Video Camera

[Brodieeee]

Hello!

 

I've been tasked with looking around for a video camera for the drama department ; I was wondering if anyone has any idea as to what is good and what to stay away from!

 

I literally have no idea where to start; any help or guidance would be most appreciated

 

Price range, probably looking at around £600

 

Cheers

[dhicks]

I've been tasked with looking around for a video camera for the drama department

 

I recently bought a Panasonic Lumix FZ150 - a "bridge" camera that acts as a camcorder, so you can use it for both stills and video. It's excellent at both, although make sure you get the US version otherwise you will be limited to videos of half an hour at a time. At £400 you'll have enough money left over for a tripod, case, spare batteries and a zoom mic.

[3s-gtech]

Just got some Canon Legria HFM46s at a shade over £400. HDD recording, HD, and the staff here like them.

[Brodieeee]

Thanks guys I will pass these on!

[Brodieeee]

For future preference, I found this handy to break down all the technical side of things.

 

Buying Guide

 

Hope this helps others

[Easy_506]

Bumping this thread because i've been tasked with exactly the same job. Drama Dept. requires a camcorder, one that benefits from wide-angle lens (to capture the whole room) AND that includes a decent quality mic so the pupils' voices can be heard.

 

We've trialed a Toshiba Camileo Pro S30, but was deemed to be insufficient.

 

I think i'm attempting the impossible here, as to meet the requirements I think we need more of a pro camera, but the budget is tight...

 

Any thoughts/recommendations appreciated!

[dhicks]

Drama Dept. requires a camcorder, one that benefits from wide-angle lens (to capture the whole room) AND that includes a decent quality mic so the pupils' voices can be heard.

 

In practice, my Panasonic Lumix FZ150 is working well - I've used it to record assorted stuff in various venues and it works well. The internal mic is good, but an external mic might better suite what you're doing - making sure "the pupils' voices can be heard" might require a zoom (shotgun) mic to avoid noise and chatter in a crowded room or you might need a boundry mic to pick up the sound from a group of children on a stage. I have a cheap shotgun mic that fits in the hotshoe of the camera (around £20 off eBay), and it works very well, but you do have to remember to turn it on before use.

 

I see the FZ200 is out now, and the Lumix LZ20 is worth a look - similar device, but cheaper (£140). Check the recording time before you buy - my FZ150 is limited to half an hour at a time, you might want to get the US import version instead.

[Easy_506]

Thanks very much for your feedback. I think we're going to have to spend a little more than we'd like for all this equipment. The cheaper Lumix you mentioned is well regarded but has no external mic input. And we'd definitely have to go for the imported version of the more expensive camera because the staff member will not be able to cope with recording 30 minutes at a time.

[AV_IT_]

Canon 550d with Rode Videomic pro and magic lantern installed. You may then use interchangeable lenses including ultra wide and portrait lenses..

When used properly this will create cinematic footage!

[Easy_506]

Not bad, but once you've got the right lens and the mic too, cost is a little high for us. As always, the finance manager wants it all to be on the cheap(!).

[jinnantonnixx]

I've got a Sony NEX camera. The video is good and its low-light capability is very good.

 

Here's a curveball for you... for audio, you could consider a separate field recorder, something like a Zoom H1. Place the field recorder exactly where you want the sound to be picked up, and you'll eliminate the crowd/external noise. Of course, you'll need to sync the audio to the video, but this is what clapperboards are for. If you choose to use more than one video camera, using a field recorder for your audio will ensure consistent sound quality as you cut between cameras during editing.

[AV_IT_]

I've got a Sony NEX camera. The video is good and its low-light capability is very good.

 

Here's a curveball for you... for audio, you could consider a separate field recorder, something like a Zoom H1. Place the field recorder exactly where you want the sound to be picked up, and you'll eliminate the crowd/external noise. Of course, you'll need to sync the audio to the video, but this is what clapperboards are for. If you choose to use more than one video camera, using a field recorder for your audio will ensure consistent sound quality as you cut between cameras during editing.

Or use PluralEyes to sync.

[DeltaBravo]

GoPro 2 or 3 - GoPro Official Website: The World's Most Versatile Camera

 

They can take a lot of knocks and produce some amazing videos and pictures! Check out the video on GoPro Official Website: The World's Most Versatile Camera

[jinnantonnixx]

You can go the whole hog, or at least a partial hog with a home-made steadycam...

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/jokes-interweb-things/96928-all-you-amateur-video-makers-cheap-steadicam.html

[Easy_506]

Thanks for the further input. The problem is that the requirements are quite specific. HD video is merely a bonus, the focus is on being able to record sound in a fairly large echo-ey drama studio, plus being able to capture a wide enough image. And onwards from that the camera needs to be extremely user-friendly so that 'technologically-challenged' staff can operate the camera and retrieve footage (preferably from an SD card) without having to call upon IT support each time the camera is used.

 

Then the final nail in the coffin is that the school would like all this, for around £200. Which is a tall order in my opinion.

[Easy_506]

GoPro 2 or 3 - GoPro Official Website: The World's Most Versatile Camera

 

They can take a lot of knocks and produce some amazing videos and pictures! Check out the video on GoPro Official Website: The World's Most Versatile Camera

 

Good shout. The GoPro cameras are fantastic for extreme sports, but alongside our PE dept we're starting to investigate the use of a chest mounted GoPro camera to act as a 'player cam' then the footage can be used for player/match analysis for GCSE.

[DeltaBravo]

Good shout. The GoPro cameras are fantastic for extreme sports, but alongside our PE dept we're starting to investigate the use of a chest mounted GoPro camera to act as a 'player cam' then the footage can be used for player/match analysis for GCSE.

 

They are brilliant action cameras but they are just as good as any other camera on the market, 12MP and bragging a pretty amazing 30 photos per second as well, I've got a GoPro 2 and the sound is brilliant, I really think you'd have to spend £1000+ to come close to the GoPro at the moment.

 

Just my thoughts though

[laserblazer]

If it's for drama, then the audio is probably twice as important as the video and you just won't get that from an internal microphone in any camcorder. The Rode videomic is very good, I use one as part of the kit I use to record shows. Trouble is, that's £70 and you then need a camera that has an external mic. socket and you won't get one of those cheaply. I'd be inclined to get some more money to spend and then buy something second hand off Ebay.

[BennyG]

Hi,

 

Not sure if this relevant but we had a similar situation before the summer. After a lot of searching I managed to find a Panasonic HDC-SD90 HD camcorder with external 3.5mm mic input. Along with this we purchased a Audio Technica ATR6550 shotgun style mic that attaches to the camera for large group audio and a Audio Technica ATR3350 lavalier mic for 'interview' style audio. Whilst they are by no means pro standard the audio is certainly better than the built in mic and the equality of the video is more than ok.

 

Not sure if the SD90 is still available or if its been replaced but all in (camera, mics and SD card) the cost wasn't too bad!

[nightblade]

If it's for drama, then the audio is probably twice as important as the video and you just won't get that from an internal microphone in any camcorder. The Rode videomic is very good, I use one as part of the kit I use to record shows. Trouble is, that's £70 and you then need a camera that has an external mic. socket and you won't get one of those cheaply. I'd be inclined to get some more money to spend and then buy something second hand off Ebay.

 

 

Can I ask what kit it is you use to record with. I am sold on the idea of a Rode videomic but need to find a quality video camera that will be able to record in low light and obviously have an external mic socket. Budget isn't unlimited but there is no point buying something cheap that just won't do the job.

[laserblazer]

I've got a Canon XM2 and a HF S100. The XM2 is only SD but a brilliant camera and you can get some good deals on Ebay. All of my stuff goes onto DVD, so SD is not a problem at present. One thing I don't like about the Canon cameras is the mic. needs to provide phantom power. Panasonic doesn't, which can make life a little easier. The Rhode videomic does supply phantom power though. Edited November 15, 2012 by laserblazer

[Andrew_C]

I think that we are in the "fast, cheap, good" loop here. You can have any two...

 

Sound on hand held recorders is seldom even acceptable for anything at all. A camera which has sockets for external microphone/s won't be "cheap", and with external mics is won't be easy for numpty teachers to operate.

 

As to specifics, I'll be watching for recommendations as we want one too. I'm looking at second hand from the BB List at the moment. Hold on to your hat when you see how much some of this stuff goes for!

[Easy_506]

I'm glad this thread got bumped actually because I was going to give everyone an update this morning. The news is actually good. Although my days are mostly spent running around our school being an 'IT legend' (as the PE staff put it), I managed to find some time to do some more in-depth web research about the whole issue of finding a camcorder or DSLR with a wide-enough lens AND hot-shoe for an external mic, AND hi-def, AND recording to SD card.

 

There's actually a lot of useful information online about this particular conundrum, but I got lucky and found the following:

 

Camcorder: Panasonic HDC-SD700 - £287.00

Panasonic HDC-SD700 Full HD Camcorder

 

Rode Video Mic - £72

RODE VIDEOMIC: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

 

And I was lucky and found this helpful video on Youtube which not only confirmed the quality of image but also sound - "Rode VideoMic Pro" + "Panasonic HDC-SD700" - YouTube

 

So, all-in-all I think we've gotten a good deal here. That camera for £287 is excellent and allowed us to spend the right money on the external mic too. We've even got some budget left over.

[nightblade]

Thanks for everyones input. I now have some ideas to look in to.

[laserblazer]

It was hard to see from the photos, does the HDC-SD700 have a standard size accessory shoe? Otherwise you will need an adapter to mount the mic.