Canon 5D MkII  & 7D MkII

The 5D & 7D images of this Pro DSLR, Prosumer camcorder

are remarkable although as a video camera, it lacks a lot of

standard professional functionality. 

The hype has many unsuspecting productions shooting it,

expecting the same results as professional video.

The key drawbacks: the picture is stored as a small H.264 web video, which was the original intended market.  Trying to do normal post color adjustments, keying, etc is extremely harsh.  The compressed images is blocky with a very small color space.

The 5D is tough to monitor, as there is no full HD output, and only a reduced SD output during recording.  Focus is hard to judge.  The 7D has a reduced HD image, but has a smaller sensor than the 5D.  The audio inputs are a mini plug, not XLR although they now offer a simple internal level adjustment.  It is adviseable to use dual sound recording.  There is no time code or gen-lock possibilities.

The focus on the lenses is very touchy, as they are made for precise auto focus, which is not used in video mode. A slight manual adjustment can knock out the focus. 

The low light sensitivity is excellent, so this can be a driving

factor when to choose this camera.  In certain situations, it can

be a lifesaver, but often there is a better choice.

Pro shoots (commercials, features) do well to use as a B cam.

All of these issues are known, and many expect Canon to react

in the next year or two, and come out with a professional

version for video production.