Video Camera - advice needed

[TimberWolf]

The Gadget Show has reviewed these in the past. They made a short film using one the other week, episode 17, using a digital SLR filming in HD, and compared the results favourably with professional kit. Although I don't fully trust their product recommendations.

[MarillionFan]

Is there an electron microscope app on the iphone these days?

Cheeky.

It would have your eye out... If you were close enough.

[OwlHoot]

Don't want to spend a huge amount. Less than a grand. Just want to get something that will produce a result that doesn't look sh!t.

Need to do the voiceover while I'm on the job so I'll check out your microphone suggestion.

I was thinking of buying a Sony HDR-XR-155E

If any experts have an opinion I'd be very interested.

[Paddy]

I'm thinking of making some videos as part of a plan B. They'll be embedded in a webpage & will be available for download. They'll be of me in action in the kitchen and out & about in the countryside. I want a decent picture and sound quality is also important as I will be doing a voiceover.

I know very little about video cameras & I'm wondering if I need to invest in getting a camcorder or whether a compact digital camera would do. Perhaps there's a decent compact out there that has decent video functionality? Any recomendations would be most appreciated.

Many people these days make the mistake of thinking that all they need to do is to by a video camera, point and shoot, job done. It is not the case. You do need a good camera, a tripod and a stedicam. It then takes a lot a practice and good editing kit (software). I strong suggest that if you a video; get in a professional.

[Paddy]

The Gadget Show has reviewed these in the past. They made a short film using one the other week, episode 17, using a digital SLR filming in HD, and compared the results favourably with professional kit. Although I don't fully trust their product recommendations.

Sorry, it can't. Digital SLRs can do some sort of HD but the lens on an SLR is totally different to the lens on video (by a long way)

[doodab]

Sorry, it can't. Digital SLRs can do some sort of HD but the lens on an SLR is totally different to the lens on video (by a long way)

Really? How so? Other than details like the mount, back focal distance and other things that vary from camera to camera anyway, and the need for an SLR lens to have higher resolution (which does of course allow video lenses to get away with higher zoom ratios)?

The main problem with DSLRs from what I have seen is the "rolling shutter" phenomenon.

[Paddy]

Really? How so? Other than details like the mount, back focal distance and other things that vary from camera to camera anyway, and the need for an SLR lens to have higher resolution (which does of course allow video lenses to get away with higher zoom ratios)?

The main problem with DSLRs from what I have seen is the "rolling shutter" phenomenon.

Image stabilization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In Nikon and Canon's implementation, it works by using a floating lens element that is moved orthogonally to the optical axis of the lens using electromagnets.[3] Vibration is detected using two piezoelectric angular velocity sensors (often called gyroscopic sensors), one to detect horizontal "



Panasonic MegaOIS Explained

Learn about Panasonic's AG-HMC150

[doodab]

Image stabilization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"In Nikon and Canon's implementation, it works by using a floating lens element that is moved orthogonally to the optical axis of the lens using electromagnets.[3] Vibration is detected using two piezoelectric angular velocity sensors (often called gyroscopic sensors), one to detect horizontal "



Panasonic MegaOIS Explained

Learn about Panasonic's AG-HMC150

Sorry I must be missing something, are you saying that Panasonic's optical IS (illustrated with details from a still camera) that was "developed for use in video cameras" and uses a gyroscope & moving optical elements is fundamentally different to Canon & Nikon systems that use a gyroscope & moving optical elements or from my Sony video camera or the Panasonic you linked to that uses a gyroscope & moving optical elements?

I think you'll find the canon video IS systems work in fundamentally the same way as well.

Canon BCTV Lenses: What is Optical Image Stabilizer?

There are differences, some systems use prisms rather than lenses, and some don't use moving optical elements at all, but none of them rule out their use for video, especially when you put the camera on a tripod and (ideally) switch the stabilizer off anyway (most do this automagically).

Edit: In fact some of the latest Panasonic video cameras use exactly the same lenses as their DSLRs.

http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...sonic_ag-af101

[ChimpMaster]

As per Clip's post - Panny SD60. Just got it, best price was at Amazon for £272. You have to buy a SDHC card (16Gb cost me £17) and that's it. HD quality is amazing for the price, and it's simple to use.

[wurzel]

As per Clip's post - Panny SD60. Just got it, best price was at Amazon for £272. You have to buy a SDHC card (16Gb cost me £17) and that's it. HD quality is amazing for the price, and it's simple to use.

Nice one - I'll look into it. Be interested to know what the sound quality is like too. Just looked at a review & they say you can't plug in an external mic. Might be an issue if the built in one isn't up to scratch.