The tests are excellent, it's unbeliveable that these dirt cheap cameras are even being compared to film and that they are holding their own in many cases! Pretty exciting stuff.

Bryan,

If you are looking at these cameras from a video point of view, I can see where you would think this. But lets not lose sight of the fact that these cameras do replace film in the still world!

If they could make a version that uses the entire sensor area for video then I think the comparison would be even more of a moot point.

With still sensors resolving so much detail these days, I think the available and affordable still lenses would hold up pretty well in a film environment. If one of these hybrid cameras gets made the whole cost-image quality perspective will be turned upside down even more.

I am pretty sure somebody will make this camera, but what will they charge for it? Obviously, the sensors are developed way beyond the resolution needs for video or film. Can you adapt a 21 megapixel sensor to a lower resolution cheaply? Maybe use a previous model's sensor like the 5DMKI? Are they going to put a premium on it since RED already costs $17,500 for the body?

With the install base of still lenses, this convergence seems inevitable. Just who will do it properly?

I do investigate all this since years, first... a higher resolution why?
second as high the resolution goes the frames per second are going down.
I money is no issue go for Arri and if u have a contract for the killer movie go for it.
Remember please fat32 4 gig limit, why do they not restart seamless as any videocam?
easy it would vandalise the videocam market in 9 months.

U got it, all this glasses, pulling focus, that is film, a good rig
and waoh u are there that puts videocam to the end.

guess Panasonic, Canon they do know this and just for the reason,
we have to push magic lantern to do the trick
a d7 d5 will behave as comfortable to use as a videocam....

why the got no RedThat test compared D-SLRs to film. The RED One is neither film nor a D-SLR, therefore it wasn't part of the test.

I'm sure this question has already been asked, but i just want to be more sure 'cause i'm about to buy the 7D, so my question is, Can the 7D work with handheld filming?, i mean if you mount the camera in a DSLR cage or something like that, Will it work for handheld long shots?... ¿¿(and could it be possible to work for running handheld long shots)??...

Will it work for handheld long shots?... ¿¿(and could it be possible to work for running handheld long shots)??...

If you don't know what you're are doing I doubt it. Even a sea sickness pill won't help.
IS lenses help a little - a good steadicam will help a lot.

Check out the Deshaker plugin for Virtual Dub It's free). If you tune it correctly for your camera it can do wonders.

How good does the EOS 7D works with manual focus during shots??

Will the EOS T2i give me the exact same video quality??...

the 7d has great manual forcus, but its capabilities are mostly in the lense...a great lense with great AF and fast aperature, will give you great abilities....

the t2i is nowhere near as good as a 7d, if that were the case it wouldnt be 1000 dollars less....

however i believe other than the really wide angle of the 5dmark2 the 7d is better....i think 7d is the "all around performer"

hope this helps

You really think so?... but I've seen some footage comparison and isn't a big difference, shouldn't i go for the T2i and get 2 good lenses, instead of going for the 7D and only one lens?...my budget is low btw....

Corey...sorry but "good" is a very relative term when comparing those cameras. The image sensor is virtually the same and if you look at side by side tests, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in footage.

What the 7D offers is a pro-level build quality which will handle the elements and rough treatment better. It also has much finer control over the parameters (bells and whistles) making it a true pro-level camera. It also uses compact flash which I think is considered more robust.
Another thing that makes the 7D so cool is the full HD out the HDMI port during record.

So that's what the extra $1K gets you, but the images you can obtain are darn near identical.

I'm exceedingly happy with the results I'm getting out of the T2i and that extra $1K went towards my lens collection.

i dont like to cut corners, but theres a few things other than what you mentioned....the 7d is an all around performer...and is rock solid...

no doubt and I'd love to have one. BUT image quality is virtually identical. If you're on a budget...no question the T2i will get the job done.

My buddy's 5D in well lit shots doesn't look all that different from the T2i BUT when there's any question of light...I bow to the 5D. The 7D and T2i just don't compete. (he borrows my lenses though! HaHa!)

How good does the EOS 7D works with manual focus during shots??

Will the EOS T2i give me the exact same video quality??...

the focussing has nothing to do with the body, all to do with the lens.. unfortunately even sometimes the top end expensive lenses are built with photographers in mind and whats important to them (super sharpness for example) isnt always high on the list for us (like a silky smooth focus ring)..

Just realised how EXTREMELY noisy my 17-55 2.8 is yesterday when editing an indoor scene where the IS was switched on, I was shooting dual sound but actually I liked the sound from the camera when the IS was off, would have been nice to have had the option to use it..

Manus, I think it's a fair question, particularly for those that don't have an HD monitor, since good manual focus is achieved with a good focussing screen. The focussing screen is on the BODY, not the LENS.

Unlike many pro cameras you can't change the focus screen on the 7D - one of the major drawbacks with this camera.

It is true that the shallow depth of field due to the larger sensor is a benefit to some, if not all. One can safely use the high ISOs. However, one of the reasons that is not often mentioned, is the relatively smaller size of the DSLRs like 7D. If you are filming in a small room, temple, cockpit etc, you may notice that fitting large video cameras into such places may be tough, if not outright impossible.

There are number of issues. For example, in a DLSR (I shoot with a 1D Mark IV), most often you are shooting in RAW. So I use the neutral picture style. While filming, if you are not going to do colour grading etc later, it is better to shift to a standard or other picture styles. There is option to start filming by the flick of a button. However, you need to press a couple of buttons to change the picture styles.

The other problem is the amount of money you need to invest. After spending 5k USD for a Mark IV, I realise for filming safely another 10K USD can be gobbled up by audio, fluid head and other accessories. A zacuto z finder is 400 USD plus i.e nearly 25% the cost of a 7D. Better to pick up good lenses, accessories etc that will last for a long time. It will take time for the technology to mature. However, this seems exciting and promising.

I've written up a new blog in which I am pondering about the fact that most real issues (aliasing, line-skipping) we have with video on DSLRs is purely because of the fact that they are hybrid cameras that should stills along with video.

HD video with DSLRs – The good, the bad and the ugly.Part 1: the bad & the ugly | Nino Film - Blog - Nino Leitner (http://ninofilm.net/blog/2010/04/17/536/)

Would love to get your thoughts on that!

I'll be writing up a follow-up on that shortly, dealing with the potential benefits this hybrid nature of the cameras could give us ...