Iris Pro

Iris Pro

 

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What are the best Digital Video Cameras?

I would like a list with the pros and cons and what the camcorders can do.
I would like video cameras with:
1. memory card
2. Enough pixels to have good video quality
3. CCD chips- preferred 3, but 2 is acceptable
4. Acceptable low light performance
5. Zoom- good range of zooming that keeps the quality great
6. Image Stability- The weight of the camera is balanced and the video is not easily shaky(easy to keep still)
7. USB port
8. LCD screen to allow people to look at what you have recorded
9. Sound- I would like a good quality sound that can reach far away and does not record sounds made the camera buttons/etc
10. Manual settings- general stuff like focus, iris, shutter speed, white balance,etc,etc,etc

Please give me a list with details. Not all of the list has to meet up with all requirements

What is your budget?

Standard definition or high definition?

1) The recording media is almost irrelevant - the video file format that is stored on the media is the important part. DV, DV widescreen and HDV are best - unless you move to "ultra high definition from Red or Silicon Imaging. The Sony HVR-Z7U, Panasonic AG-HVX200 and JVC GY-HM100 are the "best" flash memory camcorders. Consumer-grade AVCHD camcorders should be avoided. The Canon XH and XLH series, Sony HVR-Z1 and Z5 would be very acceptable miniDV tape options.

2) Video is not measured using "megapixels". This is a still image measurement. Videoresolution is measure using horizontal line count. 480 is standard definition. 720 and 1080 are high definition. Above this is "ultra-high definition" (see Red One and Silicon Imaging).

3) There is no such thing as a 2 CCD imaging chip array. There is a 3CCD imaging chip array that breaks the visual spectrum into the three basic colors Red-Green-Blue that each chip is responsible for handling a single color. The other method is a single chip that handles all three colors. Most pro-grade cams use 3CCD or 3CMOS.

4) Acceptable low-light performance is achieved through large lenses and imaging chip(s). Start with a camcorder that has a 72mm lens... the cheapest will be the prosumer Sony HDR-FX1000. It meets your requirement in #3, too. To a lesser extent, the HDR-FX7 may be "good enough". For standard def, the Canon GL2 and Panasonic AG-DVX100 are worth a look. Personally, I'd be looking at the Sony HVR-Z1 and HVR-Z5.

5) Any camcorder in the prosumer or above range will have at least 10x zoom. If you want more, add a tele lens. Never use digital zoom - use only optical zoom. And when you are fully zoomed in on something, ALWAYS use a steadying device - tripod, shoulder mount, camera crane... NEVER handheld.

6) Refer to #5 even if not zoomed in on a subject. Prosumer and pro cams typically have optical (not electronic) image stability. As well, your video editor should be able correct that - even iMovie 09 bundled with a new Apple Macintosh can provide image stabilization.

7) You will need to check by camcorder - the prosumer and pro cams typically use the more robust firewire, but they may use the lesser USB. If your computer does not have a firewire port, hopefully it has an available expansion slot so you can add one. Firewire, IEEE1394, i.LINK and inthis context, DV are all the same thing.

All prosumer and pro cams have a viewfinder, LCD screen and external AV connectivity to monitor what is being recorded while it is being recorded or review what has already been recorded.

9) Built-in mics can only do so much. If you want to the mic to "reach far away and does not record sounds made the camera buttons/etc" then you need an external mic. All prosumer and pro-grade cams have audio inputs (either 1/8" stereo or dual XLR). The built-in mics will pick up camera handling noise. An external mic mounted to the camcorder must be mounted in a shock mount to isolate the mic from the camcorder. If the audio is that "far away, then a mic with a long able or some wireless UHF full diversity mic equipment will be needed. Sennhiser, Shure and Audio Technica are good places to start.

10) All prosumer and pro grade camcorders have manual functions available on the outside of the camcorder and not buried in a menu.

IRIS Pro Series F-14 Tomcat: Departing the Boat!


 

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Projecting the future
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 13:05:00 Technology keeps evolving to make our lives better. No? Now how many of us have upgraded our bor­ing handphones to enjoy the many new features that technology has to offer?