Digital Camera or Video Camera?

Often the most asked question before plunging in and buying a new digital camera is what is important to me? Do I want to capture high quality stills or a lot of movie action? Following on from that is the question ” why can’t I get a camera that does both?”

This vexed question is tackled well in the article from DP Review, titled ‘Beginners Guide to HD video’. As the article states compact digital cameras have been capturing video for many years, albeit with mixed results. As technology moved along we started to see a blurring of the lines with cameras like the Panasonic TZ7 offering quick start HD video with zoom on a high end compact digital camera.

HD video recording is fast becoming a standard in many compact cameras, starting from the waterproof Pentax W60 and W80 series cameras, and many other compact cameras wanting to capitalise on the growing HD market.

The real interest though is in the DSLR market with its larger sensor, interchangeable lenses and manual controls. Cameras such as the Nikon D90 set the ball rolling capturing HD video, however the progression since then has been amazing with every manufacturer hopping on board.

Cameras such as the Nikon D5000 and D300s and Canon EOS 500D and the EOS 7D have really set the pace as everyone finds new ways to use these hybrid DSLR/Camcorder.

So the question has changed. Should you now consider one of the new breed digital compact cameras or Digital SLR with HD video and are they as good as they are made out to be?

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