soundimageplus
Top Veteran
I've always found it remarkable that I can now shoot HD video on a very small camera. Ever since Canon put some serious video into the 5DMkII I and my business partners have been offering this in addition to our photography services. Since using the Canon we have moved over to the GH1 and the GH2, and have also shot footage on Olympus Pens and a GF1. This has included wedding videos, industrial and educational videos.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of posts here about that, and I was wondering why. Do you use the video capabilities of your cameras or is it something thats unimportant to you? If its unimportant, is the reason for this that you're just not bothered, you think its too complicated to shoot and edit or some other reason?
If you do use it, do you shoot mainly family / holiday footage or do you go out of your way to create something more personal?
I was thinking about this after testing the video in the Fuji X100. Though little is made of it and Fuji don't offer very much in terms of functionality, the quality of the footage itself is really very good indeed.
<iframe src="
" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="400"></iframe>
I also got some incredibly impressive results from a GF2.
<iframe src="
" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" width="400"></iframe>
In terms of a camera like the GH2, many think its more a video camera than a stills camera. While I don't agree with that, there's no doubt it is remarkably capable for shooting very high quality footage.
Even many micro sensor compacts can shoot high quality footage, and in many ways the smaller sensor has advantages in terms of focusing and depth of field.
So I'm not talking here about "pro" video but to get some idea as to whether you see this facility as an opportunity to either document your lives with moving images or use it to extend your creative possibilities. Or indeed if its just the part of the camera you basically ignore.
Speaking personally, I have as indicated used it as part of my work. I also go out and shoot something occasionally, just to see what I can do with it. Its not something I do a lot of, but I do enjoy it and would miss it if I didn't have it. I'm certainly no expert and most of what I do consists of shots with the camera on a tripod and something moving in the frame. I rarely move the camera. Partly out of lack of confidence and partly because of problems such as rolling shutter.
In terms of editing, I have used Premiere Elements which is very good and not too complicated but in the main I use iMovie, which is now turning into a very impressive and fast package. Being able to shoot on an X100 and then edit the footage on a 12" Macbook Pro is a truly remarkable thing. When I then play it back through my HD TV, I almost can't believe the quality of what I'm seeing. Truly astounding.
So, what are peoples feelings on this. Is it something you take advantage of, or is it a waste of time? Its obviously something that is going to be a part of cameras from now on. Any camera with live view is giving you video anyway. Its then not a huge step to actually record that. In terms of the technicalities, thats probably best left to other sites, but its the philosophy I'm more interested in. Do you regard it as related to your photography or something completely separate? Again I see what I do with my personal video as much more "moving photographs" rather than anything to do with what might be seen as a film / movie sensibility.
So is video a useful addition to stills cameras or not? My answer is obviously yes, however it would be interesting to see if I'm in a minority here.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of posts here about that, and I was wondering why. Do you use the video capabilities of your cameras or is it something thats unimportant to you? If its unimportant, is the reason for this that you're just not bothered, you think its too complicated to shoot and edit or some other reason?
If you do use it, do you shoot mainly family / holiday footage or do you go out of your way to create something more personal?
I was thinking about this after testing the video in the Fuji X100. Though little is made of it and Fuji don't offer very much in terms of functionality, the quality of the footage itself is really very good indeed.
<iframe src="
I also got some incredibly impressive results from a GF2.
<iframe src="
In terms of a camera like the GH2, many think its more a video camera than a stills camera. While I don't agree with that, there's no doubt it is remarkably capable for shooting very high quality footage.
Even many micro sensor compacts can shoot high quality footage, and in many ways the smaller sensor has advantages in terms of focusing and depth of field.
So I'm not talking here about "pro" video but to get some idea as to whether you see this facility as an opportunity to either document your lives with moving images or use it to extend your creative possibilities. Or indeed if its just the part of the camera you basically ignore.
Speaking personally, I have as indicated used it as part of my work. I also go out and shoot something occasionally, just to see what I can do with it. Its not something I do a lot of, but I do enjoy it and would miss it if I didn't have it. I'm certainly no expert and most of what I do consists of shots with the camera on a tripod and something moving in the frame. I rarely move the camera. Partly out of lack of confidence and partly because of problems such as rolling shutter.
In terms of editing, I have used Premiere Elements which is very good and not too complicated but in the main I use iMovie, which is now turning into a very impressive and fast package. Being able to shoot on an X100 and then edit the footage on a 12" Macbook Pro is a truly remarkable thing. When I then play it back through my HD TV, I almost can't believe the quality of what I'm seeing. Truly astounding.
So, what are peoples feelings on this. Is it something you take advantage of, or is it a waste of time? Its obviously something that is going to be a part of cameras from now on. Any camera with live view is giving you video anyway. Its then not a huge step to actually record that. In terms of the technicalities, thats probably best left to other sites, but its the philosophy I'm more interested in. Do you regard it as related to your photography or something completely separate? Again I see what I do with my personal video as much more "moving photographs" rather than anything to do with what might be seen as a film / movie sensibility.
So is video a useful addition to stills cameras or not? My answer is obviously yes, however it would be interesting to see if I'm in a minority here.