is a DSLR as good as a REAL video camera?

[ATL Media Group]

yeah i've been researching this video stuff for a while. these dslr's are a nice bang for buck for what they do-as long as the limitations are known. the only reason i wouldn't get one is if i needed long recording times or the like. but, they are also a modular approach to movie recording. dslr's provide a "pay as go" alternative to professional camcorders.

That's what the GH1 is for... You get DSLR and you can fill a card without fear of overheating and 12 minute limits.

I'd say the GH1 is as close as you can get to a video camera/dslr true hybrid.
The rest are DSLRs that happen to shoot video.

 

[xDeLiRiOuSx]

yeah i've been researching this video stuff for a while. these dslr's are a nice bang for buck for what they do-as long as the limitations are known. the only reason i wouldn't get one is if i needed long recording times or the like. but, they are also a modular approach to movie recording. dslr's provide a "pay as go" alternative to professional camcorders.

Yep,

In ourcase, we already own 3 Canon 5D Mark II for photography. So the video feature is a freebie! It's been working great, but I do realize my limitations now. No biggie, I produce videos that are more into the hollywood style that more/less high lights the wedding and makes use of shallow DOF.

-David

 

[Fahad]

^^ then your all set! (lucky bastards! j/k)

 

[Zissou]

depends if CMOS issues are manageable. If so, then yes, otherwise, DLSR's are not quite the jesuscamera they are lauded to be.

Frankly i used 2 DSLR's and HATED the limitations CMOS/rolling shutter created; so much so i opted to buy a 3CCD HDV camera. Like everything its all a mixed bag.

 

[Nektonic]

depends if CMOS issues are manageable. If so, then yes, otherwise, DLSR's are not quite the jesuscamera they are lauded to be.

Frankly i used 2 DSLR's and HATED the limitations CMOS/rolling shutter created; so much so i opted to buy a 3CCD HDV camera. Like everything its all a mixed bag.

I think you make a good point. I'm certainly not selling off my 3CCD HDV camera that I will still use as my primary event videography camera. Just as my 3CCD HDV camera can't do some of the things my video-DSLR camera.

I think once you're used to and know how to work around the limitations of each camera, then you can use them in pretty versatile ways overall. Its those very specific times that you might need one type of camera over the other.

Having said that, so far I love using my DSLR. I was worried that I'd have many issues (moire, jell-o-vision, etc.), and put off buying a DSLR for video use for a long time due to these fears, but frankly, I haven't really seen any of that icky stuff. Or at least so far, it hasn't reared its head enough to cause a problem. I'm also not a pixel counter that sits there and tries to fixate on every little possible imperfection, so maybe that has something to do with my satisfaction with my DSLR.