DSLR cameras, having entered the world of popular consumer electronics a few years ago, have been changing at an amazing pace.  Many of these changes are impressive improvements, though sometimes they lead to features that might be useful to only a small segment of the population.

One of the currently hyped features is video.  Since one of our cameras, the 5D Mark II, offers HD video recording, I felt compelled to at least explore this feature.  It is also interesting to note Canon has provided multiple feature updates for the video recording (including manual exposure control, manual audio control, 24fps frame rates, and improved audio quality), which is rare for a camera that has already been released.  Normally, companies only fix bugs in the camera.  They don’t include new features, because they would prefer you buy a new camera for those new features!  So it appears that companies are putting more resources into developing the video capabilities of their dSLR cameras.

First, the good of the video feature: the image quality rivals that of video cameras that cost over $10,000; it can record in as low light as candlelight; and there’s a wide selection of lenses available.  Done right, it looks spectacular.  You might have seen some video clips online that have already been using dSLR systems.  One TV show that we enjoy watching, House, has traditionally been recording all their shows on film cameras.  However, the filmmaking world is all abuzz that this season’s finale (airing tomorrow, May 17) has been filmed completely with Canon 5D mk II cameras!  Watch this episode to get an idea of what a dSLR can do.

However, it is not without drawbacks.  Here are a few:  the autofocus during video recording is slow an inaccurate. There’s no option to view high resolution (HDMI) output as you’re recording.  Videos show a jello effect when the camera pans, due to the nature of the sensor.  In fact, a much cheaper camcorder will be easier to use and provide better results for most home users.

I’ve concluded that while a dSLR is a powerful tool for a filmmaker, it’s not as ideal for home movies.  And when I started looking into filmmaking, I realized it’s a world apart from photography.  Films work much better when a team is involved, and the equipment costs skyrocket with additional gear for focusing, stabilization, lighting, and audio recording to start.  Video is nice to have as an additional feature for those times when you want to record a video; just remember that the dSLR is primarily a tool for recording still images now.