Cameras Used for Videos posted on Bomber

[SunSurfer]

I'm familiar with the range of purpose built, fixed focal length, POV cameras like Contour, GoPro, and Drift. I have a Contour HD1080P.

What cameras are people using for getting a range of focal lengths, or being able to zoom while the video is recording.

I know from other posts that Sean Martin was using a Sanyo Xacti video camera at one stage.

I'm looking at getting a second hand compact still camera that is also able to

shoot 1280x720 or higher, at at least 30fps

zoom while shooting video

be reasonably easy to operate with my thin merino inner gloves on

have reasonable rechargeable battery life on a cold skifield

and have a file format that is handled by a range of video editors

isn't going to cost so much that I will be heartbroken if it comes to grief on the snow somewhere

Had been considering the Panasonic Lumix range from the last few years with their AVCHD Lite & Motion JPEG formats.

What are other people using? What advantages/problems does that equipment have?

SunSurfer

[fishrising]

I always have a Nikon AW100 in my pocket or pack, whether I am carrying a DSLR or GoPro, or not. It is waterproof, shockproof, etc, etc, takes pretty good pictures (for a P&S), and has surprisingly good video. It does have some sort of capability for gloved users, something about shaking it and then using buttons. I have never used that feature, I just take my gloves off. One pair of gloves, I've cut the finger tips off of my liners for ease of use of a DSLR.

Edited April 5, 2012 by fishrising

[philw]

I have GoPro 1 & 2, plus my DSLR.

The DSLR is nearly useless as it's too hard to hold and operate. I have a Glidecam for it, but although that's neat it's even more weight, and I'm not that strong. My personal view is that for practical (that is, not full-time paid set-up stuff) the DSLR is next to useless for video, although of course excellent for stills. There's a reason your video camera is shaped differently from stills camera.

I'd be tempted to buy a decent pro video camera, but it's just more junk. The POV cameras are great for what they're intended for, but way too wide for much else. This side of 4k I'm thinking that the same sort of technology in my GoPro2 (small cheap sensor and lens) should work for a longer focal length video camera - you don't need a 35mm sensor and all that weight for 1928x1080p. So I'll be interested to hear if anyone has found a decent camera for that. Wintergold has some good boarding footage which looks like it was shot from a standing position - what camera was used for that I wonder?

[Hey John]

Here is my list of features that are essential when shooting fast action sports activities like skiing or snoboarding:

1. Wide angle lens at the short end of the zoom. (i.e. wider that 30mm. Most video cams only go to 34mm at best.) This is much more important that having an extreme telephoto at the opposite end. Which I almost guarantee you will never use. But a telephoto zoom impresses a naive consumer so the manufacturers keep upping the telephoto end.

2. An effective optical image stabilization. (Avoid cameras with electronic stabilization. What this does is enlarge the image and then crops into the frame, giving you softer image. It also limits the cropping you may need to do later in the editing stage.

3. 60 fps (60p as opposed to 60i).

That said, I have yet to find a small video camera that has all three of these features. That is why I somehow find the space to carry the Sony CX360v. The colors are not the greatest but it has everything else I need. The GoPro doesn't have an image stabilizer, but the angle is wide enough that it doesn't matter in most cases, if I'm lucky.

And again, don't put too much emphasis on the zoom range. For one, it's amateurish to zoom back and forth while filming. I only zoom slightly at the wide end and never use the long end. Without a tripod, it's too unstable and the "aerial perspective" effect causes the image to be hazy.

[Hans]

Panasonic FZ150, remarkable nice shots for a P&S camera, you can record in AVCHD or MP4 in 1080P (cristal clear vids)

[Hey John]

Panasonic FZ150, remarkable nice shots for a P&S camera, you can record in AVCHD or MP4 in 1080P (cristal clear vids)

This looks like a contender based on specs. Seems to have all the important features. Size could be an issue though.

[Hans]

I always have the camera in my Camelbag in a small camerabag.

Otherwise I should consider a Go Pro. The smaller cameras are too slow to take action shots and doesn't have a reasonable cameravideofunction (also too slow).

[philw]

Those (Panasonic FZ150) look like a smaller version of my 5DMk2. I find that takes brilliant video, but it's very hard to use in snow without a tripod or stabilization.

How about consumer camcorders like the Canon Vixia HF G10? Anyone any experience of those? I'm thinking that mechanical image stabilization plus a conventional consumer video form-factor may work?

[SunSurfer]

Having seen Sean Martin's videos using his Xacti, when the opportunity arose recently to pick up a Sanyo Xacti GH-1 second hand, that was super cheap (about 1/4 new price) because it won't play back in the camera (only actual fault) I took it. I've put a 32GB Class 10 card in it.

The GH-1 has a relatively small battery power capacity, just 700 mAh, which gives less than an hour of time at highest definition. This short battery life seems to be an issue for the whole Xacti series.

The camera I bought also didn't have a AC-DC power adapter so my ability to shoot video was severely limited.

Some on-line research and I've developed some solutions.

The DC input for the Sanyo Xacti GH-1, and indeed pretty much every Xacti, is a 5 Volt & 2 Amp current (Sanyo VAR-G9 adaptor), delivered through a 1.7mm (inner, +ve), 4.0mm (outer, earth) DC plug.

By a fortunate chance, the USB 2.0 standard current is 5V, and varying A.

I've taken a standard USB cable and cut the female end off. Of the four wires inside, the red is the 5V +ve lead, and black is the earth. (Source Wikipedia)

I've done done the simple soldering job joining the USB cable to the correct size DC plug picked up from my local electronics supply store. A 1.7mm x 4.0mm DC plug, 9.5mm long, fits snugly all the way in to the Xacti GH-1 socket.

The Xacti now runs when externally powered from the mains via the cable to a standard AC in/USB port out plug.

The camera also gets sufficient power to record when connected via the cable to the USB 2.0 ports on my laptop.

External batteries delivering power by a USB cable for devices like the i-Pad, and i-Phone are available. http://www.portablesolar.co.nz/product/sidewinder-battery/

The Sidewinder delivers 5 V at up to 2.1 A, has 5,800 mAh capacity, weighs 125g, would fit in my pocket so the battery will keep warm when I'm out in the cold, and is very competitively priced with other rechargeable batteries of any kind supplying that kind of power capacity.

That should give me all the battery powered recording time I could want. I'll be buying one.

SunSurfer

6th June 2012: SideWinder battery arrived. Electrics work as I intended, camera fired up with no problems. Battery test duration run soon.

Edited June 5, 2012 by SunSurfer
Updates

[SunSurfer]

Just come across this tip on my web travels.

The Nokia BL-5C battery is apparently exactly the same as the Contour camera batteries (not the Roam which has an integral battery).

In NZ the Contour branded batteries sell for $45-50. The BL-5C is available for much much less.

(I have not tried this myself, but the pictures of the batteries look awfully similar.)

Edit: Have now checked my own Nokia phone which, it turns out, uses a BL-5C. The Contour battery and the BL-5C are identical in shape, voltage and mAh rating.

So I can also use my phone as an extra charger without buying the pricey Contour one.

SunSurfer

Edited June 19, 2012 by SunSurfer