Best camera for under $3500 at DVinfo.net

Alex Holm · May 16th, 2013, 08:47 PM

I'm looking to replace my canon GL1, and looking to spend between $2,000 and $3500. I was looking at the Canon XA20, however I think maybe its too small. I could probably get used to doing the menu thing.. but I do like to have some controls on the "outside" of the camera. My priorities are image quality and I would like something that is decent with low light shooting.

So, what do you think?

Canon XA20? Sony HDR-AX2000?

I'm up for some input!

Mike Beckett · May 17th, 2013, 12:21 AM

Consider the Panasonic AC130 as well, it's about $3300 at B&H at the moment and gives a lot of manual controls and a great lens.

Alex Holm · May 17th, 2013, 01:13 PM

Dang, now I have three to decide between! ugh!

Mike Beckett · May 17th, 2013, 01:55 PM

Alex, the big question is what you want to use it for, and what your needs are.

The "big cameras" in this spec area (i.e. good range of manual controls, including NDs and XLRs), are:

Panasonic AC130 or AC160
Sony NX5
JVC HM600 or HM650
Canon XF300 or 305

Those are the "big handheld" cameras. The Panasonic AC90 sort of bridges the small cameras and big cameras ranges, though you lose manual ND filters for really bright sunshine (it has a built in one for lower levels of ND).

In your price range, the only ones available are (I think) the Sony NX5 and the Panasonic AC130. The NX5 is getting a bit old, but still a great camera. I think the AX2000 is a slightly lower-specced version of the Sony NX5.

Cameras at the smaller end are: Sony NX30 or NX70. Panasonic AC90. Canon XA10 (and now XA20 and XA25). JVC HM150. The JVC is getting on a bit now. The NX70 is over-priced and under-specced (I owned one). But all these cameras need you to poke around in a touchscreen menu to some degree, which I hate.

They all have pluses and minuses, which doesn't help you choose! That's just a list of cameras.

Noa Put · May 17th, 2013, 02:13 PM

if you are coming from a gl1 then I think the panasonic ag ac90 would be a worthy replacement that won't break the bank.

Sherman Bahr · May 22nd, 2013, 08:02 PM

From a techs point of view the Canon XA20 (XA10 is) or XF100 should be pretty reliable. The Sony AX2000 has a very nice and sharp lens and sensor but we have seen some issues with this camera. Not sure if we've seen more of these in because also its a very popular camcorder. Panasonic stuff hmm well, you,ve got to deal with Panasonic and if you have issues with the camera that could turn into a big problem. Parts are also MUCH costlier with the Panasonic cameras. I recently looked up a lens block on a Panasonic camera that retailed for around $4500 and the lens cost was around $3800, GEEZ!!! JVC, not real sure about but last I dealt with them their quality was not so good. If you could pick up a Canon XF300 for a good price you should be good with that. They are sweet camcorders.

Les Wilson · May 23rd, 2013, 06:24 AM

Buy a used EX1 or EX1R. I see there's one in your price range here on DVinfo:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/private-...cessories.html

James Manford · May 23rd, 2013, 07:58 AM

EX1
AGAC90 (if you want money left over)
EA50 (for DSLR style video)

May 16th, 2013, 08:47 PM	#1
Alex Holm Tourist Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Francisco (CA) Posts: 2	Best camera for under $3500 I'm looking to replace my canon GL1, and looking to spend between $2,000 and $3500. I was looking at the Canon XA20, however I think maybe its too small. I could probably get used to doing the menu thing.. but I do like to have some controls on the "outside" of the camera. My priorities are image quality and I would like something that is decent with low light shooting. So, what do you think? Canon XA20? Sony HDR-AX2000? I'm up for some input!

May 17th, 2013, 12:21 AM	#2
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: Best camera for under $3500 Consider the Panasonic AC130 as well, it's about $3300 at B&H at the moment and gives a lot of manual controls and a great lens. __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

May 17th, 2013, 01:13 PM	#3
Alex Holm Tourist Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Francisco (CA) Posts: 2	Re: Best camera for under $3500 Dang, now I have three to decide between! ugh!

May 17th, 2013, 01:55 PM	#4
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: Best camera for under $3500 Alex, the big question is what you want to use it for, and what your needs are. The "big cameras" in this spec area (i.e. good range of manual controls, including NDs and XLRs), are: Panasonic AC130 or AC160 Sony NX5 JVC HM600 or HM650 Canon XF300 or 305 Those are the "big handheld" cameras. The Panasonic AC90 sort of bridges the small cameras and big cameras ranges, though you lose manual ND filters for really bright sunshine (it has a built in one for lower levels of ND). In your price range, the only ones available are (I think) the Sony NX5 and the Panasonic AC130. The NX5 is getting a bit old, but still a great camera. I think the AX2000 is a slightly lower-specced version of the Sony NX5. Cameras at the smaller end are: Sony NX30 or NX70. Panasonic AC90. Canon XA10 (and now XA20 and XA25). JVC HM150. The JVC is getting on a bit now. The NX70 is over-priced and under-specced (I owned one). But all these cameras need you to poke around in a touchscreen menu to some degree, which I hate. They all have pluses and minuses, which doesn't help you choose! That's just a list of cameras. __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

May 17th, 2013, 02:13 PM	#5
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Best camera for under $3500 if you are coming from a gl1 then I think the panasonic ag ac90 would be a worthy replacement that won't break the bank.

May 22nd, 2013, 08:02 PM	#6
Sherman Bahr Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Newbury Park CA Posts: 53	Re: Best camera for under $3500 From a techs point of view the Canon XA20 (XA10 is) or XF100 should be pretty reliable. The Sony AX2000 has a very nice and sharp lens and sensor but we have seen some issues with this camera. Not sure if we've seen more of these in because also its a very popular camcorder. Panasonic stuff hmm well, you,ve got to deal with Panasonic and if you have issues with the camera that could turn into a big problem. Parts are also MUCH costlier with the Panasonic cameras. I recently looked up a lens block on a Panasonic camera that retailed for around $4500 and the lens cost was around $3800, GEEZ!!! JVC, not real sure about but last I dealt with them their quality was not so good. If you could pick up a Canon XF300 for a good price you should be good with that. They are sweet camcorders. __________________ Sony And Canon Prosumer And Professional Camcorder Repair www.VideoOneRepair.com

May 23rd, 2013, 06:24 AM	#7
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Best camera for under $3500 Buy a used EX1 or EX1R. I see there's one in your price range here on DVinfo: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/private-...cessories.html

May 23rd, 2013, 07:58 AM	#8
James Manford Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,393	Re: Best camera for under $3500 EX1 AGAC90 (if you want money left over) EA50 (for DSLR style video)