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Canon 60D or Nikon D7000: A Filmmaker’s Decision Part 3

It’s been a while since I first embarked on this 3-part article. Since then, life happened as it always does and before I knew it, quite a bit of time has passed and the digital camera landscape has completely changed. But always for the better. Newer and more affordable video and cinema cameras have surfaced that surprised everybody. For the sake of completing this series, I will not discuss any of the new developments. That is best left for another article altogether.

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Canon 60D or Nikon D7000: A Filmmaker’s Decision part 2

Nikon was the first camera company to enable HD video recording on their D90 DSLR in 2008 and thus ushered in the ensuing frenzy that took hold of the video world. For once in the history of video cameras, there was now a sub-$7000 camera that shot 720p 24fps HD video on a sensor that dwarfed even broadcast cameras, but as well allowed people to interchange and use the seemingly endless variety of DSLR lenses! It was the independent filmmaker’s dream come true. Thus the HD-DSLRs were born.

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Nikon announces the D5100 DSLR, coming late April

Today Nikon announced the newest addition to their line of DSLR cameras. Fitting in nicely between the entry level D3100 and high-end prosumer D7000, the D5100 replaces the D5000. Now Nikon has a complete range of 1080p video capable DSLRs to combat Canon in every price point. The D5100 is a substantial upgrade from its predecessor, and features many of the same spec’s as its bigger brother, the D7000. It has a 16.2 MP sensor, 3 inch 920,000 dot flip-out display, 11 AF points, and an IS0 range of 100-6400….

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HD Video Bitrate Standards – Clearing up the Confusion

While reading about the new Nikon D7000 and its initially unimpressive sounding HD video modes, I’ve come across a lot of opinions by many people who are disappointed about it’s possible 19.3 Mbps (Megabits per second) data rate. This includes many indie filmmakers thinking that rate may be too low for their purposes, myself included.  We’ve all heard much about what are the good bitrates to look out for are, which ones are broadcast ready, which ones are crap and so on.  Well, I stopped and asked myself, “Wait-a-minute, just…

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Nikon Officially Announces The New D7000 DSLR

Breaking News – Here it is, the moment a lot of people have been waiting for.  Nikon has finally announced their new D7000 DSLR which replaces the D90 with features that even goes above their D300. Here are just some of the specs: – New 16.2 MP DX sensor (APS-C) – a massive 39-point autofocus system – 100 percent viewfinder coverage – 1080/24p and 720/30p HD video with a limit of 20 minutes of recording – dual SD card slots – a standard ISO range of 100 to 6400 – 6fps…

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Nikon D3100 Officially Announced by Nikon

First reported by Nikonrumors.com and turning those very loud rumors into reality yesterday when Nikon officially announced their new D3100 DSLR along with their new batch of lenses.  This is very cool as it becomes the first Nikon DSLR to be able to shoot HD in glorious 1080 @24p!   The Nikon Canada website has the D3100 listed with a street price of $569.95 for the body only, and $699.95 for the D3100 Kit with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f3.5-5.6G VR Lens.  This is great news for indie filmmakers!

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New Nikon and Sony DSLR Rumours Becoming Real

The very loud rumors of those new Nikon and Sony DSLRs have moved into the realm of the real! The first bit of news is courtesy of Nikonrumors.com.  The German Magazine “Foto Digital” has revealed in their September 2010 issue (just delivered to subscribers) has posted in the official news section the first real photos and specs of the upcoming Nikon D3100 DSLR (along with 4 new lenses).

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Nikon to Finally Show Some 1080p DSLR Love?

UPDATE:  Well, it looks like Best Buy has lent some credibility to the very loud rumors of the D3100.  According to Nikonrumors.com, Best Buy has actually put the Nikon D3100 into it’s inventory system; the SKU is 1222817, “Nikon D3100 DSLR w/ 18-55mm v”, with availability: 9/18/2010.  Hmmmm… ** DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER! RUMOURS AHEAD!  PLEASE TAKE 100 µm (1×10^-4 m) OF SALT WHILE READING! ** Ever since Canon released their 5D MarkII, the smaller 7D and more recently the Rebel T2i — all with gobsmacking Full HD shooting capabilities —…

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Zacuto’s HD-DSLR vs Film Shootout!

**UPDATE:  Zacuto has finally released Part 3 of their incredible HD-DSLR vs 35mm Film Shootout!  This EP focuses on resolution tests with all these cameras plus the new Canon T2i and green-screen compositing tests.  The green-screen tests are VERY interesting indeed.  Hit up the link at the end of this article to watch all the camera goodness. HD-DSLRs have arrived!  While indie filmmakers –including yours truly– have applauded its arrival, many professionals in the Film and Television industry still think of them as a fad, not to be taken seriously. …

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