New camera or nay?

December 22, 2009 5:23 PM

Should I get a new camera or a portable HD video recorder? If so, which one?

I'm trying to figure out what to get for Christmas, so this question is a little time sensitive. I'm torn between whether to get a new digital camera or a portable HD video recorder. I've spent a while looking at reviews and all I've done is gotten more confused.

I really enjoy photography, and would like to get into it more so a new digital camera might be an idea. Some of them shoot 720p HD video, which would be great too. However, I already have a Canon PowerShot A640, which complicates things. I use it very sporadically, since it's not something I can carry in my pocket, and I'd like to take more photos. Is a newer, more portable digital camera going to take significantly better photos, enough to justify getting a whole new camera? And if it will, which one should I get? I very much like the look of the Leica D-Lux 4 and the Lumix GF1, but they're WAY too expensive for what is and is likely to remain 'photography for fun'. So, something like them but cheaper (probably a big ask, I know). Would they even be that different to what I already have?

Secondly, if getting a new camera is a silly idea, which portable HD video recorder should I go for? The Kodak Zi8 sounds very good, but is there something closer to a dedicated HD camcorder that doesn't jump drastically in price from roughly that level?

posted by jaffacakerhubarb to computers & internet (8 answers total)

No need to get the Leica D-Lux 4 when the Panasonic Lumix LX3 is basically the same camera for half the price.

Current point and shoot cameras are not significantly better today (in terms of picture quality) than they were two years ago; there have been some incremental improvements, but mostly newer cameras have additional video features, and almost all mid-range P&S cameras now have image stabilization.

The portable video cameras are really designed for capturing spontaneous videos (like stuff you see on YouTube) and not so much for high quality - they emphasize portability and ease of use over all other features. It really depends what kind of video you want to capture. If you want to capture those spontaneous moments, the portable video cameras are great because they are so small and easy to carry around.

To add to your confusion, the latest generation iPod Nano also has decent video support (but not as good as the Flip or Kodak) but if you want a "do everything" gadget, then that's not a bad choice.
posted by kenliu at 5:35 PM on December 22, 2009

Also, I haven't tried the Kodak video camera, but I have a Flip Mino HD that I really like. It gets a whole lot more use than my Canon HD video camera.
posted by kenliu at 5:37 PM on December 22, 2009

The image stabilization on the Kodak Zi8 HD one is awesome.
posted by rlef98 at 7:03 PM on December 22, 2009

FWIW, this video (of us torturing our dog by taking her out in the snow) and this one (of Glen Hansard singing Astral Weeks) were both recorded using my TZ5. You can see that video shot in good light looks pretty good, if unstable, but the camera isn't great in low light. The Hansard video was shot with the zoom on full (10x).

Personally, I got the TZ5 because the quality seemed to be as good or better than the Flip, plus I got a very good point-and-click camera in the bargain. YMMV. The TZ5 (and, I assume, the TZ7) is a little bulkier than the Flip and Zi8, which I don't mind but might be an issue for you.
posted by arco at 7:21 PM on December 22, 2009

If your goal is to take more photos, yes, something that is pocketable will make it much more likely you'll carry it along and actually use it. If that's what you're going to do, just get yourself a little Canon Elph and be done with it (one notable disadvantage being that it will be only 3x or 4x zoom maximum). You don't need a $700 point and shoot.

But no, it won't take better pictures. You can take good pictures with any camera if you know how to compose them and use the camera, and also crappy pictures with any camera. Before you invest a lot in a really nice one, get lots and lots of practice with a simple and cheap one. See if you've actually got the bug. Do some tutorials on basic composition techniques.

I think having one of those little Flip type video cameras would be a lot more fun though. Lots of us say we want to get more into photography, and then the new camera sits in a drawer for 362 days a year. Now that it's so easy to shoot, upload, and share video, I bet you'd have much more fun capturing spontaneous this or that and uploading to Youtube.

If you want the best of two out of three worlds (no dice on portability), get a DSLR with hd video capability. You're not messing around when you're using one of those for stills, and and now the nicer ones shoot hd video that gets reviewed very favorably.

1. mini camera - many more photos will be taken if you carry it with you like your phone
2. Flip or similar - fun, possibly would get used more than a still camera
3. DSLR with video - for serious photography and excellent hd video
posted by Askr at 8:31 PM on December 22, 2009

I bought a Flip MinoHD out of an airport vending machine on impulse before a recent trip (self-link). It's really more of a toy but you can take some nice video with it, and it's astoundingly easy to use. The basic software included (which is stored on the unit so you don't need to lug a disc around to use it on other computers) allows for easy stitching and editing. I found that I keep it with me in my car console all the time now just in case something happens. The image quality looks very good even on our 52" 1080p TV. It's so cheap that you can get that and a real camera and still be under budget.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:04 PM on December 22, 2009

The camera you carry with you is the camera you'll use. Small and pocketable means you'll have it when you need it.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:07 AM on December 23, 2009

If you want the best of two out of three worlds (no dice on portability), get a DSLR with hd video capability.

If you want all three, look into the Panasonic GF1. I've played with one, and it's a darned nice camera. Downside is that it's a bit more expensive than most, but on the upside, especially with the 20mm (40mm equivalent) pancake lens, the whole thing only weighs a pound and shoots 720p video (and darned fine photos, too).
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:44 AM on December 24, 2009