (and over a dozen actual cameras) that would make really nice HD video files.
If I were to go with the DSLR, I'd need to choose Nikon or Canon. A Nikon would mean I could use most of my Nikon glass, which I'm bringing along anyway. A Canon would mean bringing a separate set of lenses just for this camera.
The Nikon D7000 is (as of March 2011) Nikon's best video-capable HDSLR. The ergonomics are not great, it's a cropped sensor, the same DSLR audio issues are there and have not been addressed. However, it could certainly create good video and be a solid option with its own unique set of trade-offs.
In all cases, whatever I end up choosing for these projects, I'll have:
- excellent video quality
- tapeless recording to digital media, just need to copy and archive files
- good or great camera controls
The biggest factors that shape a decision like this are:
- portability
- cost
- audio issues (monitoring, levels, built-in vs. external add-on)
- removable lenses
- low light sensitivity
- fast lenses / depth of field
- quality of the video file, compression
- max length of video recording (sometimes an issue, depends)
If you have other considerations and insights to throw into the mix, please do so in the comments. If you're thinking about these same issues or maybe have already worked through a similar decision and have some hindsight about the pros and cons of your decision, I'd love to hear what you've learned.
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