The “perfect” HD video camera (rant)

M

MCShooter

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I’ve been working with digital video for the past 10 years. I would not consider myself a professional by any stretch, although it is my full time gig and I do quite alright. I am filming dynamic ‘run-and-gun’ style one-man shoots, usually close up sports and documentaries. I’ve started with a Panasonic DVX100, moved to the Panasonic HVX200 and after a hiatus, to the Black Magic Camera in my search for the best camcorder for my use. The Black Magic Camera was a mistake for many reasons: the weight, expensive add-ons and accessories to bring it to a useable level, no autofocus, terrible form factor, did I mention weight?, battery life, no flipout LCD etc….


The most important features for me in a camcorder/dSLR are:
  • Perfect AF-servo auto focus with tracking mechanism
  • Wide Angle / Fish Eye capability either through adapters or other lenses
  • Weight & form factor
  • Integrated battery & storage on SD/SSD rather than expensive special cards
  • Swivel LCD
  • External microphone ideally XLR or high quality integrated sound
  • 4:2:2 color
  • 50Mbps+ codec
  • High quality sensors obviously 1080p HD.
My search of the big four manufacturers lead me to more frustration. I feel there is a big gap in the offerings of high quality camcorders. My impression is that the professional camcorder market has been eaten by the dSLRs and the cinematic cameras.
I’ve considered the
Sony FS100 – Bulky, 28Mbps 4:2:0 color for $4k + $1k add-ons
Sony PMW-200 – Expensive memory cards & batteries, $6k + $2.5k add-ons
Panasonic HPX250 - Ridiculous memory cards price for 100Mbps recording! $4.5k plus $3k+ addons
Canon XF305 - $6k plus $1k add ons, perfect but possibly outdated CMOS sensors compared to newer cams.

Each have their positives and negatives with the FS100 / XF305 coming pretty close to ideal. Actually the XF305 would be perfect but it is a 4 year old camera! Why hasn’t Canon upgraded this thing to modern day sensors as everything else is perfect on it .

I’m currently testing the Canon D70, which is actually perfect with the exception of 4:2:2 color and the restriction to only STM lenses if you want decent audio. I would love to use the C100 or C300 if they had silent servo-AF with USM lenses (a dream which won’t happen).


Most would say that (a) autofocus is for grandparents filming their grandkids or (b) get a sound guy but I respectfully disagree as my filming revolves around situations that required quick focus changes and a one-man team.

Would love to hear thoughts, suggestions, experiences and ideas.
 
With the exception of auto-focus and on-board 4:2:2, you are describing the new JVC 850.
If auto-focus is really that important to you and you can sacrifice 50 Mb/s (of which I question your need), I would strongly recommend the JVC-600 series.

You don't need 4:2:2 for the work you have described, I promise you. 4:2:0 has become so advanced that you will never see the difference.

I used to shoot with JVC, but abandoned them in the quest for more cinematic imagery. I now shoot my documentaries with a PMW-F3, but I would NOT recommend my camera as your go-to for sports and events. You kind of have to decide what kind of work is most important to you. Over the years, I have begun to avoid any work that is event-based because of the relative lack of control they entail. I can afford to spend more time getting the shots I need when I am in control of the pace of the shoot, which means I can afford to shoot manual focus with a large sensor and with a limited zoom ratio or primes.
 
Finn Yarbrough said:
With the exception of auto-focus and on-board 4:2:2, you are describing the new JVC 850.
If auto-focus is really that important to you and you can sacrifice 50 Mb/s (of which I question your need), I would strongly recommend the JVC-600 series.

You don't need 4:2:2 for the work you have described, I promise you. 4:2:0 has become so advanced that you will never see the difference.

I used to shoot with JVC, but abandoned them in the quest for more cinematic imagery. I now shoot my documentaries with a PMW-F3, but I would NOT recommend my camera as your go-to for sports and events. You kind of have to decide what kind of work is most important to you. Over the years, I have begun to avoid any work that is event-based because of the relative lack of control they entail. I can afford to spend more time getting the shots I need when I am in control of the pace of the shoot, which means I can afford to shoot manual focus with a large sensor and with a limited zoom ratio or primes.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the thoughts Finn. 4:2:2 and <50Mbps is a good point. The newer sensors are great and for this reason I also wanted something a bit more updated than a 5 year old camera. The PMW-F3 and the cinematic likes are great cams, but do require a lot more time dedicated to setting up the shot, lenses and the manual focus. For documentary, travel on-location, run-and-gun it is not as suitable, just like my Black Magic Cinematic camera is not suitable.

I haven't taken a look at JVC in close detail. Any thoughts on the JVC GY-HM650?

I am currently using a Canon D70. It is almost perfect for my shoots with the exception of limitations of useable lenses due to loud autofocus noise in non-STM lenses and the low light performance. It is 4:2:0 but 91Mbps and if you flood the footage with light it looks quite nice. Canon seems to have not really put up anything new in the last few years in terms of camcorders as they are working on their dSLRs and Cinematic lines. I've heard they are adding the focus tracking and autofocus dual pixel capability to the C100, soon so that should be exciting as the C100 produces some great images.

Gillvan, yeah great cam for the super bowl but not really run-and-gun plus costs $15k+ all done up.
 
MCShooter said:
I've heard they are adding the focus tracking and autofocus dual pixel capability to the C100, soon so that should be exciting as the C100 produces some great images.
Click to expand...

I don't really need focus tracking, but I really like the C100. I'm sold on built in ND and XLR inputs, plus I really do like the Canon look and ease of use.
 
MCShooter said:
I haven't taken a look at JVC in close detail. Any thoughts on the JVC GY-HM650?
Click to expand...

Well, I haven't used that particular model. They updated their sensors from the 200 and 700 series from CCD to CMOS and they are now much more light sensitive, which is good.
The biggest difference between the 600 and 650 seems to be that the 650 has wireless file transfer, which you won't really need unless you have rush editors backing you up in a news truck.
Another difference is that, while they both record at 35 Mb/s, the 650 has a mode called 35 Mb/s UHQ, whatever that means. Ultra High Quality, presumably.
I don't know if they both do 4:2:2 over their SDI, but the 650 does. You won'e need that unless you get an external recorder, and then you're back to the silly rig problems.
And the final difference is $1,000.

But other than that, it looks like the 600 and 650 are the same camera.
 
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