Help me find a $2,500 - $3,000 HD camcorder setup I can use use on a factory floor.
January 6, 2010 10:19 AM Subscribe
Help me find a $2,500 - $3,000 HD camcorder setup I can use use on a factory floor.
I'm a techie, but not a video guy.
The boss wants me to buy a camcorder we can use to shoot video (eg. returned product damage, repair operations, shock and vibration testing, assembly operations) out on the factory floor, then plug the camera into our video conferencing system to show our remote people the recordings. Other applications for the camera could include shooting oil rig operations and gathering indoor and outdoor clips for our company promotional video.
I figure my requirements for the camera are thus...
1080i HD
Build-in LCD monitor display
1 hour total recording time
HDMI output (for connection to video conferencing system)
Internal storage: hard drive or FLASH memory
Close-ups down to about 2 inches wide (would consider buying a separate macro adapter later)
Hi-speed shoot option desirable but not mandatory
USB file export (prefer WMV)
Additional necessary items...
A real sturdy tripod
On-camera detachable light
Carrying case
Skylight filter
So I want to get all of this (except macro adapter) for $2,500 - $3,000. Or less. What do y'all think?
I'm a techie, but not a video guy.
The boss wants me to buy a camcorder we can use to shoot video (eg. returned product damage, repair operations, shock and vibration testing, assembly operations) out on the factory floor, then plug the camera into our video conferencing system to show our remote people the recordings. Other applications for the camera could include shooting oil rig operations and gathering indoor and outdoor clips for our company promotional video.
I figure my requirements for the camera are thus...
1080i HD
Build-in LCD monitor display
1 hour total recording time
HDMI output (for connection to video conferencing system)
Internal storage: hard drive or FLASH memory
Close-ups down to about 2 inches wide (would consider buying a separate macro adapter later)
Hi-speed shoot option desirable but not mandatory
USB file export (prefer WMV)
Additional necessary items...
A real sturdy tripod
On-camera detachable light
Carrying case
Skylight filter
So I want to get all of this (except macro adapter) for $2,500 - $3,000. Or less. What do y'all think?
Sure you don't want progressive scan? If you need to print out stills for documentation, they'll look much better.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:40 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:40 AM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks, I did not know that. Our main focus for this is video, and our outside video production company shoots in native 1080i should we want to send them a clip.
We have an outside marketing company that we use for our high-quality stills.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:53 AM on January 6, 2010
We have an outside marketing company that we use for our high-quality stills.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:53 AM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: The Canon HFS10 does HD video, and will output at 30P or 60i. I believe it will do closeups at that distance. It has built in flash memory and can also use SDHD cards. It has a 58mm filter thread, built in pop-out light, and is used by a lot of film makers who want something that is high quality without paying an arm and a leg. They go for under $1500, so that would certainly leave you with enough money for a very good tripod and lights.
posted by markblasco at 12:29 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by markblasco at 12:29 PM on January 6, 2010
Hey wait! You should really consider the Casio EX-F1. It meets all your specs.
In addition to HD video (1080i or 720p) you get high-speed video at 300fps (at limited resolution). I use the EX-F1 pretty much continuously to examine things that move too fast to see. Check my Vimeo account for examples (it's under my real name). Also, there are hordes of samples online.
Manual control is sometimes tricky to figure out, but they even just released a PC control utility for the camera. It really is a powerful machine, and a very strange one.
posted by fake at 1:36 PM on January 6, 2010
In addition to HD video (1080i or 720p) you get high-speed video at 300fps (at limited resolution). I use the EX-F1 pretty much continuously to examine things that move too fast to see. Check my Vimeo account for examples (it's under my real name). Also, there are hordes of samples online.
Manual control is sometimes tricky to figure out, but they even just released a PC control utility for the camera. It really is a powerful machine, and a very strange one.
posted by fake at 1:36 PM on January 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:33 AM on January 6, 2010