Requesting advice on buying a digital camcorder - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2016, 01:44:19 am
content: I've never owned a digital camcorder, and till the last few days paid no attention to what's available.Now I'm looking for one, in the $50 to $150 range (because that's all I can afford.) Which probably means I'm limited to cheap Chinese, via ebay or Aliexpress.Intended use is to make short videos in WEBM format for inclusion in local html docs - an urgent need.Also in general for youtube, and short ones for inclusion in my website.So I also need to be able to convert short videos to WEBM, which plays directly in unassisted browsers. I've never used any video editing software either.I can find many happy-butterfly brand cameras that seem OK, from AliExpress and even AU ebay in the $50 to $150 range.Has anyone had any experience with these? Good or bad.Features I think I need:- Camera and mic (obviously.) Powered mic jack for external quality mic would be a plus. Don't need stereo.- Tiltable & reversible view screen. Preferably 3" or more.- Zoom manual, focus selectable manual and auto. Preferably able to do closeups/macro shots. Some camcorders have sets of attachable lenses for wide angle and macro. Useful?- Removable battery and can run on external power. Can charge spare battery externally.- Removable flash mem card (SDHC or uSD.)- Supports 1920x1080P, 1280x720P, 30fps. Many only do 15fps at 1080P but I can live with that since I'd generally use 720P.- Single shot also.- IR & low light shooting would be useful.- Flat base and 1/4" tripod screwmount. (They all have this.)Software:- Nice if any included software works in WinXP, but I'll soon have a 8TB server finished, with 64bit Win7.- A workable video editor utility. I haven't yet looked around for freeware. What do people use?- Ability to output to WEBM format.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2016, 03:53:51 am
content: Don't forget to ask for a ticket to the moon and back.

author: maggotronix
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2016, 06:07:16 am
content: Hi there TerraHertz, you might want to look at the cheap Kogan camera -https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/hd-digital-video-camera/- ($59, free shipping atm).Edit in avi format using Windows' built-in movie-making software. Then you can convert to WebM format with something like -http://www.videohelp.com/software/VSO-Free-MKV-WebM-Converter- or -http://www.videohelp.com/software/WebMConverterCamera quality is probably not that great...EDIT: Actually I would avoid the Kogan camera, I think it just takes 3xAA batteries lol, and no power adaptor? Hmm.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2016, 04:08:01 am
content: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830241181&ignorebbr=1That's the cheapest 4K camera I have seen. (They also make a 1080p version, but why get that when it's not that much cheaper?) And the brand isn't exactly a no name.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2016, 07:41:12 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on September 20, 2016, 04:08:01 amSome problems with 'action cams' are:- Lack of a view screen that's a) big enough to see and judge focus, and b) can be rotated so you can see it from all angles to get framing right while shooting.- No zoom.- No remote control.- Too small and awkward for handheld shooting.Btw, there are some very cheap gopro knockoffs. Under $30.Quote from: blueskull on September 20, 2016, 04:40:57 amHeh, thanks, that's very useful. Apart from not being a student in a Chinese uni, it only took a little googling to find out that Pr & Ae means Adobe Premier Pro and After Effects. Hopefully I can also find the Chinese 'versions' that likely forced extortionate Adobe to make cheap copies available. (Something better than nothing.)QuoteI'm an old guy, and thoroughly sick of overly complex devices. Smartphones being prime examples. I want a video camera, that isn't 500 _other_ things as well. Also, no auto-updates.Couple of potentials:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/FHD-1080P-Digital-Video-Camera-Camcorder-Night-Vision-24MP-3-Inch-Touch-Screen/32612360644.htmlhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/Full-HD-Camcorder-True-1080p-30fps-Max-24-0-MP-Full-Color-Screen-For-Low-light/32698359811.html