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Hi Pentaxian friends.
The current trend seems to be the incorporation of HD Video Recording Capability to DSLRs. Although I view this trend as a technological breakthrough, I'm not sure it's that good of an idea. A still photographer is not necessarily a good videographer and vice versa.
It's pretty much imminent that the new Pentax K-7, or whatever its name will be, will have HD Video Recording Capability. I don't know that for sure, but judging from the photos leaked the past two weeks, why else would there be an audio input? :)
Hi Pentaxian friends.
The current trend seems to be the incorporation of HD Video Recording Capability to DSLRs. Although I view this trend as a technological breakthrough, I'm not sure it's that good of an idea. A still photographer is not necessarily a good videographer and vice versa.
It's pretty much imminent that the new Pentax K-7, or whatever its name will be, will have HD Video Recording Capability. I don't know that for sure, but judging from the photos leaked the past two weeks, why else would there be an audio input? :)
Nikon started the trend with the D90, followed by Canon with the EOS 5D Mark II, and Today, Panasonic announced the Lumix GH1. I'm surprized that Sony has not joined yet, but Sony is already making some of the best Video recording equipment. Why would they go after a market they already dominate?On May 20th, it will be Pentax's turn to introduce their new DSLR. I'm betting it will have HD Video Recording Capability. I would like to see what Pentaxians think about that. Please join by either leaving a comment at the bottom of this blog or by voting at the top right of the screen. (Mouse over answer choices to view full answers). You can vote for more than one answer.
Thank you for reading and I hope you leave your opinion.
Yvon Bourque
16 May 2009 06.29 AM PDT:
Press Release : Panasonic Announces Pricing for Lumix GH1, a New Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera With Full-High Definition Video Recording Capability.
Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 17 September 2008:
Canon announces the full frame, 21.1 Megapixel EOS 5D Mark II: the first EOS with full High Definition video capability.
MELVILLE, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2008)
Nikon Inc. today announced the D90, a digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera that redefines the creative boundaries of digital photography allowing photographers to easily create stunning still images and High Definition (HD) movie clips with sound—with the same camera.
19 comments:
I think that pentax needs to be on top this time to stay in the game. Adding video is only one tool for this. And "video" in it self is not the end of discussion. The mic port is a nice feature, but in the "above K20D" category we need a stereo built in microphone, and something lot better, than the cheap Mjpeg of the nikon bunch! I do not wish for the AVCHD, it might be to much for pentax for a start, but some kind of mpeg2-4, H.264 is defenetly needed to get more people in, rather than out.
I doubt the camera would be able to process h.264 and still take 30 pictures a second.
Personally I'm not all that crazy about the idea of video on a dslr. I keep getting the feeling that a lot of money goes into developing such a feature, and that such money could be better spent on other technology more related to still photography.
IMHO, i think this 'video' feature into DSLR is, at this time, simply another 'smoke and mirrors' from marketing people like the Megapixel race. Currently, video shot with DSLs are too many constrains, and if you really want to shot HD videos, it's a no brain: you need a videocam. Otherwise, if standard video is OK for you, many compact cameras have nice video sections, with better features. Of course the trend is to merge the two products into a single one, thus removing the mirror, embedding live view, etc. etc. but HD video capability is definitively not the actual focus...
"it's a no brain: you need a videocam"
Show me a camcorder that can produce similar depth of field and similar noise levels! And show me a cam with 28mm lens, but whithout an adapter (that limits the use of zoom!)!
I know that i'm cheap, but Red One is just not my pocket.
But beyond this, if we have a live view, why not record it?
I don't understand why some people are against the video mode in DSLRs. I don't believe that this feature requires huge R&D investments today as it is implemented in all compact cameras... On the contrary, it is a pity not to use the the expensive SLR lenses for the video as well. Personally, I will buy a new Pentax DSLR (I have K100D) only if it has a decent video mode and a much better ISO performance (which, with the existing technology, implies a larger sensor).
I think a HD video feature on the K7 could be very good for Pentax.
Canon crippled the the 5D a bit as they have a proper video division that could lose sales.
Pentax could release a well featured HD video SLR, continuous autofocus with SDM would be sweet.
I agree with Szoboti. The time is coming where video will be a must - not having it will make any camera sub par in the market place.
If the K-7 doesn't do video at 1080/24p and in H.264, I certainly will not be considering buying the new body.
A good move by Pentax would be to offer video with features, and more importantly, more control that Canikon hasn't yet offered. Not having a video department could be a huge advantage to Pentax, i.e. no sales to cannibalize.
The GH1 looks interesting. Panasonic knows video, the body is creating a big stir in the video world, and they seem to be not afraid of having the motion engineers talk with the still engineers, the trouble with it? not enough micro four thirds lenses to support the system yet.
I'm not "against the video mode in DSLRs". Simply i do not consider its development enough mature to satisfy actual needs. If you consider it a bonus, an extra, to use once a while you need a clip, that's fine... but please do not consider it as a core feature: how it's different from a real camcorder, in terms of autofocus, zoom, rec features, handling, etc.! Of course they have nice lenses and the typical DoF of a dslr, but - again - it's ok for short clips to satisfy your ego, not for typical all-day shooting activities. Manufacturers will publish marvellous short clips on their website, of course, but i'll wait for the 2nd generation of cam/dSLR. But probably it will happen the opposite: camcorders will increase their sensors and integrate photo pro features.
"camcorders will increase their sensors and integrate photo pro features"
I think that camorders will become something like todays compacts. And i beleive DSLR-s will take a huge chunk of todays top end camcorders sales whitin 2-4years. Yes, dslr-s have a lot to develop, but a lot of film cameras don-t have AF at all. There is a place in the creative world of videographers for dslr based camcordes. And in the end, we will have more models to choose from.
It would be so great! SLR have a strong advantage over camcorder, that is, the very size of the sensors, which allows professional looking recording with beautiful out of focus background (very hard with camcorder). Mixed with limited lens, it would be soo great!
I'm more interested in a much more sensible sensors (high ISO) and quicker AF. I don't know if they will be able to put a nice (and quiet) AF for video, but video is a major turn on (i'd buy it to replace my k10...)
Probably most photographers do not use the video feature, for most of us it's a nice-to have argument.
But look at the market: people who want to buy a dslr often want such features. Therefore I think Pentax has to make this turn to enlarge or at least keep it's market share.
Video would be nice to have in order to record short clips to mix into a slide show, etc. It would also be useful to have for evidence gathering, in case a security guard becomes hostile, for example.
Personally, what I want most is better high-ISO/low-noise capability. If they do that, and the mic port turns out to be only for recording audio comments to accompany my photographs, I will be very excited. (That's a great way to make notes -- like the name of the person you just photographed.) If it has HD video, I'll be even more excited.
But if they put in HD video capability without improving the low-light capability, I will be sorely disappointed.
I remember an old compact my school teacher had back in 1998. It had a voice recorder which recorded 5 seconds of audio after every shot.
Video would probably be very good to satisfy the marketplace. But I am not the market. I want to fous on developing my skill as a still photographer, but I welcome the ability to shot video. As long as it does not impair the ability for me to focus on what I want to do.
Someone brought up the megapixel race. A race (has it ended?) which is extremely silly and I think has taken away focus from what really matters.
I to hate the megapixel race, but there are indications that companies have started moving away from it. If memory serves me right, the Nikon D3 FF camera only has 12 mp. The result was excellent high ISO performance. Also, it seems the new K7 has ignored a megapixel bump, which should be promising for high iso and dynamic range performance.
I think that if Pentax do that (video) and only that really new on this "K7", it will be to survive in front of Canon and Nikon.
And it will die, because it would mean he has no more idea...
I've said before; if they still have an APS-C sensor then Hoya/Pentax are playing catch up.
If its APS-H then current DA lens will still work and Pentax have a differentiator.
Pentax are not setup lens wise for full frame (but they should).
Physics is stopping the megapixel race due to the limit of diffraction. The only solution to that is larger sensors; which is shy I'm wishing an APS-H sensor.
Tests in various Norwegian magazines show that the only true advantage of FF is lower noise on high ISO. Detail wise, the difference isn't nearly as big as people think.
Also, would the lenses work just as well on APS-h as APS-c? Surely there will be slight quality issues as the lenses are designed to cover APS-C and not H.
HD is the future of DSLR cameras. Pentax definitely had to add it into their DSLR to compete.
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