Which DSLR for HD video...

[Jack3559]

I've been checking out some footage shot with the Canon 550D/500D recently and it's fantastic.

I want something that I can set manually and manually pull the focus.

What I like about the canon is that it's easy to achieve a low DOF when you're shooting a video.

I was just wondering if anyone on here had any experience with shooting video on a Nikon or if there are any other, cheaper alternatives that you would recommend.

[shepgti]

my nikon has HD video and isnt that great. (granted its not the best nikon for video..) Canon has always been better than nikon in video terms

may also be worth baring in mind some of the videos youve seen will have been taken using decent lenses and other video accessories eg a gyro for handheld shots

its pretty hard to film with a dslr handheld withouth one

[Horney]

DSLR's are about the cheapest way into proper HD recording, hell the BBC use Canon 5D MKII's to film some of their HD output. It's nto the camera though, it's the glass. You'll need good lenses to pull off good looking DoF shoots, the kit lens will be next to useless as the focus ring is too jerky for fluid video use.

Nick

[Jack3559]

Yeah, the one I had a play with in the shop did seem jerky, but I thought it was quite endearing.

I've got a few different lenses at the moment and a homebrew steady cam. I thought canon would have to be the way forward after seeing the episode of house shot on one.

[DubFan]

Take a look at this comparison review from film-maker Philip Bloom, it's got some nice example views from the cameras as well.
http://philipbloom.net/2011/03/17/whichdslr/

Canon's are definately favoured for video, everyone doing video seems to be going for Canon 5D/7D (for professionals) or 550D/600D/60D (for consumers). I know a few professional photographers and camera people and even the Nikon die-hards admit that Canon have the edge.