- recording format: AVCHD causes some import issues and is a nightmare for editing but pretty much a necessary evil now. You can convert these with Voltaic HD but it can be slow.
- OIS: optical image stabilisation is a must-have. EIS doesn't give good results at all.
- Optical zoom: handy to have and aim for > 10x
- Sensor size: this gives you an indicator about low-light performance. The bigger the sensor, the better and note that 1/2" sensor is bigger than 1/3" sensor. It's easy to confuse this when looking at the specs.
- lens quality: try and get cameras with good lens brands like Leica or carl zeiss
I've actually found that budget DSLR/bridge cameras offer better quality specs in this range than the camcorders. The camcorders can have better battery life and are easier to keep steady but you will actually find a much larger range of good deals in the camera market than camcorder market.
If you check out some of the footage on Youtube and put the format to HD, the quality is amazing. Some of the footage you get from compact cameras is great too. Some people might feel embarrassed shooting with a compact but in the end, it's a lens focussed on a sensor. If it gives you the quality, there's no need to weigh yourself down with a bulky camera.
One thing to be aware of is digital cameras have a 30 min record limit in the EU but should be fine elsewhere and generally you wouldn't shoot that much continuously.
- recording format: AVCHD causes some import issues and is a nightmare for editing but pretty much a necessary evil now. You can convert these with Voltaic HD but it can be slow.
- OIS: optical image stabilisation is a must-have. EIS doesn't give good results at all.
- Optical zoom: handy to have and aim for > 10x
- Sensor size: this gives you an indicator about low-light performance. The bigger the sensor, the better and note that 1/2" sensor is bigger than 1/3" sensor. It's easy to confuse this when looking at the specs.
- lens quality: try and get cameras with good lens brands like Leica or carl zeiss
I've actually found that budget DSLR/bridge cameras offer better quality specs in this range than the camcorders. The camcorders can have better battery life and are easier to keep steady but you will actually find a much larger range of good deals in the camera market than camcorder market.
If you check out some of the footage on Youtube and put the format to HD, the quality is amazing. Some of the footage you get from compact cameras is great too. Some people might feel embarrassed shooting with a compact but in the end, it's a lens focussed on a sensor. If it gives you the quality, there's no need to weigh yourself down with a bulky camera.
One thing to be aware of is digital cameras have a 30 min record limit in the EU but should be fine elsewhere and generally you wouldn't shoot that much continuously.
Very good rundown of what the buyer ought to be considering.
I would just add that one of the big upsides of using a DSLR for video are all those beautiful lenses that are available, in all kinds of focal lengths. It's the main reason why DSLR video footage looks so much more "flimic" than camcorder footage-- you can control aperture and focal distance so as to achieve the kind of shallow DOF that puts your foreground subjects in focus while blurring out the background. The distinctive quality of camcorder footage is the "flat" everything in focus look.
Plus, if you really want to go crazy, you've got a vast array of filters and polarizes to play with.
Of course, if you've got really deep pockets and a great deal of patience, Red Cinema might get around to at long last releasing their "Scarlet" wonder camera. From the original "3k (resolution) for 3K (dollars)" promise the price has now crept up to $4750, but for that you'll be getting a professional camera that promises to blow the doors off the typical DSLR shooter. Assuming they ever stop tinkering with it and actually ship something.
Comments
- recording format: AVCHD causes some import issues and is a nightmare for editing but pretty much a necessary evil now. You can convert these with Voltaic HD but it can be slow.
- OIS: optical image stabilisation is a must-have. EIS doesn't give good results at all.
- Optical zoom: handy to have and aim for > 10x
- Sensor size: this gives you an indicator about low-light performance. The bigger the sensor, the better and note that 1/2" sensor is bigger than 1/3" sensor. It's easy to confuse this when looking at the specs.
- lens quality: try and get cameras with good lens brands like Leica or carl zeiss
I've actually found that budget DSLR/bridge cameras offer better quality specs in this range than the camcorders. The camcorders can have better battery life and are easier to keep steady but you will actually find a much larger range of good deals in the camera market than camcorder market.
I'd suggest checking out the following camcorder:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0031RG4H...M&linkCode=asn
Panasonic HDC-SD60
but also the Canon powershot and Panasonic Lumix digital cameras:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pa.../verdict.shtml
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Ca.../verdict.shtml
If you check out some of the footage on Youtube and put the format to HD, the quality is amazing. Some of the footage you get from compact cameras is great too. Some people might feel embarrassed shooting with a compact but in the end, it's a lens focussed on a sensor. If it gives you the quality, there's no need to weigh yourself down with a bulky camera.
One thing to be aware of is digital cameras have a 30 min record limit in the EU but should be fine elsewhere and generally you wouldn't shoot that much continuously.
I am planning to buy a Nikon camera, would you think it i can afford to but that like the way i bought pavement paint ]?
Best spam ever?
You should consider a few things:
- recording format: AVCHD causes some import issues and is a nightmare for editing but pretty much a necessary evil now. You can convert these with Voltaic HD but it can be slow.
- OIS: optical image stabilisation is a must-have. EIS doesn't give good results at all.
- Optical zoom: handy to have and aim for > 10x
- Sensor size: this gives you an indicator about low-light performance. The bigger the sensor, the better and note that 1/2" sensor is bigger than 1/3" sensor. It's easy to confuse this when looking at the specs.
- lens quality: try and get cameras with good lens brands like Leica or carl zeiss
I've actually found that budget DSLR/bridge cameras offer better quality specs in this range than the camcorders. The camcorders can have better battery life and are easier to keep steady but you will actually find a much larger range of good deals in the camera market than camcorder market.
I'd suggest checking out the following camcorder:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0031RG4H...M&linkCode=asn
Panasonic HDC-SD60
but also the Canon powershot and Panasonic Lumix digital cameras:
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Pa.../verdict.shtml
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Ca.../verdict.shtml
If you check out some of the footage on Youtube and put the format to HD, the quality is amazing. Some of the footage you get from compact cameras is great too. Some people might feel embarrassed shooting with a compact but in the end, it's a lens focussed on a sensor. If it gives you the quality, there's no need to weigh yourself down with a bulky camera.
One thing to be aware of is digital cameras have a 30 min record limit in the EU but should be fine elsewhere and generally you wouldn't shoot that much continuously.
Very good rundown of what the buyer ought to be considering.
I would just add that one of the big upsides of using a DSLR for video are all those beautiful lenses that are available, in all kinds of focal lengths. It's the main reason why DSLR video footage looks so much more "flimic" than camcorder footage-- you can control aperture and focal distance so as to achieve the kind of shallow DOF that puts your foreground subjects in focus while blurring out the background. The distinctive quality of camcorder footage is the "flat" everything in focus look.
Plus, if you really want to go crazy, you've got a vast array of filters and polarizes to play with.
Of course, if you've got really deep pockets and a great deal of patience, Red Cinema might get around to at long last releasing their "Scarlet" wonder camera. From the original "3k (resolution) for 3K (dollars)" promise the price has now crept up to $4750, but for that you'll be getting a professional camera that promises to blow the doors off the typical DSLR shooter. Assuming they ever stop tinkering with it and actually ship something.