Questions/Confusion about Video Cameras

[RyanKhoo]

Hi there,

I am looking for an entry level Professional Video camera. Budget is around $6,000.

Currently I am dissatisfied with my Canon Legria HFM31 because I find the quality of the video is not as good as the video taken using the Sony Nex5 even though the Legria is a video camera while the Nex5 is actually a camera. I find it unacceptable that a camera like Nex5 can take better video than a video camera itself like the Canon Legria.

I look at some courses in Lynda.com & they keep emphasize that to take good quality video, the camera needs a good & big image chips, the bigger the image chips, the better the quality will be.

With this in mind, I thought the Canon XA10 at $3,200 is a good entry level until I read the specs & it say the image sensore is a 1/3 CMOS sensor. Then I look through the range of Canon Professional video cameras, all the sensors in their more expensive models like the XF100 and XF105 (selling ay $7,000) are all fitted with 1/3 CMOS sensors.

To my horror, I look back at my Legria HFM31, it is also a 1/3 CMOS Sensor !

So, why all these consumer range & Professional range in fact have the same image sensor size ? So, then why is the Professional range so much more expensive than the consumer Legria range ?

Thanks

 

[Bamboopictures]

Before you spend your hard earned cash, think about what you like about the Nex5 footage. Is it the more vivid colors? Shallower depth of field, less noise?
This is the look of a large APS-C sensor (about 15 times the size of the 1/3" CMOS) If you like this kind of look in a camcorder form factor, get the VG20 (same chip as the Nex5) Or consider Canon 650D, 600D or 60D and Panasonic GH2. You cannot expect the same look from the XF100 or even the XF300.

However owing to much shallower DOF and the hit-and-miss or non-existent autofocus function, APS-C video/hybrid may not be suitable for some situations.
There are also no zoom rockers on these cameras.

A professional camcorder is distinguished from consumer models usually by its viewfindner, XLR inputs, manual buttons, and features like zebra, color bars, peaking focus assist.

 

[RyanKhoo]

Thanks Bamboopictures for your reply. Really appreciate it. This is exactly the info I expect from the salesman at Hai Chew but alas the knowledge of the salesman there who served me was no where near yours.

All I know is that the videos taken on the Nex5 are so much sharper & clearer than my Canon Legria HF M31. I dunno how to explain, it is like the video in HF M31 lacks the details of Nex5. The colour in Nex5 is more vibrant. The same shot of a man dancing at say 5 metres, in my Next5 I can see his white T-Shirt clearly with all the words on the T-Shirt clearly be seen. But on the HF M31, the T-Shirt looks something like a bunch of out-of-focus white color. That's how I feel.

If XF100 cannot reach the quality of this standard, then it is a waste of money. So, I suppose NX70 or NX30 also cannot achieve this type of quality ?

Initially my main reaction is to get the VG-20 but I later realize I cannot zoom using a remote control. You see, sometimes I mount my video camera on top of a jib so I cannot use the zoom feature if the VG-20 is way up on the jib ... sigh ... My other grip with VG-20 is that it the 18-200 lens is only about 10x zoom & the lens for VG-20 are rather limited. This of course leads me to consider the Panasonic AG AC 130 which has a 22x Optical zoom & comes with 3 CMOS sensor.

So is 3 numbers of CMOS sensors better than a single APS-C sensor on the VG-20 ?

To be honest, I am looking for a VG-20 that can be zoomed by a remote. There is no such a thing, right ? Sigh .... please tell me I am wrong !

Thanks again,

Cheers

Before you spend your hard earned cash, think about what you like about the Nex5 footage. Is it the more vivid colors? Shallower depth of field, less noise?
This is the look of a large APS-C sensor (about 15 times the size of the 1/3" CMOS) If you like this kind of look in a camcorder form factor, get the VG20 (same chip as the Nex5) Or consider Canon 650D, 600D or 60D and Panasonic GH2. You cannot expect the same look from the XF100 or even the XF300.

However owing to much shallower DOF and the hit-and-miss or non-existent autofocus function, APS-C video/hybrid may not be suitable for some situations.
There are also no zoom rockers on these cameras.

A professional camcorder is distinguished from consumer models usually by its viewfindner, XLR inputs, manual buttons, and features like zebra, color bars, peaking focus assist.

 

[Bamboopictures]

Motorized zooms are slowly coming into the scene with the latest crop of lenses from Olympus. In the mean time check out this rig:
"Remote Zoom" your DSLR lens - for Remote Shooter / Sports Shooter - YouTube

 

[RyanKhoo]

Motorized zooms are slowly coming into the scene with the latest crop of lenses from Olympus. In the mean time check out this rig:
"Remote Zoom" your DSLR lens - for Remote Shooter / Sports Shooter - YouTube

Thanks, this is cool.

Is there a similar "remote zoom" for Sony VG-20 ?

The problem I see in the above Youtube is that there is a clicking sound when the zoom is being activated ...

Thanks

 

[Bamboopictures]

Personally, I feel that if you are using a jib, it should be for the movement rather than for height extension. A 3 meter tripod is a better idea if you need static height. For a dramatic jib shot, a wide angle lens is most effective, the movement is smoothened out, the change in perspective is amplified and at height, the scale of the venue is exaggerated, and of course you'll have deeper focus. Doing a zoom during a jib shot is seldom seen on TV or movies. Dedicated Remote zoom control for P-lenses / DSLR-lenses are rare for three reasons:-
A) Zoom lenses aren't that good for filmmaking - the focal length tends to change a little when pulling focusing calling attention to the tool rather than the scene.
B) Zooming is a dated look; almost a novelty shot. The human eye can't zoom.
C) remote follow focus can be easily converted to a zoom control; just gear up the zoom ring instead of the focus ring.

 

[RyanKhoo]

A 3 meter tripod is a better idea if you need static height.

But how to control the video camera is the tripod is 3 metres high ? We need a remote control to do that, right ?

C) remote follow focus can be easily converted to a zoom control; just gear up the zoom ring instead of the focus ring.

Sorry, don't quite get what you meant here. Can elaborate further ? Thanks