The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread!

Karl Walter Keirstead · August 23rd, 2015, 03:13 AM

My understanding is overseas units would not be serviced. You would need to send a USA unit back to the USA.

Three years ago I took a year to buy a camera. Many considerations.

I picked the Panasonic AG-AC160A which I still like because of its 22x zoom. At the time (3 years ago) I did a lot of theater work where I had to be 65 feet from the stage.

My projects today have more of a focus on interviews/documentaries so today I might go for the Panasonic DVX-200 4K camera.

I know my troubles will begin once I go to 4K (more hard disks, longer rendering times etc) so I plan to stick with the 160 as long as possible.

Kyle Root · September 3rd, 2015, 08:47 AM

Now that the pricing for the NX100 is out at $1,699, that's a very very nice price for a traditional form run and gun camcorder with 1" sensor providing shallow DOF, while maintaining plenty of external buttons and 3 rings.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1156385-REG/sony_hxr_nx100.html
I'll probably sell my NX5 and get 2 of the NX100s.

Michael C. Ray · November 11th, 2015, 05:56 PM

NX100 anyone using this yet?
Details on good or bad?

Mike Watson · November 12th, 2015, 10:19 AM

I am not 100% plugged in, but I don't believe the NX100 has shipped yet. I'm interested in it as a 2nd cam to my FS5.

Dave Therault · November 27th, 2015, 02:37 PM

I received the NX100 a couple of day ago and after a quick test, it does not appear to even match the AC90 for sensitivity... appear noticeably darker open at 0dB.

[REVISION: Another quick test showed NX100 to be slightly better... about 1/3 stop estimate.]

Terry Dennis · February 26th, 2016, 05:26 AM

ax100 vs x70 vs xa20 vs xf200

Kurt Franz · August 14th, 2017, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylan Couper

A theoretical discussion:
During my last vacation, my little Canon ZR40 proved woefully underpowered. Not wide enough lens, not enough low light picture, so-so sound. The only thing it was really good at was being small enough to put in my cargo pants pocket and shoot inconspicuously in places I maybe shouldn't have been shooting.

This is what I'm looking for in a travel camera:
Very good picture quality.
A wider lens.
Big telephoto not as important, but a good image stabilizer is.
Very good low light performance.
Good sound with the on-board mic.
Small size is preferable, but if it won't fit in my pocket (and I realize it likely won't) then I don't care how big it is -up to a point (XL2 too big).
Must have shoe mount.
Some manual control would be sweet.
HDV would be nice for future considerations, but not essential since it limits my choices.
Widescreen would be nice, but not essential.
24p not needed.

What would my perfect travel/vacation video camera be?

apple iphone 5s :) funny how things have progressed in 12 years

Ron Evans · August 14th, 2017, 07:34 PM

Sony AX53 or really small FDR-X3000 or HDR-AS300 BOSS stabilizers for excellent stabilization and good picture quality

Kris Zimbelman · August 5th, 2020, 04:44 PM

Trying to decide on a camera for short films, documentary and youtube. It's BMPCC 4K vs. Fujifilm X-T3. I know the X-T3 has a 30 minute record limit, but I can work around that since it is $999 ($500 off).
This is a comparison I found on Youtube that has me leaning BMPCC 4K. What are your thoughts?

Sorry about the other thread

August 23rd, 2015, 03:13 AM	#1891
Karl Walter Keirstead Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 76	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! My understanding is overseas units would not be serviced. You would need to send a USA unit back to the USA. Three years ago I took a year to buy a camera. Many considerations. I picked the Panasonic AG-AC160A which I still like because of its 22x zoom. At the time (3 years ago) I did a lot of theater work where I had to be 65 feet from the stage. My projects today have more of a focus on interviews/documentaries so today I might go for the Panasonic DVX-200 4K camera. I know my troubles will begin once I go to 4K (more hard disks, longer rendering times etc) so I plan to stick with the 160 as long as possible.

September 3rd, 2015, 08:47 AM	#1892
Kyle Root Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Decatur, AL Posts: 883	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! Now that the pricing for the NX100 is out at $1,699, that's a very very nice price for a traditional form run and gun camcorder with 1" sensor providing shallow DOF, while maintaining plenty of external buttons and 3 rings. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1156385-REG/sony_hxr_nx100.html I'll probably sell my NX5 and get 2 of the NX100s. __________________ Kyle KR Productions; www.kyleroot.com

November 11th, 2015, 05:56 PM	#1893
Michael C. Ray Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Waterford, Michigan Posts: 135	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! NX100 anyone using this yet? Details on good or bad?

November 12th, 2015, 10:19 AM	#1894
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! I am not 100% plugged in, but I don't believe the NX100 has shipped yet. I'm interested in it as a 2nd cam to my FS5.

November 27th, 2015, 02:37 PM	#1895
Dave Therault Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA Posts: 67	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! I received the NX100 a couple of day ago and after a quick test, it does not appear to even match the AC90 for sensitivity... appear noticeably darker open at 0dB. [REVISION: Another quick test showed NX100 to be slightly better... about 1/3 stop estimate.] Last edited by Dave Therault; November 28th, 2015 at 02:31 AM.

February 26th, 2016, 05:26 AM	#1896
Terry Dennis Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: uk Posts: 27	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! ax100 vs x70 vs xa20 vs xf200

August 14th, 2017, 07:34 PM	#1898
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,222	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! Sony AX53 or really small FDR-X3000 or HDR-AS300 BOSS stabilizers for excellent stabilization and good picture quality

August 5th, 2020, 04:44 PM	#1899
Kris Zimbelman Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Edmond Posts: 139	Re: The gigantic "which camera should I buy" thread! Trying to decide on a camera for short films, documentary and youtube. It's BMPCC 4K vs. Fujifilm X-T3. I know the X-T3 has a 30 minute record limit, but I can work around that since it is $999 ($500 off). This is a comparison I found on Youtube that has me leaning BMPCC 4K. What are your thoughts? BMPCC 4K vs FUJIFILM XT3 - YouTube Sorry about the other thread __________________ 73003