Recommend me a compact camera that is good at HD video!!

[dealmaker]

So starting to go to lots of concerts and wanting to be able to erm......video the performance!

Standard video cameras are an instant - tug of the shirt collar - whereas with a standard compact camera - "well I'm just taking a picture"

However I want a compact camera that is good quality at HD video, that has good quality sound capture , high capacity, good low-light performance, fast and accurate focussing, and very IMPORTANTLY allows you to zoom in and out when recording (my current Sony wont allow you to zoom once you start recording).

Can anyone recommend a decent compact/semi-compact that fulfils this brief? Budget isn't really an issue.

Thanks!

[JustinP1]

Saw a pic of a new Zoom one that had a pop-out top part that has a proper XY mix setup on the top.

Looks less like a camera, but the sound would be awesome and make a camera sound silly.

[jimmy156]

dealmaker said:

So starting to go to lots of concerts and wanting to be able to erm......video the performance!

Standard video cameras are an instant - tug of the shirt collar - whereas with a standard compact camera - "well I'm just taking a picture"

However I want a compact camera that is good quality at HD video, that has good quality sound capture , high capacity, good low-light performance, fast and accurate focussing, and very IMPORTANTLY allows you to zoom in and out when recording (my current Sony wont allow you to zoom once you start recording).

Can anyone recommend a decent compact/semi-compact that fulfils this brief? Budget isn't really an issue.

Thanks!

I think you may be asking too much from a compact camera to be honest. I dont think any stills camera (including the top end HD recording SLR's) will record good quality sound without an external microphone atatched.

The two main things you will struggle with is the low light performance and fast focussing. These are two area's where compact camera's simply do not perform well, particulalry when you combine the two together!

Perhaps soemthing like the Panasonic Lumix GF2 would be the best option for you. Its a Micro Four Thirds System, so you will have a larger sensor (and therefore improved lowlight performance) compared with a compact. I also seem to remeber panasonic claiming excellent autofocus (better then that used on SLR cameras?) on there new GF series. I expect sound will still be rubbish though without an external mic.


ETA: 1000 posts

Edited by jimmy156 on Thursday 13th January 17:55

[dealmaker]

Guys,

well - maybe I went a bit far!

Sound quality doesn't need to be hi-fi quality - just listenable! Likewise the low light performance. In fairness my boggo Sony WS270 (?) is OK - juts want something a bit better that will zoom whilst recording?

[GetCarter]

You might just run into Mod trouble with this thread as what you intend to do is illegal.

[JustinP1]

GetCarter said:

You might just run into Mod trouble with this thread as what you intend to do is illegal.

Funnily enough, in the last few years at least, a lot of artists don't mind.

As long as the footage is not used for commercial purposes, that is.

I've been to a couple of gigs where the first 10-12 metres from the front there are literally 50 or more people, with phones and cameras above their heads.

Seems silly to me as you pay that money, and queue up for ages to be at the front, and you don't maximise your enjoyment as you are fannying round with a video.

Then you go on Youtube and there is a dozen versions, each of the same song, with distorted audio so you can just about hear the words, and video taken from a moving hand which is just some lights on a stage and some shadows in front.

Each to his own, and all that though...

IMHO if you are going to do it, then if you can't make it at least listenable to, then there's little point.

[GetCarter]

Well that's probably fair comment, as I haven't played one of those gigs for many years. Hence no Mod action!

[JustinP1]

GetCarter said:

Well that's probably fair comment, as I haven't played one of those gigs for many years. Hence no Mod action!

It's a new world now, I feel old in the music industry at 32!

Apparently you have to give your music away for free now to get anywhere.

Then your rent gets paid from the T-shirts you sell with you on it in five years time when you are a global star.