video camera suggestions

tom-p wrote on 8/13/2019, 8:33 PM

I've been using a SONY HDR-FX7 Handycam for my very part-time business of recording interviews. I loved the quality but am unsatisfied with the instability and poor quality of the mini-dv video cassettes. Since it is old (they tell me) technology, I transferred the file/tape to my home office tower computer when I got home. It uses the Firewire cable. I am able to record directly into my home computer (as a test) using the Firewire cable but that's not practical when I'm "on location." I've been trying to find a refurbished laptop that has this Firewire input but am not having success. They all lack the "flat" end of the Firewire cable.

Therefore, I may have to upgrade and get a new/used video camera and am looking for suggestions. I want the high quality HD recording and do not want tape. Either recording directly onto a hard drive or cabling to a laptop. The kicker is I don't want to spend a ton of money (who does?) since this is a very part-time business and it's really more of a hobby, but don't tell my accountant I said that. :) Ideally my budget is no greater than $ 1000.00 so that limits me, but I cannot afford to spend two or three grand for a real studio high-quality camera.

I'd welcome any suggestions. I'm not a regular here but I have had some issues resolved in the past and I appreciate it.

Comments

Former user wrote on 8/13/2019, 8:39 PM

Check out the Canon Vixia line.

tom-p wrote on 8/14/2019, 11:15 PM

Thanks. I did a little comparing of the Vixia line and either the HF G-21 or 21 look like they'll be a good fit for what I need. Good price, recording to cards, etc. I appreciate your help.

Dexcon wrote on 8/15/2019, 5:44 AM

@tom-p ... I know your're looking at HD, but don't discount 4K cameras, either consumer or prosumer, from companies such as Sony, Panasonic and Canon. 4K is fairly much mainstream these days so don't neceassarily have the 'early-adopter' pricing of years ago.

Even though you may not be finishing in 4K, a 4K recording provides a lot of flexibility for finishing in HD. 4K has 4 times the pixels as HD - this means that you can reframe (pan/crop) the 4K image up to 75% and still maintain a full HD image size. For example, if you have a mid-shot of an interviewee talking, you can split the shot and reframe the 2nd event to possibly a head and shoulders framed shot - same take/two differently framed shots, both at HD size in the final HD render.

RonB_USA wrote on 10/3/2019, 7:33 PM

I recommended the Sony NX80 to an organization and they love it. I've had the opportunity to edit several productions from their footage and it is a great camera. They also use it to simultaneously feed some venue 4K screens while recording. If you don't need the balanced audio features, there is a version without the handle for even less money. It even has 4K HDR. Broadcast quality. High-speed auto focus. 2-memory card capture. If I bought a new camera today it would be an NX80.

And yes, I use 4K footage to produce cropped HD productions, as Dexcon mentioned. Great versatility. One stationary 4K camera (like a wide stage shot) can produce a two or three HD "precise-motion" camera production, with careful edit planning using VEGAS Pro animated Pan/Crop. No shooting errors in post!

RonB

PS - Here's some good info on it including manual:

https://pro.sony/ue_US/products/handheld-camcorders/hxr-nx80

ngjb wrote on 11/12/2019, 1:26 AM

I would avoid buying camcorders. The sensor are too small and their low light performance is generally poor. They are just about obsolete. I would buy either a Panasonic Lumix M43 camera with 4K video, or Sony APS-C camera, or the Fuji XT3. If you want to splurge you can buy either the Sony or Panasonic full frame cameras. Panasonic cameras are designed more for video shooters that photographers but do take great photos also. You can't go wrong with a Panasonic Lumix G85, or G9, or GH5.