Good Video Cameras for under £100?

[TechMasterMind]

Are there any cameras perhaps I could buy used or what have you that I could both carry and have setup as a webcam the rest of the time for filming video (I'm into video editing)

I'm not sure what makes a decent camera so the price is varible +-£50 but this would be my first camera so £50 is more realistic.

 

Edit: if you have no reccommendations, is there anything I should be looking for in a camera?

[Aereldor]

You could still get a used T3i/300D for that with lenses and it'd shoot great video... See if you can find someone selling it with the 50mm f1.8 lens, that's the most common canon lens besides the stock 18-55. If not just get it with whatever lens it comes with, and either learn to manual focus and get a vintage prime lens, or save up and get the cheaper - but still good - Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 instead.

You'll have a max resolution of 1080p but that's plenty... You'll get a well-built APS-C camera with the biggest lens selection in the world (canon has used the same mount for decades). 

Post here for lighting tips etc. Brandon from LTT has done some guides on YouTube...

[porina]

Maybe others will have better suggestions but that is a tight budget and I'm not sure there is much you can buy that would be much better than using your smartphone, assuming your smartphone doesn't totally suck at video. Are there any particular types of video you want to capture? It is a bit different if you want to do some cinematic shallow depth of field vs a "just be there" documentary style.

 

I'm wondering if an early generation video capable DSLR or mirrorless camera might be in budget. Just as an example I looked at mpbphotographic who specialise in buying/selling used camera equipment. I think this will exceed your budget and you're looking around £200 minimum to get started on that route.

 

Compact cameras might be another option, but there is too much choice here. I don't think they'll do much better than a phone either, but models with optical zoom might offer more possibilities.

[Aereldor]

4 minutes ago, porina said:

 

EOS 300D routinely goes sub-$100... I'm seeing body-only on eBay UK for £50... 

Yongnuo 50mm another £40

[TechMasterMind]

7 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

You could still get a used T3i/300D for that with lenses and it'd shoot great video... See if you can find someone selling it with the 50mm f1.8 lens, that's the most common canon lens besides the stock 18-55. If not just get it with whatever lens it comes with, and either learn to manual focus and get a vintage prime lens, or save up and get the cheaper - but still good - Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 instead.

You'll have a max resolution of 1080p but that's plenty... You'll get a well-built APS-C camera with the biggest lens selection in the world (canon has used the same mount for decades). 

Post here for lighting tips etc. Brandon from LTT has done some guides on YouTube...

OK, I also want this to be a learning experience for me so which camera would I learn more from the canon 3i/300d or the Yongnuo 50mm?

[TechMasterMind]

3 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

EOS 300D routinely goes sub-$100... I'm seeing body-only on eBay UK for £50... 

Yongnuo 50mm another £40

I'm assuming the 300d comes with more straps, tripods etc as I've heard of canon but nit yongnuo I would imagine accessories to be more widely available/cheaper on the ebays

[Aereldor]

2 minutes ago, TechMasterMind said:

OK, I also want this to be a learning experience for me so which camera would I learn more from the canon 3i/300d or the Yongnuo 50mm?

Um... Okay, so the 300D is a camera body. It usually comes with a lens, but it's not a great lens and you can save money by buying just the body. 
The Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 is a lens for that body. They make the same lens for other bodies, but the Canon version (that fits the 300d) is the most common. 

We're not allowed to post eBay links publicly, so I can PM them to you... You'll spend less than £100 including shipping
 

 

Just now, TechMasterMind said:

I'm assuming the 300d comes with more straps, tripods etc as I've heard of canon but nit yongnuo I would imagine accessories to be more widely available/cheaper on the ebays

Correct, and if it doesn't come with a strap, you can easily make one with an old lanyard you have lying around.

[Aereldor]

Wait hold up... I made a mistake, the 300D is an older camera, I meant the 600d. Got the names mixed up - Give me a bit to find something else

[TechMasterMind]

24 minutes ago, porina said:

Maybe others will have better suggestions but that is a tight budget and I'm not sure there is much you can buy that would be much better than using your smartphone, assuming your smartphone doesn't totally suck at video. Are there any particular types of video you want to capture? It is a bit different if you want to do some cinematic shallow depth of field vs a "just be there" documentary style.

 

I'm wondering if an early generation video capable DSLR or mirrorless camera might be in budget. Just as an example I looked at mpbphotographic who specialise in buying/selling used camera equipment. I think this will exceed your budget and you're looking around £200 minimum to get started on that route.

 

Compact cameras might be another option, but there is too much choice here. I don't think they'll do much better than a phone either, but models with optical zoom might offer more possibilities.

I'm doing this as my phone camera sucks I will attach a video...

I mean my objectives are:

1) To get a significant visual improvement over what a webcam would do

2) Practicality: I know I can use my phone for such a purpose but its my phone not only would this use up storage but I wouldnt have my phone at my disposal when I would be using it a webcam although with video I would usually have planned to have it there anyways. But theres also the issue of, if I have a camera mounted I can take a look at the video without disturbing the camera - hence making shots like the attached video way easier to work the magic on.

3) To get better at shooting video & all that comes with it - hopefully a camera would force me to do this

4) To be able to pay my rent

5) Customisability for different shots, my phone camera doesn't even have iso settings

[TechMasterMind]

6 minutes ago, Aereldor said:

Wait hold up... I made a mistake, the 300D is an older camera, I meant the 600d. Got the names mixed up - Give me a bit to find something else

OK its fine, thanks for correcting

[Aereldor]

3 minutes ago, TechMasterMind said:

OK its fine, thanks for correcting

Okay, so here's a guide... Try to find a Canon 500D, 550D, or 600D. These are ~10-year-old cameras, but with good sensors and processors, decent autofocus, and a huge lens selection. You should be able to get one for less than £100 with a lens.

 

They'll usually be sold with a kit lens (they come with the camera) - either an 18-55mm lens or an 18-135mm lens. Work with these for now, and save up for the Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 Canon system lens. This will be around  £40

In my opinion, this is the cheapest way to learn about videography, and you'll already have a camera where you can change lenses, buy cheap accessories etc. Getting a fixed-lens camera would work, but your options would be limited and it's more of a toy camera than a real DSLR with interchangeable lenses. 

You can make videos with anything... I used to film music videos on a 360p camcorder from the 90s... But you'll get better videos and learn more with a DSLR.

[Aereldor]

@TechMasterMind what phone do you have? Phone cameras aren't bad these days, even cheap ones... And there are software tricks to get great video.

[TechMasterMind]

Just now, Aereldor said:

@TechMasterMind what phone do you have? Phone cameras aren't bad these days, even cheap ones... And there are software tricks to get great video.

For an idea this is some video I filmed on my phone camera

 

It seems to me that if I'm taking things seriously, which I am DLSRs are looking better and better but are they suitable for my other usecase, can you use them for video calls and such on a pc? I do see people use these in some cases

[Aereldor]

Stop posting that silly video and tell us the model number of the phone. It's possible that you could install 3rd-party or modified camera software to make it better. I have a Moto G7 Power using a hacked GCam App (the camera app that makes the shitty Google Pixel camera work using software tricks) I've filmed plenty of shit on there. I haven't got time to upload videos but they're on par with the photo quality, I've attached photos below.

I haven't found an android phone yet that GCam won't work for.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

[Aereldor]

You can use most Canon and Nikon DSLRs as webcams using the software 'Sparkocam'. More experienced photographers often install custom firmware called 'Magic Lantern' that unlocks a lot of camera features, like RAW video capture, forcing higher resolution than the camera's specs, improved autofocus, zebras etc. 

Some streamers use Sparkocam to stream... Should be okay even on something as old as a 500D

[porina]

6 hours ago, TechMasterMind said:

It seems to me that if I'm taking things seriously, which I am DLSRs are looking better and better but are they suitable for my other usecase, can you use them for video calls and such on a pc? I do see people use these in some cases

I have not tried it myself so do research further if you go that route, but there was recently released an official beta utility from Canon to enable some models of their video capable DSLRs to be used like a webcam via USB connection. https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/self-help-center/eos-webcam-utility/ Note it seems to be only on Canon USA for now. They use different names for consumer cameras.

 

If you go Canon, there are also some unofficial firmware upgrades that give more control that might be useful. https://magiclantern.fm/

 

Amongst others, I have the 600D although not used it seriously for video. It'll be fun for stills if you want to explore that area also.