Best Canon with good video?

[Karen9]

Hi, just wondering if anybody has a Canon and loves the video quality that it produces? I've recently purchased an SD4000 and SD4500 and it both cases it produces significant blur--so I returned them. I'm also trying out the S95 and the SX30is. I like that the SX30is can take pictures and video at the same time, but it is hefty (and sometimes just a little blurry too), while the S95 has good still shots and OK video but seemingly poor Macro (another factor that's important, I think).
1080p would be great but good quality 720p would work too.
Thanks! Karen

 

[Julian H Miller]

Hi: Try the Canon SD960 IS, even if is not featured in this forum, seems that 99.99% either has the S95 or G12.

I have ans SD960 IS for about 1.5 years, in my pocket and still takes beautiful stills and awsome video.

 

[B1ackhat]

I am not sure what you mean by blur. In terms of low light, all of the tiny sensor P&S cameras are going to produce blurry, low quality video in anything but bright sunlight (i.e. indoors video will be awful). Even $1000 dedicated camcorders struggle with this.
If you mean judder, then you simply need to pan slower.

If you mean artifacting or any other issues related to compression, then look for a camera with a higher bitrate. (i.e. 17Mbit/s should theoretically have less compression effects than 13Mbit/s)

Blurriness can also occur when a video is upscaled from 720p to 1080p if the device doing the upscaling isn't good at it.

Could you elaborate more on the issue?

In Canon's line, I don't think any of the compact P&S do better at video than the SD4500. As an HX5V owner, I can tell you that the video is very good but the camera has other issues. Samsung makes a camera with 1080p video that might be worth looking into.

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[PaulRivers]

I am not sure what you mean by blur. In terms of low light, all of the tiny sensor P&S cameras are going to produce blurry, low quality video in anything but bright sunlight (i.e. indoors video will be awful). Even $1000 dedicated camcorders struggle with this.

That's certainly not true, my s90 and s95 almost take better video than they can take pictures in low light. My s90 and s95 have no problem with video in average indoor lighting, and even poor indoor lighting.

If you mean judder, then you simply need to pan slower.

If you mean artifacting or any other issues related to compression, then look for a camera with a higher bitrate. (i.e. 17Mbit/s should theoretically have less compression effects than 13Mbit/s)

Blurriness can also occur when a video is upscaled from 720p to 1080p if the device doing the upscaling isn't good at it.

Could you elaborate more on the issue?

In Canon's line, I don't think any of the compact P&S do better at video than the SD4500. As an HX5V owner, I can tell you that the video is very good but the camera has other issues. Samsung makes a camera with 1080p video that might be worth looking into.

--
Atwood needs your help!
http://www.noahs-arks.net/RESCUE/ATWOOD.html

I'm not sure what the OP means by blurry either. You know, 24fps video theoretically takes each frame at 1/24, 30fps video at 1/30, 60fps video at 1/60. Maybe she needs a camera with a higher framerate....

 

[B1ackhat]

I am not sure what you mean by blur. In terms of low light, all of the tiny sensor P&S cameras are going to produce blurry, low quality video in anything but bright sunlight (i.e. indoors video will be awful). Even $1000 dedicated camcorders struggle with this.

That's certainly not true, my s90 and s95 almost take better video than they can take pictures in low light. My s90 and s95 have no problem with video in average indoor lighting, and even poor indoor lighting.

I was actually referring to all of the 1/2.3" sensor type cameras. I haven't tried my S95 indoors yet. I have my doubts that it would surpass the abilities of my Panasonic HS250 camcorder though.

 

[Karen9]

Hi, thanks for your replies--what I meant by blur is actually going dramatically out of focus. Both the sd4000 and the sd4500 would be in focus and then suddenly lose it for a good 3 seconds or so. Then it would be fine for a little while, then lose focus again completely (creating a blurred effect.) It's so bad that I wonder if anybody has actually kept the camera! Or is it possible I'm doing something wrong...?

I did have the Samsung TL350, which took amazing** video at 1080p, crisp and clean and unlike anything I've ever seen, plus it could take stills at the same time. However, it was unreliable--it froze, produced weird effects in pictures, and took forever to process. I'm going back to my standby, Canon, in the hopes for reliability... although this focus problem is fairly discouraging?

Maybe the S95 or the SD960 are the answer, although the video I've gotten from the S95, while good, isn't close to the 1080p video I got out of the Samsung.
Thanks! Karen

 

[B1ackhat]

The S95 isn't really the best choice for video. I am not really a big fan of Nikon's P&S cameras but check out the new S8100. it does 1080p and can zoom and AF while filming. It also allows you to take stills while shooting video like the Samsung.

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[anchor722]

Karen-

I can give you a thumbs up for 2 cameras. I use the SX-130 travel zoom and the video is amazingly good. The SX130 allows zooming, and re-focusing while filming. My wife just got a new Nikon S8100 (1080p) which also takes wonderful video, and allows you also to take stills while you are filming
--
Sarah Joyce

 

[Karen9]

Thanks so much for the recommendation for the Nikon S8100!! I just ordered one from Amazon. Thanks to their great return policy, I can always send it back if it doesn't work out. Any other comments you have about it--pros and cons, etc.?

Thanks again--I even called Nikon and they said none of their cameras could do video and stills at the same time. Go figure...