What do you get for spending more money on a camera body?

Question

I'm looking at DSLR bodies, and I have only one real feature I'd really like to have -- 1080P video recording.

I'm looking at Nikons here for this example, but only for illustrative purposes -- I'm interested in answers covering other brands too. Nikon makes three cameras with the video feature. They are:

• D3100, $700
• D5100, $900
• D7000, $1,200

The only difference I can see between them is that the D3100 has a slightly lower res sensor, the D5100 has the strange fold out LCD, and the D7000 has two SD card slots. None of these differences are significant enough to make me spend more money, so I'd probably be going with the cheapest one.

If I spend more money on a camera body, what am I typically getting?

Answer 1

There are plenty of things that you get by spending more on a camera body. It is up to you to decide which one is important to you:

• Sensor: The sensor is the most expensive feature. Bigger sensors cost a lot more and give higher image quality. Depending on the model, you may get superior low-light performance, higher-resolution, higher-dynamic range or a combination of these. New higher-resolution sensors cost more than those of the same size as well.
• Viewfinder: The second most expensive feature on a DSLR is a 100% viewfinder. This lets you see the entire scene before shooting while most cameras show 95% of the scene. This means that unwanted elements may appear in your images after shooting. Count on $300 to $500 extra for this feature alone.
• Weather-sealing: The third most expensive high-end feature is weather-sealing. This lets you take the camera in the rain, snow and sandstorms provided that you purchase weather-sealed lenses as well. This can become extremely expensive as the cost accumulates per lens.
• Dual control-dials: Mid to high-end cameras have 2 control-dials as opposed to 1. This makes it more efficient to control and adjust exposure.
• More buttons: More external buttons means relying on the menu system less. Each time you enter the menu system it slows you down. Advanced cameras are designed to be used efficiently and under pressure and therefore have more buttons to keep more functions at your fingertips.
• Build: Advanced cameras are expected to be used and abused more. They are built tougher to last longer. You won't see rotating LCD displays on true high-end cameras because it is a serious point of weakness. You will see cameras built with magnesium alloy frames, rubber-coated on more sides and with more wear resistant shutters (between 2 and 6X more shutter-actuations).
• Continuous Drive: Higher-end camera usually shoot continuously faster and always shoot much longer bursts (over 100 frames for some) compared to lower-end cameras.

There are plenty of minor differences that depend on firmware as well. In other words, differences that manufacturers introduce to differentiate their products while the hardware is capable of more. These include the number of stops for exposure-compensation, number of images in a bracket, metering modes, customization options, white-balance fine-tuning, etc.

I am certain I forgot some but these are all the most important differences.

Answer 2

Between those cameras - the sensor. The D5100 and the D7000 have the newest sensor that is just amazing in its low noise, high DR.

After that, the D7000 has an in body focus motor (can use older lenses) and a 100% viewfinder. The D7000 is also at least partially weather sealed. There are numerous other differences, but those are a few key ones.

If you're doing video, the LCD screen on the D5100 and D7000 is also MUCH higher res.

More generally, you're talking about a difference between consumer and prosumer cameras.

Consumer camera are going to have limited features, smaller viewfinders, not weather sealed, and most of the functions will be accessed through the menu system.

On prosumer cameras - they'll start to 'pull out the stops' with cutting edge technology (like new sensors) that they're looking at putting on the next generation of professional level cameras, the viewfinder may be 100%, it may be somewhat weather sealed, and there will be more funtions available through buttons and dials that can be accessed by touch rather than by visual navigation.

See this answer for more details.

Answer 3

Features to check for ...

• the ability to plug in an external microphone as well as if the microphone has stereo capabilities.

• the ability to use auto-focus while recording, this can make a huge difference to the results.

• what frames per second is the camera capable of while in 1080P video recording mode?

• can you use image stabilization while in movie mode?

• what CODEC is the video stored in as some are not widely used and some can be low quality in comparison to others? Try to ensure it is a standard, widely used CODEC so if passing the video on it can be easily viewed (although this can be changed in post with the right software).

• depending how professional you want the results, larger sensors (physical size) provide a shallower depth of field with the same lens in comparison to smaller sensors. This allows for greater subject isolation.

• an LCD screen that swivels can be a great advantage when trying to get unusual angles, without laying on the ground or standing on stepladders.

• real-time output can be useful if setup in a studio type environment.

• last thing is the ability to write to the memory card fast enough to keep up with the frames per second and quality, make sure your memory card is fast enough to keep up with the output of the camera.

All of these are manufacturer independent and items I would be looking at if I were to buy a DSLR specifically for the video capability.