Hi-Def Camera - with external mic/Audio input

[glennda]

What do people recommend?

 

Looking for something mainly to do classroom Lesson recordings. We currently have a Basic Sony handycam which has an internal mic that they use for recordings. although this works the quality isn't great both in terms on sound and image.

 

looking in the region of £300-500

 

The other use I am thinking for it is for school productions - being able to feed of the sound desk so the sound is ok.

 

reason for wanting external mic is so it can be placed in the middle of a table for group discussions.

 

Thanks

[dhicks]

What do people recommend?The other use I am thinking for it is for school productions - being able to feed of the sound desk so the sound is ok.

 

I've just bought myself a Panasonic Lumix FZ 150 after reading the review in PC Pro:

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 review | Digital cameras | Movies | Reviews | PC Pro

 

I think the review covers most of the camera's selling points - a good all-round stills and video camera, and it has a proper hot shoe for attaching a shotgun mic or flashgun. The electronic viewfinder and camcorder-style motorised zoom can seem frustratingly slow if you're used to a DSLR, but it's something you get used to. The camera itself is £400 (the cheapest place I could find was Currys), and you'll wind up spending another £100 by the time you've bought a bag and mic. For filming, I use a monopod screwed on to the bottom to make the camera like an old-style pistol-grip film camera - you can buy foam handles on eBay for around £5. The external mic is a 2.5mm attachement, so you might need a converter to plug in a feed from a mixer.

[glennda]

Cheers will look at that.

[RTi]

Isnt there a 10 minute recording limit set on DSLR cameras with Movie mode though? Heard mixed reasons as to why.. some say it's because the sensor gets too hot, others say its because if you can record longer than 10minutes it is classed as a video camera and the manufacturers have to pay a higher tax.

 

We have a Canon 550D and you can only record for 10 minutes.

[Steve21]

Isnt there a 10 minute recording limit set on DSLR cameras with Movie mode though? Heard mixed reasons as to why..

 

I thought it was generally because most cameras only support FAT32 so it's limited to a 4GB movie, aka 12-13 mins at tops? Maybe I'm totally off, but always assumed it was just a "rounder" limit rather than offering 12-13 mins.

 

Steve

[laserblazer]

so you might need a converter to plug in a feed from a mixer

 

That's a pain! I'd be inclined to find a mic. with a 2.5mm jack or solder one on, rather than use an adapter. If you are coming from a mixer, that's going to be a line level output, which might not be great on a mic. input. I've got a Beachtek box that takes XLR plugs and can be switched between mic. and line level.

Edited January 13, 2012 by laserblazer

[glennda]

That's a pain! I'd be inclined to find a mic. with a 2.5mm jack or solder one on, rather than use an adapter.

 

If its coming from a Mixer we should be able to make a cable which is Big Jack to Little jack.

 

What do people think of Camcorders - 1MOS HD Camcorders - HDC-SD90 - Specification - Panasonic UK & Ireland

[laserblazer]

If its coming from a Mixer we should be able to make a cable which is Big Jack to Little jack.

 

What do people think of Camcorders - 1MOS HD Camcorders - HDC-SD90 - Specification - Panasonic UK & Ireland

 

I thought you wanted an external mic. as well?

[glennda]

I thought you wanted an external mic. as well?

 

From what i can see Camcorders - 1MOS HD Camcorders - HDC-SD90 - Specification - Panasonic UK & Ireland

 

INTERFACES

HDMI Yes (mini)

Microphones (stereo mini) yes

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed

AV multi yes

 

Would mean it has a Mini Jack slot for microphone? I can look elsewhere for this though.

[nicholab]

What about the Canon XL2 great camera and XLR connectors on the back.

[laserblazer]

Not HD and you'll be pushed to get one for £500 second hand.

[dhicks]

Isnt there a 10 minute recording limit set on DSLR cameras with Movie mode though?

 

This is why I went for a "bridge" camera - I'm sure it's pretty much the same innards and lens as a Panasonic camcorder, so it's physically quite capable of taking as much video as you have storage for. There's a half-hour limit imposed on video clip length on European region FZ150s, though, for both AVCHD and MP4 formats - you can simply order your camera from the US.

[laserblazer]

I've got one of these Canon LEGRIA HF S200 Camcorder - Black 13803121261 | eBay which does all you want I think. Absolutely cracking picture and it has manual audio control, so you can get the right level from your mixer.