Hi roysonly – welcome to the forum and to the world of large-sensor, interchangeable lens video!
Sadly, if your principal interest is video, you should avoid Nikon DSLRs in this price range.
They lack:
– Focus peaking for razor sharp manual focus
– The ability to change aperture in Live View (video) mode
– a built in intervalometer for time lapse
– a usable viewfinder when you switch to Live View
– compatibility with silent, video optimized lenses (here is the problem with noisy Nikon autofocus motors: https://youtu.be/DuX8CDaDUaw)
Instead of a $496.95 Nikon D330 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQ4W1QE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HQ4W1QE&linkCode=as2&tag=videomaker22forum-20), you might want to seriously consider the $515 (with 14-42mm kit lens) Panasonic G6 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=321613840675&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg) instead.
The G6 has an electronic viewfinder you can actually use for shooting video outdoors in bright sunlight (when a DSLR’s LCD is likely to be washed out), a built-in intervalometer, focus peaking, full manual control of exposure in video mode and compatibility with Panasonic video optimized lenses with silent autofocus motors.
Here is the image quality this camera can produce:
Narrative
Music Video
Documentary
Slow Motion/Sport
Wedding
Travel Video
And it’s a good still camera too: https://www.flickr.com/groups/lumix-g6/pool/
To be fair, Nikons in this price range are better still cameras – but Panasonic G and GH cameras are a much better all-around choice for both video and stills.
I still have my Nikon D50, but for video, I switched to Panasonic.
In my experience, Panasonic G and GH cameras are the best value-for-money video/still hybrid cameras you can buy.
Hope this is helpful and good luck with your decision!
Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution
http://www.hybridcamerarevolution.com
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