No AF in K-7 for video

Same rules of composition, exposure, depth of field, so it is not so distinct. Additions such as tracking and sound add a new dimension.

I have had my K7 for 6 months now and I love the video feature, my manual focus skills are improving and there is no focus noise on the sound track. Plus the ability to grab a frame for the video direct on the K7 and save as a jpg is great. Instead of 5 frams a second to catch the action, I have 30! and on full resolution video the results are very scceptable!

Sorry but I am now confused! I was considering buying a K7 body as it would slim down the kit I have to carry! but how does the Video actually work on the K7?

Can I zoom whilst filming? (I am assuming I have to focus manually?)
Can I pre select aperture or is exposure fully auto in video mode?
Can I change aperture mid shot?
What about speed? or is that done via ISO?

yes you can zoom and focus manually but you can first auto focus before filming.
Yes
No... actually you can with a lens with an aperture ring not 100% sure about the rest though.
Speed is 30FPS I believe nothing you can do about that and with the ISO the camera controls exposure.


Please correct me if I'm wrong with anything

Stephan is correct, though I can't confirm the aperture ring part - I must give this a go.

Apature can be set to change automatically during filming, however this is not advisable and the resulting click will be heard on the soundtrack.

Much of the restrictions will help with eliminating noise on the soundtrack, unless you are using an external gun mike.

I can confirm that the aperture can't be manually changed mid-shot with a lens with no aperture ring.

Have you tried it yet?

Video is the reason I decided to keep the Pentax-A 35-105mm.
It seems to keep focus while you zoom in or out unlike other lenses that need refocus once zoomed.

Can you use powerzoom during filming?

Just tried this out with my 50mm A 1.4 and it worked really well, though the picture went darker and more grainey as the ISO was automatically adjusted to keep up! An the clicks on film were very loud. I don't have an external mic to see if this eliminated the clicks, however, they were so loud, that I can't imagin anything other then a long gun mic making any difference.

I guess it would work with an M lens too, thoes tend to have quiter, smother apature rings.

I've seen people on other forums talk about 'declicking' lenses, which presumably means they have found a way of getting around this.

I guess changing the aperture mid shot is something you'd try and avoid if you were making a serious movie, unless you were after a special effect with changing dof.

Thank you for your time on this, but it seems to be raising more questions as we go along.

Do you shoot video through the main viewfinder? I have just come back from RIAT 2010 and find I can no longer use a video cam with a screen I just cant see the subjects any longer, so trying to use a live view panel on the back of the K7 will merely be an expensive waste of time.

I am primarily interested in stills photography but stills don't always capture the moment well especially air display and motor sports.

So how for arguments sake would I shoot a plane giving a display with the K7 will it be a simple select point shoot and follow the aircraft around the sky with the camera taking care of exposure focus and allowing me to zoom at will?

Can the Video function of the K7 really handle all this? as my current impression is that I would have to focus on the plane on the ground then stop re focus and re zoom to start again as it goes up into the sky?
Or am I misunderstanding?


If not one has to ask what exactly is the point of the video function if it is in effect little more than a pin hole video camera and a vary expensive one at that!

One more question there seems to be a button in the middle of the exposure control ring what is it there for?

You cannot see through the optical viewfinder while shooting video. This is because the mirror is flipped up to allow the sensor to continually "see" through the lens. The LCD screen is pretty bright and contrasty, though.

Auto-focus doesn't work while shooting video. You have to manual-focus, or leave the focus alone. Selecting a small aperture (when the light level permits) often increases the depth-of-field enough to make focusing non-critical.

You can zoom at will and the camera will take care of exposure automatically by adjusting the sensitivity (and aperture as well if you wish).

The mode dial is locked to prevent accidental turning. It is unlocked by pressing the button in the middle while turning the dial.

You shouldn't see it as a video camera replacement because it's not.
See it as a creative option besides photography.
Something like a pan sweep over a landscape or a plain flying over or on a birthday party when blowing out the candles, for that sort of thing, those 10 seconds clip a DSLR could be used succesfully.

I don't think hd DSLRs can replace your family handycam, where you can just wave it about and it just does its thing. They seem better suited if you take time setting up your shots, using a tripod, anticipating the action, avoiding sudden changes in exposure etc, more like a serious video maker would.

Have you seen these?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIsPisBi7_k


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs2vaVHMBks