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.
Location: Formerly South Wales. Now South Carolina.
Posts: 7,199
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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!
Yes. I use it. I don't use it often but I find it useful.
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.
Location: Formerly South Wales. Now South Carolina.
Posts: 7,199
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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 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.
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".
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....
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).
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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.
Location: Formerly South Wales. Now South Carolina.
Posts: 7,199
Quote:
Originally Posted by George Riehm
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 -
Anyone really use movie function?
Linear Mode
