Moving pictures: professionals talk about hybrid shooting and how they do it

Ever since the pioneering EOS 5D Mark II in 2008, Canon's pro DSLRs have been capable of shooting video as well as stills, and today's hybrid shooters have a choice of high-spec cameras able to capture both cinema-quality video and ultra-sharp, well-balanced stills.

Canon's flagship action camera, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, which can capture stills at up to 20fps in Live View mode and 16fps when using the optical viewfinder, is also a formidable filmmaking machine, capable of recording Full Frame 4K 60p or 5.5K RAW footage internally.

Setting new standards, the Full Frame mirrorless Canon EOS R5 captures breathtaking stills at up to 20fps with electronic shutter or 12fps mechanically, and shoots 8K video in RAW at up to 30p with internal recording. This means unique, one-time moments can be captured in fine detail across the two mediums with a single, easily portable piece of kit.

Canon Ambassadors Christian Ziegler, Dafna Tal, and wedding duo Julia Blumenthal and Gil Gropengießer have been shooting both video and stills for several years. Here they explain their approaches to creating hybrid content and reveal the kit they use to realise their visual creativity.

Christian uses a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III) for both stills and video, and says the camera's 20MP Full Frame sensor and its ability to shoot 4K 60p video footage enable him to capture wildlife stories as they develop.

Christian spends much of his time in Panama, and last year he discovered toucans nesting in a tree cavity near his house. "I followed the family for six weeks and it was amazing to document the full process with both video and stills," he says.

Frame rate and image stabilization (IS) are especially important when shooting wildlife, Christian says, particularly with the longer lenses he favours – often a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM combined with a Canon Extender EF 1.4x III.

"I use this combination a lot," he says. "Because it's such a long lens, it needs stabilization. I shoot video at 60fps to capture the movement of the subject, then slow it down. This is especially good for birds – they move so fast, it's hard to capture them in flight."

For the first time on any Canon camera, the Canon EOS R5 offers 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization, which works in harmony with the IS in Canon RF lenses to provide the ultimate in shake-free, super-sharp stills and video. This, combined with 4K video up to 119.88fps, makes the Canon EOS R5 ideal for tracking fast-moving wildlife. Then there's the camera's advanced animal subject tracking AF, capable of recognising and tracking either the body, face or eye of dogs, cats and birds as well as humans, which promises sharper shots even when subjects move unpredictably through busy backgrounds.

Having a camera capable of video as well as stills speeds up Christian's workflow and allows him to seize opportunities he might otherwise miss. "I don't have to think about putting another camera in my kitbag," he says. "I often have to hike long distances to shoot in remote locations, so carrying just one camera is much easier."

Hybrid shooting has also proved invaluable to Israeli creative artist Dafna Tal, who currently shoots on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a variety of lenses including a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM, a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM and a Canon EF 70-20mm f/2.8L IS II USM (now succeeded by the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM.

She says the faster her equipment, the more creative she can be. "The really good photographs and videos are always taken during one-time moments," she says. "Whether it be a subject emoting or a moment in a religious ceremony, I always want to get both photos and videos.

Wedding photographers Julia & Gil say they are receiving more and more requests from their clients for videos as well as photos, and having a camera capable of both means they don't have to outsource. "As we deliver both video and stills, we don't need an extra team," says Julia. "That means fewer vendors and lower costs, as the clients don't have to pay extra travel expenses."

The other benefit of delivering both media is that the pair can edit the footage and stills to match, so the clients receive a package with a consistent style.