Convergence: DSLR Pictures + HD Video

The big thing happening in the video world right now is the "convergence" of still photography and video via the use of new DSLR cameras that can shoot both high resolution stills and beautiful video. The sensors in DSLR cameras are much larger than even the most expensive video cameras enabling them to shoot in very low light and offer the shallow depth of field of a film camera that has been impossible with a video camera without the use of a tricky, complicated adapter.

So what does this mean for me and Hang Gliding photo / video? Well yesterday I was able to shoot both beautiful HD video and high resolution stills with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1. I had the camera mounted about 1 foot in front of the control bar which made it easy to reach all the controls of the camera so I was able to switch between video and still mode. To shoot the stills I just set the self timer to 2 seconds and pushed the shutter button, then assumed flying position. I used my new Olympus 8mm f/3.5 fisheye lens for 4/3rds mount with my GH1.



The lens is pretty heavy, camera + lens weighs just over 2 lbs which would be the heaviest I have mounted on a glider. My boom was able to handle it just fine. The lens is so wide I only had to mount it about 1 foot away from the control bar to get these images.

As much as I like doing in flight video, I also want to do more in flight stills. Our national organization's (USHPA) magazine features some really stunning photography (mostly from Jeff O'Brien) and I hope to get some publishable images.











More on my Flickr page as usual.

I am really pleased with the quality of the images. They are very sharp, beautiful color and no chromatic aberration that I can see. Much better than using a standard lens + fisheye converter lens.

Here is the video

A Marshall Evening from David Aldrich on Vimeo.