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dslr video posts

New SNL title sequence and segments shot using Canon EOS 7D, 5D Mark II

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 2nd 2009 at 12:22PM

Sure, we'd heard of indie flicks and rumors of studio films being shot on Canon's EOS 5D Mark II, but DSLR video just got a big kick into the mainstream: Saturday Night Live's new opening title sequence was shot using an EOS 7D. SNL director of photography Alex Buono saw that Dublin's People short and was so impressed that he switched over -- and what's more, he's even using the 5D and 7D to shoot various segments, like the faux-mercial for "Bladivan" embedded below. That's a big win for this new breed of video cameras -- and while we're stoked to see new tech take over the old, we're also patiently waiting for someone to start a site dedicated to identifying jelly-motion on network television.

[Thanks, Malkmus]

Continue reading New SNL title sequence and segments shot using Canon EOS 7D, 5D Mark II

Nikon D3s with 1080p video rumored for release next month

by Nilay Patel posted Sep 27th 2009 at 1:50PM

This sort of burst out of nowhere today, but word is that a new Nikon D3s will hit on October 15 -- the crew at NikonRumors puts it at "99 percent probability." The D3s is expected to add 1080p video and an 14fps burst mode to the D3, as well as a 1.6x crop mode, but other than that we don't know too much. We'll keep you updated, it looks like the leaks are coming fast and furious.

Canon EOS 7D image appears online, might be in Best Buy systems

by Nilay Patel posted Aug 19th 2009 at 11:19AM

Canon might have announced a slew of new compacts today, but we're thinking the most exciting news might be this image of the legendary EOS 7D. That flash button would indicate the presence of a built-in flash, and those mic holes hint at video features, but apart from that we've got little else to go on -- there are whispers that the Best Buy inventory system is listing the body at $2700 and the kit with an EF 28-135 lens at $2900, but we can't verify those at the moment. We're dying to find out more about this one, stay tuned.

[Thanks, manhog]

Read - 7D image at dpreview forums
Read - 7D in Best Buy systems at Canon Rumors

Nikon D300s officially announced -- 720p/24 movie mode with autofocus and mic input

by Nilay Patel posted Jul 30th 2009 at 12:01AM

Well well, Nikon managed to keep the big secret about the new D300s under wraps even as everything else was leaked in the past few weeks: the new $1,799.95 body will shoot 24fps 720p video with contrast-detect autofocus and offers an external mic input. That's basically every would-be DSLR videographer's major wishlist right there -- sure, 1080p would have been nice, but we'll take better sound over a couple more lines of resolution any day. Other highlights include a 12.3 megapixel DX sensor, 51-point autofocus, and 7fps burst shooting, as well as those dual CF and SD card slots and a 920k pixel screen. Yeah, it's looking like a real beast -- that DX sensor probably doesn't have Canon 5D Mark II fans worried, but if you're looking to get into DSLR video this looks like the new cam to beat.

Gallery: Nikon D300s officially announced -- 720p/24 movie mode with autofocus and mic input

Update: Digital Photography Review has a brief hands-on with the camera, clarifying that the contrast-detection autofocus isn't the quickest, and like we learned with the Olympus E-P1 you'll need to use an external mic when shooting to avoid the ever-present "shhhk" sound. Also of note is continuous shooting, which has been given a boost to seven frames per second -- eight if you have the battery grip -- compared to D300 and that it has the same memory card door as the D700.

Continue reading Nikon D300s officially announced -- 720p/24 movie mode with autofocus and mic input

First Nikon D5000 and Canon T1i video clips appear

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 15th 2009 at 3:42PM

It's kind of strange that the most anticipated sample media from the latest crop of DSLRs is actually HD video, but that's the way the market's going, and the new Canon EOS Rebel T1i and Nikon D5000 are no exception. Demystifying Digital has footage from both, and while Nikon's newest seems to deliver essentially the same CMOS jelly-motion results from its 12.3 megapixel sensor as the D90, the T1i is a pleasant surprise -- we're not seeing much wiggle at 720p, which might be a result of the higher-res 15 megapixel sensor. We'll wait to see full-res samples and some actual still images before we crown a winner, but we'll tell you right now that neither one of these is going to make us leave a dedicated camcorder behind when it's important -- the lack of autofocus and the windblown internal mics just don't cut it. Videos after the break.

Read - Nikon D5000
Read - Canon T1i

Continue reading First Nikon D5000 and Canon T1i video clips appear

Canon working on DSLR-based pro video camera?

by Nilay Patel posted Mar 30th 2009 at 1:23PM

It's a pretty sketchy rumor, but we're hearing that Canon's working on a pro video camera based on a 12.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor similar to the one in the Rebel XSi. That makes perfect sense to us, actually -- DSLRs with video capabilities like the 5D Mark II and the new Rebel T1i have definitely shaken up people's expectations of prosumer video, and Canon's sitting on a well-regarded camcorder division primed to pounce on a new market. According to CanonRumors, the new pro cam will look similar to the XL H1 pictured above with support for EF and EF-S lenses, sport fully manual controls as well as autofocus, and shoot 720p/30/60 and 1080p/24/30/60 to 56Mbit/s MPEG-4. Sounds pretty good, but aye, there's a rub: word is that Canon's DSLRs won't ever get similar video features in order to protect this cam's high-end $8,000 price tag -- which sucks, but also makes perfect (if annoying) sense to us. It's all rumor for now, but we'll see how it pans out -- the pro and prosumer video market are about to get crazy interesting.