Hi guys anyone brought a dslr for kiting recently? im trying to decide between the canon 550d and 50d.
I want like to shoot video as well, but just not 100% sure whether I am happy to have my stills and HD video be shot using the same camera.
Also, from my experience cameras that shoot video have some trade offs or limitations...usually with Autofocus. This means you cant really just hand the camera off to your mates and get them to shoot great footage. this typically means great video of everyone else and ****ty out of focus stuff of you.
550d
+great video quality
+great photo quality
-not a 'point and shoot' camera in video mode
-3.7fps not really enough for kiting
-not built as tough as the 50d
50d
+6.3fps much better for photos
-maybe slightly less photo quality
+tougher built
so do I go with the 550d and try to train my mates up on how to use it. or do I get the 50d and buy a cheapish $700 HD video camera that can be handed around and still get decent video?
I recently bought a 550D and I'm happy with it so far, but your summary is pretty accurate.
Still, it's not that hard to use - it won't autofocus during the shot, but you can use the SLR autofocus function in a second with a half press on the stills trigger before shooting video. The video quality is good, although no faster than 30fps
Buy the cheaper option and spend your extra cash on decent glass. The lens affects focus and shot quality way more than the body does.
Seperate cams will obv give you better point and shoot usability, but that $700 could happily be used for a better lense.
Depends what's more important I guess, stills or video.
You're right about the autofocus though, I haven't had much of a play re kiting filming, but typically you'll be using a shutter speed quite a bit slower and can also afford to use a higher ISO compared to still photography, so you'll have a much better depth of field, which should be fine unless you're kiting towards/away from the camera.
The motordrive on the 50d is much better suited to kiting though, unless all you're taking photo's of is lofty boosts, in which case the 550d would be fine.
Good luck choosing!
SLightly off topic but id you compare the Nikon's - D60 or D5000????
I'm looking at getting a camera shortly for all round use.
