Best Budget HD Camcorder

[taterboss]

I am creating videos that end up on YouTube and other sites. It's time to upgrade from SD to HD, and I have a limited budget. I want the best HD bang for my buck in a new camcorder, until I become rich and powerful and can get the toys the big boys use. Someday.

I've heard that web video is best when recording in Progressive mode, so I think my target is Full HD 1920x1080 at 30p.

I currently use a Panasonic PV-GS320, which is SD but has 3 CCDs for good color. It was good for it's time - time to move on.

I'm considering a Canon Vixia M300, which goes for $458 on Amazon. It says it's capable of HD in progressive and records AVCHD to SD cards. It has a 3.89 megapixel CMOS sensor.

My budget is $500 tops. Amazon even has a Canon R10, last years tech, for only $380.

Got any suggestions for a great HD camera for under $500 that will produce excellent web video?

Finally, what's the best setting to use on a camera when shooting for the web?

Thanks.


The TaterBoss

[mikec]

Amazon even has a Canon R10, last years tech, for only $380.




FYI, the cameras Fox, NBC, CBS and ESPN use to cover NFL, NASCAR and most other things are several years old. They do not change cameras every year, nor do they upgrade just to upgrade. There has to be a significant reason to approve the $$$.


Your video is getting compressed. Accept that.

[taterboss]

In this case, aside from the YouTube posts, I'll be posting the video to my own site where I can control the compression levels.

Basically, if you just HAD to shoot a video, and only had access to $500, what would you choose?

[mikec]

I don't buy home camcorders, I get enough video at work.


Things to consider, does the camera fit your hand? Do the controls make sense to you? Do YOU like the pictures that it makes? Does it output formats that your editing software can use? If it is your camera, who cares if your brother doesn't like it? As long as you like it.

Ryan did a camera shoot off a while back, sorry, don't remember which episode. I don't remember if they had a budget camera.

http://revision3.com/deals_electronics see if anything there works for you.

BTW, a couple of quick searches showed decent reviews of the R10. This may sound flippant but it is video, not life support gear. If you were talking about scuba gear, you want the best, because your life can depend on it.

[davelinger]

One thing to keep in mind when choosing an HD video camera is the encoding. The Canon Vixias and many others record in AVCHD - which is a 60fps interlaced format. Telling the camera to record 30p or 24p does capture that many full frames, but it is telecine'd into the AVCHD 60i format. It can be a pain to get the "real" 30fps or 24fps out of it.

I chose the Canon Vixia HF200 because:

* It uses SDHC, which I like.
* It's a Canon
* Shoots 1920x1080 at 60i, 30p, and 24p (see note above)
* Shoots up to 24mbps, a very high (relative) bitrate
* Has mic input, headphone output
* Option of manual focus, exposure, shutter, recording volume, etc.
* Small form factor, good zoom.

[tokenuser]

I have the same camera.
For web content, its still amazing - and the 3CCD does give great color.
AND it shoots to tape ... and that is a huge advantage if you are traveling.
Shoot in 16:9, upload with minimal compression ... and you'll still have a product that is cleaner than most HD video uploaded to the web.