Well it's been a year since I wrote the first "Future of DSLR Video"post and a lot has happened to the DSLR market.
Mainly I am referring to the release of canon's new line of EOS cameras, the 7D and 1D, which are both capable of shooting stunning footage at 24-60fps (60 is at 720p though). The 5D is still a legit contender; though it feels slightly like a horse waiting to be put back in the race once the firmware update arrives giving it 24-60fps. Where you at canon??
The pre-emptive hype has died down now but the potential seems well worth the wait. In the meantime, Canon's new EOS DSLR's are steadily kicking ass and becoming a professtional tool for shooting music videos, advertisements, web series, and even feature length movies. Vincent Laforet's video "Nocturne" demonstrated the amazing light sensitivity of Canon's new 1D Mark IV, which was shot at night in ambient light without any added external lighting.
Recently I have been presently surprised to see the 7D being used on webisodes and a few low budget features in the Los Angeles area. The fact that the 7D is affordable, shoots 24p and has a more forgiving Depth of Field then the 5D, makes it the prime candidate for the 2010 Underdog Award that I am just making up as you read this. The main drawback to the 7D is also one of it's strengths: the smaller chip size. Granting it a easier-to-work-with depth of field but lowering it's sensitivity to light.
So what are a few of my favorite accessories for the canon's DSLR video arsenal? Red Rock Micro's Captain Stubling is a solid portable rig that comes with a follow focus and minimal rails for a affordable price. Redrocks second version of the follow focus is a little gritty (Zacuto's is smoother) but is well built for the price. The rails and handles feel sturdy and light.
Rode's Videomic microphone is a inexpensive accessory that mounts onto the top of the camera and is great for run and gun shooting.
I'll add some more of my favorites soon. In the meantime, let me know what you use!
Original Post from 2009:
As you may have noticed: We are now in the midst of a huge evolutional change in digital entertainment and Internet marketing--but this is only the beginning.
Advertising companies are no longer pulling in the same revenue from traditional media like magazines and newspapers that they once were, and are now allocating more of their future budgets towards other avenues. Furthermore, it appears that news in paper form is on its way to the extinction list like an ill-evolved DoDo bird, while Internet bandwidth continues to increase, drawing an increasing number of web publishers and consumers.
With this increase in bandwidth, video streaming is also becoming more ubiquitous and changing the way television content is being syndicated. No longer do you need hide in the shadows (and quite possibly breaking the law) streaming video or downloading movies, as so many larger networks now post more of their content online for free. Also, companies like Netflix and the iTunes Store make it so much easier to download movies to your computer or stream into your living room entertainment center, via services like Tivo or Xbox 360.
The most interesting thing about this expansion of video streaming and online communities is that it now allows talented individuals, who never had an outlet for their content before, a voice to be heard with. Plus you can make it a career, with sites like youtube and metacafe that will pay media producers a portion of advertising revenue if your content draws a decent sized audience.
The flood gates are opening...lets ride the wave!
Interested in reading more? Check out this New York Time article, and be sure to check back with our blog as we explore new frontiers in digital entertainment and Internet marketing.
