Is there a DSLR camera that can record video and take a snapshot at the same time?

F

Filmkid2003

Well-known member
Hey everyone. I'm looking for a DSLR camera that will let me record 720p or 1080i video and take a still photo at the same time without interrupting the video whatsoever. I know the Canon 5D Mark II and EOS Rebel T1i let you record video and take a still photo at the same time BUT, the video is interrupted for a second. I have a Panasonic HPX170 and I can probably take a snapshot while recording video but, it won't look anywhere near as good as a still photo taken with a DSLR, especially if the subject is moving fast. I need a DSLR camera that can record video and take a still photo at the same time without interrupting the video. Does such a DSLR exist? And if so, is there one that costs less than $1,000? Thanks.
 
Doesn't exist. You can pull a nice 5 x 7 printable frame from your 1080p footage, but you can't snap a photo while shooting without getting a second of freeze frame on any currently available SLR. There really aren't many SLRs that shoot video, yet.

I am 90% sure of this... I happen to have no experience with the GH1. Maybe someone can confirm.
 
Thanks, Eric. That's what I was afraid of. The reason I'm asking is because I want to do a time lapse scene of traffic, where the traffic is going at super fast blurry speed and then slows down to a dead stop (like frozen in time) for a few seconds, then speeds back up again to super fast speed. So, I was planning on recording video at 720/30p on a DSLR and taking a snapshot (for the frozen in time part) while the camera is recording. Then, I could time re-map the footage so its going very fast, then slows down nice and smooth to a dead stop, holds for a few seconds, then speeds up again to super fast speed.

Now, someone suggested that I just shoot regular time lapse with an intervalometer and time re-map the footage in post so it will go from super fast to a dead stop, then super fast again BUT, will the transition from super fast time lapse slowed down to a dead stop look smooth if I do it this way, since an intervalometer will only shoot so many frames a second? Or will it look choppy? Does anyone know? I was just going to do this with my HPX170 but, the footage will look crappy at the "frozen in time" part since camcorders can't take a still picture anywhere near as good as a DSLR. Thanks.
 
Shoot 720/60p on the GH1 or 7D and speed it up in post, the convert to slo mo for the part you want slower, ramp down to normal speed from sped up very quickly, ramp your slo mo footage from normal (2x fast) to it's normal (2.n X)slow, and then use slow motion controls in your NLE to make it even slower...boom.

-Ben
 
Hey, Ben, if I shoot 720/60p video with a DSLR like the 7D, won't the part where everything is stopped ("frozen in time") look crappy? Won't some of the cars be blurry or shaking since they're moving fast when I record the footage? I tried recording in 720/60p with my HPX170 and did exactly what you suggested in Premiere but, when I had the video at a complete stop, the cars weren't nice and sharp and a few of them were shaking while everything else was still.

The only way I can see this working by shooting video with a 7D at 720/60p is if I can take a still photo (for the part where everything is "frozen in time") without interrupting the video recording. Is that possible with the 7D or GH1? I know you can't even do that with the 5D Mark II because the recording stops for a second while the shutter does its thing.

Is there a way to do what I'm trying to do with still pictures only and no video, or am I asking for too much at this point? Or does the 7D 720/60p video look completely sharp and focused like a still photo when you slow it down to a complete stop? If it is, then what you are suggesting will give me what I need.
 
No, that's not possible with any SLR.

Try running your HPX170 test again, but set the shutter speed higher. At least 1/120, and maybe 1/250.

Or does the 7D 720/60p video look completely sharp and focused like a still photo when you slow it down to a complete stop?
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The 7D's 720/60p never looks completely sharp or focused, it's awful. But if you use a very very high shutter speed, it will look like as much like a sharp/focused still photo as you're going to get. You'll probably want to use some sort of "motion blur" filter in your NLE for the motion parts, so it looks more like normal video during those parts...

But just try it on your HPX170, you can probably get close to what you want with what you've already got. No SLR is going to do any better, anyway. You can't take a still while recording motion, they don't allow it.
 
Thanks, Barry. I was hoping you would chime in on this discussion. As always, your in depth knowledge of the HPX170 has given me new hope! Thanks again!
 
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