A number of readers have commented on the Video Rising review and say that ” video is not rising and the your prediction that Video cameras will replace 50% of Digital SLRs is really far fetched. If anything, functionality is converging as video cameras take still images, so too do still cameras take ever more sophisticated movies”.

Point well taken - convergence of features and functionality is happening and lets see who is influencing whom:
1 - in camera image stabilization - SLRs borrowing from video
2 - very lowlight operation - SLRs starting to approximate video capabilities
3 - broad range of zoom operation - SLRs catching up to video
4 - interchangeable lenses and extenders - video borrowing from SLRs
5 - image filters for lens - video borrowing from SLRs
6 - audio pickup enhancements - few SLRs picking up from new video innovations in this arena
7 - size and fidelity of image sensors - video is following SLRs
8 - size and capacity of online storage - SLR is not yet making move to hardrives like videos
9 - ease of use and operation - very mixed, both seem to swing wildy
10-size and weight of cameras - SLR seem to have advantage until you consider the deadweight of pentaprism

So now the question is this enough of a technical lead for video to get people to switch from digital handheld and SLR cameras to video cameras and camcorders. It is not obvious. but I have one of those gut feelings that 2-5Mpixels is optimal for most peoples use of images - and video will be able to deliver that much more efficiently than still and SLR cameras. But let me assure you I have been wrong big time in the past. So this is speculation.