Camera's (Still & Video)

[NokiX]

Hi All,

 

We are looking to purchase some new camera's to replace our old and tired set we currently use. We have 6 still cameras along with 4 video camera's but originally we had 5 video cameras and 10 still cameras.

 

It's been a fair number of years since these were purchased and we are not quite sure what to look for since they are for general use and are mainly loaned out to staff and pupils from anything to form photo's or to video a lesson.

 

We don't have a budget for this either but of course we want to get the best we can for the cheapest possible price although we may get at least 1 more expensive video camera for us to use to film events at the school. Any suggestions for either camera is hugely appreciated.

 

Regards,

Chris.

[NokiX]

Nobody? Are camera's that unpopular?

[LeMarchand]

Nobody? Are camera's that unpopular?

 

Yes. Someone will take out the SD card and forget/"forget" to put it back in. Staff never remember to charge the batteries or ensure they have spares. Camera gets taken home for weekend/holiday/party and lost/forgotten. Mechanical zooms get whacked whilst stuck out of camera. No-one thinks to set the resolution suitably. Staff are never happy with the model you spent hours researching.

 

Cheap android tablet for the still cameras?

[ITGURU]

Our general use camera (still and Digital) is kept with us and loaned out - we always ask for it to be returned to us for downloading so no chances of cards going missing, although one has built in memory. Somehow they did manage to break the tripod!

 

As for departments that have still cameras, the cards do seem to go missing!

 

Same kind of issue we used to have in the early days of whiteboard pens - students would nick the pens for the batteries !

[TechMonkey]

The school has 2 adult only cameras, Canons, used for events that are loaned out. Could be worth getting a decent DSLR as that will video well. Sound reproduction would be an issue but I guess you would just want a backing track over the top or your could set up a mic to capture the sound well. That way you are getting 2 for the price of 1.

 

We then have a batch of about 25 cheap and nasty cameras. They cost about £20 each so if they break it isn't really much of a loss. We tried using nice Canon Powershots but we had the same as LeMarchand, broken or went missing. We went from about 30 to about 10 in a couple of terms and we just couldn't justify the cost to replace them. We did have a sign out sheet but of course the teachers borrowed them from each other or just came in and grabbed them (our door is now locked when we are out of the office) and then plead ignorance or that they weren't there when they got them. No one would back us up to apply the cost to individual teachers or to departments so we gave up. I'm not happy with the quality of the cameras, not horrendous but not what I would want, but for the cost price I can't complain.

[JordanT91]

We use Nikon Coolpix L31 now. We have on average two cameras per class so about 30 in total. They are relatively cheap and have a 2 year warranty, which is just as well because I have to send about 5 back to Nikon every year because the lens motors keep breaking. The turnaround is fast (within a week) and postage is free. They use AA batteries, of which I have a large stash of high capacity rechargeable. They aren't so great with movement, and this isn't helped by teachers and TAs who don't half-press the button to focus first.

 

Other than them, we have a Nikon D800 with a Sigma telephoto lens which cost us around £3000 in total. Nobody gets a hold of it without my or the headteacher's say-so. We also have two Sony camcorders that are quite new but I can't remember the model number. They were about £130 each.