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Thread: Semi-OT: camcorder OR digicam for fun, short casual filming?

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    Question Semi-OT: camcorder OR digicam for fun, short casual filming?

    Digicam or camcorder?

    I would like a fun toy to casually film short bursts of candid stuff, nothing fancy in any way.
    Uses could be museums, travel, family gathering, open mic or house concert (with permission), or even some useful memo recordings. Main feature is size and portabilty. Note that definition is a non-issue for my level of interest, this is stricly for casual use.

    I have used a good point&shoot digicam for that in the past with good luck... but the offerings on the camcorder side seem so sexy, I am tempted!

    Any advice?

    Camcorder review site recommendations also helpful.

    EDIT: Max I want to put into it is 300 bucks, I think - I am adding this after seeing some to the advanced stuff MSRPs..!
    Less golf, more saxophone

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    Default Semi-OT: camcorder OR digicam for fun, short casual filming?

    Honestly for casual use you can do very well with the Kodak Playsport zx3 which is $110 on Amazon. Small little hand held that is HD 1080 capable, though I often shoot at 720 HD. Waterproof to 3 meters. Works great and is not too expensive if lost. The microphone works well for normal stuff. I know Robert uses something nicer for his lessons but you were saying casual. Other than that, my iPhone 5 does pretty well for casual though I think the Kodak still beats it in certain situations. The Kodak or any little flip type camera do not do that great zooming as the "zoom" is just digital instead of optical. But other than those constraints they are great.
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    Quote Originally Posted by sunvalleylaw View Post
    Waterproof to 3 meters. Works great .
    Thanks Steve, interesting.
    The amount and variety of tech stuff we have access to blows the mind.

    I was thinking about a bit more sexy though. For example, the amazingly recording times some machines are capable, or time-lapse stuff.
    Less golf, more saxophone

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    For really impressive videos, especially time-lapse, this would be my route...

    panasonic lumix dmc-fz200

    I do the bulk of my videos with my older Canon T2i. I get pretty impressive cine-quality from that camera. I do have to work a bit at it, manual focus and all, but the output trumps any camcorder I've owned.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNt3lBipYmw

    Good luck.

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    Canon discounts a few of its lower-end Vivia camcorders this month, I may just get one and see.

    Thanks stingx.
    Still on the fence about camcorder vs. digicam, though...
    Last edited by poodlesrule; June 13th, 2013 at 06:23 AM. Reason: added last paragraph
    Less golf, more saxophone

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    UPDATE: camcorder I had in mind only does 2 MP for still shots. No go.

    As I want small form factor, I need to look at the point & shoot jobbies. Or keep using spouse's nice Canon SX260?
    Less golf, more saxophone

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    I was going to suggest the Canon sx40HS but the 260 does about the same thing without quite as good of a zoom as the sx40 has.

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

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    Thanks Spud.
    Usually love the Canon UI and am a bit fearful of trying something less polished..
    Less golf, more saxophone

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    Heck, I'd stick with the 260 since it does full HD video. How is the sound playback on it? The SX40HS has one of the best lenses and zoom range in that size and price range. It's amazing, but if the 260 you have is paid for then I'd be using that and not give the matter a second thought.

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

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    I used the 260 last Saturday to shot a local middle school band (amazing after school program, kids composing their own world music!). It was my first time doing a music bit with this camera, and the sound was adequate for my needs. Goal is to capture atmosphere, and that video bit did it.
    Less golf, more saxophone

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    Handicam for quick, stable holiday etc. Clips is great. A camera does much better image quality but it's nigh unusable without a stand, trying to quickly capture something, like on a trip or whatever. However a video camcorder does horrible stills...

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    UPDATE to an old thread:
    There is a Panasonic LX7 camera for me on the UPS truck!

    Lots to learn, or re-learn actually, but also many possibilities...

    The initial need for taking casual movies clips will be met, just that I get the ability to have great stills as a bonus..


    In retrospect, I think I should thank stingx for pointing to the Panasonic products!
    Less golf, more saxophone

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