why the video quality of D7000 & D5100 are so different

I'll chime in here.. I shoot with all sorts of DSLR's, mostly dealing with my own d7000 and 7D's/5D's. the d7k and 7D are more or less the same in quality, but the d7k has noticeably better DR while the 7D offers 720 60P. I wanted more range, and I had a bunch of nikkors, so the D7K was the right choice for me.

How well do the D5100 and the D7000 cut when shooting at high ISO? I have been looking for any info, or video comparisons of D5100 and D7000 footage being intercut. I tried intercutting 60D with a D7000, and it looked horrible. Very disorienting for a two camera shoot. Has anybody done this, and What are your results? Does the D5100 cut seamlessly with the D7000?
 
They have the same Sensor and Processor
The difference is that the D5100 has been enabled to record 1080 at 30fps
That and the articulating LCD make the D5100 the clear winner for my Videos.

The D7000 with two cards, twice the battery life, locking MultiSelector, more ergonomic controls and better build is the clear winner for my Action stills (Event Photography).

I really doubt that Nikon will come out with firmware to enhance the Video and other features on either.
So we must wait for the D400 to release more potential of this 16mp Sensor and Expeed II Processor and add a larger buffer.

What you say seems to make sense, but we will find out in actuality soon enough. I find the 60D/T2i/T3i to be very similar, and good enough for inter cutting footage. But I am more skeptical that the Nikons will be as close. So far I can find no video comparisons showing how a D5100 cuts with a D7k.

I tried a Canon 60D with a D7000 today, and they do not match very well. Color correcting to match them seems like a big ordeal, and everything else about them doesn't match.. So, I am trying the D5100 as Bcam.
 
I have both Nikons and assume the mov files from each, shot at 720 @ 30fps or 1080 @ 24fps, could be dropped on the same timeline with no problems at all.
 
I just went to the camera store the other day and realized that the D5100 doesn't have the same manual control as a D7000. The video is in auto mode always. The D5100 requires a lock down to lock exposure. Cannot dial in accurate exposure. Since we are doing a 2 camera shoot, this means I cannot use the D5100 with the D7000. So, we got another D7000.

I wish the Nikons had the ISO and magnification controls on the right hand side. Video operation is much easier on a Canon 60D. Well, this is the first time I will have the D7k and 60D side by side for an extended period of time. but... the new cameras will all come out in a few months, so comparisons are rather pointless at this point.
 
The D5100 is more difficult to learn and shoot with controls buried in menus.
There are tricks to manually focus and adjust exposure.
Two main reasons I prefer it over the D7000 for Video are:
1. 1080 at 30fps.
2. Really good articulating screen.

I actually shoot Auto, but prefer the D7000 for that.
 
Yes, I believe you are right about that. Maybe in scripted work or home video I would play around with the D5100. For doc style shooting the D7000 is the way to go, all main functions have buttons on the body, and the weather sealing is somewhat more robust than the D5100.

I used a Canon 60D in light Carolina sprinkles, and it shut down on me. It lasted an hour before going down though. Turned it back on a few days later, and it has worked for the last year of heavy use. But I will never use a 60D in that weather again without at least a plastic bag covering it. I am interested in bringing the D7k out in wet weather. TBA

So, yeah, the D5100 is a much more finicky device than the D7000, and not appropriate for some projects. Yes, I miss the 30p in 1080. And the articulating screen is so nice to have,, er no, it is near a necessity. But I am having a good time with the D7000 right now. Still hate the Codec! It absolutely ruins some shots. You really have to spoon feed it to make nice images. Super challenging.
 
Nothing like making it hard on me for deciding what to buy.

I'm just about to return a 60D because of a lens defect and I found that it will not auto focus during video recording. Manual focus can be a real problem in the sun light or other situations and just generally a pain when it is for something simple. I'm looking at getting the D7000 now and it does sound like a good choice from everything that I have read.

Now I gather that there is a new wave of cameras coming, should I wait and look at those or is this just another case of chasing technology that will never end. Should I just buy the D7000 and be done with it?

I'm an amateur but an artist and want a good camera and the ability to get good video. Now much of my video might be just family and I will shoot that at 720P but other work I will want to do for my professional life as a CG artist. The 24FPS of the D7000 is a bit of a problem these days, we used to work only at 24FPS as everything was shot on film, now much of it is shot on video and it will mean doing 3.2 pull downs on the 1280P footage. I can't afford to go to the 7D which would resolve this, so, do I wait for the next generation or buy the D7000?

Paul Neale
 
Wait a month. New Nikons announced at the end of August 2011. ...But, dslr resale value is pretty good, you could always get one of these crappers (D7k, 7D, 5Dmk2, etc) and sell it in a few months. But if you aren't doing much right now, just wait.
 
Also, what makes you feel a dslr is good for CG? Maybe get a GH2 with a hack, as it may play nicer in post.
 
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