Editors Note- For this article I've asked Chris Larsen from our sister company Foremost Outdoor Television to help me answer a question I seem to be getting more and more frequently from customers wishing to start building their own content for their website, YouTube and Facebook- "What kind of camera should I buy?"
By Chris Larsen from Foremost Outdoor TV
The Golden Era of Video is here. Thanks to computer based editing software and rapidly improving technology, the cost of producing videos in house is within reach for just about any business. The first item most aspiring video producers buy is a camera. The camera is a producer’s main tool. Without a quality camera that offers all of the options important to you, your end result will be less than satisfactory. Budget is usually the main consideration when purchasing a camera. Believe it or not, you can buy a camera that will fit the needs of most businesses without breaking the bank. Here are a few other things to consider:
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| Panasonic HMC 150 |
Audio Inputs
Most of us have a video camera for home movies. Capturing family moments on video was all you were interested in when buying that camera. Just about all consumer cameras have a built in microphone at the front of the camera. The microphone is made to capture sound in all directions around the camera, even unwanted sound. If you’ve ever shot a video outside on a windy day with a camera like this, all you hear is wind.
More expensive consumer cameras will have a microphone input called a “mini” or “stereo mini” plug. This allows the user to override the on board microphone with a higher quality external microphone. Some have an accessory shoe that allows a specialized microphone to be used without the use of wires. Those are very nice but keep in mind most of the microphones that can be used in those accessory shoes are brand specific and typically costlier than standard aftermarket microphones. A headphone plug allows you to monitor the audio while recording.
Professional cameras and many prosumer cameras have audio inputs called “XLR inputs”. XLR inputs offer the best quality sound and give the user more control over audio. Most allow on the fly adjustments for audio levels. Consumer level cameras typically control audio levels automatically. Professional cameras usually have both an automatic feature and manual controls. All prosumer and professional cameras offer a headphone terminal.
Why is this important? Let’s say you are shooting a video on the floor of a convention. An on-board microphone would capture all of the sounds on the convention floor. The background noise would be just as loud as the person giving the presentation. A lavalier microphone (commonly known as a clip-on mic) captures some background sound but focuses on the speaker. The result is audio that is clear with just a touch of ambient sound to add dimension to the audio.
Zoom
The key thing to look for with zoom is optical zoom. Many cameras boast zoom magnification of 40x or more. However, that is usually digital zoom. When you look at the fine print you’ll notice the optical zoom is usually somewhere between 12x or 20x. 12x zoom means the object you were shooting will appear 12 times closer when the camera is fully zoomed in than with the naked eye. Optical zoom uses the camera’s lens to generate magnification. Digital zoom uses the camera’s computer to produce magnification. The result of digital zoom is often a pixilated look. If you purchase a camera that has both digital and optical zoom, turn the digital zoom off for best results. Zoom isn’t a big factor in most business related videos. But if it is important for your field, compare cameras by optical zoom.
Tape, Hard Drive, or Card Based Media
Most new cameras record on card based media, usually SD cards. SD cards are fairly inexpensive and offer huge capacity in a small package. Cameras using SD cards are quieter & more energy efficient than cameras using tape. You never have to worry about the tape heads getting dirty or malfunctioning. SD cards can also be inserted directly into your computer, making the post production process more efficient.
Some consumer cameras have built in hard drives. I would not buy a camera that was hard drive only. If the hard drive is corrupted, your camera is worthless. Most current cameras with a hard drive also have SD card slots. I recommend using the SD cards primarily while accessing the hard drive as an emergency backup.
Many cameras, especially at the professional level, still use tape. Cameras with tape decks will eventually see those decks fail. But with care and maintenance, most will last several years. Tapes can’t be plugged directly into your computer like SD cards. You will need a Fire-wire or other type of input cable to capture your video digitally. That can be a disadvantage. However, tape does have one big advantage over SD cards. When it comes to archiving your footage, tapes are cheap. You can put a $3 tape on a shelf and it will still be there ten years from now. Quality SD cards with 32 GB capacity can cost from $40 to $200 depending on the speed. Most businesses can’t stack those on the wall. You will need an external hard drive to back up your video. A good external hard drive is usually pretty fail safe but if it crashes, everything stored on it crashes too. Still, the benefits of SD card media outweigh most of the drawbacks.
Standard Definition vs. High Definition
There are very few standard definition cameras on the market today but they’re still out there. High Definition cameras are now priced low enough that just about all businesses can afford them. So there really is no reason to invest in old technology. Keep in mind that not all HD is the same. Some cameras shoot in 720p which is a smaller version of high definition. Look for cameras that shoot in 1920x1080 HD. If you need to make the format smaller in post production the video will look much better than making smaller video larger in post production. Higher end cameras offer several HD settings such as 1080i, 60i, 60p and others. These alternate HD options allow the producer to change the look of the video in the camera. However, most business users won’t have a need for them.
Other Features
There are some other variables to consider. Image stabilization is important but generally hard to assess without using the camera. As a general rule, the more expensive a camera is, the better the image stabilization. But even inexpensive cameras can produce good footage if used with a tripod or monopod. When it comes to LCD screens, bigger is always better. A focus ring is another sought after feature. A focus ring allows the videographer to manually control what the camera is focused on. Some cameras offer on-camera editing and free editing software. On-camera editing is great for home movies. But for professional looking videos quality software is needed. The freebies that come with consumer cameras are an exercise in frustration in my opinion. Don’t buy a camera based on free software or on-camera editing.
The four main factors above should lead most business professionals toward buying a camera that fits their needs. Here are a few suggestions at varying price points.
Kodak PlaySport Zx5 $179.99
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| Kodak PlaySport |
This is what is known as a point-of-view(POV) camera. If you can only afford one camera, don’t buy a POV camera. However, they can come in handy as a second camera to get an alternative viewpoint. This camera doesn’t have audio inputs but shoots in stunning 1920x1080 HD. You can use audio from your main camera during post production. Think of it is an inexpensive way to add a second camera angle to your shoots. GoPro cameras have most of the POV market place and they are very good cameras as well. However, they are designed for action sports enthusiasts and lack many of the features the PlaySport has that will appeal to business pros. GoPro cameras have no zoom compared to the PlaySport’s 4x zoom. The big difference is the PlaySport has a 2” LCD screen. The GoPro does not have a built in LCD screen. If you have a use for underwater video, the PlaySport is waterproof in up to 10 feet of water.
Canon VIXIA HF M400 $549.99
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| Cannon VIXIA HF M400 |
The HF M400 is a superb camera for the serious business pro that is just getting started in video production. It offers audio inputs, a headphone terminal, and manual audio controls. The M400 has a 10x optical zoom, has two SD card drives, and shoots in 1920x1080i. There are two separate image stabilizers that work together to produce rock solid video. The M400 does not have a manual focus ring but you won’t find one on any camera at this price point. This camera also does well in low light situations. If you do want to invest in an on-camera light, the M400 does have a hot accessory shoe.
Sony HDR-FX7 $1998.00
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| Sony HDR-FX7 |
The Sony FX7 is an update to one of Sony’s most popular prosumer cameras, the FX1. This camera has a mini microphone input, a headphone jack, and a manual audio dial. It has a powerful, 20x zoom which is an upgrade from the 12x zoom of the FX1. If the idea of recording on tape rather than SD cards appeals to you, the FX7 fit’s the bill. It uses ordinary MiniDV tapes that can be purchased just about anywhere. It shoots in Sony HDV 1080i which is 1440x1080. The FX-7 has a giant 3.5” LCD screen and a manual focus ring. You won’t find those features at this price point in many other cameras.
Panasonic AG HMC-150 $3,170.00
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| Panasonic AG HMC-150 |
A camera of this quality would have cost over $10,000 five years ago. The Panasonic HMC-150 has professional dual XLR audio inputs, headphone jack, and manual audio controls. The camera features a 13x optical zoom and shoots on SD cards. There are several different HD modes including 1920x1080i. The HMC-150 has a 3.5 inch LCD screen and manual focus ring. It is very widely used by television stations and production companies. It is probably a little pricey for startups. But if you have the budget, you won’t be disappointed.
Must Have Accessories
Choosing a camera is a big step but you’re not ready to produce a high quality video yet. You will also need a tripod, camera bag, microphone(s), and a spare battery to get started. When it comes to tripods and camera bags, judge what you need by how much money you spent on your camera.
A consumer level $40 or $50 tripod may be just fine for a lightweight consumer camera. I wouldn’t let a Sony FX7 or Panasonic HMC 150 anywhere near one of those. The Manfrotto 501 Fluid Head ($180) is about as good as it gets for tripod heads. Couple that head with a quality set of legs ($200-$300) and your video will be rock solid with smooth pans and tilts. A $20 camera bag from Target will be sufficient to protect a consumer level camera as long as you’re not rough with it. For larger cameras like the HMC-150 a more heavy duty bag from Porta Brace ($190) is worth the investment. For those of you that often travel by air, an airline safe case is a necessity.
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| Lavalier Microphone |
Just about every business oriented video producer is going to want a lavalier microphone. These are the clip on style mics. Lower quality microphones tend to have interference problems like hissing. Audio Technica and Shure have solid offerings at reasonable prices. If most of your subjects will be seated while speaking a hard wired microphone will be just fine. However, if you plan to shoot at conferences or trade shows, a wireless microphone kit is worth investing in. Using a lavalier microphone requires the producer to attach the microphone on the subject. If you plan to interview several people, a handheld stick microphone will be more efficient. For outdoor shoots like sporting events, I recommend a shotgun microphone.
No matter what camera you buy, purchase an extra battery. Even the high end cameras come with just one battery that usually lasts a few hours. A high capacity spare battery typically lasts four or five hours and costs between $50 and $100 depending on the camera.
Other accessories to consider include a light kit, editing software, and noise cancelling headphones.
Where can you buy these products? If there is a local retailer you’re comfortable with, by all means use them. If there is a problem you can walk right into their shop and get face-to-face service. Personally, I purchase all of my equipment from
B&H Photo Video in New York. They have an incredible website with detailed information & reviews on everything they stock. Most of the professional producers I know also buy from B&H. In addition to great service, they have the lowest credible prices on everything you need to complete a professional video production. Yes, there are some sites that advertise lower prices on some products. But I wouldn’t trust most of them with my credit card information.
Good luck with your new endeavor into the world of video production. Remember, most video producers have years of schooling and experience. They couldn’t walk into your office and do your job as well as you do. It’s going to take some time and effort before you’re fully satisfied with your videos. However, today’s equipment and software has certainly shortened the learning curve.
11:38 AM
Jon Ballard
