DSLRs taking over in the nearest future?

Z

ZzBog

Active member
Hello, maybe this was covered here and there, but the search didn't reveal anything at least 80% similar to this question..

Let's imagine that camcoders will try to catch up with booming filmmaker's DSLRs.

From technical (or even engineer's) point of view is it possible, that DSLR cinematography is here to stay? Or is it just a splash, which would be soon (in 2 years) forgotten as an anecdote?

I mean all of a sudden a lot of stuff appears, which supports DSLR filmmaking - you can buy a DSLR kit from Zacuto for almost 2 times the price of 5D MKII, which is considered to be the most expensive in the bunch of these filmmaker's DSLRs. Is it just a big hype, you think, or are there any advantages of DSLRs, which cannot be beaten by camcoders?

Apart from ability to take nice stills and size factor...?
 
I don't see a future for them unless they start adding XLR inputs on these things. Then I'd consider it.
 
No. I see the two melding together. In order to get all the benefits of a video camera, it would have to become a video camera... the future is both... but eventually the DSLR will have to either top out and let the video camera progress, or change it's form. Because I DONT think the future of video work is going to be in a DSLR physical form of operation.
 
I agree w/Ryan basically. I think we'll see video cameras evolve to have DSLR quality on the head but retain the video camera form factor and functionality on the body. I don't think we'll see the two merge into a single entity because the needs and form factors are so different.


-A
 
If someone came out with a camera that shot great image in a tapeless form, had interchangeable lenses on a full or close to full sensor, cost under $3,000 and was shaped like a real camera I would, without hesitation, buy it. So I'm agreeing with all the others. They're nice, but they need to evolve.

The best concept is one that can have the body be changed with the electronic components for either a DSLR or video camera configuration, able to take both great stills and video.
 
Cassius said:
The best concept is one that can have the body be changed with the electronic components for either a DSLR or video camera configuration, able to take both great stills and video.
Click to expand...
Which is pretty much what Red is attempting w/the Epic and Scarlet cameras.


-A
 
I personally think it's going to be quite awhile before anything completely "merges". I know that most of us live in video world, but i think many forget just how big the still photography market is. It's gigantic. And there's a lot of people going "there's no way I would shoot video with a DSLR or pictures with a HVX200". Video has come a long ways in the last 10 years and will change drastically in the next 10, but video cameras and still cameras have primarily kept the same sort of form for the past 50-60 years, so it's not in the next 2 years that it's going to change. Innovations from Red & Canon definitely help, but I think you may start seeing products where the 2 have essentially merged, but I believe there will still be a market for one or the other for awhile.

The technology is there and the designs are starting to be implemented, finding a happy medium is going to be a tough one. Maybe something that looks like some of the "medium format digital" cameras, ie. Hasslebad MF meets HVX200, etc. etc.
 
I really don't see the two merging on a professional level. But, I definitely think that Motion-Picture SLRs are the future of OUR industry. I mean, look at the images you can get from a $1000 camera? If they had some pro controls and audio inputs, we'd be talking about a revolutionary product!

RED has threatened to make this revolution with the Scarlet...they'd do themselves good to see that thru, IMHO.

Nikon is really the only MFG that can make any money off of it. Canon and Panny would only end up killing their pro video markets by intro-ing a DSLR-based video product.
 
Kit Hannah said:
The technology is there and the designs are starting to be implemented, finding a happy medium is going to be a tough one. Maybe something that looks like some of the "medium format digital" cameras, ie. Hasslebad MF meets HVX200, etc. etc.
Click to expand...

This is basically the reason why they won't take off in a MAJOR way yet. I totally agree that something the size of an HVX200 would be seriously rockin'. Much more steady, XLR inputs, a Flip Out LCD, Audio Controls, and no odd image sampling-- just a straight 720 and 1080 (2k? Sure, but unecessary) near-to AVC-Intra flavor, CMOS tech in line with the RED or Panasonic GH-1 (Skew Control like whoa)...

Delicious. Not to mention to really be truly ready for ENG/Documentary work en massed there'll have to be some work getting electronic lenses manufactured that have servo zooms, CAC correction, distortion correction (optional), image stabilization (could be in camera, though), and naturally auto focus capabilities. Right now the GH-1 can do some nice ENG work right out of the box without much in the way of additional funds needing to be spent, but still needs just a few adjustments to make it really truly ready for any and every task.

So, nah, definitely nowhere in the near future. I'mma pretty large proponent of the technology, my wallet hates me because of it but I still have to really try to convince people to use it. It's harder to do than with RED for sure, a camera which I am JUST now getting around to the older, more-established gents around here.

It's got several years to go. But small projects and low-no-budgeters will love them.
 
Kit Hannah said:
The technology is there and the designs are starting to be implemented, finding a happy medium is going to be a tough one. Maybe something that looks like some of the "medium format digital" cameras, ie. Hasslebad MF meets HVX200, etc. etc.
Click to expand...

Kit took the words out of my mouth, or the thought out of my head-

I'm seeing (and wondering why we're not seeing) something that borrows from a medium format digital back, and the old Sonys and Ikegamis- interchangeable camera head and recorder back.

Why not a camera head with full frame sensor, with 2 interchangeable backs, each with their respective (or even better, SAME) media.

So you get a DSLR head with a CF/P2 card back, shoot stills...
or take that head, slap it onto a P2/XLR back, voila- video!

Each retaining somewhat of the original respective form factors.

Why not?

And if not Canon or Panny, Sony or Ikie?
 
So I guess, all this DSLR excitement will wear off pretty soon and leave a lot of people with regrets...

How soon would you think worthy contestants from the video realm will appear?

My guess would be within the year (less).
 
ZzBog said:
How soon would you think worthy contestants from the video realm will appear?

My guess would be within the year (less).
Click to expand...

Why will all of this DSLR excitement wear off? It just started. Multiple cameras were just announced at NAB and other trade shows this year. Companies like Canon & Panasonic don't make considerable investments into this sort of technology unless they think it's going to be around long enough to make their money yet. Heck, Sony still needs to come out with their version and I wouldn't be surprised if JVC rolls something out too.

ZzBog said:
How soon would you think worthy contestants from the video realm will appear?

My guess would be within the year (less).
Click to expand...

Looks like there are already some worthy contestants now! Companies have a product life, usually at least a year to 18 months, then they'll announce a major upgrade or the next model up, which usually progresses gradually over time. If companies constantly keep coming out with new equipment, they won't allow time to make money on the older equipment.

Companies are in business to make money. Let me say that again. Companies are in business to make money. Nobody cares what kind of product they have as long as they are making a load of money off of it. They attempt to produce what the consumer wants, but they try to find the cheapest way to do it while maintaining quality. But it also takes a lot more time than you think to develop a product.

So I believe your "guess" is going to be wrong there, ZZBog.
 
By the way...

Pentax is coming out with the K7D, their flagship DSLR camera, that has a movie mode on it. Only 720 30p, haven't looked into it much, but hey, it's another one.
 
My personal feelings are that the technology is open to a camera that could take a standard lens mount, offer XLR audio, have several resolution/frame rates, and have a 6MP to 8MP 35mm movie film sized image sensor. In addition it would need a partly silvered mirror that did not flip up, so that most of the light goes to the image sensor and a fraction of the light goes to the optical viewfinder. The optical viewfinder would show more area than what is being recorded, so you could see if a mike is about to drop into the image.

The problem with this type of design is, it's getting away from a DSLR and starting to look like a single chip video camera for film work. Not that that's a bad thing, just ask RED.


Bob Diaz
 
Kit Hannah said:
Companies like Canon & Panasonic don't make considerable investments into this sort of technology unless they think it's going to be around long enough to make their money yet. Heck, Sony still needs to come out with their version and I wouldn't be surprised if JVC rolls something out too.
Click to expand...

Where IS Sony on this one?
Is there any buzz on them releasing their "MkII"?
I guess they do have those DLSRs that not many seem to use...
And if Sony and JVC release VDSLRs, they'll be competing with their video lineup just like Canon and Panasonic.

So that still leaves Nikon as the only company that won't compete with itself when they upgrade the D90.

I still can't get over the interview from NAB by the (non-Bloom) Brit (sorry, I forget his name, he flew over Grand Canyon also) who had the Canon rep saying they were completely surprised and unprepared for the MkII response!!!

Speaking of Vegas (NAB) I wonder if they've made book on who releases the next VDSLR? LOL!

Anyone... care to wager? Winner gets errr... a shout out on DVXuser?
I say Sony by EOY.
 
Maybe it's not so rosy at Nikon:

Nikon expects biggest loss in 11 years, stock down
By [NR] admin | May 14, 2009

Nikon reported a 62.8% dive in net profit to 28.06 billion yen in fiscal 2008. The net loss will total 17 billion yen ($176 million) in the 12 months ending next March
 
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