DSLRs for video - don't see the attraction

paulears

paulears

Veteran
I use full size shoulder mounted cameras - always have, and use a DSLR purely for stills - and my old trusty Pentax didn't do video anyway. However - I broke it, and replaced it with another Pentax simply because of my lens collection. For the first time, I've tried the DSLR for what thousands of people on this forum use them for - moving pictures. In a rehearsal, and it was sitting there, so I gave it a bash. I'm very happy with the image quality, but what a rubbish way to shoot video. How do you manage? Your arms ache, you can't keep it steady, focusing is a bit random, and worse still is my eyes are a bit old and I wear varifocals, and can't get the screen in focus close to - I have to hold it away, and then of course I can't see the detail.

After being sceptical about DSLR video, now I can do it, I know it's not for me, but at least now do understand why people bolt together those crazy contraptions. It's totally convinced me that if it can't go on my shoulder, and stay level with minimal effort I don't want to use it. I guess I could stick it on a decent tripod and head, but how can I work without a proper zoom?

What on earth is the attraction? There must be a reason everyone is using them?
 
1) affordable way to get a large sensor (better DoF control, potentially better in low light)

2) portability for airline travel

3) affordable way to get interchangeable lenses (macro photography, microphotography, extreme wide angle or telephoto, etc)

4) interchangeable lenses help portability/flexibility too: I use a 1kg Oly 40-200 f2.8-3.5 at home, and a 250g Lumix 40-150 f4-5.6 on vacation.

5) ability to upgrade just the body: I started with a GH2, now have a G6 and AF100, have my eyes on a GH4. All use the same lenses.

I do agree the form factor has disadvantages - I usually bring a video monopod along, and or a full tripod.
 
Most of my paid work gets done with a Panasonic AC 130. Power zoom, ND, XLRs. It lives on a shoulder mount with a QR plate on the bottom, focus, iris and zoom at the front handles. Never miss a shot. I do a lot of corporate sponsored community events, wounded veteran charities, stuff like that. From shoulder mount to tripod to crane, it's all in a snap. Would never use a DSLR for that. (But if interviews are involved, I'll often use the DSLR and external audio recorder for just those).

Thing is, the "video" camera doesn't look, well, beautiful like my DSLR with a mojo-filled lens (say, Nikkor 85 1.8 or 28-70 2.8).

When I want to do something gorgeous, it's the DSLR, hands down. I'm sure there are "video" cameras out there that could look as good, but I've shot Nikon for decades - for a $1k body, it opens up a world of luscious imaging that my "video" camera can't touch. It's not just having absolute control of DOF for shot design... there's just something lovely about the image itself.

When Roger Deakins is shooting a Coen brothers film, I don't think he's bummed that he doesn't have a power zoom. I use the DSLR for things that have time to setup and plan shots. Matte box, follow focus, viewfinder or loupe, and the same shoulder mount gear I use for my other cameras and I can get about any look that I want. And I've done music video shoots where we cranked out dozens of shots in one day - it's not that slow, and if I work with one of my (really gorgeous) Nikkor zooms, pretty much all I'm doing is swapping ND filters. Heck, I've done on-the-road projects where half the shots used an 8' kessler crane (keep it half-built and cabled in the big SUV) and still gotten all my shots. I've got a sweet view camera case that the DSLR can travel in, rig fully built. Often the shooting experience is pretty much the same as the video camera, just that framing and ND can take longer... but framing with a zoom (because you have to for time reasons) is rarely as nice as framing with lens choice and camera position. It's a trade off but one I like.

If you just pick up a DSLR and point it at stuff, you'll hate the experience. Get it on rails, add a decent loupe, shoulder gear or a tripod... 'nother store entirely.

I often rent a smaller Nikon body (like a 5300) for gigs with my steadicam - just stick a wide zoom & balance it once. there's no way I'd could go without a vest with my Panasonic.

Here's a lowly T2i with a $100 Nikkor series E 100mm, video frame, not a still. It's just effortless to get beautiful shots with the DSLR.

MVI_3026.jpg
 
It's the image for the price that makes us use them.

When you start using them you start to adapt it your shooting style, and also adapt your shooting style with it, so it will become much much easier than your first experience. You can turn any DSLR into a very comfortable camera with a quality shoulder rig, an EVF, small mattebox, top handle, external XLR recorder, and you attach them all together making a lovelyusable package. Not the prettiest sight but works. And one of theain advantages is that you can put a 100$ 50mm lens on a bare body, then onto a 20$ tripod and shoot gorgeous 35mm images.
 
The majority use them in situations that call for more creative control than is possible with a traditional small sensor video camera and at less cost than large sensor video cameras - Popular uses would be music videos, short films, commercials, etc - Controlled shoots where you aren't typically needing the features of a regular video cam. Another use would be stealth shots where it appears you are taking stills.

Now though, there are more options than ever for shooting with "stills" cameras - Hybrid Sony and Panasonic models like the A7s and GH4 include quite a few video friendly features.
One can also move on to less expensive large sensor cameras like the Canon C100/ Panny AF100A Sony FS100/FS700/FS7, Black Magic models, etc.
 
Because getting an Alexa doesn't make financial sense to me, and a small sensor won't give me the image I want.
Also, I like small. You can always add stuff to a camera to make it big and heavy, but it doesn't work the other way around.

Of course, you'll need some stuff in order to be able to get nice images with a DSLR. For a start, you need a loupe, without that, as you have found, it's not easy to see the screen, it's not easy to hold the camera still, your arms get tired, it just doesn't work. Then you'll need to adjust to being your own focus puller, but, again, the loupe helps a lot for this.
I would say: start with this (or a similar model that fits the screen on your camera), then this. Plus some ND filters, if you don't have some already. If that doesn't get you going, then maybe this style of shooting is not for you (it definitely is not for everybody).
 
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