2009 was an excellent year in the video industry with the introduction of the Video DSLR revolution. Now amateurs and pros can get their hands on video techniques and looks that were previously only able to be achieved at $30,000 and above mark using complicated and expensive cameras.
Here are some basic terms you will need to know when it comes to DSLR Video:
Framerates:
The number of frames taken in a single second by the camera. (fps: frames per second)
- 60 fps: high speed framerate used if you want to slow it down or chop it to NTSC standards for broadcasting, or for some high-end HD televisions
- 48 fps: high speed framerate used if you want to slow it down or chop it to PAL standards or for some high-end HD televisions
- 30 fps: NTSC standard framerate
- 25 fps: PAL standard framerate
- 24 fps: Cinema framerate (anything wanting the "movie" look)
NTSC and PAL are two different broadcasting standards throughout the world, Wikipedia has an excellent map of their distribution.
The story behind why Cinema is shot at 24fps… Back in the day they were figuring out what the slowest framerate was that film could go through a projector without it looking too choppy (because the projectors would constantly jam at high speeds.) They figured out that 24 frames a second was the lowest speed they could feed without the footage looking too choppy and it has stuck that way ever since and since then, has been a signature and a standard must-have for all footage wanting to warrant the film look.
Video resolutions:
- 1080p: 1920x1080px sized footage. highest resolution achieved by DSLR cameras. Also known as True-HD or Full-HD.
- 720p: 1280x720px sized footage. lower resolution used by video DSLRS that is able to achieve higher framerates, still considered HD.
- 480p: 640x480px sized footage. Not considered high definition, but rather "enhanced definition" video.
Rolling Shutter:
This effect is caused due to the CMOS-type sensor in DSLR cameras. As opposed to CCD sensors, CMOS sensors capture the image by recording the information on the sensor from the top of the sensor first and then taking down the information from the bottom. This means that fast moving objects and whip pans in your footage will significantly show the top portion of the image before the bottom portion, making the image altogether skewed. And when the camera footage is shaky, it will be shown with a very apparent "Jello" effect.
This is quite possibly the biggest downside to video DSLR cameras.
You can reduce the effect of rolling shutter by using slower framerates on your footage, effectively hiding the effect by masking it with motion blur.
Sensor Size:
The camera’s sensor is a light sensitive plate that picks up light through the lens once the shutter is opened. You can think of it as the film in film cameras. A larger sensor size allows you to achieve a shallower depth of field.
Also, keep in mind that full frame sensors require full frame lenses, so an APS-C sized (ie. E-FS) lens will leave you with horrible vignetting on a full frame sensor camera. (of which an example can be seen in this article by Philip Bloom)
Different sensors have different standards of lenses to be used with them. EF type lenses are to be used for Full Frame Canon cameras, while EF-S Lenses are made for Cropped Sensor APS-C cameras.
This is due to the crop factor associated with the sensors. An EF lens on an APS-C sized Sensor will be multiplied by it’s crop factor.
Crop Factors:
- 35mm/Full Frame = 1.0 (50mm EF lens will appear as 50mm)
- APS-C = 1.62 (50mm EF lens will appear as 81mm)
- Nikon DX = 1.52
- APS-H = 1.26
For much more in depth reading on sensors see here
and as always,
Wikipedia.
ISO:
This is the light sensitivity of the camera, the higher the ISO the higher the sensitivity to light. You will be able to shoot at faster shutter speeds and smaller apertures, but with a higher ISO level, you will also see significant amounts of increases of grain in your video footage. Each camera deals with it’s grain differently and some cameras have lower grain at higher ISOs than other cameras. (5D Mark II, and especially the 1D Mark IV being known for their low amounts of grain in high ISO settings)
Introducing the Cameras:
Canon 1D Mark IV
This newly announced camera is known for it’s remarkable low light/high ISO video quality.
The 1D Mark IV is not currently out.
Suggested Retail Price: $5000 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
1080: 30p (29.97); 24p (23.976) / 25p;
720: 60p (59.94) / 50p;
Sensor Size: APS-H (a seemingly extinct sensor size not in much use until recently brought back by this high end camera)
ISO: 100-12800 (1600 is heard to be an easily usable ISO)
See a video of it in action (using only the natural lighting) at Prolost.com
Canon 5D Mark II
This was the first HD-DSLR Camera to explode onto the scene and quickly led people to realize how versatile the video feature of DSLRs were. But it came with it’s drawbacks without full manual control and major disappointments to both international users and users seeking the film look, as the camera did not shoot in 24p.
Suggested Retail Price: $2500 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
1080: 30p (29.97); *24p (23.976) / 25p;
720: *60p (59.94) / *50p;
Sensor Size: Full Frame (which keep in mind, requires EF lenses and NOT EF-S)
ISO: 100-6400 (expandable to 12800)
*these framerates are supposed to be available by a firmware update in the upcoming Spring, as of the posting of this article these framerates are not available.
Canon 7D
The 7D was the first HD-DSLR out with full manual control and support for 24p. Because of this it has been in much more use than the 5DMKII (5D Mark II) by professional video workers.
Suggested retail price: $1700 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
1080: 30p (29.97); 24p (23.976) / 25p;
720: 60p (59.94) / 50p;
Sensor Size: APS-C (EF-S Lens compatible)
ISO: 100-12800
Canon 500D/T1i
(Known as the T1i in America and internationally as the 500D)
This little guy came out in-between the releases of the 5D Mark II and the more recently released 7D. It was taken as a disappointment by the video community however due to it’s lack of any manual control and only a 20fps framerate for 1080p HD video, but it must be understood that this camera wasn’t meant to handle the demands of true video professionals, note that it’s price is only at $800.
Suggested retail price: $800 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
1080: 20p (said lack the processing power to achieve higher framerates)
720: 30p
480: 30p
Sensor Size: APS-C
ISO: 100-3200 (ISO expansion: 6400, 12800) ISO 1600 is the highest it will achieve while shooting video.
Panasonic Lumix GH1
Suggested Retail Price: $1,500 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
1080: 24p
720: 60p
Sensor Size: 4/3
ISO: 100-3200
Nikon D5000
Suggested Retail Price: $630 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
720: 24p
420: 24p
Sensor Size: DX (SLIGHTLY bigger than Canon’s APS-C sized sensors)
ISO: 100-6400
Nikon D90
Suggested Retail Price: $900 U.S.
FPS/Resolutions:
720: 24p
420: 24p
Sensor Size: DX (SLIGHTLY bigger than Canon’s APS-C sized sensors)
ISO: 100-6400
Here are a couple articles on getting the most out of the video from your DSLR camera:
Colouring your Video DSLR footage in After Effects
Which settings have also been ported over to Nikon
And don’t forget these two excellent HD-DSLR resources/personal sites run by Philip Bloom and Stu Maschwitz
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FIRST!
“FIRST!” ne geyik? Yorum mu yapıyorsun yarış mı?
just what iv’e been looking for, thanks!
hallo,
i ve bought the 5d mII last year.
but now there is the 7d and i think it makes realy better images than the 5d .
in the web, they just tell you the frame rate is be different and the d.o.f is not the same becouse of the fullformat chip.
ok, when this is true, it shouldnt be a problem. just convert it down and thats it.
but you can check at vimeo all 5d videos and compare each of them with the 7d. there are some tests on vimeo also to find.
but what is this, that makes it so bad?
do you agree?
how possible that videos on the 7D looks better than 5D ??
btw..i thiknk its all about the lens you use…right?
Totally agree (with andrea).
totally disapointed!
ofcousre the lense make it look better, but
this is not what i mean.
i cant tell you why the image isnt so good, there is more d.o.f for the 5d, but it looks more video like thant the 7d footage
legit! thank you!
PAL is 25 FPS not 24.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL
typo and has been fixed.
Terrible article !
Sorry to be so critical – as I can see you have put quite a bit of effort in – and attempted to make it quite comprehensive.
But it is absolutely littered with mistakes and poor (often incorrect) choice of language. . . . .
Does the 5DMkII shoot at 720p ? – No.
Is PAL 24 fps ? – No
Can reduce the effect of rolling shutter by using slower *framerates* – No.
Noise is described as ‘grain’ (people try to avoid noise – but try to find way to introduce grain to their footage they are not the same).
Etc etc . . . . if I am being entirely honest I didn’t read the whole thing as I gave up after scanning the article and instantly spotting numerous errors.
sorry about hte PAL thing, was a typo and has been fixed. and if you notice the asteriks under the 5DMK2 you will see that 720p is coming with a firmware update.
And if you use slower framerates it helps “mask” the rolling shutter by seemingly blurring it.
General Review Canon 7D information with videos http://www.worldstuffer.com/forum/video-photo/canon_eos_7d_digital_slr_id247
Don’t forget the Nikon D300s.
PAL is 25fps. Sorry
just wanna say the same thing
PAL is 25
you get some audio unsync when your target is PAL and you shoot in 24fps with a DSLR
great overview at all – thx
greetz
This all seems a little biased toward canon. And some facts are incorrect “The 5D Mark II is not currently out.” the 5d m2 has been out for a while.
sir, the 1D Mark IV isn’t out.
I see that it’s under the 1D Mark IV but it says 5D.
yep, it must have just been a typo then. It was just a heads up to you can correct it.
Pal is 25 fps and 50 @ high speed right?
but Nice article.
the part where you say: 24fps (anything wanting the “movie” look)..
..is not accurate. framerate doesn’t give you the movie look, it depends HOW you shoot it, meaning lighting, camera movement, focus, dof and in post – grading.
changing your camera setting from 25 to 24 or from 30 to 24 doesn’t give you an instant movie look.
All major films are shot in 24p
So?
that doesn’t mean that you get an instant movie look when shooting 24p.
mostly it just gives you really bad stutter on your DSLR.
all major films are also shot using proper lighting, dollys, cranes, prime lenses etc. it doesn’t mean that you put your handycam with a 24p setting on a home-made jibarm and get an instant film look.
As stated, there are some errors in this article. One that jumped out at me:
“480p: 640x480px sized footage. Not considered high definition, but rather “enhanced definition” video.”
Not sure where you got this enhanced definition bit. This is actually BELOW standard definition. SD is 720×480…. I’m not sure how this is “enhanced”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/480p
Now you can add the under 800$ Canon t2/550D 1080p 30/25/24fps, manual controls, announced today
Fricken awesome article! Nice work dude!
Wow, is that your picture? You’re really hot.
480p its really 640×480 ?
i think is 720×480 .. 4:3 images i think is in the past
they are, some of the DSLRs, or at least the 500D shoot at 4:3 SD
Hey man thanks for the article. I was comfused about the 5D 24p but then i read that you did infact mention the firmware update (can’t wait btw). But for those of you who are interested, I’ve had the pleasure of working with both the 5DM2 and 7D, and to be honest the 7D has a much better picture when it comes to video. But keep in mind that if your a photographers who is more interested in the Photos, and just want the video as an extra feature, then go with the 5D, but if your getting a DSLR for the video, then the 7D is the way to go. I haven’t messed around with Nikon or any other brands but I’ve seen test and comparison and the Canon’s picture is unbeatable. Also there is so much support out there for the Canons. Infact there is a entire forum board dedicated to just video on Canon DSLR.
Well hope you guys read this and take some of the info into consideration when looking for a DSLR for video.
hehe ok,
i was not wrong.
this is what the community never have discussed till now
i will sell my 5d in the future! but i think we have to wait! maybe for the CANON 8D ????
DSLR FILMMAKING is a big new marked and everybody knows that.
they should develop a new one, with variable frame rates up to 120 fps, fullformat and !!! with APPLE PRO RESS 4:2:2 // oor 4:4:4
haha than nobody likes to use the red one anymore!!!
I think this article should include the Pentax K-X, the cheapest entry level DSLR with 720p 24fps video
What about Nikon D300s ?
It records in 720p and seems to be good.
(Haven’t tested it enough yet to bring you a real opinion)
Nice post. I really needed that.
Oh and I’ve also learned that another reason 24fps stuck around was because of the cost. Using higher frame rates also meant more film to shoot and consume.
Thanks guys very useful debate i was confuse whether i should get the 5D or 7D but now i have a clearer picture THanks people
Good Post.
But one slight correction.
The main reason behind why Cinema is shot at 24fps is to attain the phenomenon “Persistence of vision”.
Wikipedia defines it as “the phenomenon of the eye by which an afterimage is thought to persist for approximately one twenty-fifth of a second on the retina.”
Wikipedia Page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistence_of_vision#Film_systems
Great job,
you are the best
I’m missing the canon 550D/T2i/Rebel/Kiss camera.
Isn’t Canon 7D the shiznet? I observed that 40D’s and 50D’s are more saleable than 7D’s.
Canon 550D KissX4 has the ability to record on 24fps ,25fps and also 50fps
tnx 4 the article and fixing the problems ^.-
About the 5DMk2, you said “This was the first HD-DSLR Camera to explode onto the scene”.
No it wasn’t. The D90 was the first. The 5DMk2 might’ve been the first to do 1080, but 720, as you said, is still considered HD.
So at the end of the day a DSLR camera is not a true full HD camera as I see it .it seema that if and I say with a big IF you have the right mem card the right lens the fps [etc] you will get close but will never hit the sweet spot .and make a true HD video on a DSLR camera.. ps nice site.
Great article…Thanks
It would be great if you guys would make an update on this, with some of the newer models avaiable out there!