Do you want to make sure that you have the right camera for your needs? Then firstly consider how you will be using it and for what purpose, as this can save you from potentially over spending or not spending enough and being left with sub-standard videos. Any video camera review can be handy for you.
If you are only ever filming in one location, you can get away with a less expensive camera than if you are constantly changing location, sometimes shooting inside and sometimes in an outdoor location.
If you’re just starting out, a compact HD video camera that will fit into your pocket like the Flip or Kodak Zi8 may be sufficient. Both of these cameras can be bought for less than $200 and either would be an excellent choice to start out with. You may also choose to begin with a Sony Handycam.
Sometimes the audio for these cameras leaves a bit to be desired, but any limitations here can be overcome by using external audio. They both have microphone jacks which allow you to do this.
Most of the functions on these simple cameras are automatic, so you need very little expertise to be able to shoot presentable videos. You may also like to use the iPhone 4 to begin with.
If you use these cameras for studio-style video, such as an interview, it is a good idea to have a tripod to steady the camera; no one has hands which can hold the camera without any wobble.
If you’re after a more serious set up and have some experience in filming video, you may want to consider a more sophisticated option. DSLR cameras have become more popular recently. They are Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras and they are often used to film professional indy movies, tv shows and commercials that previously required expensive equipment and specialist know-how.
You will need to spend around $1000 to purchase one of these types of cameras. After the initial purchase of the camera, you will also need to buy the special lenses to give you functionality. You can change the lenses on the camera to give you different looks to your videos. You can get a more filmic look and up the quality of the work. As these cameras weren’t made to be proper video cameras, again, the audio is not perfect but external audio can be used to compensate for this.
Finally, you have a camera like the Sony Z1 which would be considered a high end solution for small business video and costs around $7000. This cameras allows you to customize more with manual adjustments to features like audio and white balance, (control over light and colour balance) which affect the overall quality of your video.
This type of camera will allow you to shoot a great video no matter where you are shooting – inside, outside, in poor light or brilliant sunshine.
Are you still confused about the type of camera that is right for you? If you like to contact Melbourne video Production, we can give you some additional help when making this and other important decisions regarding your video making by clicking here. We would love to hear from you.