A camera or camcorder for making my documentaries?

F

FoxAdriano

Well-known member
Hi, I would like to know your thoughts.
I make documentaries around the world, but not in cities. I make them in remote areas of Africa and South America, etc. about indigenous people. I need light and small equipment because I travel alone.
I worked for years with various camcorders, was satisfied but was not satisfied with the quality of the video image. A few years ago a friend of mine with photography experience advised me to change the camcorder to a camera so that I could get better video quality.
True, I have used the Lumix GH5 and GH6 with satisfaction regarding video image quality, but I have always been awkward because a camera does not hold as well in the hand as a camcorder, although I bought the cage so I could protect it and hold it better in my hand.

I would like to go back to using a camcorder, but I'm afraid that there are no light and small camcorders (handycam) and get the same video quality results.
My question is, would you use a camcorder or a camera to make the documentaries that I am making?
I would like to know your thoughts.
Thank you!!
 
You've summed it up perfectly. Take a DSLR and add the gizmos to make it fully functional, and you end up with Frankenstein approved big systems. If you go to capable camcorders style videos, then they by definition become big and unwieldy. Want a long lens? There is a big weight and size issue. The tiny fixed lens gopro style things can have really good image quality - but are so restricting for anything other than wide shots. The smaller than BlackMagic Ursa size cameras soon get bigger with the cages and kit. That said some of the current crop of Sony/JVC/panasonic one piece camcorders are pretty decent and highly specified?

I suppose you need to build a spreadsheet and match features so you can compare what you need?
 
The last camcorder I used was Sony VX2000. I make only 4K (UHD) 4:2:2 documentaries. I don't think nowadays there are camcorders so small that the video image quality can come close to the Lumix GH6. But maybe I make a mistake!!
EDIT: I'm using Osmo Pocket 3 too. :) I need small cameras.
Reading carefully what you wrote, I think I will continue shooting with the GH6.
 
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I think you would be pleased with current 1" sensor camcorders. As long as you get decent light. The other option is to go to something in between for a cinema style camera that has more physical buttons and can be rigged to be on your shoulder. Cameras like the FX6 are very popular because of their versatility and low light performance.
 
Peter C. said:
I think you would be pleased with current 1" sensor camcorders. As long as you get decent light. The other option is to go to something in between for a cinema style camera that has more physical buttons and can be rigged to be on your shoulder. Cameras like the FX6 are very popular because of their versatility and low light performance.
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Agreed.

The Panasonic AG-CX350 and HC-X2 are both pretty solid 1” sensor camcorders.

As for cameras that are more toward the “sensor in a box” cinema bodies, they’ll need to be built out just a little to be useful, but can still remain fairly compact. Sony FX6 and Canon C70 are good options.

I’d also say that the Sony FX3 and FX30 are worth a look. Again, they’d need to be built out a little, but I’ve seen some interesting solutions that make them pretty attractive as compact camera rigs. There’s a product called the CineBack that’s very intriguing.

camerafoundry.com

CineBack™ for FX3 and FX30

Turn your Sony FX3 or FX30 into a cinema camera with CineBack! CineBack bolts onto the back or your camera for a cinema box style form factor and gives you a V-Mount battery plate, D-Tap splitter, XLR top handle options, power switch, screen side mount, top and bottom cheese plates and more!
camerafoundry.com camerafoundry.com
 
Any camcorder that will match the GH6 for resolutions/ frame rates and recording options will be bigger than the GH6, heavier and cost more. The 1" sensor camcorders will not match the GH6 performance but will make life simpler in that the lens on it is the one you have.... no choices to make and will likely have a 20x zoom so useful. I know you would like a National Geographic quality in a simple camcorder. Unfortunately not going to happen. You have a good combination in the DJI OSMO Pocket 3 and GH6. You may want to look at changing your GH6 for the G9M2. So keep your lenses but body is smaller, has PDAF so solves the continuous auto focus issues of the GH6 and uses two SD cards rather than CFexpress/SD of the GH6. Same battery etc. Has all the same recording options etc. So auto recording will be more reliable for you. Does not include fan so may give you an issues for long recording in hot weather that is not a problem for GH6 or the new GH7.
 
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Thanks for your advice.
Since you shoot at larger format than 5728x3024, can you tell me if the AF can benefit from it, since the GH6 has more information than 3840x2160?
 
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Maybe take a look at this video for some pointers. Some of the cameras used on the top 20 Sundance docs this year may surprise you. And some of them can be purchased today for less than a new mirrorless. Also check out the IndieWire site.

Chris Young


IndieWire

https://rb.gy/5554b3
 
cyvideo said:
Maybe take a look at this video for some pointers. Some of the cameras used on the top 20 Sundance docs this year may surprise you. And some of them can be purchased today for less than a new mirrorless. Also check out the IndieWire site.
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Very nice reply, I thank you.
 
I have no experience with the GH6, but if it is anything like my Panasonic S1H you already own a great camera for documentary shooting. My advice is to stop looking at other cameras, stop wondering whether one codec or resolution is slightly better than another, and spend that time mastering the GH6 so you can run it without even thinking about it. Become one with your camera.

Once you cross the threshold for certain professional specifications and features (which the GH6 certainly exceeds) mastery of your camera is far more important than which camera you own. Get out and shoot.
 
FoxAdriano said:
True, I have used the Lumix GH5 and GH6 with satisfaction regarding video image quality, but I have always been awkward because a camera does not hold as well in the hand as a camcorder, although I bought the cage so I could protect it and hold it better in my hand.
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How are you holding the camera? Are you using the OLED viewfinder or the flip-out LCD? I shoot documentary style with my Sony A1 and Panasonic S1H frequently and I find both cameras extremely comfortable to shoot with when I use the OLED viewfinder. It gives me three points of contact with the camera, not to mention being much easier to judge focus, exposure, compostion, etc. In my experience, it is people who rely on the LCD screens on their camera that complain the most about the ergonomics. How do you shoot with yours? If you're using the LCD, put your eyeball up to the viewfinder where it belongs.
 
Doug Jensen said:
I have no experience with the GH6, but if it is anything like my Panasonic S1H you already own a great camera for documentary shooting. My advice is to stop looking at other cameras, stop wondering whether one codec or resolution is slightly better than another, and spend that time mastering the GH6 so you can run it without even thinking about it. Become one with your camera.
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Even though I believe that a camera should mainly take photos because I think that using it for video is too COMPLEX (it doesn't have built-in ND filters, you have to change lenses, etc.), I think you are absolutely right.
 
I've found that one way to get comfortable with using mirrorless cameras for video is to ONLY use them for video. It is the jumping back and forth between shooting stills and video that causes some people a lot of frustration. Once you decide to ignore the settings and features that are used for still photography, the cameras instantly become easier to understand and use. 90% of the time, once the camera has been setup correctly, you just turn it on and start shooting. Simple. No fumbling with menus, butttons, etc. Just turn it on, set exposure, focus, and shoot.
 
Doug Jensen said:
How are you holding the camera? Are you using the OLED viewfinder or the flip-out LCD? I shoot documentary style with my Sony A1 and Panasonic S1H frequently and I find both cameras extremely comfortable to shoot with when I use the OLED viewfinder. It gives me three points of contact with the camera, not to mention being much easier to judge focus, exposure, compostion, etc. In my experience, it is people who rely on the LCD screens on their camera that complain the most about the ergonomics. How do you shoot with yours? If you're using the LCD, put your eyeball up to the viewfinder where it belongs.
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I don't make stills. I use the GH6 camera in different ways, both by putting my eye on the viewfinder and by putting the camera low, at hip level. But that's not the problem, I assure you. The problem is that while I'm taking shots, the scene I want to capture disappear after a few seconds. They are not scenes of cities or within cities, where you have time to think. I have to adjust the focus, I have to put the right gradation of the ND filter, the right focal length of the lens and ... when I'm about to shoot, I no longer see that scene, but another one.
Precisely for this reason I have configured my GH6 to be able to use it in the most automatic way possible and since I've been doing this, I've started to concentrate more on the scene and I can capture better and right scenes.
 
You just have to get faster with your camera and be able to operate without thinking too much. It would be the same with any professional camera. You have to shoot enough that muscle memory takes over in the heat of the moment. Relying on automatic is not the answer.
 
FoxAdriano said:
Why do you think I don't know it?
But changing lenses, roaing the VND filter and focusing you need at least 10-15 seconds if you're lucky. For me that time is too much.
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That proves my point. You are not experienced enough with your camera, or don't have it setup properly, or don't have the right settings slected in order to work quickly and efficiently. Go out and practice.
 
I suck at flying my drone because I don't do it often enough to know the settings inside and out or to be comfortable flying it around obstacles. But I don't blame the drone or look for some special settings. I know where the problem lies.
 
FoxAdriano said:
Why do you think I don't know it?
But changing lenses, roaing the VND filter and focusing you need at least 10-15 seconds if you're lucky. For me that time is too much.
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Frequently changing lenses on a run-and-gun documentary shoot is not advisable. Part of moving with speed and dexterity is being able to change focal length without swapping glass. You really need to get a good, constant-aperture zoom lens.
 
You are right!!
I certainly don't change lenses often. In a day it can happen to me once or twice. But it was just to make people understand.
So I'll rephrase the answer:
turning on the camera, rotating the VND filter and focusing you need at least 10 seconds. For me that time is sometimes too much. Again, it won't always be like this, but quite often I can't wait 10 seconds.
I'd rather shoot a scene that wasn't perfect than not be able to shoot it at all.
 
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