Video on DSLR Camera,s

I have been using Pentax camera's from the time I first bought my ME-Super and love the brand what I would like to know is why put video on a DSLR to the detriment of other more useful features for if I wanted video I would buy a video camera I bought a still camera to take still pictures so why not scrap video ofF the camera and give us things like Faster AF better High ISO performance dual card slots etc etc if this had of been done to the K7 instead of damn video boy would pentax have produced somthing every one would have been talking about for years and we would have had a truly pro spec camera with Pentax branding instead we got somthing that is just very very good with sub standard video come on pentax you can do it give us an awsome pro spec DSLR and forget the video.

Just a thought

DSLR video is actually quite useful - and is the feature I miss most from my superzoom compact. Sure, it might not be as good as a video camera (though with DSLRs' much better shallow-DOF capabilities I would actually disagree with that), but there are some artistic ideas for which video is a very useful option: rainfall is an obvious one, because unless the rain is VERY heavy you can only get an impression of rain by the movement. Plus the other brands are doing video, and while "me too" isn't always a good reason for doing this Pentax do have to avoid things which might put off new users from buying into the Pentax system.

I was at a recent horticultural show and there was a display with over 200 varieties. Now I started photographing them, slow but then I tried video. Set the focus, and walked up the line. In Picasa I can rotate the video, freeze it, take a snapshot and read off the variety name.

Bit of a gimmick but it worked. Much more useful than Sensitivity Mode! I mean what's that for, random noise generation?

You have a point. Including video obviously takes up valuable space inside the camera which literally 'squeezes out' the room available for these other features. Therefore Pentax should definitely turn its back on the new popular, cheap to implement, and useful HD video feature, which all the competitors like the 7D, D300s, D90 etc have.

some people look at it from the wrong angle...
here it is from somebody that loves video and still photography...

This is what a d-slr can do for the videographer, that is currently hard/impossible/expensive to do with a video camera:

fisheye shots.
Ultra wide angle shots.
super telephoto shots.
Shallow DOF shots. (used to require a special, expensive adapter to mount 35mm primes).
Hand holdable steadycam shots (easy enough with consumer cameras, but pro video cams are huge, requiring dollys and rail mount systems)

High quality images...
Ultra low light shooting..

anybody that can proficiently shoot still and video images is in demand...
Being a still photographer, or a video only shooter puts you at a disadvantage in a world that wants to consume both in any kind of digital multimedia work, which the Web needs badly. There may come a day when people PAYING for work are gonna ask themselves "Why pay TWO people to do ONE job?" With little or thought to the fact that it USED to be TWO seperate occupations.

I think those who don't want video in DSLRs are engaged in a losing battle. The wider market seems to think it's a good idea and manufacturers are using it as a beneficial feature.

I use the video function on my Pentax compact for parties and fasmily events and it produces cute little videos suitable for YouTube and Facebook. And why not?

In my eyes, anyone who says 'if I want a video camera, I'll buy a video camera', is either very short sighted, or just completely missing the point! You are not paying extra for it, and it most certainly does not 'take up room' in the camera. Remember the K20 & K-7 were listed at the same price when new, so the price argument is wrong.

What you do end up with, as Don explained above is a highly versatile, weather proofed, shake resistant High Definition video camera for free.

These shots may make a point and paint a picture:-

5.



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But it does not give you an idea of what kind of noise they can make:-


Tunnel Noise


There are an endless amount of examples I can give you where having the video function in your SLR would come in very handy, yet I cannot think of one good example where not having a highly versatile, weather proofed, shake resistant High Definition video camera in your hands, ready to go at a moments notice that cost you nothing to buy, takes up no extra space or room would come in handy. Can you?

PS. There is a little known secret that I would like to share with you. If you do not want to use it, you don't have to!

Talk about baptism by fire You clearly chose a provocative first post imtek! Welcome to the forum.

Yes, you're right. In demand at £50 and bring your own 5DII and lenses... typical link

As for the EDL pics vs video - the photos give a much stronger impression than the video. But even better would be to ignore them and not give them any publicity...

Personally, last time I wanted to shoot video and stills at the same time, I stuck a DV cam on a tripod...

I wasn't expecting to get the opportunity to shoot that event, I don't own a DV camera, and as for a tripod, completely unsuitable that day, but, turn the dial, HD video in my hands, now, for free. No extra kit to carry, no tapes, no different types of battery, no bag to carry it in, no putting one camera down getting another one out, turning it on, waiting for it to power up etc. etc.

The argument in this thread is 'I don't want video in an SLR'. If you have a DV cam and go out to primarily shoot video, then you may have a point. The point here is that you get a decent HD video camera for free, available at the turn of a dial. For some reason, some people think it should not be there, it has no right to be there, take it out, it's a waste of space etc.etc.

I've said it many times, but I will say it again. If you do not want a highly versatile, weather proofed, shake resistant High Definition video camera in your hands, ready to go at a moments notice that cost you nothing to buy, then don't turn that dial!! Just cannot see any point whatsoever in whinging that it's there for free!!

Think we can agree completely on the EDL issue though, but at least I had a choice to shoot the video!

Video on DLSR is a marketing department joy - how do you get people to replace the DSLR they bought 2-3 years ago? You can't sell it on more megapixels anymore, most users still have use their kit lens so "high ISO" is too complicated a concept for the mass market, Facebook is now the biggest photo repository in the world, nobody wants a P&S when their smartphone is almost as good and always in your pocket.... but... Video. Suddenly you can get people to drop £2k on a 5DII because they dream of being George Lucas... and you've got the other magic phrase - "HD" (never mind that most people can't actually tell HD from SD when properly compared)

Once someone works-out how to do shallow DoF and quick AF on a phone, the entire market will collapse again - and they'll have to think of a new concept.

While I was taking some pics of the Vulcan landing yesterday I decided to give the video a go on the K-7 as I have only tried it once before.

Have to say it was a total nightmare .. I cannot recommend hand holding the camera with a Bigma at its full 500mm length while the sun beats down on the rear viewfinder.

Quality was pretty good but I got more video of the sky and ground than the aircraft .. it was jumping everywhere and the focus was not much better as I couldn't see what I was filming.

Shame you cant use the viewfinder while in video mode.

Pretty challenging conditions for any sort of video camera, Mike!

My wife was in fits of laughter when I showed her the video