BIGGER IS BETTER<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe reason these DSLR still cameras can take such amazing video is that they have a massive image sensor in comparison to a regular video camera, and this is a very big deal.<\/p>\n
The image shows the different size of sensors on cameras. Video cameras had the tiny, small boxes in the left-hand corner. DSLR image sensors are represented by the larger boxes. Looking at this graphic representation of the image sensor size, it’s easy to understand why the picture quality with DSLR cameras is so good!<\/p>\n
![\"Camera](\"http:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/9\/9a\/Sensor_sizes_overlaid_inside_-_updated.svg\" "\\"Camera")
<\/p>\n
NOTHING IS PERFECT<\/strong><\/p>\nAlong with the strong point of high quality images, there, of course, has to be a downside! There were, and are, many problems with DSLR cameras. Some of them are actually quite major.<\/p>\n
\n- Audio: They don’t have professional audio inputs (xlr or 1\/4 inch) and most don’t have good manual controls<\/li>\n
- Record Time: Many have a 12-minute limitation, while others give you longer (you can press record again after it stops recording, but you can’t record long lengths continuously)<\/li>\n
- View Finder and LCD Screen: There is usually only an LCD screen, which you can’t often rotate. Video cameras usually have both a rotating LCD screen and a viewfinder<\/li>\n
- Zoom Control: DSLR’s don’t have the zoom rockers, that make it easy to zoom in and out. Instead, you need to rely on interchangeable lenses.<\/li>\n
- Interchangeable Lens: Many people who own video cameras under $10,000 have only one zoom lens. DSLR cameras have interchangeable lenses, meaning you can swap out your lens. While this is generally a good thing for creative and professional people, since different lenses are better for different shots, extra lenses = extra money and makes you slower to react to changes when you have to switch from one lens to another.<\/li>\n
- Focus: The only practical way to focus is manually. There is some autofocus, but it does not work as well as a video camera. This would really only hurt you in fast moving situations, since manual control is actually what many pros prefer.<\/li>\n
- Depth of Field: This is generally an advantage, but not in all situations.\u00a0 The shallow depth of field characteristic makes it harder to keep images in focus, especially during live events where your subjects might move around a lot.<\/li>\n
- Editing: The most popular DSLRs, Canons, encode using the h.264 codec. This codec was not meant to be an editing codec, and thus it is harder to edit as it takes more processing power from your editing system (thus things take longer and may not be real-time like your video camera footage)<\/li>\n
- Peaking and Zebras: Peaking sharpens an image, allowing you to focus easier, while zebra stripes highlight parts of the image that are overexposed (too bright). These features are not generally available on DSLR’s<\/li>\n
- ND Filter: Many prosumer \/ professional video cameras have a ND (neutral density) filter that shades the lens for bright shooting, like on a sunny day. DSLR’s do not have this built-in, so you would have to screw one on to the front of the lens. This is not too big of a deal, but can be time-consuming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Despite that lengthy list, the image quality couldn’t be beat… until now. I say the DSLR revolution is over because certain video cameras now come equipped with DSLR sized sensors, such as the Panasonic AG-AF100<\/strong> and the Sony NEX-FS100<\/strong>. Now, these cameras still have some of the same issues, but they also allowed for some fixes:<\/p>\n\n- Audio: Professional XLR inputs and manual audio controls<\/li>\n
- Record Time: With the digital cards, you can record for many hours continuously<\/li>\n
- View Finder and LCD Screen: The AG-AF100 has both, the NEX-FS100 only has a LCD, but it comes with a viewfinder add-on.<\/li>\n
- Interchangeable Lens: They have the kit lens with autofocus that you are used to, as well as the ability to put on different lenses<\/li>\n
- Editing: They use the AVCHD codec, which work better with editing systems<\/li>\n
- Peaking and Zebras: The cameras have them<\/li>\n
- ND Filter: The AG-AF100 has one, the NEX-FS100 doesn’t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, for anyone who is used to shooting with a regular video camera, switching to a large sensor video camera such as the AF100 or FS100 might be easier than switching to a DSLR camera.<\/strong><\/p>\nIt should be noted, that a large reason for the popularity of DSLR video cameras is also their price point. You can literally purchase a DSLR body and lens for $1,000 and shoot amazing quality video. Something you can’t do with a regular video camera.<\/strong><\/em> The large sensor video cameras are in the $5,000 price range, so are more expensive. Of course, if you are shooting video for a living, it may be a necessary extra expense.\u00a0 Of course, as with everything, the price continues to go up.<\/p>\nAlso, technology marches on and as wonderful; and popular as they were, DSLRs have actually been on the decline for the last few years.\u00a0 Beginning in the 2010s, major camera manufacturers began to transition their product lines away from DSLR cameras, to mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras<\/a> (MILCs).\u00a0 They are simpler cameras from a mechanical standpoint.<\/p>\nMILCs were really the next evolution in cameras beyond DSLRs.\u00a0 They largely keep the advantages of DSLRs without some of the drawbacks.\u00a0 Mirrorless cameras themselves are not new, but using that design in a DSLR-like camera with the easy ability to change lenses was new.<\/p>\n
In September 2013, Olympus announced they would stop development of DSLR cameras and will focus on the development of MILCs. Nikon then made a similar announcement.\u00a0 They planned to end production of DSLRs in Japan in 2020.\u00a0 Canon and Sony followed suit.<\/p>\n
So obviously time flies and technology moves at a rapid clip.\u00a0 But there are still DSLRs on the market, just not as many.\u00a0 Mirrorless cameras have a few drawbacks too, like shorter battery life.<\/p>\n
FOOD FOR THOUGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- True or False?\u00a0 DSLR cameras were considered revolutionary when they first became popular.<\/li>\n
- Name three advantages of the DSLR over standard video cameras at the time?<\/li>\n
- What happened to the popularity of DSLR cameras after 2010?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DSLR cameras have become popular for video making because of their superior image quality, but there are a lot of downsides too. Here is an easy to understand guide for you to determine whether a DSLR camera is right for your video needs. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2731,1486,364,163],"tags":[1625,1622,1623,1626,2630,1078,1624],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/canon_rebel_dslr-camera.jpg?fit=345%2C345&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7346"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7346"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19240,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7346\/revisions\/19240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"canon](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/canon-dslr-5d-mark-II-camera.jpg?resize=411%2C319\")
<\/p>\n![\"video](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/camera-taping-woman.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1\")