Please suggest a premium (non-Canon) compact camera.

[enewmen]

Hi all.

I'm a long time user of Canon cameras and they work great (as cameras).
But when I try to use a Canon camera to record video, it uses some strange video codec that can't be converted to normal MP4. I think it uses some weird Apple QuickTime MOV wrapper that's difficult to convert using a free converter..

Please help me suggest a premium compact camera that has these basic features:
20+x zoom
good low-light & high ISO with low noise (for a compact camera).
1080p video - using a normal/standard MP4 video format.
Optical image stabilization.
Manual ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.
Near Zero focal distance for macro shooting.
Uses AA batteries for easy replacement (I know this is getting rare).

basically as much camera power someone can stuff in their pocket (or cargo pants).

Ok thanks!

 

[Rashkae]

The AA battery requirement means you can toss out the list already.

Why not look at dpreview, and shortlist the cameras for yourself, then do some basic research/reading reviews? With your list of requirements (20x+ zoom, 1080p, etc etc) it will be a short list.

I'm really not seeing much effort from you at all... At least show us you did some effort and are not expecting a spoonfed list. We are not a free "do your research for you" service.

 

[enewmen]

The problem is not the 20x zoom, 1080p, etc. That's easy to find.
The problem has more to do with the video format (like I said in my post 3 times - if you read the whole thing). For some reason, Canon doesn't use a standard MP4 format and I have not personally used other cameras..
I was hoping some people can share their personal favourites.
When I started digital photography 10 years ago, Canon and Nikon where the only top brands. Is this still the case?
EDIT:
I after some searching, Nikon uses a video compression technique called "motion jpeg". It's easier to transcode(convert) than QuickTime, but the compression is terrible. That means video files takes up lots of memory. OK, I could have been more specific I'm looking for a compact camera that uses a h.264 MPEG-4/AVC (part 10) codec and MPEG-4 (Part 14) MP4 container. A simple search can not find this.

 

[Rashkae]

The problem is not the 20x zoom, 1080p, etc. That's easy to find.
The problem has more to do with the video format (like I said in my post 3 times - if you read the whole thing). For some reason, Canon doesn't use a standard MP4 format and I have not personally used other cameras..
I was hoping some people can share their personal favourites.
When I started digital photography 10 years ago, Canon and Nikon where the only top brands. Is this still the case?
EDIT:
I after some searching, Nikon uses a video compression technique called "motion jpeg". It's easier to transcode(convert) than QuickTime, but the compression is terrible. That means video files takes up lots of memory. OK, I could have been more specific I'm looking for a compact camera that uses a h.264 MPEG-4/AVC (part 10) codec and MPEG-4 (Part 14) MP4 container. A simple search can not find this.

Even 10 years ago, Nikon was not a big player in compact cameras. You should look at Sony and Panasonic

 

[rhino123]

Fujifilm X-S1

Fujifilm X-S1 Review | PhotographyBLOG
Fujifilm X-S1 Review | Compact Digital Cameras | CNET UK

Featuring a pretty large sensor for a superzoom camera (2/3inch) and noise performance is excellent. It record movie in the MOV file (sorry... not the standard MP4).

 

[enewmen]

Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate

 

[dodgethis]

I convert the mov files from my MkIII into MP4 using Handbrake with no issues at all, thank you very much. Yes, Handbrake is free and available for PC and Mac.

 

[enewmen]

I have Handbrake and it works well. But it simply can't load the Canon video file. The only transcoder I found can read the MOV file is Avidemux.
I tried to get handbrake to load the MOV files by installing QuickTime to get the codec - but no luck.
What codec do you use to allow Handbrake to read the Canon files? This will help a LOT!
thanks!

 

[kei1309]

use the 3GP video converter

 

[ricohflex]

Further to the digicam recommendations in PM.

You can look at some video converters that can convert Canon video to MP4.

I tested a sample Canon video file:
5D Mk3 video - encoding 1280 at 60 fps - compression: ALL-I (intraframe) in MOV container
to convert to MP4.

Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate confirm can do it fast and easy. This software is not free but quite cheap.

I have many other video converters so never bother to test them all.

 

[dodgethis]

I have Handbrake and it works well. But it simply can't load the Canon video file. The only transcoder I found can read the MOV file is Avidemux.
I tried to get handbrake to load the MOV files by installing QuickTime to get the codec - but no luck.
What codec do you use to allow Handbrake to read the Canon files? This will help a LOT!
thanks!

Is your Handbrake the latest version? This is the only reason I can why your Handbrake can't work. I have converted files from a 550D before with Handbrake with no issues. I don't think Handbrake works like that with codecs the way you are describing.

 

[enewmen]

Again, Thanks for the posts!

I will try to get Handbrake working first (it's good and free). If not, then I'll look for an Aiseeoft converter for the PC. I think 3GP just targets mobile devices.
Even after I get the converting done smoothly, I will still want a new camera later. Just because I should not need to go through trouble just to view my own videos.

@dodgethis
I think SOMETHING needs to be installed in addition to the newest Handbrake - just so Handbrake will know what to do with the MOV file. I think it works for you because you already have that "something" installed - even if you don't know it. Now I have version .99 and I will check if that's the newest version. I will also get a new video sample off my 550D and see how the newest Handbrake can read the file. Thanks for the troubleshooting help.

EDIT:
The newest Handbrake DOES work. I stand corrected! The sample video file size went down from 50 megs to 12 megs (and doesn't look any worse).
BTW, I already have the Matrox video codec installed: Matrox Video - Support - Matrox VFW Software Codecs Downloads
Maybe that made a difference. But in any case, Handbrake works 100% :thumbsup:

EDIT #2:
Video from the PowerShot 260 HS does not work. Handbrake doesn't seem able to read that MOV file. I'm starting to think the video format or the camera just has brain damage.

EDIT #3:
Avidemux 2.6.1 was able to read and convert the MOV from the brain damaged PowerShot 260 HS. No problem
All problems SOLVED

 

[Octarine]

[...] For some reason, Canon doesn't use a standard MP4 format and I have not personally used other cameras..[...]
I'm looking for a compact camera that uses a h.264 MPEG-4/AVC (part 10) codec and MPEG-4 (Part 14) MP4 container. A simple search can not find this.

One reason can simply be with the license costs for the codec. In the compact segment with high price pressure, fast model release and nearly all users are just 'snap snap' in jpg it makes little sense to implement codecs that a hardly required and might come at higher costs. Also, these codecs are implemented in the hardware, changing the codec affects the camera chips directly.

 

[Shizuma]

run Ubuntu linux, many free safe codec to convert here and there. very fast conversion also especially if you are running off command line.

i think one of the commands is ffmpeg , quite tok kong. I use it to convert ripped Youtubes into ogg files.

best of all its FREE
no need buy new camera
no need buy new software
no need buy new computer.

google for it

 

[ricohflex]

Some cameras meet the needs of users who want very high quality video.

Some cameras meet the needs of users who just want a fuss free, easily compatible, readily useable video which they want to watch on a small screen of a portable device or handphone. So no need for very high resolution. That is the niche of digicams that produce video in MP4.

 

[Radioreid]

Most of videos shot by camera from Canon, Sony, Panasonic, etc. can be in mov, avi, and mts.

I've never truly used Handbrake (and when I dabbled with it it was years ago) whereas I've used AppGeeker video converter for quite a while now. It serves my needs for converting camera videos for my iPad and PS3 well enough.

http://www.ilikemall.com/how-to/convert-mp4-to-mov-mac.html

I am running on a Apple Macbook Pro.