OT-Camera Suggestion

Jameson_Prod wrote on 11/14/2014, 7:26 AM

My local school district is wanting to start videoing their board meetings. We have audio for the room but are in need of an affordable camera that has audio inputs. (I'd very much like to take the audio feed directly into the camera). HD is not a necessity. The video will be exported and streamed from the web. I've lost touch with camera models and specs.

Can anyone recommend something that is reasonable.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Comments

Kimberly wrote on 11/14/2014, 9:12 AM

Hello:

Are you looking for a basic professional model, or will a high end consumer/prosumer model fit the bill?

I use a Sony CX760V. The newest version is the 900-something. The CX760V was $1,500 new in 2012. You can find them now on eBay for about $500. Of course on eBay all that glitters is not gold.

I use it for underwater video in a housing, which is why I picked it. It takes nice video and I believe it has the audio inputs that you seek, plus you can get microphone accessories. It has a remote, which I don't use under water, but that feature might be helpful above water.

Do some searching on eBay to get a feel for the $$$ on used or leftover new gear. Also take a run over to Costco and look at their camera offering. These may be too simplistic for your needs but it will give you a baseline expectation of the common features, and you can handle them. HD is just part of the deal these deals. Many cameras are offering 2k and 4k, which is the new great thing.

Oh PS. Costco will have tripods this time of year. A good tripod is not cheap. The "holiday package" type tripods aren't garbage, but they are not top of the line quality either. In prior years Costco has been carrying a Monfrotto with a cheap head that can be upgraded. Anyway, consider getting a tripod if you are going to park one or more cameras at the meeting.

Regards,

Kimberly

dxdy wrote on 11/14/2014, 9:50 AM

I record a lot of board meetings in our community, the members are spread out pretty wide. I would suggest whatever camera you go with has the ability to add a wide angle adapter.

Watch the lighting - a bright white wall behind the board members will play havoc with your picture. I finally got them to turn down the backlight a little and it really helped.

I found that for important meetings, a second camera that zooms in on board speakers is really good.

Do they have a podium and mic for the citizens who address the board? It is nice to pick them up as well, audio and video.

These meetings can become quite the production. If the high school has any kind of media or broadcast program, recruit some students to run the cameras for extra credit.

Finally, don't undersell the audio. At this kind of meeting, audio is really the most important part. People will watch grainy video with good audio, but won't watch pretty video with lousy audio.

Just my 2 cents...

Jameson_Prod wrote on 11/14/2014, 12:35 PM

I installed the audio system and yes it is professional quality. We have been recording the audio for the past few years. Now they are wanting to add the video aspect.

I'm just looking for a reasonably priced camera that has audio inputs on the camera. Pro-sumer or professional are fine as long as they do the job.

Thanks.

xberk wrote on 11/14/2014, 6:45 PM

If you can find one (I think B&H still has them) -- and you have a budget of at least $1800 -- Has the audio you need and much much more.

astar wrote on 11/15/2014, 2:12 PM

Here is my quick take on this:

Get a camera that does Smart Render, and make sure you lighting is good enough to not have to tweek. The old DV100A and be had for 150.00 these days, pro XLR audio, and you can run a DV cable to Vegas capture for unlimited recording time. The other option would be to get a XDCAM camera so you can also take advantage of Smart Render. Then render the final output to whatever display format you are going to, Handbrake for example. If you go SD, you could just use a live steaming switch application, and where you can go to your final output, and add lower thirds in real time. With a fast enough PC you can do HD with like a Canon Vexia series and the right capture inputs.

ushere wrote on 11/15/2014, 4:20 PM

XDCAM camera so you can also take advantage of Smart Render

afaik xdcam no longer smart renders - mores the pity.

astar wrote on 11/18/2014, 3:54 PM

Guess it depends on the camera. If the camera records an.MP4 container, then yes no Smart Render, as Sony disabled this out of infinite stupidity vs repairing the problems. If the camera records to an .MXF container, then smart render works as it should, and I use it all the time.

VideoFreq wrote on 11/22/2014, 11:39 PM

I would highly recommend the Panasonic HC-X920 for under $850. It is a 3-MOS chip camera with (3) 1/2.3 inch chips, for excellent color. I have it's two model predecessors to this cam, the HDC-TM700 and 900 and they shoot well in medium to low light without appreciable video noise. I have shot tens of thousands of hours with them, including our board meetings. They are my most frequently used cams and I have all sorts of Canon AH-A1 and Sony EX3's. In addition, you can input XLR audio via an adapter to it. I use a RODE Videomic Pro as well. The new cam version also shows audio levels in the viewfinder. As a bonus to your handheld users, the Panasonic's have the BEST steady cam function of any camera short of a $2 million dollar helicopter steady cam.

Steve Mann wrote on 11/22/2014, 11:43 PM

You don't say where you are located, but in the US, many cities and towns televise their government meetings such as the school board on their local Community Access TV stations who provide the equipment.

farss wrote on 11/23/2014, 4:22 AM

[I]"the Panasonic's have the BEST steady cam function of any camera short of a $2 million dollar helicopter steady cam. "[/I]

Sony's HXR-NX30 costs a lot less than $2 million and has a gyro stabilized lens which is not much different to what you find used with helicopters.

Bob.