DSLR or Camcorder for High definition video

[Sephire]

Any thoughts?

 

[Kaido]

What do you want to film?

dSLR has amazing image quality, depth of field, different lenses, etc. More expensive, more work to shoot with, more limitations - less recording time for one. Camcorders have great zooms, autofocus, long recording times. I have both and use both. Depends on the project. Kid's plays, sports, family events, etc. = camcorder. Short films = dSLR. Honestly, lately I've been using my iPhone 4S (1080p @ 24fps) for pretty much everything.

For dSLR's, I'd recommend a Canon T3i - unbelievably good picture quality, tons of Canon crop & full-frame lenses, and adapters for just about everything out there. For camcorders, I'd recommend the Panasonic TM900K - amazing amazing camcorder with crazy good quality and awesome features.

What do you want to shoot?

 

[sswingle]

Used to shoot with Sony HDV. Got tired of the tape mechanisms breaking and dealing with tapes in general. Shoot with two DSLRs now and the results are phenominal. Yes its more work with the DSLR but the results are worth it. I stiill have a small SD card Canon that I shoot with if I want something simple.

 

[radhak]

Definitely - HD Camcorder.

I have the Nikon D90, and am told there are DSLRs now that are better in video (track auto-focus while shooting which the D90 doesn't), but if you are serious about it, you will quickly miss the long zoom and the svelte build of the new HD camcorders. I love my DSLR, but just for the stills.

Just yesterday I posted on this : http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2215310

Btw, there are now great examples of video shot on DSLRs, even full fledged commercial movies, so it can be done, and spectacularly. But my life is simpler when I keep my gadgets separate !

 

[corkyg]

For anything more than short clips or vignettes, use a HD camcorder. The form factor of a DSLR is not really all that comfortable for sustained recording.

 

[radhak]

Just wanted to add - you could always go for cutting edge, and get the latest D4 : supposedly the cat's whiskers for video :

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/25482/D4.html

A mere $5999 :sneaky:...

 

[Gintaras]

Phantom High Speed, good, when it's needed to slow down some things...

http://video.pbs.org/video/1380512531/

Just wanted to add - you could always go for cutting edge, and get the latest D4 : supposedly the cat's whiskers for video :

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/25482/D4.html

A mere $5999 :sneaky:...

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Any thoughts?

Yes, you can use either.

JR

 

[Gintaras]

Yes, you can use either.

JR

Have you used both and have at least some samples to prove it - your suggestion?

NOW,

DSLR - for photos, but some DSLR have video feature - of course, it won't be same quality as videos taken with a Camcorder.

Camcorder - for videos, but it takes STILL IMAGES - PHOTOS too...but photos won't be same quality as photos taken with DSLR.

What do you want? better photo quality or better video quality? You can't have both.

I see, that, let's say, 3 or 5 years from now, people on this forum will ask:

Which microwave is better? on DSRL or on camcorder?

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE - IS A LETHAL MUTATION