Pixiq

Viva la revolution! The HDSLR revolution that is!

Did you know there was a revolution going on? If not, that's ok, that's why I'm here - to help you join in on the revolution.

It started two years ago when Nikon and Canon released DSLRs that not only take photos but also shoot HD video (since everything needs to have an acronym, we seem to have settled on HD-DSLR (for DLSR that shoots video) or HDSLR for short). Nikon took the first shot with the D90, but Canon seems to have taken the revolution by the horns with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II because it was the first DSLR to shoot 1080 HD video (the D90 only shoots 720 HD). 

The revolution really started when Vincent Laforet released the first video from the Canon EOS 5D Mark II that he called "Reverie" (link to large size - have included small version below) - shot over a 2 day weekend and released to the planet on Tuesday, it quickly went viral with over 500,000 views in the first few days. Boom! That was the first real shot over the bow of the traditional cinema boat.

Canon made the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with video capabilities at the request of the news media - who asked for the ability to leave a video camera at home and have one camera that shot both stills and video - thereby streamlining the process of electronic news gathering (ENG).

What they didn’t expect was that cinematographers and independent filmmakers picked up the camera and said "wow - now I have a very inexpensive camera that gives me the cinema look and feel" and had interchangeable lenses. They were used to paying $50,000 or more for a camera that could use traditional cinema lenses and give great variations in the depth of field. Now they had one that was available for less than $3000.

Now I know that $3,000 is a lot of money for many, but for filmmakers who make TV shows, movie, and music videos, this is very inexpensive! Especially if it gives the same kind of quality output that they’ve come to expect from very expensive cameras.

These HDSLRs also have a very small footprint - and a form factor that has been very accepted by the public - the DLSR is almost invisible on the street and making a film with an ‘invisible’ camera provides some amazing flexibility. Heck, for many of us shooting someone who isn’t used to the technology it is almost frustrating... “please move, I’m shooting video” is often heard from behind my camera.

In the last 2 years, the HDSLRs have invaded many traditional spaces and are making their own news as they revolutionize several different industries. We’ll be here helping you learn about the revolution, what is good and bad about it, and to help move you into the future - because without a doubt, these cameras are not only “here to stay” but they’re defining the future. And as they say, “you’d better be on the train or you’re going to be left behind.”

Oh, and if you don’t know me (I go by planetMitch) and wonder why I’m involved, I’m the guy behind planet5D.com - we were one of the first sites created when the revolution started and we’ve grown from nothing to being one of the top resources on the planet (have you figured out my theme yet?) for just about everything HDSLR. And I’m thrilled that pixiq has asked me to help y’all learn more about where the future is going!

So let’s go join the HDSLR revolution!

planetMitch