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I want a DSLR which also shoots video. I was looking at the older Canon T3i because I cant afford the 5D, but realized it only shoots about 12 min of video before stopping (not good for interviews). There is not a good hack for it, and so I came across the Panasonic Lumix DMC GH2 which shoots much longer video without stopping recording. I was wondering if anyone knows of adapters so that I can use my Canon Lenses for still shots with it. Thanks.

You have a Mico 4/3 camera. These adapters should work:

http://www.metabones.com/products/?c=micro-43-system-2

Now these guys make good stuff so it is not cheap. There will be much cheaper ones available but you will have to find em'.

What Canon lenses do you have? They may or may not be worthwhile for video.

For Canon SLRs shooting video your best reasonably priced option would be the T5i which just came out recently. It can do autofocus on the fly unlike all other Canon DSLRs shooting video.

The video section of a very in depth review.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-e ... bel-t5i/23

Spune wrote:

For Canon SLRs shooting video your best reasonably priced option would be the T5i which just came out recently. It can do autofocus on the fly unlike all other Canon DSLRs shooting video.

I don't think that is totally accurate. If I'm not mistaken,the T4i shares the same video capabilities as the T5i and should be less expensive (possibly refurbished) and I think the SL1 (have seen very good deals on new) and 70D do as well. If you're getting a DSLR explicitly for video, I wouldn't get the T3i, as it lacks the touchscreen focus and STM lenses functionality which seems like a critical differentiator between the bodies listed and the T3i (which I have, btw).

One thing to consider for doing video and overcoming the 12 minute "issue" would be to install magiclantern, which apparently has an automatic restart feature or allows decreasing the bitrate to increase video length.
http://www.magiclantern.fm/
http://wiki.magiclantern.fm/faq#how_do_ ... 12_minutes

Honestly, I wonder if you wouldn't be better served by an HD camcorder that is build explicitly for taking video and shouldn't have any length limitation shenanigans to overcome. You can't swap lenses until you get very expensive, obviously, but it certainly simplifies a lot of things in the process.

Spune wrote:

For Canon SLRs shooting video your best reasonably priced option would be the T5i which just came out recently. It can do autofocus on the fly unlike all other Canon DSLRs shooting video.

The video section of a very in depth review.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-e ... bel-t5i/23

Or the T4i or the SL1 or the 70D, with the 70D >>> SL1 >> T4i/T5i.

Still, unless there's some good glass being used, the OP is probably better off with inexpensive m43 lenses.

Airmantharp wrote:

Still, unless there's some good glass being used, the OP is probably better off with inexpensive m43 lenses.

Exactly. And without AF, it really is not worth sticking with Canon lenses. Panny does some excellent systems.

Also, if the OP hasn't spent the money yet, and you like the idea of a larger sensor, you could look for a Sony body with a kit lens. I'd look at the 18-135mm. Its an awesome lens for video. And every Sony SLT (axx) will do AF video.

Check out KEH, B&H, and Adorama if you are not afraid to go used. You could score a pretty sweet deal on whichever way you end up going.

Yes, to get good results with video, it is best to stick with a SYSTEM rather than trying to cob together different manufacturers or lenses not designed for the task. For auto-focus to work on these systems with any quality, a lot has to go into the programming of the physical properties of the lenses, and they need to have specialized drives to deal with the ever-changing focus adjustments without creating noise in the video stream.

An adapter to Canon on a m4/3 disconnects anything useful rendering any automatic functions of the lens to be disconnected.

I have seen amazing quality video produces with the m4/3 cameras, and there is a decent upgrade path for pro video with Panasoinc to replace the m4/3 body with a dedicated video machine that utilizes the m4/3 mount.