Is this a worthwhile upgrade ?

[spd]

I didn't say it was broken, i said it didn't work...and i stand by that.

A fixed gear bicycle may well be useful at a certain speed, but for all practical purposes, it doesn't work for the majority of people (hence why it's a specialist device).

That's why we have multi-geared bicycles, and that's why the 7D should never have been sold as HD movie capable, because for 99% of users, it just isn't!

If i want a pick up, i buy a pick up; i don't buy a station wagon, cut the rear roof off, weld up a rear bulkhead behind the seats just so i can use it as a pick up...

I don't understand what you mean by saying it doesn't work. It's not even built to work in the way you think it should...

99%? Is that an actual statistic sampled from a sizable population. A DSLR is not a camcorder. It's not supposed to be. It's not meant for Joe-Schmo to pick it up and make lazy, easy, home movies. Just because a tool doesn't cater to the lowest common denominator doesn't mean it doesn't work.

You missed the point Of my metaphor. You don't buy a fixed gear bicycle and then complain that you can't change gears.

How is it not capable? Can you capture HD video with it? Yes. Is it quality video? Yes. Lacking the skill to use a piece of equipment to its fullest potential is not the fault of the manufacturer. It's not a matter of not working. It's a matter of knowing how to make it work.

Your pickup analogy doesn't work because you don't lose any functionality of the DSLR by adapting it to video use. If I learn how to use my DSLR as a still camera and a video camera then, guess what...I don't have to spend twice the money buying a station wagon and a pickup.

Google a list of high-end productions made using the piece of equipment that doesn't work, which is a very misleading statement to say about something that has garnered international praise since its implementation.

Also; there was a time when video cameras didn't have autofocus, and I highly doubt that you would consider a Leica to not work just because it doesn't have 60+ autofocus points like the newest Canons. Different tools, different functionalities, different applications. None of them are non-working unless they say they can do something but they can't (DSLRs can record quality HD video therefore...), which as far as I can tell isn't the case here. Man, I can't believe I just typed such a long paragraph explaining that.

But it's w/e, preaching to the choir.

Sorry, but straight out of the box, it just doesn't work...

As you rightly pointed out, it's a DSLR, NOT a video camera...

 

[Dillard]

I also have no interest in the HD video side, and do wonder why they bother including it...especially as it doesn't work (no continuous focus)...:er:

A large majority of feature films are made using rail focusing systems and manual focus.

Made on a 7D are they? No, wait a minute, they use dedicated cameras because a 7D ISN'T a movie camera and can't be one without a hell of a lot of modification, making it irrelevant!

Fixed gear bicycles aren't broken just because you can't switch gears. :/

I didn't say it was broken, i said it didn't work...and i stand by that.

A fixed gear bicycle may well be useful at a certain speed, but for all practical purposes, it doesn't work for the majority of people (hence why it's a specialist device).

That's why we have multi-geared bicycles, and that's why the 7D should never have been sold as HD movie capable, because for 99% of users, it just isn't!

If i want a pick up, i buy a pick up; i don't buy a station wagon, cut the rear roof off and weld up a rear bulkhead behind the seats just so i can use it as a pick up...

I'm not saying you're completely wrong, I'm saying you are incredibly opinionated and ill informed....and I stand by that.

I have a few friends that use dslr's for hd video capabilities and do an amazing job, ranging from paintball to weddings. Canon makes a seriously competitive line of video capable cameras, if you know how to use them. Maybe they don't work for you because you haven't learned how to operate them properly. But before you bash the entire concept, why don't you research the topic and see some amazing pieces of work that are all filmed on 7D/60D type cameras :thumbup:

Edit: You made mention to them not working "straight out of the box"....Once more, this is due to user error. A Ferrari isn't a race car off the lot. You must learn out to drive it like a race car before it can perform like one.

 

[gw2424]

^^^ Fight Club!!! lol

 

[Dao]

Sorry, but straight out of the box, it just doesn't work...

As you rightly pointed out, it's a DSLR, NOT a video camera...

I think you may want to read more about "Follow Focus"

Here is a quote from Wikipedia:

"A manual lens is usually a requisite for professional filmmaking. This is because some autofocus lens systems use lasers or infrared beams to measure the distance between the lens and the subject. This technique does not anticipate an actor stepping into the foreground of the frame, nor can it focus on anything which is not in the center of the frame. Passive Autofocus (not needing lasers or infrared beams) systems cannot always adjust quickly enough to sudden changes. The job of the focus puller then is to adjust the focus onto different subjects as well as change, or (follow) focus during movement of the camera onto the required subject, hence the term."

 

[spd]

I think you guys are missing the point i'm trying to make here...

I'm NOT arguing that you can't use a 7D for making movies, or that it isn't a very good device to use for film making.

I am just pointing out that, despite having video capability built in, it isn't much use for the layman without a significant investment in lenses and manual focus equipment...

So, as i said, out of the box with its lack of auto focus, it is limited.

 

[rexbobcat]

You keep watering down your original opinion.

It went from "doesn't work" to simply "limited to the layman."

Not that it matters, just a funny observation lol

The devil's in the details.

 

[Dao]

I think you guys are missing the point i'm trying to make here...

I'm NOT arguing that you can't use a 7D for making movies, or that it isn't a very good device to use for film making.

I am just pointing out that, despite having video capability built in, it isn't much use for the layman without a significant investment in lenses and manual focus equipment...

So, as i said, out of the box with its lack of auto focus, it is limited.

I think you really miss the point of why some people switch to DSLR as their main video camera. Those who switch to DSLR for film making may turn off the autofocus even if it is available. For average consumer who use a consumer video camera for event recording, autofocus maybe important to them especially when the Depth of Field is usually deep with those consumer video camera. If you are shooting with shallow Depth of Field, it is better to use manual focus anyway.

 

[reaper7534]

On that note, Uncle Sam was kind and I'm selling the xsi for a good price, so 7d it is.

 

[Dillard]

congrats, you'll be very pleased :thumbup: