The iMovie effects are more there to distract from a few noises and changes in the ambient sound than anything else. I do not suggest using anything except plain dissolves and fades in professional video editing (think to yourself – would they do this on a feature film? would I ever see this effect used on TV?) but for some types of corporate presentation they retain interest by adding variety.

There are fairly serious sound problems – mainly wind noise – with these cameras generally. This subject was chosen because in a previous test (with a loaned review kit) the wind noise all but destroyed the value of any live sound at the same location (a very windy stretch of riverbank). I’ll be trying to devise a mic baffle to eliminate wind noise; a foam pad over the mic proved to have no effect.

- DK

Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.

Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:

Full aperture selection
ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

These features transform the use of the 5D MkII in video mode, and would be equally useful if ported to the EOS 500D. The Nikon D90 and D5000 both allow manual or mode governed control of settings, where Canon opted for limited control and a programmed exposure system heavily dependent on ISO variation and relatively long shutter opening times. The ability to set manual shutter speeds will alter the rolling shutter effect and make freeze-frame extraction, for news purposes, more useful.