100% crop of raw T2i footage
When DSLRs entered into the world of video, many criticized the sharpness of the image. Being that I am not as experienced as most, I simply rolled with the punches. After all, I am completely satisfied with the imagery I am producing with my camcorder, although I know I can still learn a lot more. What concerned me is how so many could be on opposite ends of the war. Either people loved the DSLR, and praised it as "film-like" or people complained about sharpness and rolling shutter. No matter what equipment you have, if you are paying sub $10k it is because you are lacking features that are otherwise available.
So I decided to leave all of the talk behind, and do my own research. Breathtaking videos started surfacing all over the net, most noticeably that of Vincent Laforet and Philip Bloom. Even considering the limitations of the small cameras, the capabilities far outweigh the sacrifices. And as far as being sharp, well, they look pretty dang sharp to me! The above image is a 100% crop of a music video I am currently editing. Focusing was done using the LCD screen in almost direct sunlight (due the rear reflection which was used as fill!).
Now would I say you can get sharper imagery from a camcorder? Yes you can, but expect to pay at least 3x the cost of a DSLR. As it has been proven, they can produce stunning footage when used by the right people. Just as with every other tool in the industry, you must know the limitations and how to use what you are presented with. As of now I still prefer the image of my XH-A1, but considering all things, the T2i is a sweet camera, provides stunning footage and will always be optional as an A or B camera.
