Can DSLR cameras with HD video recording be used for professional video production?
by Joe Gambaretto

Introduction
     A recent trend in high end DSLR cameras being made with HD video recording capabilities has many professional videographers, photographers and cinematographers asking several questions including:
     Why are DSLR cameras offering video capabilities in the first place? Why would I even consider using a camera of this type for HD video? And if I did try using one for pro production, how would I use a camera designed mainly for still images in a professional video setting?
     I'll attempt to answer these questions and more in this article.
     First, I'd like to point out that we could have seen this trend coming. Most digital still cameras of the past few years have had some sort of video recording capabilities, even if very limited in size, quality and length of recording. I had an inkling a couple of years ago that this trend toward higher quality video was coming fairly soon to DSLR cameras, because there has been a shift toward the type of imaging sensors used in DSLR and other still camera formats being used in both prosumer and professional video cameras and camcorders. These CMOS sensors started showing up in a few lower end cameras several years ago, and were promoted as being more sensitive in low-light situations. But they solve another "problem", they are full frame devices, with no interlacing. Because of the desire from many professional cameramen, director and producers to have progressive frame video, the move to CMOS makes sense in many ways.
     If you think about it, some of the newer and most revolutionary camera systems available have been working on this type of sensor all along, including the Red cameras, Arri's HD camera and Panavision's HD offering.
     CMOS sensors are where we have seen the ever increasing resolutions being developed. Canon's line of digital still cameras, as well as most of the other manufacturers offerings have been going this way for a while now. Remember when 5 megapixel units were considered professional (or at least semi-professional) tools? Now you can get a point and shoot unit with that resolution, and even higher. In one example, the top of the line Canon EOS-7D has a sensor resolution of 18 megapixels (5,184 x 3,456 pixels). It's obvious that HD video, even at 1920x1080 (1080p) should be no problem, at least resolution wise, for the EOS-7D image sensor. The EOS-7D offers HD video capability at 30, 25 or 24 frames per second or 1280 x 720 pixels (720P). Other current DSLR cameras offering HD video (with varying resolutions and frame rates) along with high-resolution still imaging include the Nikon D3000, and Pentax K7 among others.

Next: Processing Power and HD video


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