Best bang/buck hybrid-camera/camcorder for low light

[jintoku]

I need to purchase a camcorder that will be mostly used for recording lectures and interviews, up to an hour long (so the 30 minute recording limit of many hybrid-cams would be prohibitive). It would be beneficial if it could also be used as a still camera.

I've used m43 and NEX systems in the past, am currently on Full Frame. I also got the RX-10 which in principle would be perfect for the job above, however the 30 minute recording limit is prohibitive.

What large sensor cameras do not currently have this limitation (I live in the US)? Or should I just go with a dedicated camcorder (loosing some low-light benefits of larger sensors)?

Oh btw the camera would optimally cost <$1k (body-only).

Thanks

 

[olakiril2]

Both GH3, BMPCC have no time limit.

Neither do the hacked D5200 and GH2.

 

[videonex]

Panasonic GM1, GX7, GH3 do not have the limit and give great video quality.

 

[jkoch2]

I need to purchase a camcorder that will be mostly used for recording lectures and interviews, up to an hour long (so the 30 minute recording limit of many hybrid-cams would be prohibitive). It would be beneficial if it could also be used as a still camera.

An X920 or LX7 cost less than the GH or G m4/3 models (with lens) and function well for interviews or lectures. Of course, all are equally bad if your speaker is not near the mic or if there are lots of distorting ambient sounds.

I've used m43 and NEX systems in the past, am currently on Full Frame. I also got the RX-10 which in principle would be perfect for the job above, however the 30 minute recording limit is prohibitive.

Not many interviews or lectures last more than 30 minutes without at least one pause. Any video consisting of a single extended shot will be very watcheable or convey more value than an audio recording alone. Most watcheable interviews involve multiple takes, often using two or more cameras, and with alterations of angle, frame, or setting.

Does the RX-10 cease operation after 30 minutes of video, or simply begin a new file?

I can't imagine that an RX-10 would be ideal for your purposes, even witthout a time or file-size limit. Besides high cost, you have only one focal length choice, so you have to be situated at one ideal distance, and I suspect a FF sensor gets hot after a while.

What large sensor cameras do not currently have this limitation (I live in the US)? Or should I just go with a dedicated camcorder (loosing some low-light benefits of larger sensors)?

For interviews or lecture, large sensors simply burn more juiice and throw off more heat, to little gain. Multiple cheap cameras with reasonably fast lenses might yield more bang for buck.

Oh btw the camera would optimally cost <$1k (body-only).

HC X920D now $600. 3CMOS (no bayer moire) Good low light performance. F1.5 aperture at wide end. Great stabilization and zoom. Extended battery or A/C adaptor cheap. Time lapse feature.

DMC LX7 now $260. F1.2 lens, 1/1.8" sensor. Very good still quality. Video in auto or full manual setting.

Thanks

$ave or be sorry.

 

[jintoku]

I need to purchase a camcorder that will be mostly used for recording lectures and interviews, up to an hour long (so the 30 minute recording limit of many hybrid-cams would be prohibitive). It would be beneficial if it could also be used as a still camera.

An X920 or LX7 cost less than the GH or G m4/3 models (with lens) and function well for interviews or lectures. Of course, all are equally bad if your speaker is not near the mic or if there are lots of distorting ambient sounds.

Thanks, I hadn't been aware of the X920. Problem with the LX-7 (which I own) is that sound is not adequate for lectures.

I've used m43 and NEX systems in the past, am currently on Full Frame. I also got the RX-10 which in principle would be perfect for the job above, however the 30 minute recording limit is prohibitive.

Not many interviews or lectures last more than 30 minutes without at least one pause. Any video consisting of a single extended shot will be very watcheable or convey more value than an audio recording alone. Most watcheable interviews involve multiple takes, often using two or more cameras, and with alterations of angle, frame, or setting.

Trust me, the majority of the lectures I record last 45-60 minutes...

Does the RX-10 cease operation after 30 minutes of video, or simply begin a new file?

TBH I have not tried myself, but everybody online says it stops recording (i.e. not the old FAT-32-like file size limit).

I can't imagine that an RX-10 would be ideal for your purposes, even witthout a time or file-size limit. Besides high cost, you have only one focal length choice, so you have to be situated at one ideal distance, and I suspect a FF sensor gets hot after a while.

The RX-10 has a 24-200 mm equivalent zoom.

What large sensor cameras do not currently have this limitation (I live in the US)? Or should I just go with a dedicated camcorder (loosing some low-light benefits of larger sensors)?

For interviews or lecture, large sensors simply burn more juiice and throw off more heat, to little gain. Multiple cheap cameras with reasonably fast lenses might yield more bang for buck.

Thanks, you may be right.

Oh btw the camera would optimally cost <$1k (body-only).

HC X920D now $600. 3CMOS (no bayer moire) Good low light performance. F1.5 aperture at wide end. Great stabilization and zoom. Extended battery or A/C adaptor cheap. Time lapse feature.

I can't find this one for $600 new. Do you have a link?

DMC LX7 now $260. F1.2 lens, 1/1.8" sensor. Very good still quality. Video in auto or full manual setting.

Thanks

$ave or be sorry.

 

[Sean Nelson]

Thanks, I hadn't been aware of the X920. Problem with the LX-7 (which I own) is that sound is not adequate for lectures.

That's going to be true of every camera unless you use a lavalier or shotgun mic.

 

[jintoku]

Thanks, I hadn't been aware of the X920. Problem with the LX-7 (which I own) is that sound is not adequate for lectures.

That's going to be true of every camera unless you use a lavalier or shotgun mic.

I know.

 

[JayBratcher]

Both GH3, BMPCC have no time limit.

I would not recommend the BMPCC for low light, or for general purpose recording. At some 1.6 GB / minute, ProRes is fantastic to look at, but will eat up hundreds of gigabytes of hard drive in no time at all...

 

[olakiril2]

Both GH3, BMPCC have no time limit.

I would not recommend the BMPCC for low light, or for general purpose recording. At some 1.6 GB / minute, ProRes is fantastic to look at, but will eat up hundreds of gigabytes of hard drive in no time at all...

Good point.

I had in mind publishable interviews were the color depth of the BMPCC is very helpful for skin color. But in this case it is probably an overkill.