DSLR or Camcorder

[TheSiege]

I have a Canon HF200 I am thinking of selling it and getting the T3i that is on woot right now.
I hate carrying a P&S and a camcorder everywhere I go, I am thinking the T3i would do it all, especially with the right lens. Basically can the T3i do video as good as the HF200?

Thoughts?

 

[Kaido]

I have a Canon HF200 I am thinking of selling it and getting the T3i that is on woot right now.
I hate carrying a P&S and a camcorder everywhere I go, I am thinking the T3i would do it all, especially with the right lens. Basically can the T3i do video as good as the HF200?

Thoughts?

All depends on what you use it for. Camcorders are really good at recording for long periods of time & being really easy to setup and run. dSLR's are nice if you want higher quality footage, depth-of-field, and don't mind a shorter recording time (shorter due to card limitations & overheating problems when used for long periods of time).

I have a T2i and it is pretty awesome. The footage looks fabulous, and you can adapt just about any lens on the planet to it. I shot this a couple years ago on my T2i with a vintage 35mm Zeiss lens, came out awesome:

http://vimeo.com/14378607

The T3i is on Woot.com right now for cheap:

http://www.woot.com/

 

[sswingle]

I actually own the HF200 and several DSLRs that do video.

I prefer the video quality on the DSLR, however the Canon is easier to use. Just turn it on, point and shoot. The DSLR takes more effort to make sure you have proper focus and exposure. And if you want decent sound you need a separate audio recording device for DSLR video.
All of that said I prefer to use the DSLR, but I'm sure you will get many responses that say the opposite.

 

[TheSiege]

Nikons have auto focus for video right? And I would still need an external mic?

 

[TheSiege]

Anyone have or see a video of the T3i zooming in and out while recording video with the included lens?

 

[blastingcap]

Consider getting a Panasonic GH2 or GH3. Most DSLRs are not really made for video and it shows in the controls, layout, maximum clip length (as low as 11 minutes), etc.

The GH series is made for both video and stills and it shows.

 

[Munky]

Consider getting a Panasonic GH2 or GH3. Most DSLRs are not really made for video and it shows in the controls, layout, maximum clip length (as low as 11 minutes), etc.

The GH series is made for both video and stills and it shows.

^ This.

 

[sswingle]

Nikons have auto focus for video right? And I would still need an external mic?

Yea but its crap.

My D800 actually does pretty good audio. Much better than the D5100, and it was much better than the D3100 that was only mono.

 

[sswingle]

Consider getting a Panasonic GH2 or GH3. Most DSLRs are not really made for video and it shows in the controls, layout, maximum clip length (as low as 11 minutes), etc.

The GH series is made for both video and stills and it shows.

Very few are limited that low anymore. D5100 is 20 minutes and D800 can do 30 minutes. Its also been proven via 3rd party firmware that all of those models can record until the card is full and the limitation is only there so Nikon and Canon don't have to pay additional tax to call it a video camera if the recording time is limited.

 

[blastingcap]

I had a GH1 and D5100 (still have the d5100 though that's due for an upgrade) and let me assure you the GH1 was easier to handle as a videocamera. GH* autofocus is speedier, too, if that's something you care about. The clip length thing is not always due to that; some cameras literally overheat if you record video too long. GH*'s don't do that. And the Canon T3i has 11 minutes as the max IIRC. Sad. (GH*'s can chain videos more or less seamlessly and rebuild them at your computer.)

Anyway the GH* cameras can be hacked to give superior video recording against anything short of a Canon 5DMkII/III and even without hacks they are tops. Lots of enthusiast videocamera folks on a budget like it; you can ask q's at their forums if you want more info.

 

[happysmiles]

GH2.

 

[LikeLinus]

Very few are limited that low anymore. D5100 is 20 minutes and D800 can do 30 minutes. Its also been proven via 3rd party firmware that all of those models can record until the card is full and the limitation is only there so Nikon and Canon don't have to pay additional tax to call it a video camera if the recording time is limited.

Not exactly true. From my understand, the EU rule is over 30 minutes of video and it has to be taxed as a video camera. The reason there is a 12 minute limit on the T3i is that it uses the FAT32 system which has a limit of 4GB size for one file and 12 minutes of 1080p video is equal to approximately 4GB.

That may be why you see a limit on the D800 for 30 minutes, but it's not the reason for the 12 minute limit.

Also, if you're concerned and need auto focus, you should stick to a video camera. As others have mentioned, you're going to get far better results with a T3i because of depth of field, lens selection, aperture and so on. But it takes some skill to do it right and have great results

 

[TheSiege]

Well I also want a photo camera, and the T3i clip limit is 29:59.

 

[alkemyst]

Personally if you are going to use a camera as a camcorder, the compacts do a more practical job usually when moving around. Even a cheapo camcorder is usually more practical.

 

[LikeLinus]

Well I also want a photo camera, and the T3i clip limit is 29:59.

That's true if you're not taping at 1080p. 1080p is limited to 12 min (4GB) in file size.

To alkemyst point, if you're only looking for a camcorder than yes most people at home are better off with a small video camera. But if you want to do photography and video, the t3i is hard to beat.

What exactly was the woot deal?

 

[Kaido]

That's true if you're not taping at 1080p. 1080p is limited to 12 min (4GB) in file size.

To alkemyst point, if you're only looking for a camcorder than yes most people at home are better off with a small video camera. But if you want to do photography and video, the t3i is hard to beat.

What exactly was the woot deal?

It was a one-day deal for a new (not refurb) T3i with an 18-15mm lens for $599. But there's always sales on these guys since there's so many out now...the T2i, the T3i, the T4i, and they're all more or less the same. I love my T2i, especially for filming!

 

[blastingcap]

Well I also want a photo camera, and the T3i clip limit is 29:59.

GH2 is a very competent stills camera as well. GH3 even better but more expensive.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

I use a Powershot SX40HS for both photo and video. Bridge cameras FTW!

 

[luv2liv]

following your advice, i was about to buy the GH2 and then i noticed the price!
same as canon t4i. i might as well get the t4i because i have some canon lenses already....
i would gladly buy the GH2 if it was $200 cause i thought it was an old old model

 

[blastingcap]

$200 for a camera that for most users (who don't print 20x30"), is equal to the T4i in photo image quality, is smaller, more compact, far better in video, and can actually autofocus well while recording video? Dream on. You might be able to get a GH1 for under $300 and that's a decent camera as well.. image quality will suffer a bit but video, even without hacking, should still be quite good.

 

[MarcZ]

I use a Canon 60D camera and love everything about it including video recording but the issue is you can only record 12 minutes of video at a time no matter how big of a memory card you have.