Recommend a video camera for me pls.

gadgeteer

gadgeteer

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Hi all

I want to add a camera to my equipment. I'm currently a Nikon shooter but would like a dedicated video camera for shooting the odd bit of video during the day as well as doubling up as a personal camera for family days out when I don't want to lug my pro equipment like on holiday. I'd also like whichever camera I choose to have focus peaking and good high ISO performance.

I've narrowed it down to the following choices:

Panasonic G6
Sony Alpha 6000 or NEX 7 (depending on price and what's around)
Canon 100D with the STM lens

The latter I had a little play at PCWorld today and was quite impressed. The touch screen makes things easy to use and it has input jack for mic. The size isn't much bigger than the G6.
The Sony would be v. easy to carry around and I do love the EVF and the hybrid AF sounds good.
The Panasonic I've never played with but it seems to be well respected.

Any words of wisdom that I may not have considered?
 
Consider a GoPro or similar, for more versatility in future projects.
 
While I have a 5D Mklll, and before that a 7D, both of which have a video capability, I never use(d) it. I much prefer to use a dedicated video camera.

My video camera is a Sony Handycam HDR-XR500,, AVCHD, with an internal 120GB HDD. It also has a 12x optical zoom, and GPS.

The HD video is superb quality, and I edit this in Sony Vegas.

The reason I chose this camera was because in addition to a 'flip-out' screen (which is a touchscreen), it also has a viewfinder, which I prefer to use. Many camcorders only have a screen.

The HDR-XR500, has probably long since been superceded, but if it the later model is as good as this one, you won't be disappointed.

If I were to buy another video camera in the future, it would be a Sony.

Dave
 
Get a GH4- you know you want to:D

Having a mic input is pretty important but it depends exactly what you want to do.

The Canon has a mic but will the movie formats be limiting for you?

I would have said the panasonic but no mic input is a killer in my opinion but I guess it falls back to what you are needing it to do.

You could try and get a GH3 while they are still around. Not sure if the ISO will be good enough for you- think the Sony is better in that regard

I know you can get a hotshoe attachment for the Sony that will allow a mic attachment but not sure how much it is- prob not cheap knowing Sony.

Does very much come down to what you want to do and whether it is for commercial purposes or not
 
Yes....the GH4 would be ideal. Except it's a bit outside my budget!

I thought the G6 does have a mic input. It's not a necessity but it's a deffo nice to have.

It will be for commercial use as well as the odd bit of family use. My objective is to use this camera to take videos of the ceremony & speeches on a tripod and maybe with the odd bit of filler if there's time. Hence why I'd like some better quality. Right now I sometimes tell the couple that I can mount a go-pro and record the ceremony but the quality isn't the best so this is more a deal sweetener than something I'd feel comfortable charging extra for.
 
If you are doing any kind of pro work a mic is essential- or I'll rephrase- you soon hit the limitations of an on board mic and it's good to be able to do something about it other than buy another camera:D.
Double checked- the G6 does have mic- mixing myself up with the GF6- bloody panasonic and their labelling; G,GF,GH,GM, GX; GH is the best and GX goes from 1 straight to 7- muppets:p

I'd make sure your happy with the ISO performance but that would be my call- fully articulated screen as well and better ergonomics than the sony- granted not as compact
 
Thanks. I've done a side by side comparison of features most important to me and it looks like the G6 is the clear winner.

The blog is v. interesting as I was a bit worried about the IQ performance of stills from a M4/3 sensor but it looks in general to be so close to APS-C that it's not worth worrying about. That's good as I'd still like decent holiday and family snaps.

Now the only dilemma is where to order it from. Amazon are competitive but then Digitalrev is offering the twin lens kit for only a bit more than the UK kit lens combo price.
 
Yeah, tough one that. Have to say DigitaRev's site is cluttered with so much discontinued stuff- if it's no longer available to buy, why do I want to see it?! the GH2, GF2, G3 etc are all still there- donkeys:p

Twin kit lens is certainly a good starter- suspect the 14-42 is the old model but wouldn't worry about that. Maybe think about a decent fluid head if you are going to pan etc but I'd say get the camera and then start experimenting. Getting a good amount of time invested into the process of filming and editing before you have to produce something will help a lot. Movie editing is also rather good at highlighting any PC weaknesses so be prepared to open the wallet there too- photography can be expensive but the world of video takes that to another level:LOL:
 
OK...decision made. One shiny G6 on it's way from Amazon UK. I decided to get UK/EU stock instead because i doubt I will need the telezoom lens even on holiday. I tend to only take snaps when the wife makes me. It's slightly cheaper, i have to get a stabiliser too and I do love Amazon's customer service. Oh and the fact it arrives tomorrow rather than next week may have swayed me too! ha ha
 
Excellent, let us know what you think:)
 
gadgeteer said:
OK...decision made. One shiny G6 on it's way from Amazon UK. I decided to get UK/EU stock instead because i doubt I will need the telezoom lens even on holiday. I tend to only take snaps when the wife makes me. It's slightly cheaper, i have to get a stabiliser too and I do love Amazon's customer service. Oh and the fact it arrives tomorrow rather than next week may have swayed me too! ha ha
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How are you finding the G6?
 
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