Should I buy an hd video camcorder and DSLR, or just a DSLR with video?

[foundingfilms]

Should I buy an hd video camcorder and DSLR, or just a DSLR with hd video?

My friend is looking into getting into wedding photography/videography sports/events photography/videogrpahy and this will be their present.

Can any of the DSLR cameras shoot both stills and video at the same time? Or if one chooses to shoot stills, must one stop shooting hd video?

With hd video camcorders available for around $500, I might just buy both an hd video camcorder and a DSLR.

Any insights on this?

Isn't the hdvideo camcorder easier to use for video/have better audio controls?

Thanks for your feedback!

[CycleWriter]

Any insights on this?

Please read the FAQ. This forum is filled with info on everything you asked, but we consider ourselves more of a self-service forum than an on-demand help desk. Search is your friend and we prefer you post to an existing related thread rather than start a new one. Welcome to the forum.:hv20-smilie77:

[foundingfilms]

I apologize if this has been answered elsewhere, but I could find no consenus after searching.

I hope this thread may prove to be a concise place for others to find the answers to these questions in one place. Thanks!

Which HD Camcorder has the best stills/Which DSLR has the best HD video?

I need to buy one as a present for a potential future pro wedding/sports/events photographer.

Thanks a lot! Happy Holidays all!

[Bif]

Should I buy an hd video camcorder and DSLR, or just a DSLR with hd video?

My friend is looking into getting into wedding photography/videography sports/events photography/videogrpahy and this will be their present.

Can any of the DSLR cameras shoot both stills and video at the same time? Or if one chooses to shoot stills, must one stop shooting hd video?


Any insights on this?



My insight comes from "getting into" wedding and events photography starting in the 1960's.

Your friend has a very daunting task ahead involving a lot of learning before trying to seriously invest/have someone invest in equipment to "get into" it.

Some serious research including following what is being done on these forums and other forums is in order to gain some very basic knowledge. For beginning wedding work I suggest the mpix.com forums where a few knowledgeable people participate in discussions. Your friend will have to "wade through" a bunch of clueless "shuttermoms" to get there.

I suggest your friend start out with a DSLR to begin getting the feel of getting control of photography and creating visuals. An HD camcorder can be added when appropriate image making skills have been achieved with the DSLR.

The DSLR capable of HD video can be a boon to the well experienced photographer/videographer who understands it supplements but really does not replace the camcorder.

Also, one person can not realistically do both video and still imagery at an event. In my time I've photographed a "ton" of weddings and there is no way I could have split myself between still photography and wedding video at the same event. These days, the folks doing quality video at events are using multiple cameras and paying special attention to audio.

I think an appropriate gift for your friend would be a good DSLR (and most of them are good). My personal prejudice is that the Canon line is excellent. If your friend understands enough real photography theory to appreciate it, I would recommend the Canon 7D (which also does video but he/she should resist being distracted from learning still photography in the early stages) which gives the photographer phenominal control over digital imagery.

Another excellent "starter" would be the Canon T1i (also does video but that is limited on this model) which comes with a "kit" lens that zooms from useable wide angle to portrait length telephoto. The T1i also affords an amazing degree of image control.

My thoughts. May be worth about what you just paid for them.

[zagnut]

I faced the same question a couple of months back. I like to storm chase in the spring and summer.
I was thinking of going with the T1i, but faced the same problem. I wouldn't be able to take great pictures of storms if I was recording.
My solution was a Rebel XS with 3 lenses, an HF11 and Azden smx-10 mic. All for under $1,500. Sure it's more equipment, but each is doing what it was deigned for and fits in a regular size Tamrac backpack.

I purchased the XS new as a kit with a 18-55mm lens for $450, a new Vivitar 500mm f/6.3 mirror reflex lens for $180, a refurb'd Canon 55-250mm IS lens ($200), HF11 was refurb'd (paid $600, BH has them new for $600 and refurb's for $480 now), Azden smx-10 $65.

Not being able to shoot 720 @ 24fps and having 1080 at 20fps with the T1i was a huge turn off and also a deciding factor.

[-Rogue5-]

I just skimmed through this thread, and second Bif's recommendation for the T1i... It's incredibly cheap for what it offers, and while the video mode isn't going to be as user friendly as a camcorder (I'm referring mainly to the fact that doesn't have autofocus while recording), the picture of both stills and video are gonna be pretty awesome and will more than suffice for 99% of home uses.

If you want/need autofocus, the GH1's system is pretty robust, however it's at least double the cost of the T1i (and you'd need expensive adapters for using any other lenses.)

-Rogue5-

[zagnut]

If you want/need autofocus, the GH1's system is pretty robust, however it's at least double the cost of the T1i (and you'd need expensive adapters for using any other lenses.)

-Rogue5-
If he's gonna go that route, might as well spend another $400 and get a 7d. Bigger sensor, more resolution / fps options and no lame adapters for lenses. If taking pictures at the same time as shooting video hadn't been so important to me, I would have bought the 7d in a heartbeat.

I also forgot to mention earlier that the T1i lacks a mic input, continuous AF mode, and manual aperture control. And full HD at only 20fps? Canon dropped the ball right there.

[foundingfilms]

If he's gonna go that route, might as well spend another $400 and get a 7d. Bigger sensor, more resolution / fps options and no lame adapters for lenses. If taking pictures at the same time as shooting video hadn't been so important to me, I would have bought the 7d in a heartbeat.

I also forgot to mention earlier that the T1i lacks a mic input, continuous AF mode, and manual aperture control. And full HD at only 20fps? Canon dropped the ball right there.

Thanks for that everyone! After searching all over I think I may have just found my answer here:

http://45surf.smugmug.com/Other/dslr-with-hd-video-dslr-stills/45surf-double-45-dueler-TM/swimsuit/728931993_bkGWP-M.jpg

What's your take on this?

[Marshallator]

Interesting, but what would you gain by shooting the same shot with two cameras at the same angle? :hv20-smilie51:

[foundingfilms]

Interesting, but what would you gain by shooting the same shot with two cameras at the same angle? :hv20-smilie51:

Both continuous stills & video?

[Marshallator]

My apologies, I just skimmed over the previous posts. It might work for that, though as someone said above stills and videos are both full times jobs, would be pretty hard to do both effectively.

[zagnut]

I wouldn't waste money on buying it from them. I can build that with some angle iron, a vise, a drill and pliers. Shouldn't cost more than about $5 from the hardware store. If you want to paint it, add $3 for spray paint.

[foundingfilms]

I wouldn't waste money on buying it from them. I can build that with some angle iron, a vise, a drill and pliers. Shouldn't cost more than about $5 from the hardware store. If you want to paint it, add $3 for spray paint.

the other day i bought one of those hot-shoe-ball-socket-1/4" mounts for like 48 bucks! haha! ripoff!!

didn't see a price on the site:

http://dual45dueler.com

it depends if you have to buy the vise, drill, and pliers first, and how much your wife will charge you for getting spray paint on the patio..... :) mine would charge me a lot--haha. :)

[zagnut]

and how much your wife will charge you for getting spray paint on the patio..... :) mine would charge me a lot--haha. :)
Ok, so add another .75 cents for some newspaper. Or just steal it off the neighbors porch.

Yeah, I didn't see a price on the site either. I did see a lot of advertising for what appears to be their clothing though. Looks like they will sell hats, t-shirts and possibly bikini's.

[Bif]

Both continuous stills & video?

Lousy idea.

Video and stills are different animals. Video features movement, both of the subjects and if done right - the camcorder.

Stills are just that. Slices of imagery frozen in time. At a wedding many stills need to be set up and properly posed. The photographer has to pay attention to and often shape the drape of the wedding dress train.

The wedding video will have different requirements often needing to be done from a totally different position.

Let me rephrase the "lousy idea" statement.

Stupid idea...

[foundingfilms]

Lousy idea.

Video and stills are different animals. Video features movement, both of the subjects and if done right - the camcorder.

Stills are just that. Slices of imagery frozen in time. At a wedding many stills need to be set up and properly posed. The photographer has to pay attention to and often shape the drape of the wedding dress train.

The wedding video will have different requirements often needing to be done from a totally different position.

Let me rephrase the "lousy idea" statement.

Stupid idea...

Yes--it would definitely make more sense to have both a dedicated videographer and photographer at a wedding... but too, why not attach an extra hd camera to the photographer's rig? As inexpensive as cameras are these days, it doesn't cost a lot extra to add and leave running, and the upside seems big...

Would have to test the ergonomics.

[Dman17]

Here's my 2 cents. If you go with a "all in one", I would suggest Panasonic GF1 or GH1 because of unlimited recording time. All other DSLR with HD have limited recording times, no good for events. Question, what are you going to do for a backup? I do wedding photography and videography as a paid hobby. I have for video 2 canon HV30 ( I perfer the benefits of recording SD or HD on tape. For photography, I use a oldie but goodie Olympus E500 and E300. I feel the back up's are very important for "just in case" situations. I just bought a Panasonic GH1, so I'll sell my Olympus E300 and a Canon HV30. Good luck