Why i bought a DSLR to shoot videos?

Camera - Nikon D5300
I bought a Dslr to shoot videos but it's auto focus is really terrible. I checked videos on youtube but found nothing useful. It takes pictures with supreme quality but concern is how to shoot good quality videos out of it. If anyone knows how to do it?

Check the resolution and quality setting for videos. And the auto-focus settings if any.

DSLRs are for photos, not videos. That's what Camcorders are for.

I discovered the same issue when I bought a Canon T2i back in 2010. This camera had zero autofocus capability in video mode - so I sold it and bought a Panasonic GH2, which had fast and silent video autofocus.

Because these cameras have shallower depth of field than a traditional small-sensor camcorder, autofocus is even more critical - but, sadly, most DSLR manufacturers advertise "HD video" - while remaining quiet about the fact that their cameras' video autofocus is either slow, noisy - or non-existent.

Sadly, the D5300 is one of those DSLRs with slow and noisy video autofocus, as seen here:
http://vimeo.com/...m/79780213

Nikon and Canon have been laggards in this area for the past few years (although Canon has addressed it recently with their 70D). Sony and Panasonic mirrorless and translucent mirror cameras, on the other hand, have had fast video autofocus for a while (although Sony alpha lenses often have noisy autofocus motors).

Here are the best interchangeable lens cameras for fast, quiet and accurate video autofocus, in my view:

- $1000 Canon 70D: http://vimeo.com/...m/69522674

- $700 Panasonic G6: http://vimeo.com/...m/66462307

- $1000 Panasonic GH3: http://vimeo.com/...m/59333261

- $1700 Panasonic GH4: http://vimeo.com/...m/94778175

The new Sony A6000 is pretty fast too, but it doesn't have a mic jack, which makes it unserious as a video camera.

If you want to be able to shoot cinematic shallow depth of field video with fast autofocus - and you want high quality stills from the same camera, you don't want a consumer camcorder, you want a camera like the Panasonic G6.

It is the best still/video camera available below $700.

It can even use your Nikon lenses with an inexpensive adapter (link below).

If you are still inside the return period for the D5300, you may want to take it back and get the G6 (link below).

You'll find lots of examples of what this camera can do on the Panasonic G6 channel I moderate over on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/...oups/dmcg6

It's a pretty good still camera too:

Hope this is helpful!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution
http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com

You have a choice:
1) The camera body does not have any autofocus capability - but the lenses do. Use a lens with the dSLR with autofocus. That's what the "AF switch" on the lens is for.
2) Use the manual focus - what's the point of using s camera with all sorts of great manual controls - just not use them?
3) Use a camcorder - a dSLR is designed to capture still images. Video capture is a convenience feature.

The best auto focus DSLR currently on the market is the Canon 70D. The rest that can do it do not do it well. Auto focus for video on a larger sensor camera like a DSLR is not something I recommend most of the time. The best cameras for auto focus that do stills are mirrorless ones like the Panasonic Micro 4/3 and the Sony models.

I also have the Panasonic G6 as mentioned by a previous poster. I would not say the auto focus is better then the 70D though as I still think it is the best. The performance of the auto focus also depends greatly on the type of lens. Lenses that are optimized for HD video will do best. I had some really great results with a GH3 last year with one of these lenses that was equal to the 70D if not better. Generally these lenses have what is called stepping motors built into them that both focus quietly and smoother then standard stills lenses. The 70D does better in my experience with these non-optimized lenses it also has the bigger sensor that is equal to the Nikon you own.

Beyond the sensor size though the G6 will get you a cleaner higher resolution image overall then any other DSLR. Its smaller sensor is actually a benefit when focusing since it will have a wider depth of field. You will still get good shallow depth of field with lenses at 1.8 or less. It is also a lot cheaper but you will need to invest in some Micro 4/3 lenses to get the most out of it.

If you want larger sensor DSLR like images the 70D is best, otherwise for the price and resolution the G6 is a great deal.