Early last August, I had an opportunity to shoot wedding pictures for a couple in New York’s Central Park. As my assistant and I were walking a few hundred feet behind the happy couple, and I looked at them leaning into each other as we moved to another location, I remarked how we were witnessing a video moment! The problem was that I had no video camera: Just two dslrs, one a Nikon and the other a Canon. Just a few short weeks later, Nikon and Canon announced the D90 and the 5D Mark ll respectively, both of which would have high definition video capability, and in many respects will alter the feature set of still cameras going forward.
Now the reaction to video in dslrs has been mixed to say the least. Some people both professional and enthusiast, embrace it, and others call it a gimmick. Funny, I think back to only a few short years ago when Olympus put a dust shake system, and live view in their cameras. Features which many marginalized then have become the expected norm today.
After experiencing that “Ah Ha” moment in Central Park last August, I am happy that I now have the option to shoot a little video and stills in a single package. We do live in a multimedia age. With the rise of YouTube, Vimeo, social networking and image sharing sites such as My Space and Flicker, as well as commercial product advertisement and news sites, the importance of video capture capability in any imaging device, should not be lost or minimized.
These hybrid cameras, as I refer to them, are not meant to replace dedicated hi def video cameras nor are they intended to shoot a box office blockbuster; but for clips and even shorts, they are indeed valuable and intriguing tools. I can tell you in shooting with both available options, that there are things I like about both and things which I don’t care for! Each manufacturer could learn a thing or two from how the other has incorporated the video feature for future refinement. The most important thing for those of us who are embracing the feature is to learn how the system of our choice operates and to exploit it to the fullest. What is clear is that the technology will develop and develop rapidly. A year or two from now the amount of control and flexibility in shooting speed will make today’s groundbreakers seem crude. But for now I encourage all who have purchased them to enjoy the feature.
Coming next week – Part 2: Mounting the Hybrid Camera for Movement
Resources for learning more on shooting video with dslrs:
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2186
http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/masterclass/eos_5d_mark_II_masterclass.do
