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PaulDaniels

I've been searching the internet for comparisons between the Canon T3i and the Nikon D5100 for video rewiews, unfortunately most of what I've found compares mainly the stills. I've been looking for a nice DSLR for video and I really would like some help as to which camera to get. These are just the two main ones I've been focusing on, other suggestions would be awesome.

Thanks ahead of time,
Paul
 
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Lucky Hardwood said:
There are many on this site that would steer you toward the Panasonic GH2 or GH3. I don't currently use a DSLR/EVIL/etc to shoot video, so I can't really help you on that one.
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+1 on this. The T3i and D5100 have viewfinders that disappear in video mode, video clips lengths that turn your camera off in the middle of recording (12 minutes for Canon, 20 minutes for Nikon), the D5100 has noisy autofocus lenses and the T3i doesn't autofocus in video mode at all. And both of these cameras (and all DSLRs except the Canon 5D Mark III) suffer from terrible moire problems. Here are a couple of side-by-sides between the Panasonic GH2 and the T3i's big brother, the 60D:

https://vimeo.com/21962491
https://vimeo.com/20565849

Canons and Nikons are wonderful still cameras - but they are very finicky video cameras.

If you want a relatively inexpensive large sensor, interchangeable lens video camera, I recommend DSLM or DSLT cameras such as the GH2 - or, if the GH2 is above the range of your budget, the Sony A57 (which has moire challenges and a 30 minute clip length limit - but has great video autofocus and the viewfinder keeps working in video mode).

Here is what the GH2 can do (with firmware hack):

https://vimeo.com/44625641
https://vimeo.com/42980469

More GH2 videos here: https://vimeo.com/groups/gh2/videos

Here is what the A57 can do: https://vimeo.com/41653544

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
 
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um... you should never auto focus in video mode on a dslr, always manual focus, secondly i have the t3i and i always use the flip out screen for recording with magic lantern which gives me focus confirm which helps alot, the t3i is going cheap these days also the most important thing is what type of lenses you can afford, personally the panasonic lenses are overpriced, id go with canon for their range and ease of use, you can get the t3i for £360 Cheapest i found, and a 50mm lens for £80, that £440 for a very decent set up, one which im using to shoot a film.. the gh2 for me anyways is too hard to find for purchase as nowhere seems to have it and when they do its overpriced and not worth the extra pennies, if you really want a nice lens one im dying for is the samyang 35mm video lens, such a beautiful thing...
 
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8salacious9 said:
um... you should never auto focus in video mode on a dslr, always manual focus
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I agree with you, 8s9. People should never use video AF with Canon DSLRs - because (except for the T4i) they can't :)

You can always turn the autofocus off and shoot manual, but I have found it very nice to have when I've needed it. The Canons are great cameras, but I sold my Canon T2i because I couldn't hold focus on moving subjects and because the viewfinder went blank when I started shooting video.

That said, Paul is in Canada, not the UK - and the GH2 is a little easier to find (and a little less dear) here in North America - especially if he can make it across the border to NYC, Detroit or Seattle.

Cheers,

Bill
 
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