Q Are there any cameras that work equally well as a camcorder and as a digital camera?
A Some digital SLRs and interchangeable-lens cameras can produce video footage that rivals professional motion-picture equipment costing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, several manufacturers offer grip equipment and optics for high-end digital SLRs so they can be used by cinematographers as professional movie-making tools.
Even some of the lowest-priced interchangeable-lens cameras are capable of incredible-looking footage. When Olympus introduced its PEN E-PL1 Micro Four-Thirds camera, it produced a high-def TV commercial for the camera, using the actual camera. (See it at www.startribune.com/a1143.) You would never guess it was made with an inexpensive camera.
Although these cameras can produce amazing video quality, it requires a lot of skill to get the most out of them.
Most zoom lenses for the cameras have rotating manual zoom rings, and unless the camera is on a tripod, zooming while recording can cause shuddering and jerky images. To get sharp footage, you must be careful when choosing focus points.
Some cameras, such as the Olympus E-PL1, have kit lenses that don't autofocus silently, leading to a clicking sound in your movies when recording a moving subject. This makes manual focusing a must and it is difficult at times.
There are other issues, but suffice it to say that for most consumers who make a lot of movies, it is far easier to use a dedicated camcorder.
A consumer camcorder uses a sensor that is much smaller than those found in interchangeable-lens cameras. Although the small sensor limits low-light performance, it produces tremendous depth of field, so everything looks sharp. Camcorders are designed to be easy to hold and have wide-range optical zoom lenses with smooth power zooming.
