For video pros: better to buy a brand new HD Video camera(Canon Vixia HF100 or HF10) or...?

by pkingDesign

…used Canon GL2 (semi pro models)
I am attracted in export a quality video camera. I can spend between $ 700 and $ 1,200. For that price I can buy new HD video cameras such as the new highly rated Canon or Sony HD video cams. Or I can buy a used semi-pro video cam such as the Canon GL1 or GL2. I would use it for shooting videos for clients. I realize the size difference, but I’m wondering what else I should consider. Is the footage better with an HD video camera, even though its a consumer camera, or is the semi-pro but non-HD video camera still better quality????
Thanks in enhancement for your help.
Ron

Answer by Scott
The consumer so called HD camcorders shoot a compressed video format, H264. A allusion frame is taken then for numerous frames (up to 15) only the differences, within a predetermined threshold, are recorded.

The GL1 and up seem inferior at 720 X 480, but this is uncompressed video, each frame is full resolution and there is no compression.

Additionally the size and quality of the lens, the triple CCD, audio mixing (GL2 and up) and other features are why the GL2 is still available and is a $ 2600 camera new.

The best HD can record results in about 10 gigs/hour. Mini DV from the GL and XL series is 13 gigs/hour. And remember, the HD has more pixels to record.

The reason, as far as I can tell, that HD is so standard is that consumers are clueless about dealing with the MiniDv tapes and have been “Sold” on the marketing of HD.

Side by side, video from my GL-2 is always more crisp and colorful than from HD cameras, even excellent ones.

I recently saw a couple XLs go for $ 600 and I would gladly drop $ 1000 on another GL2 quicker than I would spend $ 600 on a new HD

Lastly, if I hired you and you showed up with a consumer HD camera, I would feed it to you from the bottom up, if you know what I mean

Study the formats, learn the limitations of HD.

Also learn about and anticipate the entire work flow of video, import, edit, archive, export, and media production for the final product…the camera is the cheap part and the simplest to master!

Answer by ava
if you prefer a better image quality ….why not take a hd ….

Answer by NYC fan
If you have end-to-end HD available to you (from camera to Blu-Ray disc output and playing, or online HD videos), HD is worth considering. Many low-end HD cameras will equate unfavorably to the GL2, yes. Though, some are quite excellent. The Canon HV40, for example. That camera gives you an array of manual controls, it gives you the HDV format on MiniDV tape (rather than the super-compressed, processor-intensive H.264 or AVCHD video of others) and it gives you a microphone input with manual audio adjustment.

Given a excellent lighting environment (and this is key!!), you can take video with the HV40 that will rival that of cameras a small higher up in the price chain. This is similar to one YouTube video conduct experiment I retract in which a professional photographer used his iPhone 4 in a photoshoot, but with all the other lighting, set, and makeup that he’d ordinarily use. The results looked fantastic – so, know your tool’s limitations. If you give a camera like the HV40 a excellent environment to work in, the results can be striking. Place it in low set alight, though, and you might have some regrets.

I would not consider the HF or HG series to be potential replacements for a GL2. I don’t want to deal with those formats in work environments. You’ll be dealing with transcoding, converting, and the quality’s not as excellent as HDV anyway. HDV does still use “interframe” compression, which is heavier than the “intraframe” DV compression used in the GL1/2, but the tradeoff for the heavier compression is that you get HD video, at roughly the same data rates as DV.

I do still use a DVX100B for work environments in which I don’t need HD. I’ll also use it whenever I need as much manual control as I can get, or when I’m in a lower-set alight environment. That said, I carry my HV30 as a backup, and if I had to press it into service on a day my DVX failed, that HV30 would do an admirable job. I have used HV40 footage mixed with Sony EX3 XDCam footage in projects, with effectively no difference apparent to most people.

If your clients demand HD, something like the HV40 is doubtless your best option unless you jump up over the $ 2,000 range. If your clients demand HD and expect a “huge” camera for the “professional” look, then you have small choice but to raise your budget (though doubtless your rate as well). If HD isn’t vital, it becomes a tough call, and the GL2 does be converted into a very striking option. If all your work will be standard definition, go with the GL2 – it’ll take better SD video than the Vixia line will.

Answer by Prunella
Review summary This outstanding performer raises the bar for prosumer MiniDV camcorders. One of a pair of Canon’s first sparkle-based camcorders, the Canon Vixia HF100, delivers brilliant HD video quality and routine in a tiny wrap. Canon’s first sparkle-based camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF10, delivers brilliant HD video quality and routine in a tiny wrap.

Answer by Nancy
You can consider export
1)Canon VIXIA HF S200 HD Sparkle Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom…
Records crisp high definition video directly to two removable SD memory cards
Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
Canon 1/2.6″ 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor
Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00322OOXM?ie=UTF8&tag=tele-smart-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00322OOXM

2)Sony Handycam HDR-CX500V 32 GB Sparkle High-Definition Camcorder …
1920 x 1080 high definition video recording
12 megapixel still image capture
1/2.88″ “Exmor R” CMOS sensor for superb low-set alight video
Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization w/ Active Mode
1080/60p playback via HDMI™ and compatible HDTV
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NQJ8IO?ie=UTF8&tag=tele-smart-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002NQJ8IO

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Hacked Pre + HD video


Image by Dean Terry
EMAC graduate student Rebecca Case’s solution to the dual resolution dilemma: taping a Palm Pre streaming live video to a Canon HD video camera.

I really don’t know how much I would be by a video camera, so I am debating on getting two separate items. Is the video recording on the T2i worth the price, just in case I want to record video. I know if I get the XSi I could just get really excellent lenses for capturing stills. So should I get XSi or T2i?
One of the guys mentioned higher iso, im a beginner, all i know that higher iso gets noisy, pictures get grainy, but higher iso better when it comes to dark seats…not sure a beginner with no experience in the dslr field would need to worry about that or not…thanks

Answer by fhotoace
For the best routine, buy two cameras, one for each function.

The Canon HD video camera has three sensors, so will provide higher quality video in a way that will allow you to edit the video by just about any video editing platform out there.

The XSi can produce incredible still images.

Answer by NickP
Wow-Nellie! a well-known broadcaster in the west use to say, or hold on there partner. I would buy the XSi Canon since you doubtless have some sort of video to play around with. My cameras do. If you like the video aspect the best thing is to get a separate video camera.
This is not the answer you want but trying to take in to such extreme ends with one camera, will only result in frustration.

Answer by Mark
I favor the T2i since it has the greater high ISO range and routine.

Canon XSi (450D) max ISO 1600
Canon T2i (550D) max ISO 6400, 12800 (with boost)

See links below for a side by side listing of the features and specs of the 2 cameras that has links to camera reviews which include sample images from each camera.

My 2 cents.

Hope this helps.

Mark

marksablow.com

Add your own answer in the comments!

Alright guys heres my unboxing of my new canon HF20 High Definition Camcorder. U know I had the Sony Handycam but didn’t seem to give me the quality I expected. Like I said in the video I didn’t really research HD camcorders I was more in the promote for a D-SLR Camera. My research paid off and I am very satisfied with my cannon T1i, and I am very satisfied with my upgraded High Definition camcorder. Here is the link for those who want more info on this camera: tinyurl.com Thanks for the views, comments, and rates. If you have a video response delight feel free to toss it this way. •Forthose who want to follow me on twitter and get any inside info, follow me here: twitter.com •For those that want to be made aware when I start a BlogTV, go to my YouTube Channel page and click the BlogTV Link and subscribe to me there for SMS text or twitter for show starting announcements.
Video Rating: 4 / 5