GH4 Auto-everything companion to GH4

H

Hywel

Well-known member
Hi Everyone,

I'm looking to fill a very specific niche in my camera bag: a CHEAP auto-everything point-and-shoot run-and-gun documentary camcorder. A camcorder that my wife can take around with her to shoot behind the scenes footage of photo shoots, and interviews with available light or maybe an LED panel with her.

The footage doesn't have to be of cinema quality or anything like it. A bit more flexible than a GoPro 3 and a bit higher quality than an iPhone 4 would be nice but really it just needs to be full HD and give a recognisable image in focus.

The sound DOES have to be of reasonable quality, so ability to take a plug-in mic would be a big advantage. She'll take the Zoom H4N as well but really want something that lives on its cheap tripod in the boot of her car ready to go at a moment's notice by powering it on and hitting record.

Anyone have any recommendations? Anyone have a friend or family member with a cheap camcorder? How does it compare to pro cameras these days? Been so long since I used one I have no idea. Is the bargain basement stuff like Panasonic HC-V130 HD complete trash? Anyone know which of these cheapies can record 25p? It's hard to find out from the specs on consumer sites!

I'll be intercutting it with RED, GH4, GoPro and iPhone footage.

Cheers, Hywel
 
It's not a camcorder, and doest have a mic jack, but the new LX100 footage would intercut perfectly with the GH4. It's basically a GH4 with fixed lens and missing a few features.
If your are never going to shoot 4k, I'm sure there are much cheaper alternatives.
 
In answer to my own question I bought a Panasonic FZ200. Not 4K, but in stock today. Remarkable quality HD considering the price, and it takes an external mic if we need it.

Main thing I was surprised by: the camcorder sector has been annihilated, presumably by smartphones and the lull before the 4K glut. Really, there was only one sub-£1000 camcorder even worth looking at (Canon G25), and it was twice the price of the FZ200.

I'd have waited for some 4K offerings but we needed the camera by the end of the week so my wife can take it with her on her next round of photoshoots.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions (and the ref to the earlier thread).

Cheers, Hywel.
 
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