Continuous AutoFocus 1080p24 DSLR Nikon for $600?! T2i maybe already obsolete?
 

Well, you may have heard the news, the new entry level Nikon D3100 will do 1080p with continuous auto focus and face tracking during video. Who knows, it may even get rid off the moir too. Anyway, here is a review on New York Times yesterday. NIKON D3100 - Gadgetwise Blog - NYTimes.com
It looks like it may give T2i run for the money.

Lets hope that Canon comes out with firmware update to add AF tracking to T2i. Otherwise, all 5D, 7D and T2i will be dinosoars in the age of AF tracking in DSLR video.

Auto focus is a great feature. But I think alot of the pros have grown to embrace shooting in a complete manual mode. Even on my XH-A1 I dislike the auto focus feature. More often than not it is focusing on something I don't want it to focus on. Don't get me wrong, I love auto focusing, but there is a reason Hollywood doesen't use it.

IMHO, AF tracking would be a very compelling feature. Hollywood doesn't use it because one, it is probably not available; two, actors' distances are marked out in advance and cameraman can practice these distances in its focus.
I don't think most of us would have that luxary in videoing. In cams like A1, the DOF is not as shallow as DSLR, and I am not sure 3D facial tracking was well implemented if at all.

there is only one Pro level autofocus video cam lens, came on a sony XDcam 330 or whatever the model is. pro's just dont want auto focus because its not reliable, and it WILL mess up your shots far far far more often then not. I shoot plenty of unscripted material and handle focus ok.

I'm not sure the tracking AF is really a killer feature for these cameras, but that aside the t2i is still significantly better. D3100 has very low bitrate compression, low res LCD with no monitor out while shooting, no audio input and no full manual control.

Quoted for truth. I can't tell you how many shots from my assistants have been ruined because they got lazy and depended on auto focus. While I can see it being useful in some applications, pulling focus manually is still the best way to insure you have quality footage.

At shallow DOF, I would think AF would just get in your way. At 2.8, I wouldn't want it tracking on the tip of the nose.

Ok, question. Typical Hollywood shot.

5 people at a round table all talking. Your camera is place 10m (30ft away). You are shooting at F2.0. Only one person can be in focus at a time. With autofocus engaged, which actor gets the focus?

Another common scenario. A man and woman are walking along a sidewalk. We are dollying backwards with the camera facing them. They stop, have a few last words, and the girl decides to walk on alone. We are shooting F4, on a 135mm lens. Within 2 steps only one can be in focus. Which person does the camera choose?

In Hollywood, and in nearly every narrative filming setting I can imagine, these decisions are made in advance, marked on the focus wheel, and the AC pulls the focus as required to the desired person at the table, or on the street. Autofocus cannot make these decisions on it's own. How do you tell autofocus that when we are showing a two shot in a restaurant, we want to rack focus to the villian entering the door 40ft away that the two people at the table don't see?

This is not to say there aren't focus assists in Hollywood because there ceratinly are. Cinetape and Panatape are certianly used VERY often. But the DECISION making is left to the man with his hands on the camera. As well it should be. Until AF can read intent, it won't find it's way onto most narrative shoots. That said, for things like car chases or other things where the frame is decidedly simple, it could be useful.

I shot commercial video for decades and never used AF. Period. It is a feature for amateurs and novices - fine for video of kids playing soccer. Pros cannot use it because it is unreliable and will ruin a shot, especially in live events.

As you say, Sam...great for kids playing soccer. I use it when I shoot my daughter's games on my EX1. But, I've been in this industry a very long time and rarely use auto focus other than situations like that. The biggest thing I'm interested to see in a camera like this is the moire factor. I love my T2i except for that issue.

Forrest

What lenses are you using on your T2i?

How uncomfortable did this guy look when the lack of 25p was mentioned. Hilarious!

The lenses I've used so far with my T2i are...

Canon 50mm 1.4
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
Rokinon 85mm 1.4
Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS II
Canon 300mm 4.0L IS
Canon 24mm 1.4L II

FB

Yep, I figured...

Razor sharp glass, and these sensors do NOT mix. Fine for stills, awful for video.

That depends Perrone. If you shoot with a lot of blur the codec usually stands up okay. I rarely get really bad moire issues - apart from roof tiles - but then most of my stuff is shallow DoF!

Here's what I usually run with on the 7D for documentary.

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
Canon 28mm f/1.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Canon 70-200 f/2.8
Falcon 800mm f/8
2x converter

focus modes are always left in manual on all our cameras. in fact i tape over the af buttons so they arent accidentally used. video or stills, i always manual focus.

I think with the AF question kinda answered (nobody really cares about it) the Nikon will not take off like the t2i did as it's missing a lot of really important features. Main for me is the full manual shooting in video. Seems like this is an beginners camera and Nikon's attempt to show they are working on supplying a proper pro camera. This just isn't it though!

I'll chime in on the AF situation anyway by saying it's so much nicer to manually focus in almost every situation especially with a good loupe and follow focus. The only time I miss it is when I fly my camera on the blackbird but those shots never really need super shallow DOF anyway.

Re: Continuous AutoFocus 1080p24 DSLR Nikon for $600?! T2i maybe already obsolete?
 

Hi, happy new year!

This is an interesting topic. Any updates? Have you looked at the Sony Alphas? I can imagine the help of having continuous AF.

What would be a nice is to have the unsung hero, and one of my favorite"PushAF" momentary button found on some camcorders. Really amazing!

Re: Continuous AutoFocus 1080p24 DSLR Nikon for $600?! T2i maybe already obsolete?
 

From what I've heard, the "continuous" AF on the D7000 is relatively useless, probably np different on this new model.

Writing something in a spec is one thing, but real-world use is another. Similar to Nikon's D7000 high FPS burst rate - that slows down to a crawl after a few shots (not mentioned in the specs)!