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Question

Camcorder Christmas gift suggestion?

Nov 16, 2014 2:12AM PST

I'm looking for a good HD camcorder that's small, also takes pictures, and turns on quickly.

I have a Canon that's a few years old and the biggest problems are the size and the time it takes to start and switch between modes.

There aren't many reviews on the cnet site and I'm at a loss over where to start looking. I don't want one to strap to my head, just one I can carry in my pocket when traveling that takes good quality videos and pictures.

Are there any 4K home camcorders yet or is that a few years away?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Which several year old Canon?
Nov 17, 2014 12:08AM PST

We don't know what comparisons will be made with our (potential) suggestions. I have a "several year old Canon" HF S100 that does 1080i/p, is small and can take decent stills has an external mic jack, manual audio gain control and fits in a pocket...

4k is still a bit away, though it depends on your definition of "small".

The Sony FDR-AX100 is one of the first consumer-grade "home camcorder" units that does 4K. Not quite as small as you'd like, perhaps, but has been getting good reviews.


There are a few "actions cams" (Panasonic HX-A500, GoPro Hero 4 series, AEE S71 among others). Just because they are action cams does not mean you must strap it on your head - they can be mounted many different ways, including used with a tripod or other common steadying device or (not recommended) handheld.

Some dSLRs that happen to capture video and audio as convenience features are in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and FZ1000 - I don't think either will fit in a pocket as the have a "bridge camera" footprint. The Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera needs a fairly large pocket, too.

Can you define "switch between modes"... what mode switching are you doing?

Editing and storage may be exciting - depending on your environment.

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Canon Vixia HF100
Nov 22, 2014 12:15AM PST

My current HD camcorder is the Canon Vixia HF100. By "switch between modes" I mean switch between video and pictures. There have been several occasions where I had the camera with me and missed some great pictures due to the slow startup time and the time it takes to switch from taking videos to pictures. So it's very important to me that the camera will startup quickly.

Ideally I'd like something a little smaller than my current camcorder, since it's a little bulky to carry when traveling. Mainly I use it on vacation, but also use it every now and then around town and would also like to use it to record me playing tennis. That being said, I can't imagine using it mounted al that often.

I've seen smaller HD cameras at Best Buy and Costco, but am at a loss over how to evaluate them.

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I think the HF100
Nov 23, 2014 10:40AM PST

is a great camcorder - even though from a consumer cam perspective may be showing its age. It is pretty similar to my HF S100.

Link to the HF100 manual:
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/7/0300000907/01/hf10-100nim-en.pdf
Page 68 provides information on capturing a still image while video is recording. No "mode switch" required.

"Start up time" is something that just is. When the camcorder is fully off, getting powered up includes an internal self-check, the operating system needs to launch... things take time. Heck, my NEX-EA50UH takes over 5 seconds to get to a place where I can begin capturing video. And my Sony HDR-AS30v take about 4 seconds to get from power-up to ready-to-record-video. I am not aware of any camcorder that can instantly start capturing video immediately upon power up - some are faster than others, but there will always be a startup time, even with those that can "pre-record" while starting up. The device needs power and its operating system to run, and a self-check is part of the whole startup (what memory is available, what settings need to be in play and lots of other stuff).

As for "evaluating" new cameras, you identified several requirements

1) short duration from power-on to start recording video. And we also know that you don't want to "switch modes" - so

2) another requirement is to be able to capture still images while capturing video.

3) If you are capturing tennis play, then a higher frame rate (60 fps and faster?) might be appropriate for decent slow motion playback and motion analysis.

4) Since you don't want to use a steadying device, then optical stabilization should be on your list of requirements. Some are better than others, but for "best" video, use of some sort of stabilizer - tripod, shelf, chair, table, rock, ground - anything will be much better than handheld.

Generally, folks who post here are looking for "great low light" video which usually means a large lens diameter and large imaging chip (pretty challenging with a small camera)... and "great audio" which usually means a mic jack for an external mic. There's the occasional requirement for loud audio which means some sort of manual audio gain control. We don't know if these are on your requirements list.

These are the most common evaluation items. Then there's zoom, focus, how manual controls are implemented, if any - and autofocus... Many have face recognition now.

Most of the action cams (i.e., GoPro, Sony HDR-AS series) have a "normal" 120 degree wide angle that can distort the image, so I would not recommend them for "regular" use.

If you got the HF100 new, at the time it was introduced that was nearly $2,000, if memory serves. Is that our budget? In no particular order, your short list might include the Panasonic HC-X920, Sony HDR-PJ810, HDR-CX900... I don't know if these qualify as "small enough" for you. I think all will have a start-up time of varying durations, but all should be able to capture a still image while capturing video simultaneously (be sure to download and read through their manuals before buying).

I think they are all available online, but don't know what inventory your local stores will stock.

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The GoPro Hero 4 Black
Dec 2, 2014 2:43AM PST

field of view options are 170 degree (ultra wide), 127 degree (wide) and narrow (90 degrees - "normal"). Earlier GoPros were limited to 170 and 127 degree field of view. Still an "action camera" no matter how much lipstick you put on it. And still a small lens diameter and small imaging chip. It "also takes pictures" is small and can capture 4k video.

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Answer
Another choice
Nov 23, 2014 11:07AM PST

I use the Panasonic HC-V750 which has all the requirements you ask for:-

The camera will fit easily into a pocket. In fact I usually keep it handy most of the time just by stuffing it into my coat pocket.
It has Pre-Rec which means that the camera is recording three seconds of video before the record button is pushed, so you miss nothing.
Still images while videoing requires a press of the "stills" button.
It has one of the best OIS systems I have come across. The system is hybrid which means that it has both mechanical movement stabilisation and electronic stabilisation using the centre of the chip for reference.
The camera has genuine slow motion. I will record at 120fps and replay the motion at half speed i.e.60fps plus you can re-record in "Playback" mode to a second file giving a video at 1/4 speed. This option works well.

Panasonic provide a pan/tilt head VW-CTR1 which has a number of options. For example you can get the camera/head to follow a moving object by itself using the "face recognition" option in the camera.
The camera can be remotely operated via Wi-Fi or NFC using a Smartphone App.

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Cameras too bulky
Dec 2, 2014 2:12AM PST

Most of these camcorders suggested are far too big and expensive for what I'm looking for here

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So you want a 4K Camcorder smaller than HD camcorders?
Dec 2, 2014 2:21AM PST