I’m simultaneously thrilled and dismayed at all of the progress that’s been made in the last year with regard to video in the DSLR market.  Thrilled because it’s fantastic, dismayed because it’s getting comparatively inexpensive.  But that’s also definitely thrilling if you haven’t already dipped your toes.  When I purchased my 5dMk2 last year it was the first camera with video capability and while that wasn’t the primary reason I bought the camera, I figured it wasn’t likely to be a feature found in the lower ranks and I wanted to try it.  Especially given our then upcoming trip to Alaska.

Smash cut to today and there’s video on entry level DSLRs for less than half what I paid for the mk2.  Throw in more video focused features for insult dogpiled with injury.

Video was a bit of an afterthought on the mk2.  Apparently the AP and Reuters were asking for a simple video mode to help field photographers do a little bit of double duty.  Canon obliged and the 5dMk2 went on sale, but not before they put the camera into the hands of Vincent Laforet just prior to launch.  He created ‘Reverie’ and the internets went crazy.  The soundtrack was terrible and he used $20k worth of glass but Vincent isn’t a film maker.  He’s (was) a still photographer.  So it was immediately apparent what this meant for everyone in the film industry who knew what they were doing.  I fell in love with this camera then too.

The camera had some limitations, based largely on the fact that Canon didn’t seem to be aiming for this market, such as no manual exposure controls and no selectable frame rate.  Although that didn’t stop camera nerds from snapping it up to the point of extended shortages. Hacks surfaced on the web for exposure control until Canon addressed the issue with a firmware update.  The 5dMk2 has continued to ‘suffer’ with only 30 fps since launch while the less expensive 7d and 500d were released with both 24 and 30 fps to take advantage of this new market.  It’s a little maddening to see your expensive semi-pro camera outclassed in a matter of months but that’s way the cookie crumbles.

So with that as a back drop it’s only natural that Canon has come to market with so many comparatively inexpensive options.  Canon recently released the new 550d and there’s a video online with a chinese man in a sporty hat that I approve of telling us a little about it.  It doesn’t appear to be a huge improvement over the 500d but it’s still new and therefore worth whipping the net into a lather.

Not sure what he has against sausage fingered individuals or little people, but he does cover the relevant updates and you see some of the meaty 24p in action. 24p is what makes you feel like you could take a bite out of the footage – makes it feel less cheap. It’s just amazing to me that you can have this and really great photo performance now for under $1000. Which may seem expensive, and it is I guess if you’re struggling to stay alive in Haiti, but compared to the 1dMk4 and the 5dMk2 it’s just not.  This is a great time to be in the DSLR market. I’m like, so excited for you right now that I’m writing this post, and you’re not even in the market! That’s how excited I am.

Luckily for the early adopters, Canon looks to be issuing a firmware update this month to give 24p to the 5dMk2. I’m super pumped! It’s not like the lack of this feature has been preventing me from storming the video scene or anything, and I wouldn’t trade the still photography performance of the mk2, but I appreciate the continued support from Canon and who doesn’t love 24p? Raise you hands (don’t).