Compact camera system for 4k video of family - which option is best?

G'day Guys

Looking for some help. I've got a young family, 5 1/2 year old and 17 month old twins and I want to document them growing up with the best video at the moment; 4k. I would like to have a compact camera system that I can easily take anywhere that takes awesome 4k video and photos, better than what my phone can do.

Here is my photography setup at the moment:

• Olympus E-M5 with the kit lens 12-50, Olympus 45mm lens, Sigma 30mm lens. I don't tend to take this with me out and about (eg. like the zoo today) as it's a bit bulky to chuck in the pocket and it doesn't have 4k video. I tend to use it at home for the odd snap here and there.
• LG G3 smartphone for happy snaps and 4k video. It's quite good at the video and snaps but you know... it's a smartphone.
• Sony As-30 action camera. Quite cool to get up close and personal with the twins.
• Sony TX20 underwater camera. Very limited use.

So, my question is - what could I buy? I have some ideas but I'd like some fresh eyes on this one. Camera considerations/ criteria:

• Round about $AU850 max (~ $US650) budget. However if I sell my Olympus I could have a higher budget
• At least a 1" sensor size
• Small enough to put in a pocket or in a small pouch around the pram/wrist/etc. However, if someone suggests selling my E-M5 and going for a smaller MFT camera system I'm open to it.
• Great lens. Probably fixed to cut down on size.
• Very quick autofocus for the fast moving kids
• Touch screen for menu, taking photos and focusing video would be a useful feature
• Obviously 4k with high br
• Articulated screen would be useful but not essential
• EVF would be useful (especially in sunny Perth, Australia) but not essential
• Image stabilisation for 4k videos would be great

Ok, that's it I think. Sorry for the long post... Thanking you all in advance.

No camera satisfies all your criteria but the Sony Rx100m4 comes pretty close.

Although the GH4 apparently takes great video, and I've found that the OM5II has such good IBIS that it is possible to take pretty decent video without a tripod and panhead, I usually find that the now largely ignored small camcorders which sell for about half the price are generally much easier to take along in a bag or pocket and more intuitive to use, especially for fast and quirky targets like kids.  It also gives you the option of shooting stills alongside tripod-mounted-video of say a music recital or other event.

You do lose the ability to use a variety of excellent lenses, but also save yourself the cot and bulk and hassle of changing these, as such camcorders tend to have pretty fast and versatile ones of decent quality.  And while I've never used the GH4, and its video controls seem very good, I doubt that they are as intuitive as the perfected-over-decades zoom and other controls on a good camcorder.

- -
erichK
saskatoon, canada
Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes one photograph, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness.
- W. Eugene Smith, Dec 30, 1918 to Oct 15, 1978.
http://erichk.zenfolio.com/
http://www.fototime.com/inv/7F3D846BCD301F3
underwater photos:
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/5567

Maybe this one?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1743027483/far-reaching-panasonic-lumix-dmc-zs100-tz100-hands-on-preview

If you can wait till june (if I recall correctly), you can choose one of Nikon DL compacts. I am planing to get wide angle one instead of wide lens for my system cameras. I think DL compacts cover most of your demands - fast lens, 4K video, fast AF (hopefully on par with Nikon 1 system), 1" sensor.

I am also looking into video capable camera, and was considering GX8, but now will wait for Nikon release. Hope cameras will be as good as specifications suggest.

aljudy wrote:

Maybe this one?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1743027483/far-reaching-panasonic-lumix-dmc-zs100-tz100-hands-on-preview

Again, try before you buy.  And make sure that you try a camcorder or two, too.  I frequently shoot recitals and concerts and find that it is so much simpler to use a camcorder than *any* camer-stykle body for video.  Then shoot stills alongside.

The most obvious choice to me for all your requirements is a Panasonic GX8 with one of their stabilized lenses.

Have you considered a Video Camera?  If Video and M43 are your  consideration, the the Panasonics will be the best bet.  They excel in the video area.  There are tons of choices for lenses...but if you really want video, then why not get a dedicated video camera?

LMNCT wrote:

Have you considered a Video Camera? If Video and M43 are your consideration, the the Panasonics will be the best bet. They excel in the video area. There are tons of choices for lenses...but if you really want video, then why not get a dedicated video camera?

Completely agree, though, again, though, if those are too expensive (remember to factor in the cost of lenses!) a humble little Sony camcorder for around $500-600 does, for example, function for most the the 20k student U of Saskatchewan's needs.

The panasonic HC-770, which Wirecutter quips has better IBIS and general functionality than any DSLR shooting video is a good example

It is, in my experience, largely a question of form and ergonomics. Time and again I find myself frustrated by the "camera" form factor and button and dial placement, which seems so much more natural on a camcorder (even though I have 100x more still than camcorder shooting experience).

GoPro?

LMNCT wrote:

Have you considered a Video Camera? If Video and M43 are your consideration, the the Panasonics will be the best bet. They excel in the video area. There are tons of choices for lenses...but if you really want video, then why not get a dedicated video camera?

Thanks for that mate. Although I am really looking for something that can also do stills and fit in my pocket.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I think I've narrowed the choice down to 3:

• Panasonic TZ100/ZS100 - nice and compact, has great specs, bit concerned about the lens speed though.
• Nikon DL24-85 - also great specs, including a flip screen and slow mo features. Doesn't have an EVF that could be a problem in the Perth sun.
• Panasonic LX100 - great specs, lens and reviews. Video stabilisation and focusing seems have issues though. Also it's not exactly compact to chuck in the pocket.

Other considerations:

• Panasonic GX8 - great specs but not exactly compact
• Panasonic G7 - not compact and no on body stabilisation
• dedicated video camera - 4k one's are quite expensive here so far

Now to ask some questions about the TZ100 and LX100 in their forums.