The DSLR in the last six months has begun to make huge changes in the way we shoot video. The film like quality of the resulting video, the huge jump in quality SLR lens give over video camcorders, it all makes the format perfect for shooting artist material.

Have a look at the Canon promotional Video by Vincent LaForet below to see what can be achieved.

Click the HD icon to see a higher definition picture - do pause the other one first!  Remember what you're seeing is, even in the higher quality version, only a compressed version of the 1080 line original.

They are many striking examples of the artistic medium given life by the digital SLR, but if you browse the net you'll begin to see a common denominator...... They're all music videos with sound and effects added later.  Why?  Basically sound was an after thought.  On the Canon D5/D7 for instance the microphone is on the back of the camera, an inch from the photographers mouth so all you'll get on the sound track is breathing!  Heaviness dependent on work rate!!!!!!

But the D5 and D7 have a 3.5mm jack I heard you say.  I've just finished running an Audio Specialist stand at the Broadcast Video Expo in Earls Court, London.  This is a show aimed at the top video producers and technicians in the country.  Our most asked question??? How do we get decent sound out of a Canon D5/D7?   Mainly from Photographers now using their cameras for video!

It is quite hard, even if you know what you doing.  The 3.5mm jack input has an awful automatic microphone level control, giving you little chance of putting down anything decent in sync with the pictures.  The only answer is to go back a few years, pull the clapper board out of the attic and record separately, laboriously syncing everything up in the edit.............But wait......................

Have Canon been listening to you?  Maybe????  Have a look at the new 5D menu on the right!  A new firmware update has been put out  for free!!! Click on the menu to find out more.

The new firmware upgrade states:- "Improved audio functionality will allow users to set sound record levels manually using a sound-level meter displayed on the LCD screen. The audio sampling frequency has also been increased from 44.1KHz to 48KHz, providing the optimum audio signal typically required for professional or broadcast material."

Not only are they upgraded the digital sampling rate within the camera to 48k, making it compatible with all  professional equipment and software, they are making the audio input manual (you can turn the auto off) and you have audio metering in the eye piece - suddenly you have access to branch out from Artistic videos and use it on serious documentary footage!  With the right leads, instead of messing around with bits attached to the camera, it's now possible to use a decent Audio mixer giving fantastic audio quality, in sync, and great control and monitoring of the audio , whilst the camera simply has a light cable attached.

Recommends, well what about the Sound Devices 302?  Small Portable with three inputs meaning you can cover most  situations.

Have a look at it on this tiny mixer on the PInk Noise Site, just click the image:-