HDSLRs: The Ranks Continue to Swell

I have expanded the exhibit of cameras that was included in the inaugural issue of “Outfitting your H(d)SLR” to include the newest members of the class. The models have increased from two in the fall of 2008 to twelve today (including the Panasonic GH1 which is technically not a HDSLR.) That number will continue to grow as the interest in multi-media collateral for personal and business applications continues to grow. I have to admit that I was surprised that Sony released new DSLR models over the last several months without video capability.

But before we get to the chart, let’s look at a few statistics:

• Social networking continued to gain momentum in 2009 with nearly four out of five Internet users visiting a social networking site on a monthly basis

• During December 2009, 86.5 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience (up from 79% in April) viewed online video.

• During December, 134.4 million viewers watched more than 13 billion videos on YouTube.com (97.1 videos per viewer) versus 107 million viewers watching 6.8 million videos (64 videos per viewer) in April 2009.

• 44.9 million viewers watched 423.3 million videos on MySpace sites (9.4 videos per viewer) in December 2009 versus 49 million viewers watching 387 million videos (8 videos per viewer) in April 2009.

• The duration of the average online video was 4.1 minutes in December versus 3.5 minutes in April, 2009.
Source: Comscore Inc.  JN6F8B57VCJJ

What is clear is that the demand for video continues to grow.

In terms of the chart, I have included the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 because although it is not a DSLR, there are aspects of the video implementation which are superior to some of the HDSLR offerings in the market, and its price (which includes a video optimized zoom lens) makes it competitive to some of those offerings as well.

(Click on chart to enlarge.)

As always I invite you to look through the current issue of “Outfitting Your H(d)SLR.” by clicking on the magazine embedded below.



Disclosure: No consideration has been received in connection with this blog entry, nor has any manufacturer and/or retailer offered any consideration. Consumers should check and evaluate the features on any equipment for themselves prior to purchase.

Welcome: H(d)SLRs in Motion goes to Photo Plus Expo 2009

As I was walking around the floor at PDN’s Photo Expo Plus surveying products that would be useful for motion capture while using a Video enabled DSLR, I was struck by the number of different names that are being used to describe these cameras: VSLR, VDSLR, DSLR with video, HSLR and HDSLR. The one name that I absolutely refuse to support is VDSLR. Imagines you are sitting in a restaurant and the person at the next table tells their lunch companion that their husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other gave them a "V-D-S-L-R last week!" I really wish we could agree to call them by one name, and the one that makes the most since to me is HDSLR. The “HD” can either stand for High Definition or Hybrid Digital - you can decide, but let’s adopt a standard shorthand/moniker!

Speaking of Photo Plus Expo, I wanted to kick off the entries on this site with the a few of the items being exhibited that can be used for still and motion capture that made me stop and want to know more. I call these items, “Floor Stoppers”

The first Floor Stopper of day two of the expo is courtesy of Canon. It is the wickedly “tricked out” 7d sitting atop a Redrock Micro shoulder mount rig, and outfitted with matte box, monitor, Litepanels Pro, and audio equipment at the Canon display counter. It is one thing to see a picture; it is quite another thing to see it up close and personal. Wow!

(Yes, there really is a 7D under all those accessories.)


The next “Floor Stopper” is a new continuous light from Lowell Lighting that can be used for still or motion, the Lowel Blender. The Blender, which is 4”x3”x3”, is a LED product that offers something unique: the ability to mix daylight and tungsten balanced LEDs in one fixture. The result is a degree of customization that is not offered on any other comparably sized LED light. The Blender can be run off of AC or can be powered by Panasonic, Canon or Sony camcorder batteries mated to the appropriate battery sled. The battery sled is either clipped to a belt or hung from a light stand. The Blender which is scheduled to hit retailers shortly has an MSRP of $750; however expect a lower street price.


Interfit‘s Monstar3 is also a Floor Stopper. The Monstar consists of three 150 watt daylight balanced fluorescents bulbs, which puts out the equivalent of approximately 600 watts of tungsten lighting per bulb. Since each bulb has a switch you have the equivalent of 600 to 1800 watts of hot lights at your finger tips. This is a nice range for still and motion work. The Monstar, which has a MSRP of under $450, comes with a 39” octobox, speed ring, light stand and carrying case.




So those were a few of the motion related items that grabbed my attention today. If you want to check out my Floor Stoppers from the first day of the Expo, visit my other blog:
http://hdhd.wordpress.com