Hi, all, new around here, and very much a tyro when it comes to video, even if I've fooled around with it for a while!
Planning a trip abroad, I came to think of which camera to use for video. As I happen to have access to quite a few cameras, the choice wasn't a foregone conclusion, so I decided to investigate:
Recently (Yesterday) I did a very non-scientific test (a pan around the living room, with some view of the surrounding houses), with some of my (and my wife's) cameras, and our single camcorder (Canon HF10), as to their usuablity as video recorders (I avoided my (D)SLR(s), as they will be used are used for other kinds of capture).
They cameras were, in no particular order:
Sony NEX-5N
Sony DSC-TX5
Sony HX-9V
Olympus XZ-1
Nikon V1
and the affore-mentioned Canon HF10
Lighting conditions were OK, overcast outside, and all lamps available on -
on extra lighting, just normal.
The ZX-1 was bright, but of low resolution, and didn't like panning, thus last.
The DSC-TX5 has a very small sensor, thus suffered some from the lighting conditions, otherwise OK.
The HX-9V is brilliant in good lighting, thus not at its optional best here.
Then came the V1, which with a suitable lens is very capable (the kit lenses are not very fast, but you can, with the TF1 adapter use any 'normal' Nikon G lens).
Best was the NEX-5N, as expected, but it needed a little positive exposure compensation (which you can do while 'filming', hurrah!). The kit lenses have mostly anti-shake, but I used the Zeiss-branded 1.8/24, which does not!
My wife has the excellent E18-200 lens for her NEX, which is superb for video, as it was designed with video in mind.
Sadly, the NEX-5N is known to be prone to overheating after a few minutes of recording, when used in video mode (just as its big brother, the NEX-7).
Movie quality with the NEX-5N was slightly beyond the HF10, but as with the V1 it all depends on which lens you use! the V1 is not known for any overheating problems, by the way!
Hopefully my wife's up and coming Olympus OM-D will outshine all these cameras/cams, but only time will tell ;-)!
If noise is a factor I'd avoid DSLRs, and the NEX, as their shutters are very audible (the XZ-1 inside a UW housing is equally silent). The V1, the 9V, and the HF10 are better choices then!
As yet, in good lighting conditions I'll settle for the 9V, for the rest I'll use the HF10!
Will redo the test later, with the three best, plus a Pentax, or two ;-)! And the OM-D, if it has arrived by then!
