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Hey Dave,
which video cam do you use to record your videos? Which one do you prefer?
Anyone can suggest me a video cam:)
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I use a Canon HF G10
Dave. -
Almost any camcorder will do a decent job for video blogs. That is if you do just talking head in good lighting kind of stuff. If you want to do macro shot and low light video then you need to start considering better performance.
A very useful site for reviews on the knid of camcorders most people would want to spend money on:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/
If you have a digital camera that will do video you might want to experiment with it first to see what you want and then look for those features in a better camcorder.
One last important thing, almost as important as the video, sound. If you can at all manage it, get a microphone off the camera and close to the presenter, or get a lavalier microphone. A good source of good and cheap "lapel" mic is here:
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/
But unfortunately he is not doing business right now while he is moving.
Whatever camera you buy, make sure it has an external mic input. Buy a mic like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/363083-REG/Rode_VIDEOMIC_VideoMic_Camera_Mounted.html
or this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/659062-REG/Pearstone_9111930_OLM_10_Omnidirectional_Lavalier_Microphone.html
The above are just examples of the cheapest you might get away with. It all depends on your budget too of course. You left that part out!
Light is King, Sound is Queen, editing the Prince. Without those three in that order it doesn't matter what the subject or how intersting, you won't hold people's interest for too long.
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If you use a HD camera you need a reasonably fast PC to handle the data if you want to edit video.
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If you use a HD camera you need a reasonably fast PC to handle the data if you want to edit video.
Yes and no..
With certain programs like sony vegas, it will reduce the preview quality to suit the machine in which it is running.
But with out a doubt, the final render speed is very processor and data transfer related.
I use a Nikon D3200 with the kit lens and its worked out GREAT for me! Just NEEDS an external mic or external mic input.. but that is ANY DSLR (for video)
google my username (same there) to see some videos I've made explaining it (I'm a sound tecnician by trade). -
I don't have experience with the commercial products, but I know with avisynth speed is almost completely related to memory bandwidth. You can double the GHz but if you don't increase memory bandwidth it will barely be noticed.
Course that has nothing to do with the camera. Mine won't do macros well at all, and it needs really good light, but if you give it what it needs it shoots great 720p video and I paid all of 60 bucks for it. Canon makes some really good mid to low end cameras. -
I use a Nikon D3200 with the kit lens and its worked out GREAT for me! Just NEEDS an external mic or external mic input.. but that is ANY DSLR (for video)
google my username (same there) to see some videos I've made explaining it (I'm a sound tecnician by trade).
Ergh, forgot DSLR if you are doing serious video blog stuff.
It's fine for shooting a month long doco if you have forever to muck around and need very shallow depth of field and specific shots etc.
But if you just want to shoot video without fuss, get a proper camcorder.
Disadvantages of DSLR's vs camcorders:
1) Many don't have full articulated (tilt/swivel screen), useless for in front of or top of camera work
2) Many don't have external mic inputs (useless)
3) Few if any have proper on-screen audio level meter
4) They are hopeless at maintaining auto-focus
5) Inconvenient with playback and general video operation.
6) Most can't take extended battery packs
7) Many can only shoot for limited periods of time (10-20min?)
Advanced features like peaking and zebra stripes
And there are others I'm sure I can't think of at the moment.
I would not trade my camcorder for even the best $10K DSLR, my video shooting productivity would instantly drop to zero, and the hassle factor would go through the roof.
Dave. -
agree and dissagree...
That information is true... but a little out of date..
The latest generations are cheaper, easier to use and have been designed to help the video side of things too..
YES mine has a 20minute maximun file size.
Yes MINE has no articulated screen.. but many do and a 14 euro mini car reversing camera's screen works great on the hot shoe.
They all have mic in... but they do have a small trap, check my videos for an explanation though. The input is neither mic nor line level, its somewhere inbetween. I'm (educated guessing) thinking that they dont have any proper variable preamps on the inputs and its just a software boost used to control mic gain because anything above the lowest level creates a LOT of hiss and the signal to noise ratio is crap... the trick is to amplify before entering the camera, which can be done in many ways, cheaply or not so..
They have on screen VUs too.
Thing is.. if you can only afford one thing.. I'd still stick with a DSLR for family photos, holidays, videos, blogs etc etc etc. -
That information is true... but a little out of date..
The latest generations are cheaper, easier to use and have been designed to help the video side of things too..
Yes, some newer ones have better video functionality. But virtually every camcorder, including the el-cheapo $200 ones still beat any DSLR in usability terms.
No one has yet shown me a single DLSR on the market that meets all the basic capability of even an el-cheapo camcorder.
Unless you shoot a lot of video, you won't know that the subtle things can make a big difference. DSLR's still do not cut the mustard as an everyday camcorder replacement.
Dave. -
That camera has a external mic, doesn't it? It's very unlike the D3100 which you couldn't plug-in a mic nor use a IR remote unlike it's predecessors but both of them can shoot Full HD!If you use a HD camera you need a reasonably fast PC to handle the data if you want to edit video.
Yes and no..
With certain programs like sony vegas, it will reduce the preview quality to suit the machine in which it is running.
But with out a doubt, the final render speed is very processor and data transfer related.
I use a Nikon D3200 with the kit lens and its worked out GREAT for me! Just NEEDS an external mic or external mic input.. but that is ANY DSLR (for video)
google my username (same there) to see some videos I've made explaining it (I'm a sound tecnician by trade).Yes, some newer ones have better video functionality. But virtually every camcorder, including the el-cheapo $200 ones still beat any DSLR in usability terms.
Yeah, exactly. I could do what i want with a decent HD cam and not have to spend about 1200$ on a D5100
No one has yet shown me a single DLSR on the market that meets all the basic capability of even an el-cheapo camcorder.
Unless you shoot a lot of video, you won't know that the subtle things can make a big difference. DSLR's still do not cut the mustard as an everyday camcorder replacement.
Dave. -
Dave is right. A DSLR can produce beautiful and artful video with some effort. A DSLR can be pressed into service if really needed to do video but a dedicated video camera/camcorder cannot be beat for ease of use and single man operation. For blogging, a DSLR is overkill and for less than $500 you can get a really good HD camcorder that will make your life so much easier. A camcorder is made for video and all the ergonomics and the rest of the design is made to make grabbing video easier. A DSLR is made primarily for stills and is optimized for that, with video as a secondary consideration.
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Depends on what you're doing. I've seen blog posts done that look fantastic with simple hd webcams and I sub to a guy that uses one of those super cheapo pocket video cams. Conversely, I've seen some pretty horrendous blogs done by people with incredibly high end gear.
This one was done with a creative video HD. Like most things creative, I think more than anything else it's less about the quality of the hardware and more about the skill of the user.
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You need good lighting but not excessive ...
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Depends on what you're doing. I've seen blog posts done that look fantastic with simple hd webcams
If you have good enough light and angle, you can get good HD video quality with almost anything, webcam, phone, $50 point-and-shoot camera or whatever.
But I simply wouldn't be able to do my show if I was tied to a webcam.
Dave. -
hey dave
why did you choose this 1100$ camera and you didnt buy 500$ or less camera with external mic in (most of all the sony and canon) also why did you choose canon?
also for live performance I will recomended that you buy USB/pci/pcie capture card so you connect you good camera and mic via composite and audio.
also if you with group like you did the video with doug, take an audio mixer and connect 2 mics.
that I did last couple of years when shooting in holon academic institute lectures.
thanks arnon -
Depends on what you're doing. I've seen blog posts done that look fantastic with simple hd webcams
If you have good enough light and angle, you can get good HD video quality with almost anything, webcam, phone, $50 point-and-shoot camera or whatever.
But I simply wouldn't be able to do my show if I was tied to a webcam.
Dave.
That's why I said it depends. The types of blogs you're doing now are well past anything you'd want to attempt with a basic webcam or point n shoot. However, I think some of your earlier efforts could easily be done that way. To get a more specific answer the OP may want to expand on what exactly he's trying to accomplish out of the gate. -
6) Most can't take extended battery packs
All the common brands and models do (canon/nikon) which make up ~90% of DSLRs.
You just buy the vertical battery grip.
It adds space for two batteries instead of one and provides an adapter tray so you can run from AA's if you wish. -
I want to see a EEVblog chapter's behind the scenes!!!! hehehe O0
Martin... -
Hello,
I'm in the process of buying a cam too ...
For now my choice is the Panasonic HC-X800 ... seems to be an HC-X900 without visor and with a lower quality screen, but 160€ cheaper and same sensor which has probably the best result in the 0€ to 1500€ price range.
Thomas.
[EDIT] No mic input on the HC-X800 => no go. Back the fight between the HC-V700 and the Sony CX-190.
[EDIT] No mic input on the CX-190 => no go. I think the winner is the HC V-700 ... -
Be careful with the recent(?) Panasonic's, in that they don't seem to allow progressive shooting on anything less than full 20+Mbit 1080p. They use interlaced only for the lower settings.
Dave. -
Hello,
I ordered the V700 yesterday, should have it tomorrow by 1PM.
I also bought a 32GB Sandisk Extreme Pro SD card and USB 3 SD card reader ...
I don't think I'll need anything else than 1080p/50 (60) (it's 28Mbps). On the Zi8 I was using ONLY 720p/60, I'll shoot mainly RC helicopters and fast movig stuff, I need as much FPS as possible.
And about processing videos, I think my current PC can handle it (SSD 256GB + i7 2700K + 16GB RAM).
Anyway the panasonic was the only one is this price range with mic input, 50 (60) progressive 1080, and I think by far the best quality image for this price.
Had it in hand yesterday, plastic is not as good as the sony CX-250 for example.
Based on reviews and specifications I still think the V700 is the best option for my needs, but time will tell if I'm right (yeah, would have prefered the sony CX-760 ... maybe next time if I feel the need for it
).
Thomas.
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I use a Nikon D3200 with the kit lens and its worked out GREAT for me! Just NEEDS an external mic or external mic input.. but that is ANY DSLR (for video)
google my username (same there) to see some videos I've made explaining it (I'm a sound tecnician by trade).
Ergh, forgot DSLR if you are doing serious video blog stuff.
It's fine for shooting a month long doco if you have forever to muck around and need very shallow depth of field and specific shots etc.
But if you just want to shoot video without fuss, get a proper camcorder.
Disadvantages of DSLR's vs camcorders:
1) Many don't have full articulated (tilt/swivel screen), useless for in front of or top of camera work
2) Many don't have external mic inputs (useless)
3) Few if any have proper on-screen audio level meter
4) They are hopeless at maintaining auto-focus
5) Inconvenient with playback and general video operation.
6) Most can't take extended battery packs
7) Many can only shoot for limited periods of time (10-20min?) Advanced features like peaking and zebra stripes
And there are others I'm sure I can't think of at the moment.
I would not trade my camcorder for even the best $10K DSLR, my video shooting productivity would instantly drop to zero, and the hassle factor would go through the roof.
Dave.
Sony Alpha 99 does all that. Also the bitrate your HG10 produces is crap - 28 mbit/s AVCHD. On a pretty old canon T2i you get 43 mbit/s MOV which makes a HUGE difference in detail, considering it will be recoded by youtube, it also takes a videomic. I totally agree with hassle factor, but when it comes to video quality, modern camcorders are trash compared to DSLR or pentaprism. -
I wouldn't avoid a camera just because it doesn't have a microphone input.
It's quite easy to record additional sound using some standalone mp3 recorder or whatever, you just need to add the sound during editing to the original clip. Use one of those things that makes it easy for you to match the sound to video, also called a slate or a clapboard:
Yeah, it adds a bit of additional work but cameras without mic input are often cheaper, might be worth it
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Adding an external microphone can be done easily, but may invalidate any warranty.
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I wouldn't avoid a camera just because it doesn't have a microphone input.
It's quite easy to record additional sound using some standalone mp3 recorder or whatever, you just need to add the sound during editing to the original clip. Use one of those things that makes it easy for you to match the sound to video, also called a slate or a clapboard:
Yeah, it adds a bit of additional work but cameras without mic input are often cheaper, might be worth it
This can be done, but is often a pain in the butt. I've done hundreds of hours of video editing and sound syncing for independent feature length films. Sometimes it is the best method, like when you need 2-3 audio channels to capture a scene. However, if you are purchasing a camera, I would look seriously at good audio in and good audio metering. It is awesome to drop a video into the editor. Level the audio, compression, cut up and be done. Saves so much time. Especially if you are doing multiple small takes with a clapboard sync with each one.