UPDATED! Which… “Video DSLR” to buy?

Shooting on the 5DmkII for LUCASFILM


“Which camera should I buy?” I get asked this the most. Apart from which lenses should I buy. There is a lot of confusion amongst potential buyers as to which camera to buy. Not just from the Canon line, that is the Rebel T2i/ 55D, 7D, 5DmkII and 1DmkIV but also the GH1, GH2 and the various Nikons.

It’s almost impossible for me to recommend which model camera to buy because they all have their plusses and minuses and many of those are subjective, down to personal opinion. What may be important to me may not be important to you. Even when context is provided such as they are mostly shooting music videos, events, documentaries, movies etc then I still cannot answer.

What I am going to do in this blog post is list what I believe are the pros and cons of each camera.Take that info and then decide for yourself what is the most important for you. For example some people love the look of the 5DmkII over the others whilst others find the shallow depth of field too much…

I am in the fortunate position of owning most of the cameras in this post so I feel quite qualified to give my opinion on this topic…but to be honest any one of these will give you great results, it’s not all about the camera…that is just a tool…but obviously some of the features of one will appeal to you more than others.

Here is a sensor chart showing you the different sizes available in the market. I will be referring to this a few times in the blog.

Nikon D3s

First off let us go over the non Canon options as that’s easier.  I have to say unless you have an huge array of G series Nikon lenses (if you have manual aperture Nikon lenses then your lenses will work will the Canons using a simple adaptor like the Fotodiox Pro) then forget the D90, D5000 and D300s as they don’t offer full manual control in video mode making them a huge pain in the backside to shoot with. The only Nikon that offers full manual control is the D3s. To get the full manual mode you need to be in tripod live view mode rather than hand held live view mode.

What do I think of the D3s? It is an incredible stills camera and a so-so video camera. It has a full frame sensor, one of only two cameras in this blog to have that. The thing that made me buy it was the absolutely incredible low light performance as highlighted in the Zacuto Shootout. It was this alone that made me buy it. In my low light test I shot at 25,000 ISO and got incredibly clean pictures due to a brilliant NR chip in there for video. This makes it outperform all the Canon DSLRs by a huge margin in low light. It’s just a shame that it is not as impressive in general use. All the Nikons are 720p 24p only too. That is not a huge dealbreaker but it’s a limitation. As is the old fashioned MJPEG recording format and 5 minute clip length. The HDMI live out seems to be slower than 24p when you hit record.

I bought this camera as a low light tool to supplement my Canon DSLRs, not to shoot whole projects on. For some of my documentary work low light will be extreme and this camera will shine. I will be able to shoot in very low light without having to shoot wide open with crazy shallow DOF. To think I could shoot in candlelight at F4 and it will look gorgeous…That’s epic for me. Shooting wide open is great but sometimes you don’t want that crazy shallow DOF, you want to control it. This camera will give you that option. You can stop right down and with the incredible high ISO you can shoot in not much light and still get exposure!

Sound wise it has a crappy built in mic like most of the cameras here but you can put an external mic in, but there is limited control of the audio with no meters, but the ability to set 4 levels of sensitivity but more importantly no way to monitor it.

So that’s the Nikon D3s. A great stills camera with a killer low light video ability. Shame the rest is not great.

PROS: Full frame, INCREDIBLE low light in video

CONS: Expensive, 720p only, 24p only, 5 minute clips, MJPEG recording format, poor monitor out, no audio control.

Nikon D5100

Nikon’s answer to the T2i is a disappointment. Their first camera to feature full HD 25p but no manual controls. Simply a huge problem and unless fixed should be avoided.

Nikon D7000

The first full HD Nikon to feature full manual controls.

I like the image, very pleasing and low light is good. It has semi manual audio, HD HDMI (but not clean) out whilst recording (but also turns off the LCD like the Canons), it records full HD but only in 24p mode. For 30p and 25p it’s 720p only and there is no 50p or 60p. There also seems to be an issue that I cannot figure out. Where is the exposure meter in live view?

UPDATE: I tried shooting with it but the lack of meter is frustrating me too much, which is a shame as I think the image is really nice, good in low light. But until that meter is displayed it’s too annoying to shoot with. Why would they miss such a basic thing? Also the inability to change F-Stop after rolling is just plain dumb. I use older Nikon lenses so am ok with that, although I do have two newer ones and they have this issue.

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Pansonic GH1

The Panasonic GH1 I have had since April 2009. It’s not a DSLR as it has no mirror but is often bunched up in the term Video DSLRs as it is a still camera with a video function too. We really should not get hung up on names for these cameras.

What do I think of the GH1? Well I love the small size. Love the EVF, moveable LCD, ability to take so many different types of lenses due to the lack of mirror and of course the price. Downside is the 1080p bit rate if a bit stingy meaning it breaks ups quite easily when trying to grade it. The 720p mode seems to hold up better but it’s such a shame that the 1080p is lacking. The 720p mode is 50p or 60p depending on where you buy the camera.

The camera comes in different flavours depending on where you buy it. In the EU it is 25p in 1080p mode (embedded in a 1080i stream) and 50p in 720p mode, so great for slow motion. Record time is limited to 29.59 minutes for EU tax reasons. If it could record 30 minutes or more it would be classified as a video camera and therefore have higher tax. Other PAL countries get this camera also in 25p but with the record time limitation. The US gets it in 24p (again embedded in a 60i stream) and 60p in 720p mode with no record time limitations. All the Canon cameras shoot in either 24p, 25p or 30p. They are non regional specific. A big downer on these cameras.

It has the best built in mic on all of the cameras and it’s stereo, although again we have no headphone jack. NONE of the cameras in this test have a headphone jack! If you plug in a monitor it switches off when you hit record. A big downer really! That needs to be fixed in the GH2.

Negatives aside. It’s a great little camera. The stock lens has the most impressive auto focus I have ever seen on a video camera as it tracks people’s faces and with a large sensor like in this camera (four thirds) it makes a huge difference. This makes it ideal for steadicam work as you can let the focus do it’s thing. Normally I say DO NOT USE AUTO FOCUS on any video camera. Manual will always be the way to operate a camera for me until it can read my mind and know what I want to be in focus! The image out of the camera is also pretty damn good. Of course what I want is a GH2 with better bit rate and proper monitor out, a headphone jack and controllable audio levels. A lot of this camera is already very good, it just needs a bump up in specs…

Low light is not brilliant. I find 1600 ISO way too noisy. Even 800 is not great.

PROS: Cheap, light, small, 50p/60p mode in 720p, full HD, nice stereo mic, EVF, articulated LCD, great lens mount, some Panasonic lenses have amazing auto focus ability. No overheating

CONS: Weak AVCHD code, no HDMI out when recording, low light average performance, poor audio options again, recording limitations in EU,  geographically locked recording formats, 24p and 24p wrapped in 60i and 50i.

EDIT: With the third party hacked firmware by Tester 13 we can get native 24p and 25p and motion jpeg full hd in very high bit rate and much improved AVCHD. It’s a massive leap up but it’s still 3rd party and not officially supported. Read more about it here…The major issue is all new GH1s CANNOT be hacked as they have the latest firmware which is not hacked. SO BE CAREFUL if you go this route.

Panasonic GH2

I am very impressed with this update to the GH1. It is a big step up from the GH1 although there are a couple of key features missing.

There is finally a native 24p full HD mode  (called cinema mode) which records in the very acceptable 24mb/s. Unfortunately it is only 24p not 25p which as a European shooter I need for broadcast here. There is no 25p mode. There is a 50p mode in 720p which means you can simply drop every other frame so you can achieve 25p but this is not ideal. I REALLY hope this can be addressed with a firmware update.

HDMI is clean out, no graphics but I have not done any testing with the Nanoflash yet. Reports so far say the quality is lower than the recorded. I cannot confirm or deny yet.

Articulating screen is great and the EVF is improved over the GH1 so is very usable. It has a built in slow down to 80% mode (effectively giving you what 30p would be if you conformed to 24p) and a built in speed up motion of two steps that can give you effectively a basic undercranking.

The M43 sensor gives you around a 1.9x crop of a full frame due to it being a native 16×9 sensor

Audio meters can be displayed on the screen whilst recording. Sounds basic but so lacking from DSLRs. Still no headphone jack. You also have manual control over the audio, well a number of steps you can set it at. The built in stereo mic is not horrible. Check out the cooking piece below…all the sound other than sync was done with it.

Low light is a world away from the GH1 which had nasty lines come up at ISO 800. I have shot 3200 ISO and it is totally acceptable. A HUGE STEP UP.

It has an excellent feature called 1:1 sampling. It samples the centre of the sensor in which equates to 1920×1080 and records that meaning NO moire or aliasing and gives you a nice extra boost on your lenses with no loss in quality.

It takes any lenses with the right adaptor, even S16 with the 1:1 sampling. A big plus this.

Image quality is superb with very little moire and aliasing. Rolling shutter seems the same as the GH1. Some users are reporting it worse but I have not done a side by side comparison.

So all in all a big improvement over the Gh1 but PLEASE we NEEED 25p!!!!! If 25p is irrelevant to you this is simply one of the best “DSLRs” on the market for shooting video. The stills mode is pretty good too!

EDIT: Another firmware hack has made this a fantastic option. 25p, no recording time and high bitrate makes this a much more attractive camera.

PROS: Great image, great 24p mode. Minimal moire and rolling shutter, live HDMI out and clean! Manual audio with live meters, articulating screen, improved EVF. No recording limit in non EU versions. 1:1 mode is awesome, good touch screen. Internal stereo mic not too bad. Has the best auto focus video system out there!

CONS: 25p where are you? Rolling shutter is not improved. 29 minutes 59 seconds max recording per clip in EU version

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Home Cooking…avec le GH2! from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

GH2: Movember Gala Party from Philip Bloom on Vimeo. Completely ungraded, showing great low light.

Canon Rebel T2i/ 550d

The new kid on the block and a damn impressive one too. I have left the 500D/ T1i out of this. Even though I own it, but due to the odd 20FPS 1080p mode, 720p 30p only mode but mainly (and this is reason why 3 Nikons aren’t reviewed) the lack of manual control. This baby ups the game and is the first consumer DSLR that Canon have made with full HD and full manual control. It’s killer. With an image of almost comparable quality to the pro 7D it has taken the market by storm and rightly so.

With an APS-C chip in it which is a 1.6x crop of a full frame it has a bigger sensor than the GH1 but smaller than the D3s. It takes all the EF lenses designed for full frame cameras as well as the special EF-S lenses which are designed for this sized chip. These lenses are generally cheaper than their full frame versions so you can save money that way. Only downside is EF-S lenses cannot be used on full frame camera if you come to upgrade cameras at some point. The major investment with any of these camera is the glass, not the body. So always keep that in mind when buying lenses.

It has the same crappy audio options, as in no control and no headphone jack. But does have the full range of recording options. 24p, 25p and 30p in full HD and 50p and 60p in 720p mode. Meaning you get shoot great slow motion with this baby.

I am a big fan of this camera as it has brought the power of DSLR filmmaking to the mass market. Some people see this as a bad thing, in that by making the cameras so affordable there will a flood of people on the market selling themselves as cameramen. It’s only a tool, like any camera. What we will have is people discovering or even re-discovering a love of video due to this large sensor.

Things I don’t like about this camera? Well it’s a consumer camera and is therefore missing a lot of what I love in the PRO bodies. It uses SDHC cards, they are cheap are small but I hate their flimsiness. I much prefer CF cards, but that’s just me! I miss the top LCD. We have no display on this camera other than the main LCD. Not a deal breaker but a shame not to have it. Also missing is the second dial on the back of the body which means aperture and shutter speed are controlled by the same dial, via pressing a button in at the same time. I don’t like this at all. The build quality is pretty good, but when compared to the pro line, in particular the 7D it comes across as bit cheap, but then again it is! It uses different batteries to the 7D and 5Dmkii, but they are cheaper…HDMI out sucks too….it’s 1080i letterboxed image live out which drops to 480p when you hit record. You do get full 16×9 playback though.

Like all the Canon cameras the most you can record at a time is about 12 minutes. If you point at something that does not move much you can get it up to 14 minutes or so. The LCD is surprisingly the best of the bunch of all the Canon DSLRs. Highest resolution.

There is much debate over how good the video is of this camera compared to the 7D. Very damn close. I haven’t seen any specific side by sides, only that in my limited use of the T2i it just seems to be not quite as good as the 7D and am not sure why…it’s close. But just not quite as good…I would love someone to show me what it is that is different!

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PROS: Cracking image in video mode, very cheap, smaller than the pro line, full list of video modes to record in, nice big APS-C sensor, great LCD screen

CONS: Not weatherproofed like the pro line, missing top LCD screen, missing second dial, poor HDMI out, no audio control, no headphone jack, no intermediate ISOs, no ability to dial in your white balance like the pro line, 12 minute record limit.




Canon T3i/600D

This camera is effectively a replacement for the T2i and certainly improves on a number of features of the camera. Video wise I see little difference between this and the T2i but I haven’t shot anywhere near enough with the camera to categorically say this…

It has all the same features and frame rates as the T2i…New features include the articulating screen of the 60D which is a massive plus, it makes shooting on a tripod SO much easier and for ground shots too…other improvements at manual audio like the 60D and 5DmkII but it’s not well implemented being within a menu and not being adjustable whilst recording or displaying meters or a headphone jack.

A nice new feature is the 3x digital crop…ignore the rest of it, it goes from 3x to 10x…anything over 3x is a digital zoom and looks like poo…the 3x isn’t perfect. It isn’t super sharp but it’s a neat feature. I don’t think it’s as well implemented as the GH2 version.

It’s a really good camera, but I do recommend the 60D over it still due to better build quality, better AF for stills, more ISOs and if you look hard enough it’s not much more than the T3i!

Canon 60D

I have to admit I love this camera. It’s almost my favourite of the Canons. The image out of the 5Dmk2 is still my favourite but this camera is a dream to use. Why? That articulating screen makes life so much easier and is the best quality LCD so far from Canon.

Picture quality seems identical to the 7D, some users have reported improved low light sensitivity but I cannot confirm this yet. I have shot some low light stuff with it but I need to do a side by side to see. There is no improvement in moire, aliasing or rolling shutter over the others…

It has manual audio levels like the 5DmkII, but still buried away in the menus and does not display whilst recording or can be changed whilst recording. A bit frustrating but better than being stuck with AGC.

It’s odd as it is a bit of the 550D and a bit of the 7D. It is plastic like the 550D not magnesium alloy body  like the 7D BUT feels a lot more substantial and rugged than the 550d. It has the missing features of the 550D/ T2i, fully selectable ISOs, manual white balance, 2 dials for shutter and aperture and a top LCD screen for info. It takes 7D/ 5Dmk2 batteries but takes SDHC cards. So it really is a bit of both.

A number of people have done some long shooting tests on the 60D and have found it is not prone to overheating like the other Canons.

The HDMI HD signal drops to SD when you hit record like the 550D and the 5Dmk2. A shame, if this did not happen this would be my recommendation of camera for most people, over the 7D and T2i/ 550D. If HDMI HD out does not bother you and you don’t want or need full frame this is the camera to get. This is also the camera to get rather than the T2i/ 550D. Save your money. The extra features are worth the bit extra in cash. I promise you!

PROS: lovely video, articulating screen is awesome, all the frame rates including 50p 60p. Appears to not have the same overheating issues as the T2i, 7D and 5Dmk2

CONS: HDMI live out whilst recording is SD, no improvement in picture issues, SHDC rather than compact flash

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Canon 7D

The first Canon camera to embrace the video feature as it has a switch to set it in video mode or stills mode!

It’s got the same sized chip in it as the 550D/ T2i albeit in a MUCH more robust package. The 7D is a beast. It’s completely weathersealed. I have left this camera outside for 4 days in snow and rain doing timelapses and it has come through without a glitch. This is for me what sets it apart from it’s cheaper brother. The build quality is simply superb.

Video feature wise it’s the same…24p, 25p, 30p in 1080p mode and 50p 60p in 720p mode. It can also rattle off about 8 or 9 pictures a second in stills mode. Very impressive. It has the same audio limitations that we run into again and again. No manual audio controls and no headphone jack.

The image out of it is superb. It’s sensor is almost the same sized as the sensor in 35mm movie cameras meaning with a mod or two it can take proper cinema lenses. A massive plus in the indie movie world and of course in the big movie world! I have used it with Cinema lenses three times now and it’s simply incredible!

The live HDMI out is the best of the cameras so far. Still letterboxed 1080i but it stays like this even when you hit record. This is a big deal and something you must consider when looking at the different cameras to buy. Getting critical focus when the image drops to SD when you hit record is very very hard!

Some people say it overheats a lot, something people say happens with their 550D too. But I have not experienced this much. Although I do live in a bloody cold country! I did experience it when I was doing very long interviews for 2 hours or so of non stop recording, but even then it was just a warning light. It never switched off.

Low light ability seems to be about the same as the T2i but not a patch on the D3s

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PROS: Superb weatherproofing, stunning image, good in low light, switch for video mode, HD monitoring even when recording, Nice LCD screen, great price.

CONS: Not as good as the other pro Canon line in low light, not full frame, crappy audio options AGAIN, 12 minute record limit



Canon 5DmkII

This was the one that started it all and is still for me the camera with the nicest image. That comes down to it’s full frame goodness and full HD. The 5DmkII is absolutely unique in the video world as it is the only video camera in the world, currently, that shoots video in full HD with a sensor as big as this. The sensor is 864mmNow this does cause us some issues. Some people find that the full frame sensor makes it harder to get focus, as the larger the sensor the more shallow the depth of field. For me, I always say if it’s too shallow then stop down! It has great low light, better than the 7d but nowhere near as good as the D3s, so you can easily stop down and up the ISO to compensate…It’s aesthetically unique and that is what attracts so many filmmakers to it, including me, there is nothing else out there like this. The 7D has better options…the 5Dmkii has no 720p mode, has the same crappy hit record and drop to SD mode HDMI out, no dedicated video button. It does have manual audio levels which have been pointlessly hidden away in a menu that you can only set before you hit record and give you no audio levels on the LCD at all so there is still no way of knowing if you have are recording sound or not.

It’s highly unlikely we will ever see this camera get 50p and 60p. I simply think it cannot take it…It would overheat too much…talking of overheating, this camera has no warning light telling you it is overheating. What can happen, and I stress CAN, is the image can degrade the more heated up it gets. Then it will just switch off.

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PROS: My favourite image out of them all, full frame beauty, manual audio levels, very good in low light, great build quality, you can get this camera for not that much more than the 7D if you shop around, did I say incredible full frame image godliness?

CONS: HDMI live out sucks, manual audio buried away in menus, no 720p mode, no overheating warning, DOF too shallow for some (although as I say just stop down!), 12 minute record limit, not as good weatherproofing as other pro Canon cameras, probably the most susceptible to rolling shutter issues of the pro Canons.


Canon 1DmkIV

The big daddy of the Canon line. This is first and foremost a stills sports shooters camera. The video is hidden away and is obviously secondary BUT must not be overlooked as it betters the other Canon cameras in it’s low light ability. It has a strange sized APS-H chip which is a 1.3x crop. This is a bit annoying for wide angles as there are no lenses made for this chip size so you will lose some length on the wide end.

The low light as I said is very powerful, again, not a patch on the DS3 but very impressive anyway. 3200 ISO is pretty clean, 6400 ISO is usable with a bit of post cleaning up.

It has the same video options as the 7D so we do have 720p 50p and 60p and we also have the same HD monitoring out even when recording. Audio of course still sucks with no manual audio level and of course no headphone jack.

The camera is built like a tank. It makes the build quality of the 7D look like the T2i and that is saying something. This is one camera that can probably take some serious knocks and keep on going. It takes both CF cards and those flimsy SDHC cards. It also takes it’s own special batteries which make it last a lot longer in video mode. The batteries in the 7D and 5DmkII get eaten up very fast!

PROS: Incredible build quality, beautiful image, superb low light, great long life batteries, probably the best of the bunch for least rolling shutter issues.

CONS: Awkward 1.3x crop, heavy, expensive, crappy audio, 12 minute time limit.

Canon 5DmkIII

Updated post to come shortly.

In conclusion…

Is that helpful? I hope so. As I said, there is no one clear favourite…I prefer the full frame image out of the 5DmkII for sure, but the HDMI out is killing me, on a professional set it is just a big problem. Also it doesn’t have the 720p mode that all the other Canon cameras have. Although the 720p mode is not great due to the hideous aliasing and moire that it can bring up if not careful.

The 7D is probably the best all rounder. Has all the video rates your want, HDMI HD monitoring and is a great price. Many prefer the aesthetics of the 7D over the 5DmkII, me I don’t but it simply comes down to personal preference. It has best build quality for the money, great image…but I just prefer the 5DmkII image…it probably ticks more boxes than the rest. Please don’t put weatherproofing as not that important. Being from the video world where nothing is weatherproofed, it’s so exciting to use these cameras in appalling conditions and not worry about them!

Of course one thing that also holds people back is the worry that a replacement will come out for one of these making their camera obsolete. Well, that is a danger with everything in life! That is why your main investment is in the glass, not the body. Your lenses will last 20 years! For pro users your bodies will change every 2/3 years. That’s the market!

Sony will soon jump on the bandwagon with the Alpha range. Be very interested to see what they are bringing to the table. I have heard a couple of interesting rumours. I wonder if they are true? The Sony NEX 5 and 3 are coming out soon and are very cute but lack manual controls in video mode and are only 30p…

Whichever camera you chose, don’t forget…it’s only a tool! The most important thing is what you do with it!

Next blog up is lenses…

Here are some pieces of work I have done with each camera:

Movember: Team Bloom ‘Tache from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

NIKON D3S

Watch on iphone/ ipad

GH1

Watch on iphone/ ipad

55D/ T2i

Watch on iphone/ ipad

5DmkII

Watch on iphone/ipad

7D

Watch on iphone/ ipad

1D MKIV

Watch on iphone/ ipad

 

481 comments

  1. Good you didn’t bother updating it yet. The Sony Alpha 55 / 33 are a joke, not only you have reduced light to reach the sensor ( and the viewfinder ) it only does 1080i. Same thing with Nikon D3001 as they share the same Sony NEX sensor / processor. Manufacturers are really blind to the obvious.

  2. Phillip,
    Great website!

    Besides your amazing video footage, how can do you achieve such amazing web videos? Do you have a web tutorial or simple how to (with settings/programs/etc)?

    Thanks in advance and thanks for your amazing work .. it is truly inspirational!!

    William

            1. I did check that Mr.bloom. its really helpfull with FCP. 🙂

              This is a little story – I got a problem (in a TVC i got) with one of my client. first he wanted to do an animation in Full HD. then he wanted that in anamorphic 1.33 wide format. Err . . . but before i rendered my animation in HD 1080p. then i croped that to anamorphic 1.33 format and upload it to vimeo. (i’ve done in premiere, cz my main tool is premiere and i really nice to see a tutorial in FCP. (i saw it in your tute.) thank you Mr. Bloom.

              You can see that Commercial here. 🙂 : http://www.vimeo.com/13181046

              Thank you again Mr. bloom

  3. Philip,
    Thanks for all the hard work. I own a T2i/550D and the audio problem that I never see talked about is that the AGC always overdrives the level to clipping so that there is digital distortion. Sure I would like manual level control, but with AGC only, at least it should limit the gain to below the distortion level. On any NLE you can see the audio waveforms are clipped thereby making terrible sounding audio. For this reason I unfortunately must always record audio on a separate device when filming. Thanks again for all your efforts … much appreciated.

  4. Hey Phil… sorry for posting this here, I just don’t see a “FAQ” section anymore.

    I just bought my 5dmk2, and I’m having an issue. I’m shooting in Manual mode, set my ISO and Aperture, shutter speed, and so on. But the problem is, even with my constant aperture and ISO, the light is STILL changing on my camera.

    I turned off the “auto light optimization”, and it’s still doing this. Every time I go from shooting something light to something dark, it looks like my aperture is opening/closing by about 3 full stops, but the number on my camera is staying the same.

    I don’t know if this has been covered here before, but i’m completely lost…

    I’m hoping it’s an easy fix?

    1. Uh, I’m a little embarrassed. This is what I get for not reading my manual. For now, I’m just hitting the “exposure lock” button. it seems kind of unnecessary, considering I’m in full manual mode.

      Is there still something I’m not doing right?

      1. oh. think that fixed it?

        Haha, my bad.

        I knew I shouldn’t have let the salesman tinker around with things before I got my hands on it.

        But Mr. Bloom! Thank you sir, for your blog, and all of your information. Uh… I’m pretty excited about this purchase.

  5. Hey, man. I bet I’m being a pain, but the internet has failed me. Is there any way to use your laptop as a live view monitor for the 5dmk2, via hdmi port? I hooked it up with the USB port, using the canon software, but every time I hit “record”, the frame rate drops and it’s not really usable at all.

    For whatever reason, I’m finding myself without an HD monitor (except for a big screen HDTV, which would work in theory.

    If not, that’s cool. Just curious if it would work in a pinch.

  6. wow, Nikon’s new D7000 looks so promising. continuous autofocus on video, manual audio control, 1080p 24 fps, magnesium alloy, 100% VF, 39 points AF, EXPEED 2, dual SD slots, Virtual Horizon, etc… at only $ 1199
    if the low light performance ( stills & videos ) of this camera is on par with the D3S, I think this camera is strong contender to the EOS 7D, rather than 60D.

    Will you test it for us Mr.Bloom ? 🙂

  7. Hello Philip,

    Thanks so much for all of this great info! I had just a couple of questions please. I’m considering purchasing a camera DSLR and I’m down to two cameras… the Canon 7D, and the Panasonic Lumix Gh1. Here are a couple questions about the GH1 please…

    1. I want to possibly purchase the GH1, but I read where you wrote that the new GH1’s from Panasonic do not allow the TESTER 13 Hack to work. So how does one get his hands on a GH1 that has the V 1.32 so I can install the TESTER 13 HACK? Through Ebay, or Amazon?

    2. Also How does one know what kind of Version they are buying? Is it listed on the camera… specs… ect?

    3. And do you think all of this trouble to get my hands on one of these cameras is worth it in long run, when Panasonic will release the GH2 probably soon, or just get the Canon 7D?

    Thank you for you thoughts 🙂

  8. Hello Philip,

    I’m about to buy a Canon 5DmkII and I would like to buy an AJA Kipro as well, at least that’s what I was thinking before reading your article.

    I was thinking to record directly in the Kipro via HDMI without using the camera’s record function. Do you think the 5DmkII’s HDMI output has a good quality to do so? I read you had experienced problems with HDMI output.

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    – – – – – – – – – – – –

    Note the “Professional” 2/3″ Scarlet… at a Professional price…

    Now that the prosumer Red Scarlet is officially vaporware, they really need to change the name by now… to Red-Faced Scarlet

      1. For the original target of “prosumer” with $5K or less, it is simply no longer a reality… call it dead, vaporware, or Red-Faced Scarlet as I do, so be it…

        However, I was banned from dvxuser.com for making factual statements about the demise of the “Prosumer” Red Scarlet, and have the posts between Jim J and myself where he attempts to insult me that led to it if you are interested…

        It’s a fact, I know many hard-working people put off projects waiting for a prosumer Red Scarlet, and they could have instead rented a Red One instead had they had this information sooner…

        So I am banned from Dvxuser, he got 3 years of free press, and I won’t buy a Scarlet anymore…

        Interesting how money can still buy you privileges at the cost of integrity, even on the Internet…

  10. hey Phillip.
    i was wondering if you had a video or review on using pro hdv vs dslr for film making?
    cant really find anything on it and i thought you might have something.
    thanks

  11. Hi Phil

    Great info there. So do you think the Panny AG AF100 will be a HDSLR killer?

    I like the look of it. I’m just disappointed it’s only 24mbs on-board. If it was 50mbs (for broadcast), it would be much more attractive…

    Thanks

    Nick

      1. Indeed! And to that end I have the proverbial silliest of questions. I have a choice to use a Canon 60D or Canon 5dMKII free of charge for the next three months from work. I have to chose one and only one and can’t change as the other will be going overseas with a co-worker. Can you recommend one over the other to learn on?

  12. Now at CEATEC 2010 Panasonic has announced a Lumix phone and just this morning “Sony has announced the world’s first 1/2.8″ 16MP Exmor-R back illuminated sensor for mobile phones. Offering the smallest unit pixel size of 1.12μm, it will also be incorporated into what is claimed to be the smallest and thinnest mobile phone lens module. The sensor is capable of recording full HD 1080p30 videos and offers continuous shooting speed of 15fps.”

    No interchangeable Lens phone yet… but might you consider adding a Telephone section to your camera reviews in the short future?

  13. Dear Philip,
    I have been watching your blog for quite sometime, like your beautiful videos and appreciate your experience sharing, I am using Z5 for my documentary shooting, but I am thinking to buy either Canon or Nikon for their beautiful film look in video shooting, thanks for posting their comparisons, but can you tell me which c or n camera has manual audio control and without recording time limit.
    Many thanks,
    lee

  14. I have a major doubt in my mind now. I was going to buy the T2i. I want to make short films that can actually be projected on a theatre screen or with broadcast quality. Now I see that the D3100 is out and cheaper, has almost the same specs than the T2i in what video refers. So anyone has any mind clearing advice? Thanks

  15. Dear Phil, I would like to know what do you think about the Canon 60D, seems pretty close to 7D…Differences are just SDHC and the LCD?
    Aliasing, Moirè, Rolling Shutter???

    Thanks in advance for your great job

      1. I will wait with pleasure ur updating about the pros and cons of 60D, because seems very interesting the last product of Canon, better then GH2 and 7D.

        I’m think up to buy one for pupils of the school of cinema…I like the full frame sensor, but maybe it’s too difficult to make focus for the swallow DOF, so at the end I’m in dude about 60D or 7D…

        Thanks a lot!

        I am waiting the news about 60D!! 😉

  16. For video – would you recommend a 60d or gh2

    i’ve never touched a vdlsr (still using a z1!)

    have a d series nikon lenses from days as a stills snapper 24 -85 f2.8 – f4
    so hoping to put it to use

    your thoughts

    thanks

  17. I have the 60D from 3 weeks now, it’s great both in stills and video and I was using the external mike input both with a wireless and with a mixer OK, (you have to put the manual level to 0 and the to the very 1st step from left to have the right level). BUT today a problem developed using an external radio lapel radio receiver. The external input ceased to work, even when you plug a simple mini-jack it should interrupt the internal mike. NO LONGER. I cannot get an external input anymore. It always work with the internal mike… Anybody has experienced this kind of problem? Bug?? Weak socket?

  18. I opted for the 7D as I’ve got a fairly decent fast and prime lens EOS set up already and am now educating myself (with a lot of help from the web) in how to get the best results from it as well as trying to get my head around import / export codecs and FCP. I am thinking about the Z-finder as this was the first problem I encountered while doing test footage – you just can’t hand-hold the damn thing steady! Is there a UK Zacuto stockist and can I get a way with the Z-JR?

  19. you said you recorded 2 hours of nonstop footage on the 7d but you say the canons all have a limit of 12 mins at a time.
    howd you do it?
    im a film student looking to purchase a t2i to film some of my shorts, and wanna know how logical the purchase is. my next project is gonna be a documentary and i don’t want to get screwed over with the time limit.

  20. Great post, thanks for that!

    I’m looking forward to seeing the Amsterdam film. It’ll be fun to see what you make of the place I live.
    It’s been pretty cold here these last few days so don’t forget to bring some mittens!

  21. Hi everyone,

    I went and did it! I have acquired a DSLR and it is mind blowing the first time you use it. Hoping to use it for the next couple of BBC shoots coming up, I won’t be dismissing my trusty Sony Z5, but the Canon 60D is a beauty.
    Will be posting my results on the Film Tank Vimeo page ASAP.

    And thanks for the advice you post on here Philip

  22. With all the exciting HD video cameras that are coming from Sony and Panasonic with DSLR sensors OR super 35 sensors… I just can’t do anything but hope that Canon announces soon a camcorder with the 7D’s sensor (with all the stuff to avoid rolling shutter and so like the AF-100) and the same 422 recording on CF Card they’ve put on their XF300/305 camcorders…

    THIS, in the AF-100 price range would be a very serious contender. To me at least.

  23. I have never owned a DSLR before so this is my first, I have an hv30 but want to start shooting DOF stuff. In your opinion t2i or GH2? I know you haven’t touched it yet but should I just start slow with the D3100?

  24. just have hdv stuff, the dear old minidv
    lately,i was thinking upgradin'(or downgradin’) to dslr worls as the fact i have some old&fast nikkor ai and a couple of leica as well.
    i was considering one of the “top rated” since i met the gh2 on line

    quality looks pretty nice
    all lenses can be adapted
    and , that fab olous 1:1 crop means that i could shoot at more then 2000mm with a 400 …woww..no animals will escape from my evf

    i know there are some little problems ,speed,24p,,,etc etc…but i’ve heaRD that good boy Vasily is still working on firmware..that’s great too and we will see some explosive features coming out

    this is my opinion and this is the one for me and for the one used to climb and walk around nature

    btw phil: tell your adorable mum not to add that squeezed tubed tomatoes all over spaghetti at the end, but try cooking an amazing “SUGO” before and then adding

    cheers from italy
    tom

  25. 24/25 or 30 fps it is important..?

    Mostly hollywood movies shoot with 24fps ..
    but in my broadcast television system they works in 25 fps..
    maybe in japan broadcast television, hollywood movies plays in 30 fps.. based on pal and ntsc..

    how the hollywood delivery one project movie that shoot in 24fps into every country based on their broadcast system especially on 25fps and 30fps?

    how the hollywood add : 1 frame in pal mode (25-24), and
    6 frame in ntsc mode (30-24)

    what are they add on it?

    thanks for replay..
    have nice day

  26. I’m starting from scratch, so I don’t have any accumulated lenses. Which would you go for, the Canon 60D or the Panasonic GH2. Both have articulating screens, which seems great for video. From what I’ve read, the GH2 seems best for video, because of the clean HDMI out, better low light, 1:1 crop for extra tele-conversion, and unlimited recording time (which hardly anyone ever mentions, but seems really important for live event coverage). What are your thoughts? does the 60D best the GH2 in anything? I’m in US, so lack of PAL is not an issue for me.

    Thanks Philip!
    -Tristan

  27. Great info as always,

    am planning to buy a 60D as they seem to give most bang for the buck. I’ve read/seen somewhere that it even has no overheating problems. There’s an endurance test posted on vimeo by a guy named Jason Myres, you can watch it here: http://vimeo.com/16574594

    He shot approx. 8h of footage without running into trouble … can anybody confirm this is really true ?

  28. Great site Philip!
    I must say that i’ve learned a lot reading your posts; I’m a videomaker from Italy and currently use the Canon XHA1 and i plan to buy a dslr. I’m very tempted by the eos 60D, as i’m starting from scratch in the dslr world.
    I’ve a little budget and would like to know according to you, is the EOS60D a good choice?(for filmmaking,event, documentary), and which lense should i buy first as i’ve not enought money to look for a lenses array?
    Thanks for the advices!

    PS: excuse me my Poor english..

    1. just remember, if you’re shooting a live event, all the Canons have a 12 minute maximum record time per file, so if you’re shooting an hour event and need the whole thing, there will be 5 or so times where you will have to stop and start recording creating breaks in the footage. Wou won’t be able to just leave it and let it run wide while you go shoot closeups with an A camera or something.

      1. technically it’s not max..stick a lens cap on and you can record 29 minutes and 59 seconds. I have recorded 18 minutes of proper video once, it was a sunset so not a lot of movement. The 29 minutes 59 seconds thing applies to GH1 and GH2 from Europe. It’s a tax thing.

  29. I too am comparing 60D and GH2, primarily for video. My subject is a bit different, fishing and hence oceans and lakes, so my concern is mostly on how each captures images of water. I’ve been scouring Vimeo for clips of each and noticing the moire issues with the Canon and water, but not seen much from GH2.

    If your primary subject was water, and taking into consideration lenses as investments, the future of micro4/3 versus what might be coming from Canon, which way would you lean and why?

    THANK YOU! Nice site too!

  30. Just got back from a 2 week doco shoot in Zambia with 60D and 7D. The 60D won hands down and never overheated once (the 7D overheated after about an hour of constant shooting – was very hot). A great little camera – can’t recommend it highly enough (love the articulating screen – only problem was seeing the screen in bright sun light situations – I would need to switch to 7D with viewfinder in these situations). Now to edit 700GB of footage!

  31. what the comparrison effect of 24 to 25 fps and 30 to 25fps,
    i had gf1 in ntsc and lack of pal system.. can somebody help how decrease bad motion in my gf1 videos..

    thanks

  32. Hi Phil,

    I am considering purchasing either the 60D, GH2 (and was also looking at the 5d before this point). I do feature length documentaries and am wondering:

    1) How do the footage hold up to being blown up to a theater screen (and will a nanoflash effect that and how)? Would any of these cameras perform better for a large screen?

    2) How do these cameras hold up to television broadcast stardards and is any one better than the others?

    Much thanks.

  33. I am getting pretty confused by too much research. I need a camera and lens combo that can shoot handheld at very low light. Similar to the movie “Collateral”. Lots of night shooting in a city.

    I had settled on the GH2 with the voigtlander 0.95 as my primary setup, but then read that this is the equivalent of a 50mm f2 on a FF camera? I would hate to spend $1000 on a lens when I could get a $400 50mm f1.4.

    My background is 16mm film and fixed lens video, so this is a bit new to me.

    So for sake of this discussion, lets say you wanted to replicate the look of “Collateral” and shoot available light outdoors at night in a city. What camera/lens would be best for this?

    Lets say your budget is $4,000 for a camera body and 1 lens. Assume all other things like matte boxes/rail systems/rigs are a separate budget item.

      1. Could you explain to me why the full frame 5d with a 50mm 2 lens is equivalent to a MFT with a 25mm 0.95? I understand the difference the sensor size makes to focal length and DOF, but shouldn’t an f0.95 let in more light than the f2? I am leaning towards the 5D anyway at this point for other reasons, but am just trying to understand the technical aspects.

  34. Hi Philip, I’ve been reading your blow and following your activities around the world and there are several things to say if I ever meet you but for now a big THANK YOU MATE will do.
    Now, I’ve been working as an editor and I’ve directed a couple of shortfilms and an episode for a TV series in Argentina. Now I’m settled in Barcelona and I’ll be going back to London (where I live with my girlfriend).
    I’ve always loved taking photographs as an amateur, and photoshop them (I’m a photoshop teacher here in Barcelona) to achieve a similar look to a pro camera.
    Now I find my self between a rock and a hard place, should I buy a Canon 7D or a GH2? I come from a film background so I want to shoot tons of video, but I want to do a big jump photographic wise. I reckon the 7D it’s better for photos but the GH2 would be better for video, is that right?
    If I want to do, let’s say 50% photos and 50% videos, which one would you recommend?
    Broadcasting my material is not a concern for me nowadays, so 24p is fine for me.

    Again, Thanks so much for what you are doing for the community. If this is a start of a video revolution your name will be out there for a Loonggg time my friend!

  35. Hey Philip!

    First of all, giant thank you for the recommendations. I’m a print journalist by training, and I’ve shot my own stills for a few years now on a camera I’ve now outgrown. I’m eager to plunge into documentary video. This spring I’ll be journeying through China, Tibet, and Nepal, and plan on freelance travel writing (and shooting) along the way.

    Partially due to your urging, I just ordered the 60D. The angles provided by the swivel screen and the control provided by the dials made the upgrade over the T2i worthwhile. Now I need to decide on a prime piece of glass. I’m going to be backpacking — putting the “backpack” in “backpack journalist” — so I need a versatile, dependable walk-around lens (preferably just one lens, since space is at such a premium with this kind of travel).

    I want to create filmic, documentary-quality images. I love to shoot culture, close to the subject: people, markets, architecture, art, indoor, on the street. Also, I have a date with the Himalayas, so there’s going to be some landscapes happening too.

    The leader right now is the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. From everything I see and read, I know it is fast and bright, and should produce pillowy DOF. I’m a little concerned about its (sub-L series) construction, since I’m going to be pretty rough and tumble. Also, I’ve read that pulling focus with this lens is a chore (for video).

    What are your thoughts on this lens? The right piece for my kit?

    Annyeong,

    Drake

  36. Hi
    I would like to get a good slr for shooting ski movies and pictures.
    For my buget I was looking at the 60d and the GH2.
    With the Gh2 how do you think that it would do in cold weather and can you dissable the touch screen.
    what would you recomend

  37. Like all newbies to this scene i am becoming overwhelmed by the amount of information and choices to be made. though i am not finding much info on chroma key work.

    i studied in art and vfx and did limited work in that field.

    my understanding is there is not a dslr yet that has clean uncompressed 1080p 4:4:4 via hdmi?

    so my question is do i have an option in a dslr for green screen shoots?

    thanks andrew

      1. prefer blue to green? how very strange…

        all my reading led me to believe that the hdmi out was still a dream:(

        kind of thinking what ever i get might get an upgrade in a year or so when/if someone releases an uncompressed hdmi out. it truly couldn’t be that far away could it?

        with that in mind i think my choice comes down to the 60d or gh2(not in OZ yet)

        knowing i am considering a new body in the future will the lenses i buy for a gh2 be an odd size so possibly not very useful if i went to a full frame camera?

        perhaps i need to just wait for your suggestions of lenses for the gh2..

        …blue over green you say… how very very strange 🙂

        thanks

        1. GH2 or 60D. Please get the GH2!

          The 60D does overheat, does have moire issues, 12 mins recording max, worse sound, worse low light.

          What shortcoming can we say about the GH2 that is as frustrating as those things?
          Lack of 25p? Cheaper build? AVCHD files? They’re not as bad at all IMHO.

    1. There is a patch for the GH1 revised firmware that allows for 4:2:2 720p30, instead of the usual 4:2:0 720p60. It’s half the colour compression for half the speed, and I think it is as good as you are going to get, for chroma-keying on a DSLR, though clearly it’s not ideal.

  38. Hey Philip,

    Just started shooting with the D7000 a few days ago. I love the image but like you I am “extremely” frustrated with both the lack of a light meter and inability to change the F-stop in live view mode. I use quotes for extremely because this is my first DSLR and this weekend was my first shoot. Do you have any insight into if and when they will address these issues? Thanks,

    Rodman

  39. I wonder , if an alien come to earth and ask Mr Bloom to go with them for only one day to take stills and film some nebulas and planets, and they ask him use ONLY ONE CAMERA with all the accesories, what camera would be?

  40. Wow! The bokeh on those Cooke primes was amazing! When are you going to give away some of those on your site? 😉 Do you think you could offer some info about which primes you used in the shoot? Am I correct to assume the experience of using them was equal to watching and enjoying the product of their use?

    Rick

  41. Hi Phillip, I used a 60D for 2 full days last weekend and can report it overheating as much as any Canon will. Several overheats in a freezing cold church in Bristol whilst shooting a film, whilst the GH1 shooting different angles didn’t even warm up. Perhaps you should update the remark that it seems not to overheat as much as the others. I think your good report on this page was the reason my colleague bought it.

  42. Hi, I was wondering if anyone has gotten their hands on the Nikon D3100 yet?

    The price point is fantastic from the stores i’ve seen and would allow a couple hundred extra to be spent on a lens or two if the video they are taking is of good quality.

      1. Hello Mr.Bloom:
        My name is Benjamin and i’m a film student.
        I recently graduated from my istitute, my degree was in cinematography.
        I’ve always worked as a cinematorapher on my classmates projects, but now i want to start doing my own projects, short movies, an hopefully, some day, a feature film.
        I’ve worked in some small production companies while i was studiying, and i have fair experience with lighting and camera work. Through my years in the institute i’ve worked with 35mm, HVX200, Canon’s T2i, 5D Mk II and 7D.
        Now i have to make a decision in terms of equipment.
        I’m looking for a camera that serves me well on doing more personal, smaller movies, but still having a good standard quality.
        I don’t earn much money. Now, by doing a big sacrifice, i could purshase a T2i, or maybe a GH2, but i’m more keen over Canon cause my uncle has EF lenses.
        If i gathered money over a year, i might be able to purshase the 7D or the 5D MkII, and maybe another year to have it eqquiped. My question is: According to what i’m looking for ¿Is the difference between T2i, and the 7D and 5DMkII worth the wait? Should i go with the T2i? Should i wait for some other camera to come this year?
        I’ve wanted to ask you this for some time now, but now it has become mor critical.
        Sorry for all the blah blah, but i thought if i didn’t, you might not get the right picture. And excuse me for my English. too
        Thanks Already!

  43. Hello Mr.Bloom:
    My name is Benjamin and i’m a film student.
    I recently graduated from my istitute, my degree was in cinematography.
    I’ve always worked as a cinematorapher on my classmates projects, but now i want to start doing my own projects, short movies, an hopefully, some day, a feature film.
    I’ve worked in some small production companies while i was studiying, and i have fair experience with lighting and camera work. Through my years in the institute i’ve worked with 35mm, HVX200, Canon’s T2i, 5D Mk II and 7D.
    Now i have to make a decision in terms of equipment.
    I’m looking for a camera that serves me well on doing more personal, smaller movies, but still having a good standard quality.
    I don’t earn much money. Now, by doing a big sacrifice, i could purshase a T2i, or maybe a GH2, but i’m more keen over Canon cause my uncle has EF lenses.
    If i gathered money over a year, i might be able to purshase the 7D or the 5D MkII, and maybe another year to have it eqquiped. My question is: According to what i’m looking for ¿Is the difference between T2i, and the 7D and 5DMkII worth the wait? Should i go with the T2i? Should i wait for some other camera to come this year?
    I’ve wanted to ask you this for some time now, but now it has become mor critical.
    Sorry for all the blah blah, but i thought if i didn’t, you might not get the right picture. And excuse me for my English. too
    Thanks Already!

  44. Hi Philip,

    Thank you very much for the amazing work, and for helping other independent filmmakers immensely, sharing and giving all the info. I respect your work greatly.

    I will be soon buying a DSLR camera just for video use. I will be using it for shooting short and feature dramatic films. Just as many independent filmmakers I am on a thight budget so I m considering buying Panasonic GH2 or Canon 550D/60D and spend some money on a glass (i m shallow DOF junkie).

    As I cannot try these cameras before I buy them, I need to ask you which of these cameras give most “cinematic look”. I worked with 7D and loved the look (hated heavy jello effect!). I m getting on the GH2 bandwagon lately, but I want to know if that camera has more “video” look than canons or is it as cinematic/”filmic”/dreamy/saturated as they are; also would I be able to pull shallow depth of field with GH2 as easy as with Canons. For me the “look” the camera gives is more important than the quality of the image.

    Thanks!

  45. You mentioned the GH1 is cheap. It’s on sale at Panasonic’s site for $350 body only. These are the new unhackable ones and I’m sure most are made in chaina and more prone to FPN/banding in low light, but at that price I took the plunge and bought one. Defenitely think it’s a great starter Cam for that price and the G2 is on sale for $300 body only and that cam can be hacked with Ptools. It won’t do 24p, but you can double the bitrate.

    Something to think about. And to access the price you have to go to Panasonic’s facebook page, click like then go to “fan only deals”. It’s been on sale since the beginning of the month at least.

  46. Hi Bloom,

    Maybe you could help me out a bit.
    I’m going to shoot for 3 days at a music fair next week and can’t make up my mind yet which gear I should bring with me.

    Its going to be 3 days doing interviews by day and edit it all by night so it then can be uploaded to vimeo, youtube etc.
    I want the most comfortable setup with the least hassle and all as light as possible (back pains)

    For audio I’m thinking using the Tascam DR-100 and a Sennheiser EW100 receiver kit with a wireless mic.
    Dont think a field monitor is that necessary, I’ll use the Zacuto Z-Finder with a Target Shooter plus maybe something else which is light enough and I can place on the shoulder (because of my back pains)

    Now about the camera body part..
    I cant make up my mind between the 5D2 and the 60D.
    Its not a budget thing but all about comfort and getting decent quality.
    720p is fine for web video at this point and FullFrame is awesome but my decision would not depend on it for this type of work.

    As for lenses I’m thinking canon 35 1.4 ,50mm 1.2 and a 70-200mm 2.8 (for when i’m standing in the back filming a presentation etc.)
    If I would pick the 60D I would change the 50mm for a 24mm (because of the x1.6 factor) Plus the 60D can shoot 50p ( I kinda need that for the booth babes :D)

    So.. should I use the 60D or is a 5D2 the ultimate winner for this type of duties?

    Thanks for all the nice advise so far. Keep it coming!

    Cheers,
    Eric

    1. if it’s interviews use the 60D better for longer clips as it doesnt overheat as much. 70-200 ideal for interviews. even the f4 IS is perfect.

      dont shoot 720p. it looks awful. shoot 1080p and downconvert if you want that.

  47. Hey Philip,

    Great site. I have a quick question. I hear all these remarks about the 7D, 5D overheating, has this been a problem for you ??

    I narrow down to one of these two kit:

    – 7D/Tokina 11-16
    – 5DMkII/ Canon EF 24-105

    Money is not my concern, I just want to pick up the best kit that will last me for a while. Thanks

  48. Mr. Bloom,

    I have an urgent request. I am having a hard time choosing between the Sony a55, T3i and GH2. We are going to be doing video, which I hear the GH2 is great for, but I also want to use it for stills. Can you please help me out. We are looking to buy the camera tomorrow!!! This is an important decision and I don’t want to get the wrong one

    Thanks in advance!

  49. Hi Philip!

    First time “commentor” and really enjoyed your DSLR tutorials on Vimeo!

    I am in the market for a DSLR camera and this article really helped because i’m looking for the most for my buck and my bucks don’t stretch far enough for any of the Mark line or 7D… But when i do film i film alot of shows that are in low light settings, and thats why i’m more geared toward the DSLR because they are great for dim light settings…

    I’ve seen in the Con’s the ones where you don’t feel they have the best setting for low light, but which one out of the 60D or the Rebel has the best low light images? Thats really what i’m narrowing it down to so i wanted your take on it… Thanks!!!

  50. Hello Phillip,

    So I received a Panny GH1 as a Birthday Gift this February, unfortunately for me I isn’t Hackable. I still enjoy the footage it produces, However I am wondering if there is some Post editing Plugins or software that can help with some of the artifacting. I don’t Have a Mac or Final Cut due to the fact that I am a poor College student, so I use Sony Vegas on a cheap PC.

    Any suggestions would be greatly Appreciated.

    thanks!

  51. It really does amaze me that people keep asking the same question ‘ Which camera to buy’ Ultimately, Philip or any other DSLR blogger / user / review can’t make the decision for you, you’ve got to buy what you can afford, get out there and start shooting and then use your own experiences to build, learn and create from then on in.

    I’m not saying don’t use the advice as a guide, everyone does that but as for a definite ‘You need this camera …’ kind of statement it ain’t gonna happen and even if it did I wouldn’t trust it as everybody’s needs / shooting styles etc are different.

    I use a Sony Z5e and I have a 550d – I’m currently selling the Z5 as I prefer to use the DSLR because it’s more conspicuous and gives me more natural results ‘from the subject’ not ‘from the technical capacity of the camera / lens’. One day I may upgrade, and I’m certainly investigating better lenses, mics, sliders etc all the time but for now, it is the subject that matters to me the most.

    I know this post is a cliché and no doubt I’ll get berated for it but please can I suggest people stop looking for someone to hold their hand throughout the entire creative process (perhaps it’s an extension of the ‘no risk’ society we’re moving towards?) and just get out there and start learning yourself. It’s much better that way and I promise you’ll feel infinitely more proud of the result when it happens!

    Happy shooting everyone! :0)

  52. so im looking at either a T3i or a 60D

    as i understand from the reviews above. the HDMI out of the 60D drops to SD when recording. so that would make any of the external HDMI recorders a non-starter, right?

    so my question is:
    does the same apply to the T3i? or does it send continue to send an HD signal out HDMI during record?

  53. So I’ve got a bunch of really nice old nikon AI lenses and am looking for a camera under $1000 that will accept them. The camera will likely be used 95% for video and any stills taken will be just for fun. In the future I will probably get some more modern lenses so I would like a camera with reasonably good autofocus (for less “planned” shooting). I want 24P and 60i capabilities both at 1920×1080 (30P is nice, but I can always deinterlace). I also don’t care much about color quality because I am first and foremost an editor and heavily color correct all my stuff anyway.

    Given that, the field seems to have narrowed down to the GH2 and the 60D. Between these two, I cannot decide. I’m leaning toward the panasonic because I’ve used hmc-150s, 40s, and the TM700 all of which have been enjoyable to use, but lack the creative versatility of a DSLR (or ILC or whatever i should call the GH2). I also occasionally shoot slow-mo shots with the TM700 in 60p mode. The GH2 seems to also have less aliasing than the 60D which is also very nice. I am hung up on this decision though because wide angle work is harder with the GH2, and the 60D has a larger sensor, and the Canon lineup in general seems to be considered the best for video.

    I normally just read articles like this but there is a consensus throughout all of them that there is no one “best” camera (something I wholly agree with), but no situation in these articles seems exactly to fit my situation. Given the info above (and everything you know about the ergonomics of the two cameras), which one should I get?

  54. Hi Philip! Hi everybody!

    I have a question I didn’t know where to post.

    Does PAL or NTSC have any sense today?

    I mean, has any sense to still be producing NTSC cameras for some countries and PAL for others?

    Thanks!

      1. Ok, I’ll try it again.

        I was told that NTSC and PAL were a solutions to multiplexing issues. 30/60 and 25/50 has to do with the frequency of the electric system (110v 60hz / 220v 50hz). But now we do digital streaming. Do NTSC and PAL have any sense in digital? Or can we dream of a future with multi frame rates?

        I mean in tech. Law has to do with lots of other things different to tech (protect consumers, protect local industry, f*** consumers, destroy local industry, etc.).

  55. really great review.. Form experience shooting with the 7D, 5D & 550D I would have to say the 550D is my fav to use. On a recent warm day shoot running both the 7D & 550D the 7D over heated.

  56. Hi Philip

    Have you had a chance to look at the Nikon D5100? What are your thoughts?
    I only ask as I have some Nikon lenses for my D80, so wanted to stick with Nikon camera (if possible) if not I will probably go with the 60D?

    Many thanks

  57. Thank you for another great article.

    So far almost all of the work I love the most (on vimeo and co.) has been shot on a 5DmII.
    And as far as I can tell, it has also something to do with the FF sensor and the aesthetic that comes with it.

    I want to buy my first DSLR and my work will strongly be focused on moving pictures. And most people say (like yourself) that the 7D and 60D have equal picture quality.

    Should I go for the 60D, even though there is not a lot of great reference work on the web, right now?

    Because the 60D would give me an extra grand that I could use for other things.

  58. And another question:

    Is it still necessary to buy zoom lenses with IS for video, now that the Adobe Warp Stabilizer seems to do pretty great work?

  59. I’ve been looking at the T3i or 60D for live chroma keying feed (no recording), but the HDMI out issue throws a wrench in the gears.

    You are saying that the HDMI output drops to SD when you hit record, so that means it is full quality output when not recording? I spoke with Canons tech support yesterday and he said that the output is always SD, recording or not. He sounded more confused than me. Also, you’re saying that the HDMI live out is littered with graphics/icons that can’t be turned off even in video mode? I may be reading this wrong.

    The post-production chroma keying on these cameras is breathtaking, so too bad Canon overlooked this obvious HDMI out issue. Any other suggestions other than a $4k camcorder?

  60. hey philip,

    I’m torn at the moment. I just sold my 550d because i want to upgrade but i’m not sure whether to go for the gh2 or the 60d… i’ve read loads of comparisons and reviews but a professionals opinion would be brilliant.

    Which one would you go for and why?

    Thanks!
    Harv

      1. Only a couple EF-s and prime lenses, how does the gh2 cope with post though? do you have to compress files and such or is it straight forward like the .mov files of the canon dslr’s? i would be editing in FCP 7.

        cheers!

  61. Hi Philip, First off, thank you so much for putting in all this time to educate us all! I have found your blog and films very entertaining and highly informative!

    My question for you is this, Im about to move to the Cayman Islands, its where I grew up and I am very excited about moving back there. My partner and I, along with a friend who is a sound engineer are starting up a small production company. I am wanting to buy a mk2 due to its breath taking image, however I am seriously concerned about the over heating as Cayman is a very hot place! particularly in the summer!

    Will be doing lots of weddings. Most of which will be out door shoots.

    Given this information, do you think I should go with the 7D, as you mentioned you have not noticed any real over heating problems. I am planing to shoot with both the 7D and mk2, but am wondering if it would be better to just get two 7D’s.

    Ahhh! so much to think about! :S

    Rob.

  62. Hey Philip.

    Thanks for the blog and inspiration.

    I just got a T3i and a kit lens. I am looking at getting some training videos.

    Will you be making one for the T3i or would I be ok just getting one for the 7D or 60d?

    Thanks!

  63. Hi Phillip and other visitors. I am about to buy a cheap camera, to get both video and stills. Does somebody know if the NIKON D3100 has full manual controls on video mode?

  64. hi phil
    thanks for the review. it’s great.
    just wondering… we’ve been asked to do some shots by a company in the far east to match the footage they’re taking with a 5D mkII with the 24-105mm lens
    we were considering buying a 7d with the 15-85mm lens. will the shots match up? or should we just hire the 5d for the day? i am also wary that both these cameras may be due for an update soon….

    thanks in advance!

    1. You will notice a difference between the two but if you shoot cinestyle, you have a better chance of matching them up when CC’ing and grading. The biggest reason is the glass. I frequently do multiple camera interviews mixing multiple flavours of canon’s but always make sure I am using “L” series glass across the cameras.

  65. Hi phil thanks for sharing your knowledge. In conclusion we have to wait, for a new dslr, better designed for video. But in the meantime do you know why there is not a pro camcorder that works with the same format of the Canons? The workflow in Final Cut with the AVCHD and .mts files is a nightmare. You cannot even see the footage in the finder.

    Reply

    1. andres,

      the format that the canons record in, h264 .mov is horrible. There won’t be a camcorder that does that. better codecs are out there, AVCHD is the same, just rewrapped. Use clip rewrap to turn it into a .mov if you want!

  66. Philip,

    Hate to ask the question of ‘which do you do thinking is the best camera for me’ but after much deliberation i’m still unsure where to splash my cash.

    Currently have a nikon d3000 (my first SLR) and want to upgrade it to one that shoots video and start making some short films. I have no lenses other than a kit lens so i’m happy to switch to Canon or stay with Nikon.

    Having never shot video before I am wondering which camera to go for. If money was no object i’d go for the 5D mkII as I love the way the camera looks and it receives consistently good reviews. That said body only price is around £1500 and i’m not sure i’ll have the skills as yet to get the most out of the camera. Buying a 600D or D5100 for like £600 means i’ll have more cash to spend on lenses. I’m torn between the following cameras:

    Nikon D5100 (presuming you haven’t reviewed this yet?)
    Canon 600D

    From what i’ve seen footage-wise on the net the 600d seems to give a slightly better picture, and I belive it gives you more manual control audio wise and ISO?

    On the other hand the 5100 is supposed to better in low light….

    Please help dude!

    P.S. new fan of your blog but literally not been off the site. Great advice and i’ve learned a lot. Thanks!

      1. Thanks mate, definitely going with this now – just found my mate has one so had a look at it today. It’s awesome! I’m sold. Not to buy it and decide on glass…

        Thanks again for your help

        J

  67. Philip I have bad eye sight and I was wondering how is the little viewfinder on the GH2?

    I’ve been looking at the Sony A77 and a T3i or 60D with the Z-Finder Pro 2.5x #Z-FIND-PRO2.

    I heard the Sony A77 has a ghosting problem and I’m a little lost on what ghosting is. Is ghosting hot high lights or a double image?

    Charles Michel did a review of the Sony A77 on vimeo

    Sony Alpha 77 – First look review

    http://vimeo.com/28075979

    I feel like a idiot not that I sold my Minolta lens now. LOL

  68. Philip,

    Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to reply to all these questions, even the redundant ones. I have read this thread and all the comments with great interest, and am wondering if–now that you’ve had some more time with it–your opinion of the GH2 has changed at all. I ask because I am about to buy a completely new setup and have narrowed my choices to the 7D, 60D and GH2. I know your thoughts and history on the Canons, but you mention the GH2 relatively infrequently by comparison. Has your opinion grown or lessened over time? I respect your opinion more so than any other notable person in this area, and so am curious as to your thoughts.

    Best,

    Adrian

      1. Whoo! Thanks for the reply, Philip. But I’m now firmly in the Canon camp and…well, I sent you an email earlier today to the help@ address. Presumptuous of me assuming you’ll reply, but I gave it a shot!

        Essentially, it’s the 5D, 60D or 7D for me. Not sure which, though. Low-light and pretty pictures are my real priorities.

  69. Philip,

    Thank you for your review on these cameras. I have had the pleasure ( if you can call it that) in using the Nikon D7000. I tried to stay away from this whole DSLR craze for awhile and now that we are seeing full frame sensors on the market I am glad I have skipped this phase! ( Been shooting with the Canon XH-A1s and Sony Ex3)

    The D7000 is such a little pain. The image quality is superb but it took me 20 minutes just to get the camera out of auto ISO. For a further review on this camera feel free to take a look at my sample and read my posting under the video. Do you know if there will be a Rebel t4i launching soon? It might be a good toy for the money. Let me know what you think of the sample video and I look forward to hearing from you!

    Nikon D7000 Test
    http://vimeo.com/29268162

  70. Hi Philip,

    would really appreciate some advice. I am looking to invest in a simple interview kit, mostly for corporates but also for some doco work. It needs to be a one person manageable kit. I’ve read everything you have written and was heading towards a 60D, with a zoom lens (probably have to be EFs due to budget). then teaming that with a zoom h4n (I like the possibility of recording simultaneously from the built in mics as well as external xlr mic inputs… which i think the tascam can’t do?)

    So i was headed for the 60d until recently i watched the webcast record of you on macvideo.tv and was amazed at what you captured using the nex-5. so my question is…

    – would you recommend going for a 60D or waiting for the nex-7?

    I’m after ease of operation by one person (cam and audio), but also some nice shallow depth in static interviews… to really lift the look beyond what my clients are used to.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Cheers, Peter.

  71. Hi Philip,

    First of all thanks for this great website, it is a huge help for all of us independent filmmakers and video enthusiasts. I enjoy reading your articles very much.
    I am about to buy two new DSLR cameras for video shooting only. I already shot on canon 7d, Nikon d7000 and rebel 2t1 (550d), and loved them all. I read a lot of research on hacked Panasonic GH2 and I m really getting curious about that little camera.
    I will be using these cameras for short and feature dramatic films (with possible cinema releases). I am deciding between Canon 5d mark 2, Canon 1d Mark 4, and Panasonic gh2 (with hack). I have offers to buy these 3 cameras inexpensively (relatively), so money is not that much of an issue.
    If you could help me out in decision I would appreciate it very much. Shallow DOF is big issue for me as is rolling shutter and moire, and I also need camera that I can invest in the lenses that I could use in the future (I m hoping one day to get Canon mirrorless or DSLR 4K).
    Also could I buy 2 different cameras (from those 3) and use them on the same shoot? I have never tried that before. I’ve always shot with 2 same cameras for any one particular film.
    Thanks a lot for your time, I appreciate it very much.
    Cheers.

  72. I´ve got a 2000 budget and I need a camera for video producing where I work, doing shorts, an extreme sport program and some comercial works.
    Am between 7d and t2i (just because for the price its said it films the same as the 7d).
    What do you recomend

  73. Hi Philip,

    Are you going to be adding the new Canon 650d to your review soon? I will be interested to see how you think it fairs against the 600D and the 7D.

    Looks to have newer software, suited for video.

    Thanks,
    MM

      1. Dear Philip,

        thanks for the site and the reviews – extremely informative and entertaining into the bargain. I’d also like to see a 650D review when you have time (and money spare to buy one! Or maybe you could borrow one – ?). I’m particularly keen to know:

        – does the move to Digic 5 processor make it a significant improvement for video over older EOS models in the same price range

        – how does it compare to the 5D mark III – does the 650 show improvements in aliasing/moire as the 5D mk III does compared to earlier EOS cameras – or not?

        Thanks,

        Michael

  74. I need to get a DSLR to shoot wedding and other events that will go over 30-60+ minutes. Most shooters get away from this buy working in groups and staggering their recording start times. I won’t have that luxury. The only backup I may have is one unmanned camera. I assume the only option for now is Panasonic GH2.

  75. Hi Philip,

    This is great source to find out answers… and questions I see.
    I asked about different lenses to Canon EOS 7D in your les article and now I mus ask what range lesn takes that picture in 7D video where horses go just around. I mean that for covering most of combat sports that woud suit well keeping picture sharp enough without focusing all the time.

    Thanks.

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