Canon 7D vs. Pentax K-5

Video Quality

As described in our full review, HD video recording with the K-5 is a pretty spartan affair, though a substantial improvement over the K-7's truly barebones implementation. The K-5 offers 1080p recording at 25fps, using Motion JPEG recording an an .AVI container. Other options include 720p at 25 or 30fps, and 640x424 (VGA) low-res video, also at 25 or 30fps.

Unlike an increasing number of video-capable dSLRs, the K-5 does not allow the aperture or shutter speed to be changed while recording, and neither can it autofocus mid-movie. The user can either set the shutter speed and aperture before shooting begins, or leave it up to the camera. Choosing the latter option can result in odd exposure shifts when the camera decides to stop down or open up the aperture, so most users choose to set things manually before recording. The K-5 records either mono sound via the onboard mic, or stereo sound through an external mic. The onboard mic is extremely sensitive to ambient noise, as well as the sounds of the user manipulating the controls, so if you want to fiddle with focus, zoom, and so on while recording video an external mic is preferred.

The 7D is a bit more advanced. To begin with, it offers 1080p recording at your choice of 24, 25, or 30fps; 720p at 60 or 50fps; and VGA at 60 or 50fps. It also makes use of the far more efficient H.264 codec in a .MOV container, resulting in smaller file sizes and thus longer recording before reaching the 4GB FAT32 filesize limit that binds all dSLRs.

7D Video Quality Settings
7D Video Quality Settings

K-5 Video Quality Settings
K-5 Video Quality Settings

Aperture and shutter speed can be changed mid-shot on the 7D, giving it yet another advantage. It will also autofocus during recording, using one of three modes. Live and Live (Face Detection) modes focus using the kind of contrast-detect autofocus usually employed in live view, while the Fast mode flips down the mirror to use conventional phase-detect autofocus, just as it would when using the optical viewfinder to shoot stills. As its name suggests, Fast mode is the fastest option, but it also causes a momentary loss of the live view picture.

7D Video Mode AF Options
7D Video Mode AF Options

Truth be told, all of the available AF options have huge downsides during video recording that make them a last resort at best. The Live options stutter loudly as they slowly find focus, and often miss it entirely, taking huge trips throughout the entire focus range before finding their target. If this happens when you're shooting a video, it means your subject is a blurry mess for much of the shot, and the movie's sound (assuming you're using the onboard mono mic) is a clickety-clackety mess. The camera's manual even warns against using AF during recording due to the unpleasant side effects.

As for the actual quality of the video, the 7D produces generally smooth, competent video at full HD resolution, and thanks to its speedy processor readout it doesn't suffer too much from the rolling shutter or "jello" effect that is common to all CMOS-equipped video cameras. The K-5's video is similarly competent, but many video-oriented users will find that the 7D's 24 and 30fps options, along with the lightweight H.264 codec, make it the better choice.


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