Best DSLR Camera for Professional HD Video Recording

Canon's EOS 5D Mark III is widely regarded as 'the best' current DSLR for shooting video. With a 24-105mm 1/4 IS USM lens, which is a great all rounder, it would set you back closer to $2000 budget. However, two alternatives spring to mind: the Canon EOS 7D and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, both of which would come in on or under your budget.

In terms of video quality the two are very similar, with the EOS 5D Mark II having a proven history in broadcast television (it's been used to shoot many TV shows, including an episode of the US hit series House, featuring Hugh Laurie). There are certain key differences to consider between the two cameras, though, which largely come down to one thing - the relative sensor sizes of each camera.


If you regularly shoot at longer focal lengths (recording wildlife or sport, for example), then the EOS 7D has a distinct advantage, as its APS-C-sized sensor increases all focal lengths by 1.6x. This is like having a 1.6x teleconverter attached permanently to your camera, so a 200mm lens would exhibit an angle of view similar to a 320mm focal length.

This will let you achieve a stronger telephoto effect from shorter focal-length lenses, and as shorter focal lengths tend to be relatively cheaper than 'true' long lenses this also has financial implications.

However, with its full-frame sensor, the opposite is true of the EOS 5D Mark II (or Mark III for that matter), which makes it far easier to shoot wideangle footage. As the effective focal length of a lens isn't affected by the full-frame sensor size, a wider range of high-quality wideangle lenses is available. A larger sensor size also has an impact on your creative options, particularly when it comes to achieving a really shallow depth of field and producing 'cleaner' footage in lower-light conditions. For example, at ISO settings of 1600 and above, the EOS 5D Mark II exhibits markedly less noise than the EOS 7D.

So, assuming you don't need the 'telephoto advantage' offered by the EOS 7D, I can't help but feel that the EOS 5D Mark Ills the best option in this instance. You may have to shop around to find someone still stocking the camera, but you should be able to find a kit with a 24-105mm lens for around $2000.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 22.3 MP Full Frame CMOS with 1080p Full-HD Video Mode Digital SLR Camera (Body)

EOS 5D Mark III DSLR Body
Eyecup Eg (not shown), Battery Pack LP-E6
Battery Charger LC-­E6, Wide Neck Strap EW-­EOS 5D Mark III
Stereo AV Cable AVC-­DC400ST, USB Interface Cable IFC-­200U
EOS Digital Solution Disc, Software Instruction Manual
1-Year Canon U.S.A. Limited Warranty
View Rating and Complete Reviews

Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)

Advanced HD movie mode with manual exposure control and selectable frame rates. Intelligent Viewfinder with 100 percent field of view; 19-point, all cross-type AF system equipped with dual diagonal cross-type sensors.
View Rating and Complete Reviews

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens

EOS 5D Mark II Body, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens, Eyecup Eb, Wide Neck Strap EW-EOS5DMKII, Stereo Video Cable STV-250N, USB Interface Cable IFC-200U, Battery Charger LC-E6
Battery Pack LP-E6, EOS Digital Solution Disk, Software Instruction Manual
View Rating and Complete Reviews