What format/s do these cameras save their video files in?
This topic is certainly a hot-one from both 'sides' (from videographers producing digital stills and from photographers producing video). In the Casablanca Expert MembersOnly Webinar in August (8/27/09) this topic was presented and Casablanca colleagues Tim & Beth Thrift shared the outcome of their research and experience.
In a nut-shell, Tim indicated they chose to go with a video camera that also produced high quality digital stills rather than the other way around as he/they felt it easier/better to produce video with a video camera 'design' (they shoot with the Sony HDR-XR520V).
The CF Card is the media but the format appears to be an .MOV file (specifically an H.264 file) with a linear PCM audio track. It is my understanding that right now (the release version) of the Bogart 2 OS does not fully support importing native MOV files but there is a version in testing (released in PAL) that apparently does that job.
Before I were to convert to purchase a new camera/s , I would either wait to see myself first-hand or receive confirmation from a colleague (here on this list, for example) of a person who has had successfully importing from that camera into my editor.
Hey Chet thanks again !! for you time.
I hope this update comes before SPRING BREAK 2010... ,jajaja.
I am planing to get de Canon D7,this is the future !! so GERMANY
get ready to do many UPDATES...
What are you going to do with the camera - are you going to shoot stills or video with it? If you do video be aware of the low light conditions if they cope well without a flash.
SLR cameras are great without a flash during the day but can't cope so well when the sun goes down without a flash. Also the sound quality is that clear as many photograhers don't really have to think about the audio - we have to, as it is one of the major aspects of a video.(is there an input for external mics or a headphone jack or control the sound as you can do with my Z1) How much video footage can you fit on a card if you would do a ceremony or speeches and have to change cards every 15 min or so.
Just a few things to think about before you buy one.
PS. I haven't upgraded to the new PAL operating system yet just too busy editing.