A pro Camcorder Vs DSLR? Video a Priority
Previously I had a question, a battle between Canon 60D and Nikon D7000.
And the best answer was: Sony A55 (disagree!)
After much thought to my purchase I decided to make the fight more exciting. I introduced the Pro Camcorder line to the camera war as I list my requirements I need your advice in choosing my next camera!
It should have/be:
1) A 24p Cinematic Recording
2) Interchangeable Lens for Depth of Field
3) More than an one hour of Video Recording
4) Easy to carry around
5) Adapter for lens in camcorder is acceptable
6) Either a Canon, Nikon, Sony or Panasonic would be considered.
Lets see who gives the best combination or choice!
To my mind a proper camcorder will handle better than a SLR for shooting video - I'm talking purely about the handling aspect, and thus the visual quality of the moving images, not the tech aspect.
To be honest, i hate the fact that modern DSLR's have video recording in them.
If you want a camera, buy a camera, if you want to record a movie, buy a camcorder.
As for the canon 60D, are you only looking because it has the flip out lcd screen?
Because the new 600D is basically the same, and over £100 cheaper.
If video is the priority, you really should be looking at camcorders rather than DSLRs that are designed to shoot stills but happen to shoot video. Any of these can record for more than an hour but, any device that uses SD or CF media for recording straight to an MPEG file will be limited to however much footage it can pack into a 4GB file for each segment of video. Real videography and cinematography rarely involves footage shot in segments longer than three minutes so the limits imposed by devices that record to digital media using the FAT32 file system aren't necessarily a problem if you are setup with a non-linear editing system that will allow you to stich the segments together to make a complete presentation.
Nearly all the DSLRs on the market that can shoot video can now shoot 24p. All the DSLRs, by nature offer interchangeable lenses but, it's the sensor size and aperture of the lens that significantly impact your ability to control depth of field. Ease of use and transportation are not strong suits of a DSLR that has been rigged up to make shooting video "easy."
Pro-level camcorders with interchangeable lenses can easily send your costs into the tens of thousands of dollars but, there's a cheaper option that most amateurs and independent cinematographers will at least find interesting, if not ideal for their purposes. It is the Sony NEX-10VG. Unlike the other cameras in the NEX line, the NEX-10VG is designed primarily as a video camera but, it can also shoot stills. Since you mentioned you want as much control of depth of field as possible, it is important to note that it has a large, APS-C format CMOS sensor, that is capable of using Sony's new E-mount lenses as well as their classic A-mount or Alpha lenses from the line of DSLRs originally developed with Konica-Minolta. When it comes to controlling depth of field, a camera with an APS-C size sensor is your best option short of something with a full-frame, 35mm size sensor such as the Canon 5D Mark II or a true cinematic camera like the RED ONE. Aside from the issues of cost, those cameras end up being quite bulky by the time you've rigged them up for video. Sony's little NEX-10VG is the only camera I know of that comes even remotely close to offering all the features and capabilities you've asked for in a camera. It costs about $2000 (US) and includes an 18-200mm zoom lens.