Video camera for wildlife

[porina]

I used to do a lot of wildlife photography and am thinking of getting back into it now the weather is getting better as we go into winter. But I've done stills to death, so fancy having a go at video.

 

Following is what I think I want:

• Must have AF, with decent tracking of moving subjects. Must not have noticeable hunting.
• Can be used hand held (I'm easily ok on APS-C DSLRs to 400mm f/5.6)
• Effective focal length of at least 28-300+ with more emphasis on the long end. If this is achieved through several changeable lenses that is ok, but a single fixed lens is ok too. I have a ton of Canon EF lenses if that helps, but not a requirement to use.
• Must have effective stabilisation especially when used at 300mm+ handheld
• Should have option of using screen or viewfinder. I assume TTL OVF is not really possible for video so would take decent EVF.
• 1080p60 recording at minimum. Higher framerates is a plus. Higher resolution is a plus. Neither are essential. I'd take framerate over resolution. 240+ would be sweet, but consider this a stretch goal.
• Some degree of water resistance would be nice. As a stretch, it should be usable in light rain unprotected for short times (comparable to Canon semi-pro level).
• I already have a Rode VideoMic Pro if that helps. I don't have a dead cat for it (yet).

No budget in mind, but let's see what's possible below US$500, $1000 and $1500. I recognise not everything might be possible at lower price points.

[dalekphalm]

Our Art Gallery at work as the Canon Vixia HFG21 - it seems to fit most of your criteria, and my limited use with it has been very pleasing.

https://www.canon.ca/en/product?name=VIXIA_HF_G21&category=/en/products/Video-Cameras---Consumer#specifications

 

It has AF - and it seems to be decent.

 

It's a camcorder, and can be used one-handed (though it has tripod mount, a shoe on the top, etc - you could build a handheld mount for it).

 

The focal length is 3.67-73.4mm (35mm equiv: 26.8mm to 576mm) - so it definitely fits into your 400mm+ focal length. It has IS. It does 1080p60 - doesn't do higher though.

 

I can find no listing on water resistance one way or the other, so I would be careful not to drop it into a stream or anything.

[porina]

9 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

Our Art Gallery at work as the Canon Vixia HFG21 - it seems to fit most of your criteria, and my limited use with it has been very pleasing.

Couldn't find that model where I am, but other models in the range are. I'm now disappearing down the rabbit hole on Amazon as it suggests other manufacturer's similar models too... so much choice.

 

9 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

I can find no listing on water resistance one way or the other, so I would be careful not to drop it into a stream or anything.

I'm not looking for immersion resistance (dropping in a stream would be negligence on the user's part), but just enough if I'm caught out in some rain it wont instantly kill it.

[ThePointblank]

Have you considered using a DSLR for video work? The new Canon 90D should fit the bill, and it's compatible with your existing Canon EF glass:

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1502488-REG/canon_3616c016_eos_90d_dslr_camera.html

[porina]

On 10/2/2019 at 1:51 PM, ThePointblank said:

Have you considered using a DSLR for video work? The new Canon 90D should fit the bill, and it's compatible with your existing Canon EF glass:

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1502488-REG/canon_3616c016_eos_90d_dslr_camera.html

I already have older models and the question is how has AF changed? Also the VF wont work in video mode so I'd have to rely on the screen or buy one of those add ons that turns the rear sceen into a viewfinder. I'll give this some further research.

[ThePointblank]

9 hours ago, porina said:

I already have older models and the question is how has AF changed? Also the VF wont work in video mode so I'd have to rely on the screen or buy one of those add ons that turns the rear sceen into a viewfinder. I'll give this some further research.

Same 45 point all crosstype AF for autofocus, but uses a new 220k-pixel metering sensor. Video AF is handled by Canon's Dual Pixel AF system.