Semi-pro camcorder recommendations?

August 1, 2008 9:45 PM

I'm looking for a new camcorder to record role-playing sessions in corporate training programs.

It must:
- be reasonably compact
- be hard-disc or flash memory based
- have a mic input
- have a headphone output

IEEE1394 connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and adjustable white-balance would be a bonus

Low-light, high-definition, anti-shake and special effects capabilities aren't important.

The Canon HF-10 looks, promising, but I'd appreciate any suggestions before I open my wallet.

TIA!

posted by quidividi to Technology (6 answers total)

What's your budget? Do you have a requirement for HD? I've shot with an HF-10, and it's .. meh, passable? I wouldn't choose to use it in a professional context unless under severe budget constraints. (Then again, I've shot primarily on the Panasonic DVX-100 and Canon HF A1, which range from $2500 - $4000, which gives you some idea of the budget I'm used to working with), so take my advice with some grain of salt, depending on your budget and the needs of your audience. As an aside, are you budgeting anything for a small 2- or 3-light kit and one or more good lav mics? If you have to shoot on a low-end camera, this'll at least help you control the light/sound and get higher production values on that end of things.
posted by Alterscape at 12:34 AM on August 2, 2008

Take Alterscape's advice re: lighting and micing. That'll make a world of difference to the finished product.

I always recommend the Canon HV20/30, because I'm far more confident in HDV. If you're set on not using tape, then either the Canon HF10 or the Sony HDR-SR11 should suit your needs. Neither of them have firewire, but they're both very high-spec consumer camcorders.

Btw, why the constraint on HDD or Flash?
posted by Magnakai at 4:10 AM on August 2, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks for the input.

I already have a pair of redheads, Shure SM11 lav mics and a small Soundcraft mixer. And I am replacing a Sony 8mm digital camcorder that's now about 8 years old.

My preference for flash or HDD memory is for ease of data transfer, lower operating cost (ie no tape to buy) and because this appears to be the direction the technology is headed in.

The finished videos will be delivered to trainees on CD ROM, and while good image quality is important it's not the top priority.
posted by quidividi at 7:54 AM on August 2, 2008

I've seriously been considering the Canon High-Definition SD Flash Camcorder (HF100) (currently about 1000 CDN on the web)

Has a Mic in - dunno about headphone.
posted by jkaczor at 8:29 AM on August 2, 2008

Canon Vixia flash memory - has a mic-in, and its built-in mic is pretty good. It even has an accessory shoe that allows you to put in a fancier mic. It has a headphone jack, and tons of other connection jacks. The flash memory is nice, as you don't even have to jack your camera into the computer to download the video.

I've read the Canon HV series has issues with its built-in mic; it's a single mic on the top of the camcorder and picks up lots of unwanted noice.
posted by jabberjaw at 11:52 AM on August 2, 2008

Oh - and trolling on some HD camera forums, the Canon Vixia (HF100) will get 1-2 hours of HD on a 4gb flash card. (I can't recall exactly)

Some purests prefer the tape, as then it is less compressed than the files output by the Vixia when they use firewire to transfer to their computers. Some say that the imaging in the HF100 leaves more artifacts (but others disagree). However, almost everyone agrees that the fact that there is no tape motor makes the output nice - you can get away with the built-in mic without hearing the constant whir of a motor.

Two recent links from MetaFilter, which may have more info:
- Macro photography on the cheap
- Bloom in the Desert
posted by jkaczor at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2008