Anyone really use movie function?

[housewolf]

I was curious. After the initial "gee whiz" excitement goes away, does anyone really use the movie function of their digital camera much at all? Should movie quality play much importance in choosing a camera? ( I can't imagine it does).

Why do I ask? The movie function is probably the weak point of the Canon A85 I am considering.

Thanks!

[Rhys]

I was curious. After the initial "gee whiz" excitement goes away, does anyone really use the movie function of their digital camera much at all? Should movie quality play much importance in choosing a camera? ( I can't imagine it does).

Why do I ask? The movie function is probably the weak point of the Canon A85 I am considering.

Thanks!

Yes. I use it. I don't use it often but I find it useful.

[propwash]

I have had my camera for six months and have never used the movie function. I have a dedicated camcorder for when I want to take movies. Some people, however, do use theirs quite a bit. Only you will be able to decide how important that function will be to you.

[Rhys]

I have had my camera for six months and have never used the movie function. I have a dedicated camcorder for when I want to take movies. Some people, however, do use theirs quite a bit. Only you will be able to decide how important that function will be to you.

Short, choppy video clips are excellent if you're sending video clips by email to relatives. Really, I'd like to see all digital cameras using mpeg-4 as opposed to the poorly-compressed codexes they use now. Then video clips would be higher quality and easier to send.

[EAP]

I was on vacation last year and rented a really funny-looking two-person scooter-car to tool around the island I was visiting. Only a video clip truly captured the ridiculous look of the thing. Still photos just didn't do it. My friend and I did a "home movie" straight from the '50s, with me waving from the vehicle as I drove by, as if from our new car. Yes, movie clips have their uses. Would I pin my decision of which camera to buy on it? No.

[Digideb]

I've been thinking the same thing! When I was reviewing cameras & decided on my Olympus C-60, it was one downfall mentioned, but I thought, So what! If I want to take movies, I'll buy a video camera.
I'm new to digital cameras/technology but my first impression is why not "dump" the movie feature & put more technology in the camera functions?
But, what do I know? I'm just a "newbie". :)

[PhilR.]

I've never used movie mode in any of my digicams, probably because I just don't have the time to learn how to manipulate them on the computer. I am glad that the feature is there in case I ever do make us of it, but I too would not base a purchase decision on movie mode....

PhilR.

[D70FAN]

Short, choppy video clips are excellent if you're sending video clips by email to relatives. Really, I'd like to see all digital cameras using mpeg-4 as opposed to the poorly-compressed codexes they use now. Then video clips would be higher quality and easier to send.

I've got a surprise...

...Casio's new Casio Exilim Pro EX-P505 camera is 640 x 480 MPEG4 @ 30fps.

Jeff has posted this on the news page (before the A520).

[David Metsky]

I've used video mode many times, mainly while skiing and occasionally while hiking. It is a nice addition to the things I can capture while outside. It wasn't my primary deciding point, but I certainly weighed it in on choice of the Canon SD300.

-dave-

[Rhys]

I've got a surprise...

...Casio's new Casio Exilim Pro EX-P505 camera is 640 x 480 MPEG4 @ 30fps.

Jeff has posted this on the news page (before the A520).


I'll be interested to see the review. This is very interesting: - a "past movie mode" saves the five seconds that occured before you pressed the shutter release button -

It sounds like it could be a useful gizmo.

[Geoff Chandler]

I've had my Digi Cam 13 months now and still not once tried the movie mode - but I will try it.... one day.
Surely it would use up all your precious memory card capacity really quickly!!!
I might use it at home on a family occasion or similar - where I can quickly off load it to the PC and re-format the card for use.
But - I'm not bothered about the movie mode.
Geoff :rolleyes:

[Puck]

I use it frequently to record one or two minute clips at family gatherings and at my daughter's performances (she's a singer). I find they enhance the many still photos I take because they give an overall view of the event along with the sound. The quality of a clip at 640 x 480 x 30 FPS is very adequate for this. I also have a video camera but I seldom use it unless I want to make a long video of a complete show or record many smaller clips while on vacation. A digital camera's limited storage capacity (at 1 mb per second it doesn't take long to fill a memory card!) dictates the use of a video camera in such circumstances. I find it very handy to have the movie feature included on my digital camera so that in most cases I don't have to carry around two cameras.

[Rhys]

I've had my Digi Cam 13 months now and still not once tried the movie mode - but I will try it.... one day.
Surely it would use up all your precious memory card capacity really quickly!!!
I might use it at home on a family occasion or similar - where I can quickly off load it to the PC and re-format the card for use.
But - I'm not bothered about the movie mode.
Geoff :rolleyes:

Memory cards are so cheap now, it really doesn't matter any more how much memory you use. A 1 gig card is only about $50.

[Geoff Chandler]

Memory cards are so cheap now, it really doesn't matter any more how much memory you use. A 1 gig card is only about $50.

I'm glad for you - my C-740UZ only takes XD cards and they are not cheap!! - 128mb = £40= approx. But when I get a C-7070 (later this month??) that'll not only take a different card - it will also have sound - so I might give it a try then. ;)

Geoff

[gary_hendricks]

Haha, good question.

I own a dedicated digital video camera for video work. I don't usually use the movie mode on my cameras - unless I'm caught without my videocam.

:)

[NewNikon]

I love the movie mode... with kids it's just so damn cute when they are doing skits or sings or cheerleading or chasing frogs. I't easy to flip from movie to cam mode too.

I use a 2 gig microdrive so dont worry about storage..

The best video I got was on the day in palm springs when my 4 year old daughter splashed across the pool in her first solo swim.... legs and arms flailin in the water she made to my side and what grin she had when she got to me.

And the sound of the ocean waves in the background as she takes her first dip in the mini waves. special events are always accompanied by stills and movie clips. Just keep 'em less than a minute to make them more managable later. I always use the 30fpm mode now, but my old sony had a charm all it's own at 15 fpm.

Here's the key point: let someone play back THEIR favorite movie on their camera watch them smile and you'll be envious for that litttle moment they beamed.

[jeisner]

I was curious. After the initial "gee whiz" excitement goes away, does anyone really use the movie function of their digital camera much at all? Should movie quality play much importance in choosing a camera? ( I can't imagine it does).

Why do I ask? The movie function is probably the weak point of the Canon A85 I am considering.

Thanks!

When I had a camera that supported it (DSLR obviously doesn't) I would have to honestly say apart from testinng it out, I never actually used it!

[Rhys]

When I had a camera that supported it (DSLR obviously doesn't) I would have to honestly say apart from testinng it out, I never actually used it!

I find I use more stills than video but when I was in America, I did shoot video too. With the S1, it's almost TV quality. I showed my photos and videos to a few people and the universal comment seems to be "wow - those videos really make it come alive" - people really like photos but a moving image as well really does make things come alive.

[ProblemSolver]

Movie recording on cameras can really come in handy although I hate the limited length on my S500. If you think that you may need to record movies anytime soon or in the near future, get a camera with unlimited movie length (Such as the Canon SD300). Or, if your video camera is dedicated to movies and your digital camera is your secondary movie recorder, go with a camera with limited movie length (Also generally much cheaper)

[Jredtugboat]

I was on vacation last year and rented a really funny-looking two-person scooter-car to tool around the island I was visiting. Only a video clip truly captured the ridiculous look of the thing. Still photos just didn't do it. My friend and I did a "home movie" straight from the '50s, with me waving from the vehicle as I drove by, as if from our new car. Yes, movie clips have their uses. Would I pin my decision of which camera to buy on it? No.

EAP,

This is hilarious! I can almost see it in my head! When I was in Spain, I bounced into a Smart Car and almost fell over laughing. I wish that I'd had a little video thing to capture it.

I'd never choose the movie mode as a deal making consideration in selecting a new compact P&S, but it sure is fun. Sometimes when I'm at my parents' and bored, I look for the cat and surprise him with it. The results have been kind of neat, especially when he's been asleep.

No diss intended about the Smart Car, by the way--it really is "Smart" and no, we don't have them in the States. Daimler-Chrysler just announced that they're not going to sell them. In its stead, they're going to bring what we need most: another SUV.

[ReF]

while i didn't consider it when i bought the a80 last year, i actually used it quite a bit and now i wish the video quality was higher. it's really quite useful for those who don't care enough about the quality to buy a camcorder but still want to capture the moment. since buying the d-rebel i haven't missed it at all, but i am considering buying a small pocket all-in-one to go where the rebel can't and having a high quality movie mode on this pocket cam is a must (since the Rebel has none). as much as we here are into still photography, some things simply can not be captured in stills alone. as someone else has mentioned, i wish movie modes were all in mpeg4 so there is actually enough room left on a card to take pictures!