Shallow DOF, 24FPS, 1080p, oh my!

Okay, so I know that doesn't flow like "Lions, Tigers, Bears, oh my!", but you get the point...

I just was thinking about how the affordability of cameras like the Canon 7D, Panasonic GH1, and recently the Canon 550D (coming to my house this Friday!) has recently armed filmmakers with the capability to achieve what some call 'cinema-like/professional/non-consumer' imagery in full 1080p; that's very exciting to all inspiring filmmakers.
So will this gear propel beginning shooters/directors to the top of their class (stock shooting, short filmmaking, etc.) because now they can shoot at 24 frames per second with a shallow depth of field at full 1080p resolution? Of course not, well, at least, not until they learn how to tell a story. The whole gawking at shallow depth of field shots is slowly wearing off and (in the world of stock) people/buyers will again look for footage that is framed well, lit well, and most important, engaging.

Narratives will still need a good story to engage their audience, not just the "filmic look" of shallow D.O.F. and 24fps.

I'm curious to see what all this technology brings to the field of both stock shooting and independent filmmaking, whether people's shooting styles will improve/degrade, whether over-usage of shallow depth of field will eventually be deemed "amatuer", and will people finally learn to get the microphone OFF the camera and near the subject using double system recording? (excuse the capitilized outburst, I'm a film-sound major).

Thoughts?

There is too much hype to the 24fps and shallow DOF. I see little value in 24fps in stock. Maybe a finished movie in 24fps. Too many people are looking at Sundance type movies and believe 24 is the only way, not. I kinda hope everyone uses 24fps in their stock and then the ones that use 30 or 29.97fps will have more sale LOL. So much easier to down convert to 24 than up convert to 30. On Shallow DOF, there are subjects that is works well when you are trying to emphasis a certain subject. In most cases a shallow DOF is not needed nor desired. It has it's uses but trying to use it most of the time is a mistake.
I almost bought a new 7D yesterday to give a backup body for the 5D MKII. It's a major photo shop. The sales man was so excited about the new firmware than allows 24fps. After we talked a while he could then understand the difference between a finished product and a 20 second stock clip.
My opinion and not to start a fight ... 24fps is not needed nor wanted for shooting stock. 60fps would be great and useful. Shallow DOF as specific uses but can easily be over done. Just MHO.

I believe we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg as far as the "shallow depth of field thing" because the cameras are just now starting to trickle down into consumers hands due to price. ie: the Canon 550D & Panasonic GH1.

Although I do think it will taper off like anything just not now.

I believe what has looked amateurish will still look amateurish because many amateurs do not know about what you stated above about "framed well, lit well...". But I might add, GOOD lenses with no distracting lens issues like CA & etc.. And GOOD stabilization when it's needed for the scene/mood.

What I've seen in the past couple of months are camera pros doing what they've always done, except with these HD-DLSR's, they are using lens adapters to put REAL cinema lenses (PL,PV,Zeiss mounts) on the front of these cameras, using steadicams, jibs, and getting some amazing footage out of these cameras. But they like always, only use Shallow DOF just when needed. That's the indicator of a pro. vs. an amateur.

Ultimately it seems it still all comes down to how much $$$ are you willing to spend on your camera rig.

Fortune belongs to the bold.

I find when I make Cg I also seem to get better at composing music and writing. Or the other way around, when I make music I get better at doing CG.

I think the creative part of the brain is interconnected.

A while ago I wrote a poem for a poetry contest, I never write poems... but I won the contest :) I do creative stuff all the time sooo I think the "pros" (if you want to call them that) will be resourceful enough to use whatever comes their way. Because they focus on being creative ... For instance I bought a bunch of high end broken lenses and fixed them. I didn't spend much money at all on them.

I think the idea that you have to have 24p or a PL lense is a trap.

I know a guy with the most expensive rig Ive ever seen a big ole RED electronic cranes and whatever, and the stuff he makes is unbelievably boring. I also think its bad to be afraid, I think the school system has conditioned people to fear failing, I don't mind failing a little if it means I learn some new technique.

Agree with you Mark. It isn't the equipment that you have, it is what you do with it. I believe people who were going to make movies are going to now make them better and cheaper, but the people who never had the notion to make a movie are not going to start making movies just because they have this camera now. The camera does open opportunities for the independent film maker, but I don't think it creates more independent film makers... maybe more youtube fanboys posting all their work.