Suddenly required to purchase a video camera - help!

[Tadgh]

Hi Guys,

 

I need to purchase some video cameras. I'm a pretty accomplished editor but have never bought a camera before. The content I'll be shooting will be video courses for an online course provider, and some more miscellaneous content which will require the ability to shoot on the go.

 

I don't mind bulk but would like an articulated screen. Sadly, we've got about 700 for the camera. I'm not really sure what my options are.

 

3 questions I'd really like answered:

 

1) I am considering buying a phone shooting on that instead. Am I perhaps an idiot? Camera technology in phones seems to be a great price to performance proposition.

 

2) I normally work with 4K footage, but shooting in 4K seems to come at a price premium - is it worth it? A nicer 1080p camera might be fine but I'm reluctant to go back. 

 

3) Are there any obvious camera recommendations for my situation? What variety of camera should I be looking for?

 

 

Thanks, much love,

Tadgh.

[DrMacintosh]

The LGV20 is a good still camera. If you want video recording, the iPhone XR is going to give you the best video quality on a smartphone for the price right now. The A12 and the ISP in the XR are in their own league right now. 

 

The XR can shoot in 4K at 24fps in Extended Dynamic Range, 30fps, and 60fps with no recording limits. The XR also records audio in stereo if that is important to you. 

[Tadgh]

1 minute ago, DrMacintosh said:

The LGV20 is a good still camera. If you want video recording, the iPhone XR is going to give you the best video quality on a smartphone for the price right now. The A12 and the ISP in the XR are in their own league right now. 

 

The XR can shoot in 4K at 24fps in Extended Dynamic Range, 30fps, and 60fps with no recording limits. The XR also records audio in stereo if that is important to you. 

XR is well out of my price range unfortunately, but that is good to know. Thank you for the response

[DrMacintosh]

2 minutes ago, Tadgh said:

XR is well out of my price range unfortunately, but that is good to know. Thank you for the response

What is the cost of the XR in your country?

[Tadgh]

4 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

What is the cost of the XR in your country?

bout 900 950

[mariushm]

If you want 4K, maybe Sony FDR-AX33 at around $700 ?

 

4k at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps , correction .. 4K at 30fps , 1080p at 60fps, plain stereo jack for microphone and headphones, also sony shoe, hdmi out , wi-fi, 

Maybe spend the difference on a good tripod?

 

 

 

[DrMacintosh]

2 minutes ago, Tadgh said:

bout 900 950

Yep, sounds like a dedicated camera is what you need. 

[Tadgh]

20 minutes ago, mariushm said:

If you want 4K, maybe Sony FDR-AX33 at around $700 ?

 

4k at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps , plain stereo jack for microphone and headphones, also sony shoe, hdmi out , wi-fi, 

Maybe spend the difference on a good tripod?

 

 

 

This looks like a really solid suggestion, thank you for this, it's on the list.

[Tadgh]

18 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Yep, sounds like a dedicated camera is what you need. 

Agreed, honestly.

[mariushm]

22 minutes ago, Tadgh said:

This looks like a really solid suggestion, thank you for this, it's on the list.

Just double checked everything... apparently i made a mistake, it's 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps ... not 4k at 60fps and 1080p at 120fps. Still a great camera.

[Tadgh]

10 minutes ago, mariushm said:

Just double checked everything... apparently i made a mistake, it's 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps ... not 4k at 60fps and 1080p at 120fps. Still a great camera.

Some of the sample footage I've seen is absolutely beautiful, it's definitely still on my list

[Teradore]

On 4/7/2019 at 11:28 AM, mariushm said:

If you want 4K, maybe Sony FDR-AX33 at around $700 ?

 

4k at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps , correction .. 4K at 30fps , 1080p at 60fps, plain stereo jack for microphone and headphones, also sony shoe, hdmi out , wi-fi, 

Maybe spend the difference on a good tripod?

 

 

 

I also believe this is you best bet for the budget, especially if you don't usually operate a camera, you don't NEED a dslr but with a phone your paying 700 and hardly any of that goes in to the camera. So this is a good inbetween.