You really only need to convert to 50i if it's going to be broadcast in PAL countries.

Most PAL DVD players will convert NTSC all region 30p to 50i output nicely for Playback on PAL TVs... It's also safer that way, so that when viewed on computers, you don't run the risk of you 30p to 50i DVD being viewed as de-interlaced 25p.

after converting 30p to 24p or 25p or 50i, just use virtualdub and check the thing frame by frame. For me this is unacceptable. An certainly you video must be exceptional to be accepted for broadcasting.

DVD players can convert on the fly 30p to 50i, but expect some speed change and ghosting on every thing moving every 4 or 5 frames.

As said, for home videos it could be ok, but I don't think it is worth the effort to shoot anything serious, taking care of all the difficult things when shooting professionally, to end with a 30p video stream.

I do hope you're basing these conclusion on observation of the camera's output and not on footage crushed out of all recognition for web streaming Oliver.

Of course you are, you wouldn't have sold your current kit to buy a 30p camera for a 25p county unless you'd made careful analysis of the image and audio quality and deemed them up to scratch.

If at all possible, avoid being an early adopter.

tom.

I author straight-to web, so it's a bit of a non-issue for me. I am basing my opinion on the raw files I have downloaded and fiddled with, and they seem to really show up a lack of dynamic range. As much as I hate being an early adopter, I had an opportunity to sell my old kit, and wanted something new, so it's no big deal. But at the same time, I was curious as to other peoples views on the issue.

What frustrates me is that many of the videos have been produced in near darkness, and are of pretty rough quality, production wise, so it's hard to establish!

However, if these issues are indeed real ones, then it IS my own fault for considering being an early adopter! It's just a pity my backup choices have almost doubled in price because of the plummeting dollar. Something I had not considered!

Daniel, thats what I thought too. Most DSLR sensors have very good DR in comparison to what video people are used to, so I'm sure many assume its the same deal for video out of a FF camera sensor.

Dynamic range doesn't really look too bad in this video:

Bora Lane; Moving photography on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/2123276)

The interior of the car while moving is pretty noisy, but I'm assuming that was at a pretty high ISO. I don't see any jello though.

Note: You can download the original .wmv file in the bottom right hand corner. Works on my Playstation 3. Really amazing picture quality.

Saw this link in Engadget.com

Pretty amazing stuff:

Canon's 5D Mark II: The World's First Forbidden HD Video, Finally Official!! : Akihabara News .com (http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/review-105-Canon%27s+5D+Mark+II%3A+The+World%27s+First+Forbidden+HD+Video%2C+Finally+Official%21%21.html)

Geez, the clean 35mm 1080P footage is just killing me. I've just bought a D90 simply because of the DOF control and excellent colors, plus the 24fps versus 30fps dilemma, and I'm not complaining about my purchase but I know it could look much better. Still, I needed something over my HV20 and the D90 was the best option right now and it's working out great for what I want. Yet on a technical sidenote, I wish it was more on par with the 5D Mark II's resolution and sharpness.

Here is a link to the Tokyo video at vimeo:

Tokyo Reality (Canon 5D MarkII) on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/2125645)

You can download the original .mov there.

Hmm.. regarding that "Tokyo Reality" video... quite distracting rolling shutter "effect" noticable there imho... and very "videoey" colors and exposure issues - also it's very noticeable that the contrast is really really high in video mode (crushed blacks/whites).
I guess this video does really good in showcasing many of the (known) weaknesses of the cam...

Especially the rolling shutter was sometimes so bad that I was reminded of videos taken with a mobile phone :-/

I didn't notice any rolling shutter problems but that lens really breathes on the focus shifts at the end.

Apparently this cam wont be the choice for those who intend to take fast moving trains all the time.
I think the only situation when rolling shutter shall make videographers worry is when a photographer uses flash (typical case is a wedding - where the photographer is an "enemy" anyways).
I dont know whether a "normal" (non rolling shutter looks) light explosion of a flashlight is any better on a clip than a rolling shutter artifact.... Both look bad and screw up the clip. So for weddings I try to cut these off as much as possible and replace with other footage, plus I try to make the photographer understand that taking "I do" makes sense only on video but totally unnecessary to capture that very moment on a still picture. 5-6 seconds later will do and no one could tell it was not the very moment of the commitment :)
Just imagine how one's face looks when saying the "o" from "I do".
Seriously, does any customer want to see that? :)

The Tokyo video shows me that you need a tripod. That little shaking really starts getting to me after about 30 seconds. Does anyone know if you get that little shake when using a stabilized lens?

Also, shots need to be established and exposure compensation made and then the exposure locked. The evaluative metering is not always working so great. The exposure ramping during a shot screams "video."

I'm still unclear as to what manual control you have over this camera in video mode.

In my opinion the wedding video showed much more promise for the camera then this video. This does showcase the low light abilities again though.

OK guys, this thread has been a roller coaster ride; everywhere from this Mkii performing better than a $100K cam to it's in the same league as a cell phone. Has anyone not affiliated with Canon that we trust actually used this camera and formed a good opinion of its true HD video capabilities? It's hard to tell what it can do, other than rack focus, on these compressed HD clips. I currently use an XHA1 and it looks like this comes in at about the same price point with a single lens.

I'm very interested in one if it performs better than the A1 (or EX1????).

OK guys, this thread has been a roller coaster ride...And at 25 pages, it's a little on the long side... I think it's pretty much done.

Has anyone not affiliated with Canon that we trust actually used this camera and formed a good opinion of its true HD video capabilities? Good question -- for this and any other 5D Mk. II questions, I think the time has come to post those topics into new discussion threads that are clearly labeled as "Canon 5D Mk. II -- (insert specific subject here)." Thanks in advance -- and thanks to everyone who participated in this thread,