Advice on choosing a camcorder

moman on 15/02/2016 - 12:20

Hey guys,

I am looking for advice on a camcorder. I have not used one before but have no problem learning how to use it.

My wife and I have our first child and he is currently 6months old, so i thought now would be the best time to purchase one. It will be primarily for home videos and holidays and would like it to last a while.

Obviously I would like to not spend too much on it, while not sacrificing quality/features so would need to find the 'sweet' spot. Brand new or second hand isn't too much of an issue provided I can find one second hand.

Alternatively (depending on costs/recommendations) would it be worth getting a cheap one then upgrading to a more expensive one later down the line? I am not sure if there are any gimmicky features that drive the price up but aren't really useful.

Thanks for any advice you guys can provide. I hope I have provided enough information.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • True Bargains on 15/02/2016 - 12:41
    +1

    Personally, I'd use the camera in another device rather than a dedicated Camcorder. Perhaps an entry level DSLR instead? In years past I have gone the Camcorder route, but it now just sits there because the video from both my Samsung phone and DSLR is already good.

    • moman on 15/02/2016 - 12:49

      Thanks for the response. I have an SLR camera I got a while back. A Canon 550D, would that be good for recording home videos? How is the anti-shake/stability thing on SLR videos?

      • frondono on 15/02/2016 - 13:13

        I think the stability all comes down to if your lens supports it or not.

        • moman on 15/02/2016 - 13:18

          thanks i will check that out.

        • plmko on 15/02/2016 - 14:13

          Stability isn't the issue, it's the shutter. Camcorders use global shutters to prevent the jello effect, not a big issue if you are just recording stationary scenes, but if you pan a lot you will know what I mean.

  • sly on 15/02/2016 - 13:08
    +1

    I agree with with True Bargains. The modern DSLRs are capable of producing good video shots. You have want to have a quick read on https://photographylife.com/how-to-use-a-dslr-to-shoot-video… on what to watch out for.

    The stabiliser on DSLRs are as good as the camcorders, but you might want to do a quick search on Google for DSLR stabiliser. The only thing a camcorder is better is probably if you are shooting lengthy video (e.g. > 30 minutes).

    • moman on 15/02/2016 - 13:14

      Would you consider a Canon 550D as modern?

      • sly on 15/02/2016 - 13:28

        Yes, I had a quick look at the specification, 550D is fully capable of doing 1080p at 30fps.

        • moman on 15/02/2016 - 13:41

          Thanks I will give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, which of the following video cameras would you recommend:
          Canon Legria R606
          Sony HDR CX405

  • frondono on 15/02/2016 - 13:11

    Most of the nicer point and shoot cameras will do pretty high quality 4k these days. Most of the newer flagship phones probably compete on video quality as well. With your canon you can install magic lantern for more/better video settings this might be worth a look also.

    • moman on 15/02/2016 - 13:15

      Does magic lantern then alter the photography settings as well? My wife uses it for her work so I don't want to drastically change it for her.

  • jatcave on 15/02/2016 - 13:29

    In regards to stability, your video editor can do a decent job.

    I'd say stick with your DSLR. I shoot mostly video now, so I have a camcorder as it allows me to record over the 20ish minute mark, a restriction of digital cameras. Most of the time I'm happy to grab a snapshot for a photo from the video I take. A DLSR will take far better photos though, kind of obvious really. Video quality from DLSR is also quite good.

    I'd say the biggest thing is really to edit the videos you take. I have countless hours of taped footage from decades ago, unedited, and never re-watched. Since I've started editing (relatively basic editing), we tend re-watch the videos.

    • moman on 15/02/2016 - 13:41

      Thanks I will give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, which of the following video cameras would you recommend:
      Canon Legria R606
      Sony HDR CX405

  • jatcave on 15/02/2016 - 13:58

    The main things to compare imo would be

    • focal length. You'll be filming inside alot, so you want a nice wide start. The optical zooms a great, and even a little into the digital zoom can be good too.
    • aperture. Again, you'll be inside, so a large aperture (smaller number) will be better for low light. The less digital tricks the camera has to do, the better.
    • zoom. You'll be close to the action, so don't be too concerned with it.
    • stabilisation. The camcorder probably does a better job than the video editor. I can only go on how my editor performs (it's decent).
    • Wi-fi. Maybe you'd like to transfer to your iPad? Check compatibility.

    All the other things like titles, white balance, onboard editing, etc you won't be using if you do edit your videos.

    • moman on 15/02/2016 - 14:06

      Thanks for your continued help :D
      Most of the things your listed (besides focal length) is the same for those two cameras with teh Canon being larger i think but more recommended in reviews online :s

      • jatcave on 15/02/2016 - 14:14

        Yeah, pity you can't give them a good run before you actually make the purchase.

        • moman on 15/02/2016 - 14:23

          agreed. there are youtube videos though which will help if the DSLR doesn't work out :D

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