The subject of using a dSLR for video has again snuck its head over the parapet. Those that know me understand I am a non-believer even though, Lord knows, I have tried. The final ‘I give up’ was a few weeks back at the Sandown V8 races when I attempted to shoot some of the racing action (that I can do all day with either my XLHA1 or HG21), and some footage of a aerobatics display. I have done this many times with my HG21 and previous cameras and although it can become tiring, with the dSLR it was more arm and shoulder numbing to keep the aircraft in frame.

However, in the spirit of open-mindedness I asked a vendor of add on equipment his thoughts on the whole thing, expecting a positive response. His reply may surprise you.

“There are a couple of issues that comes to mind.  Firstly, the DSLR accessories are really cheap compared to the price of pro video and broadcast cameras and associated accessories.  The perception that the accessories are expensive is because most of the DSLR customers are stretching themselves to pay $2-3k for a cheap Canon still camera. This consumer electronics oriented customer base are price sensitive and they do not understand what pro gear costs nor do they understand the DSLR camera's many weaknesses.

DSLR cameras have major design flaws because they have been designed for stills capture not video capture.  The DSLR cameras do not have built in lens stabilisers and any bump, operator breathing etc is instantly noticeable.  Also, trying to maintain critical focus on a DSLR is quite difficult because the LCD panel on the back of the camera can make a shot look like it’s in focus when it is actually blurry.  These types of problems are avoided with the better pro video and the broadcast cameras that are designed for video capture and have accurate, single eye viewfinder lenses. 

Out of interest, I have had broadcast cameramen tell me that it takes twice as long to shoot on their DSLR cameras as with their broadcast cameras.  This is because the DSLR cameras are not ergonomically designed for video capture.  They are really designed for single takes, not shooting subjects in everyday life.  For example, DSLR cameras look great in a controlled environment using a tracking system where there is minimal camera or subject movement and minimal focus / iris adjustment.  These types of shots take a long time to set up and execute.  DSLR cameras are woeful at capturing human movement where smooth pull focus and zooming is required.  The film lens design also has a major flaw.  This type of lens does not have the same zoom capacity that a video camera's lens offers.  This means that it is harder to follow a subject and keep them in focus when shooting video on a DSLR.  And forget following a subject who is running between full sunlight and dark shadow environments ie at a footy stadium in winter.

Also, DSLR cameras have woeful audio recording.  If you are lucky you will get an unbalanced input jack input however the audio quality is ordinary.  Most switched on DSLR operators resort to recording on a separate HDD audio recorder with timecode and then sync the audio and vision in post.  This process is unnecessary if you use a pro or broadcast camera with XLR audio inputs.

The next problem is the perception that DSLR footage is high quality.  It’s quite amusing to hear a customer say this.  Whenever you get a small camera (stills or pro video), the manufacturer has had to dumb down the picture quality in order to get the chassis size and price down.  I have lost count of the amount of customers who tell me that a DSLR camera or a pro video camera such as a Sony EX3 is the same quality as a broadcast camera.  Sony EX3 cameras are fine for web based work, conferences, doco work, basic ENG work etc however the camera's dynamic range is quite poor and the record quality is compressed.  DSLR recordings have even heavier compression”.

He has asked to remain anonymous so as not to express his thoughts as part of his employer which is understandable.

Another point of view can be found at http://prolost.com/blog/2009/3/25/attention-canon-nikon-video-dslrs-are-not-for-who-you-think.html

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com