best camcorder 0 lux image
Josh Turne
I'm looking for a nice video camera to possibly make some movies just as a fun little hobby. Nothing too serious, but I want a camera that is still somewhat legit. Are the handheld ones reliable enough?
My budget is probably around 500 bucks...
Much Love
Also, just a little side question... what do you need to film at night, like when it looks all green and eerie. A night-vision lens?
Answer
Hi Josh:
If by "the handheld ones" you mean the non-shoulder mount ones, you won't find any "shoulder mount" camcorders under a thousand bucks or two. Anything in your price range will be a consumer-level handheld (but tripod or shoulder-rig mountable) camcorder.
And like what young Daniel mentioned about the Sony "NightShot" feature in some of its camcorders, that system is using the InfraRed (IR) sensitivity of the CMOS or CCD image sensors that camcorders have. An IR LED array or other "invisible" infrared light source provides illumination when there is total darkness.
True "night vision" lenses (which are available, but expensive) use a different technique called photomultipliers to actually amplify dim ambient light & skylight (even starlight) to shoot in what otherwise appears to be total darkness. The AstroScope is the most popular and one of the best: http://www.electrophysics.com/Browse/Brw_ProductLineCategory.asp?CategoryId=172&Area=NV (They also start at around $6000.)
Daniel also mentioned, generically, the Canon Vixia line, but the current "best bet" for good video quality and decent price is Canon's Vixia HV40 HDV (high-def on miniDV tape) which is normally $700, but they offer factory-refurbished for $499. See Canon Direct's store link: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_249403_-1
The miniDV format is the highest video bit-rate you can buy (whether standard-def or high-def) in a non-professional camcorder (and many professional level camcorders use the HDV format). And the HV40 has an external microphone input for pro-sounding audio.
I use both Sony and Canon camcorders (consumer and pro-grade), and though it doesn't have an IR mode, the Canon HV40's "Night" setting has a 0.2 lux sensitivity (which is excellent, about 5x better than most low-light units), and in normal light will give you good footage no matter what you are shooting. (Most flash-memory based home HD camcorders use high-compression video, which doesn't handle fast-action very well without creating "digital artifacts" on the screen.)
hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
Â
Hi Josh:
If by "the handheld ones" you mean the non-shoulder mount ones, you won't find any "shoulder mount" camcorders under a thousand bucks or two. Anything in your price range will be a consumer-level handheld (but tripod or shoulder-rig mountable) camcorder.
And like what young Daniel mentioned about the Sony "NightShot" feature in some of its camcorders, that system is using the InfraRed (IR) sensitivity of the CMOS or CCD image sensors that camcorders have. An IR LED array or other "invisible" infrared light source provides illumination when there is total darkness.
True "night vision" lenses (which are available, but expensive) use a different technique called photomultipliers to actually amplify dim ambient light & skylight (even starlight) to shoot in what otherwise appears to be total darkness. The AstroScope is the most popular and one of the best: http://www.electrophysics.com/Browse/Brw_ProductLineCategory.asp?CategoryId=172&Area=NV (They also start at around $6000.)
Daniel also mentioned, generically, the Canon Vixia line, but the current "best bet" for good video quality and decent price is Canon's Vixia HV40 HDV (high-def on miniDV tape) which is normally $700, but they offer factory-refurbished for $499. See Canon Direct's store link: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_249403_-1
The miniDV format is the highest video bit-rate you can buy (whether standard-def or high-def) in a non-professional camcorder (and many professional level camcorders use the HDV format). And the HV40 has an external microphone input for pro-sounding audio.
I use both Sony and Canon camcorders (consumer and pro-grade), and though it doesn't have an IR mode, the Canon HV40's "Night" setting has a 0.2 lux sensitivity (which is excellent, about 5x better than most low-light units), and in normal light will give you good footage no matter what you are shooting. (Most flash-memory based home HD camcorders use high-compression video, which doesn't handle fast-action very well without creating "digital artifacts" on the screen.)
hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
Â
What's the best cheap camcorder I can buy?
Adam Weiss
I've never had a camcorder before and know pretty much nothing about them, but I want to start making films and I don't know where to start. I'm looking for one that does DVDs and also is a little more advanced than standard ones. But I also have a price range, let's say up to 300 bucks. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Answer
Samsung SCD6040 Mini DV Digital Camcorder
Here is a link:
http://refurbelectronics.com/scd6040-rb.html
Its refurbished. That just means it was barely used and then fixed so it acts and lasts EXACTLY like a new one. It has a warranty, and its only 450 dollars. It is a video cam and a digital camera in one. So you get a 4 megapixel camera, which is essentially the standard right now along with the camcorder!
Description
Samsung SCD6040, with 10x optical and 800x digital zoom, is perfect for recording crystal clear, high quality video from great distances. Its 680,000 CCD captures stunning, true-to-life color without compromising the size of the camcorder, and the 2.5 inch color LCD lets you see exactly what you are shooting without peering into a small viewfinder.
The 4.1 Megapixel digital camera that is the other half of this DuoCam has 3x optical zoom and 6x digital zoom and comes with 16MB of memory. A built-in auto flash pops up from the top of the device and the full featured manual control gives you many options to shoot with. Expansion is available through a multi-card expansion slot
Some camcorders provide either good video capabilities or still picture performance. The Samsung SC-D6040 DuoCam excels in both areas, bringing you outstanding still and moving images from one convenient package.
Features
Camcorder
* Zoom Lens: 10x Optical, 900x Digital
* 680K Pixel CCD
* 2.5", 123K Pixel LCD
* Easy-Q/EZ Navigator
* 0 Lux Power Nite Pix
* IEEE1394 In/Out
Camera
* Zoom Lens: 3x Optical 12x Digital
* 4.1 MegaPixel CCD for DSC (2272x1704)
* Multi-Card Slot w/16MB Memory Stick Included
* Built-In Auto Flash
* Full Featured Manual Control - Step Camera Function Key (Shutter, Iris, Maual, Auto, Night Scene Custom Set, MPEG Rec., Play, Etc)
Shared
* MPEG-4 Videoclip (15fps, VGA)
* USB Streaming(V2.0 for DSC
* Color Viewfinder
680,000-pixel CCD * variable-speed 10X optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 900X) * 4-megapixel effective recording
Samsung SCD6040 Mini DV Digital Camcorder
Here is a link:
http://refurbelectronics.com/scd6040-rb.html
Its refurbished. That just means it was barely used and then fixed so it acts and lasts EXACTLY like a new one. It has a warranty, and its only 450 dollars. It is a video cam and a digital camera in one. So you get a 4 megapixel camera, which is essentially the standard right now along with the camcorder!
Description
Samsung SCD6040, with 10x optical and 800x digital zoom, is perfect for recording crystal clear, high quality video from great distances. Its 680,000 CCD captures stunning, true-to-life color without compromising the size of the camcorder, and the 2.5 inch color LCD lets you see exactly what you are shooting without peering into a small viewfinder.
The 4.1 Megapixel digital camera that is the other half of this DuoCam has 3x optical zoom and 6x digital zoom and comes with 16MB of memory. A built-in auto flash pops up from the top of the device and the full featured manual control gives you many options to shoot with. Expansion is available through a multi-card expansion slot
Some camcorders provide either good video capabilities or still picture performance. The Samsung SC-D6040 DuoCam excels in both areas, bringing you outstanding still and moving images from one convenient package.
Features
Camcorder
* Zoom Lens: 10x Optical, 900x Digital
* 680K Pixel CCD
* 2.5", 123K Pixel LCD
* Easy-Q/EZ Navigator
* 0 Lux Power Nite Pix
* IEEE1394 In/Out
Camera
* Zoom Lens: 3x Optical 12x Digital
* 4.1 MegaPixel CCD for DSC (2272x1704)
* Multi-Card Slot w/16MB Memory Stick Included
* Built-In Auto Flash
* Full Featured Manual Control - Step Camera Function Key (Shutter, Iris, Maual, Auto, Night Scene Custom Set, MPEG Rec., Play, Etc)
Shared
* MPEG-4 Videoclip (15fps, VGA)
* USB Streaming(V2.0 for DSC
* Color Viewfinder
680,000-pixel CCD * variable-speed 10X optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 900X) * 4-megapixel effective recording
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