Looking for a New Video Camera - Suggestions?

A few of you know I don't mind recording the odd video or two and popping it up on the YouTube.
I've got a Canon 600D which I bought primarily for photos but it's not very good for video, no autofocus and it is bulky.
I'm looking for suggestions of any cameras people have used and can recommend.

Features must include;
kick-ass autofocus,
at least 720p recording,
tripod compatible,
under AUD$400.

Anyone got any ideas? Any suggestions are welcome! :tranquillity:

 

I'd recommend a Micro Four Thirds camera. They're compact, but they produce very high quality images, and they have interchangeable lenses. I have an Olympus E-PL1 - it's a great camera, but it's starting to show its age. I recommend getting something that has at least 1080p video capability. I haven't really been looking at cameras much lately, but I've heard good things about Panasonic and Sony mirrorless cameras. Those are my thoughts.

 

RetroJunkie: Are you using Magic Lantern custom firmware for your 600D ? Cause that could perhaps improve the video quality, but if you are looking for an HD camera for filming. Then I think the SONY HD Handycam is a great option. But Canon also makes a kick arse HD video camera. But I am no snob, when it comes to cameras. Since I like Canon, and Nikon too.

 

I want an Olympus to replace my DSLR now as my photo camera... Just having a look at their camera range, I'll have to look into mirrorless cameras perhaps... one day, not just yet though.

I did give Magic Lantern a go for a while but found that it didn't really improve too much since I just need a camera to focus on what I am doing. Otherwise I can't do what I do, since I'm stuck focusing the camera! Magic Lantern was great for dialling down the bit rate though on video, turns out my Class 10 card was a hunk of junk. I've since bumped up to a SanDisk Extreme Pro Ultra Mega Incredible Fantastic card - no more "Recording has stopped automatically" for me!

The Sonys do look good and I believe I had a Sony Camcorder in the past, only issue I had with it was the video that came off it was a strange format that my video software didn't support. That was a long time ago though, software has improved significantly since then!

Autofocus is my main issue with my current DSLR, although I've heard the newer models of Canons can have an autofocus lens switched in. Too bad mine can't! :topsy_turvy:

 

$400 will get you a pretty decent handycam.

I got a JVC: http://www.jvc.com.au/cameras/everio-video-cameras

The camera I use is the baseline $280 model, and it's been great!

 

JVC, maybe it was a JVC not a Sony. Hmmm! So long ago!
Might have to pick one of those up from the cassssssssssssssh I'll be making flogging all my rubbish bits and pieces.
First step is to work out what I don't want and to put it in a pile.

BUT who doesn't want a shelf worn boxed Sega Arcade Power Stick?!?
Maybe I'll just keep the stick... but that in itself is blasphemy! Dammit! :suspicion:

Still, those JVCs are cheap, what's the battery life like on them?

Edit: Wait, they have power adapters? No need to rely on batteries anymore?!?!

 

How much are GoPro cameras over there? They're decent. And they should be within budget.

However, as you've got Canon lenses, I'd sell the body and get an upgraded Canon. If you're thinking about upgrading your DSLR anyway, you might have a bit more cash to play around with then ($400 + whatever you get for the 600D + whatever you would have spent on another DSLR). That, and Canon SLR cameras are nicer than Olympus... although Olympus do make nice compacts.

That said, the 600D should give reasonable results. Are you sure you're using it correctly? Yeah, DSLRs aren't supposed to autofocus on video! You might even be better off with a video focus ring for it.

 

The battery life is probably not as nice as your SLR (I get 1-2 hours of actual recording), but yeah, you can shoot with the charger connected for bottomless shoot-til-the-card-fills goodness.

 

Isn't this nice? All the retros in one thread

Power adapter would be a great feature for me! I think the JVC might have it on price and features.
They even mention that they are iMovie and Final Cut Pro X compatible! (Isn't everything these days?)
I'll have to get to a shop and have a looky!

About upgrading the old DSLR, it's not that old yet and still takes good photos, but I must admit I don't use it as much as I used to.
It's damn bulky, but that's what I get for choosing a non-point and shoot camera. No regrets thankfully! :smile-new:
Although I wouldn't mind visiting Japan again with the DSLR instead of my old long forgotten and long passed on iPhone 3G...

 

If you're just needing HD video and are shooting within a room (assuming shooting hardware here) I would suggest looking at older smartphones.

Anything a generation or two old is cheap (which puts you in the Galaxy S2 range) and most take pretty solid video. A DSLR will win on stills, but on video it's not guaranteed.

Plus, with 8-16 GB storage, USB to PC and standard file formats, it'll be pretty simple to use. And you can get a generic tripod mount for pretty much any smartphone.

 

Was the format the MTS format ? Cause in Linux, the Open Shot program. Can see and use that format with ease. I used Open Shot, And I had recorded some HD video with the SONY HD Handycam, and there it was the MTS format.
But I think there are free and open source converting programs now a days that can convert the MTS format with ease. And its SD quality is normal mpg format, but the cool part of the video camera. Is that you can use an external microphone too and you can have a smashing great time with that.

 

That's OK for the odd bit of impromptu home video, but for making a web show that's a pretty clumsy option. You wouldn't get any zoom, the microphone doesn't point towards the subject, no optical image stabilisation, awkward to shoot and operate with 1 hand, not-so-good low light performance, etc etc etc.

 

get a go pro

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SALE-Bra...47944?pt=AU_Video_Cameras&hash=item27d6d722e8

i love my go pro video are really good

 

GoPros are fixed zoom and fixed focus. Not ideal for handycam-like use.

They also have a small aperture, hurting their effectiveness in low light. (The tradeoff is that they have a huge depth of field, so the fixed focus is less of a problem.)

 

MTS, it might have been! Problem is I'd rather convert the video as little as possible, saves my CPU usage and processing time.

I really need to get to a shop and check some out. I'm certainly liking the JVC line at the moment though.

 

Well I've decided on the JVC GZ-EX355B.
It doesn't have external microphone and while a lot of people seem to like that I don't see how that could be of any use for me.
And it has built in Wi-Fi... sure! I'd probably pick up the JVC GZ-EX305B but why not have the extra features I might use for an extra few bucks.
Thanks to all who helped and I'll post back with some quality results hopefully

 

Lol, I hadn't noticed we all posted consecutively!

Uhh, what? They're designed to be strapped onto clothing for sports. If that's not good non-tripod performance, I don't know what is!! It also demonstrates that you don't need autofocus. And the low light performance isn't terrible.

Here's a gig. At night. Handheld.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8YF3bQ62yk

Sure, it's not the best quality and it doesn't seem to like the lights and smoke much. It's not terrible, though - I've seen worse results out of cameras.

Still, if you prefer awkward, constant focusing, a handycam is more for you!

 

Could a moderator please remove this link, it is offensive to myself and most people I know.
Retro, retro, retro - Why would you purposely link to a Coldplay video without a warning in huge red text

I don't think those Go Pro things would really suit up close work though. Look at how fish eye they are!
Or can that be adjusted? Either way, I am sure the JVC will be good for the price.
Should be due in today hopefully, just in time for some PSIO recording...

Besides, at this point anything is better than a DSLR for focusing on video work

Do all those people realise they are at a Coldplay gig? Or were they led there under the pretences of cake?

 

I don't really consider helmet-cam to be the same thing as handycam usage.

There's no viewfinder, there's significant fisheye, there's no optical stabilisation, fixed zoom, etc etc.

No, they're not terrible, I'm not saying they're terrible. They're awesome for the thing they're designed for.

But they're not really suitable for the kind of videos RJ makes.

 

Are you saying I don't do enough skate videos? Maybe I should get one and try out some X-TREEEEEEEEME mountain biking?

Oh wait, I am far too lazy for that