Video Camera Under $1000

[ShadRS]

I am in search of a quality video camera, prefarable with internal storage, and capable of shooting HD video in MP4 format.  The camera will have two principle uses:  filming interviews and filming my forthcoming spawn.  So indoor and outdoor usage.  I've done a bit of looking around on line and cannot find any sources I find to be really reliable.  Thanks.

[wtfxmitchell]

canon 60D maybe

[ShadRS]

Is a video capable DSLR as good as a dedicated video camera?

[Williamchan87]

Is a video capable DSLR as good as a dedicated video camera?

yes.

[Guest]

Is a video capable DSLR as good as a dedicated video camera?

A DSLR will have a better image, but will struggle with fast motion. Also the mics on DSLRs usually suck. I would recommend a DSLR with a good mic. I recommend the Tascam DR-100mkII for a solid mic. If you pair that mic with the T5i with the stock 18-55mm lens, you'll have a solid set up.

[DoubleY]

Do you need AF built into the camera?

As @KorineFreak said, you will want an external microphone. The built in mics are terrible and pick up the focus motor, the noise whenever you zoom, or even pressing buttons on the back of the body.

[ShadRS]

Is there anything to improve holding the camera? It just seems like it would be awkward to hold for long periods of time if doing hand held taping.

[DoubleY]

Is there anything to improve holding the camera? It just seems like it would be awkward to hold for long periods of time if doing hand held taping.

Tripods, glidecams, and anything that isn't your hand is generally recommended for video shoots. There are advantages to hand holding though. But I think the cons outweigh the pros.

[Electronics Wizardy]

A DSLR that is used for video has some disadvantages as well including the overheating problem. Also i recoment getting the 70D as it has AF built in.

[Fate]

A DSLR that is used for video has some disadvantages as well including the overheating problem. Also i recoment getting the 70D as it has AF built in.

A T5i would be better, you'd be lucky to find a 70D with a kit lens for $1k or less. Plus you'd want to get a mic and tripod. 

[ZacDaMan72]

Camera: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-Digital-18-55mm-Lens/dp/B00BW6LWO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1413887477&sr=1-1&keywords=t5i

 

Mic: http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-Pro-Directional--camera/dp/B006HVIRM4/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1413887505&sr=1-3&keywords=videomic+pro

 

Tripod: http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-MKCOMPACTACN-BK-Compact-Action-Tripod/dp/B00L6F16L0/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1413887560&sr=1-3&keywords=manfrotto

[Xeridian]

Panasonic HC-V750 (2014) ($550) will eat anything below $1500 for Video. Shoots at 50MBps, 1080p 60FPS, in MP4 Native, Timelapse, Slow Motion (at 120FPS), Full Manual settings with an assignable wheel for focus, apeture or whetever your need is, 5.1 surround mic built in (I'd use a Rode Video Mic Pro though) has a Monitor plug for headphones, small, comfortable, quickstarts, has a Wide HD Conversion lens you can get and up to 3.5 hrs of battery life with after market batteries, with Stabilization that rivals cameras in the $10k range. It also has a 4 Glass Carl Zeiss Lens.

I am a professional film maker and I would never suggest using a DSLR for normal every day shooting. Just like I would never suggest a Video Camera for Still shots. With DOF and Focus issues, motion blur, rolling shudder, super slow zooming, overheating (A huge problem, especially with cheaper cameras) and stabilization issues, a DSLR just can't compete for real film making. If you're going to have it just sit on a tripod for 5min and take some simple video, yes you can get really good looking stuff, but aside from that it's a nightmare to contain, unless you can afford the most expensive ones on the market and afford jibs and remotes to compensate, but that's going to cost a pretty penny. 

The same goes for not shooting stills with video cameras, if I need stills I just get screen caps from my video or hire a Pro Photog to take behind the scene shots with a real still camera.  The Panasonic V750 shoots 24MP stills (16MP effective), but video cameras arent built to deal with fine tuning focus and shallow depth of field and their sensors arent as big, so low lighting isnt as great as DSLRs unless you get into the $3k-$6k Black Magic cameras or a Red Camera, then you can even swap sensors on some of them. What you are asking for is a good way to shoot versatile video under $1000 and I'm here to tell you that the Panasonic HC-V750 is the best thing you can get. There is the V920 (2013) for $900, but while it has 3 of the same sensors in the V750 and is better in low light, the features anf Focal Length and Native MP4 at 50MBps is worth the better price and unless in extreme low lighting, can't tell the difference between the 2 cameras.