Video Cam recommedation needed!?

Question

I work for a radio station and we are looking to buy a video camera to start recording our station events (anything from promotions with venues to actual concerts). I really have no clue what I should be looking for but obviously something that picks up sound well is needed. We don't want something expensive but we don't want something cheap either. Any advice on things I should be looking for would be awesome!

Answer 1

Well, first decide HD or SD. If you want to keep up with everything, go HD, cause that's gonna be what stays for the next ten years or so. SD is already moving out.

If you want something with good sound, you're gonna have to get an external microphone. No default mics that come with the camera are any good, ESPECIALLY for recording concerts. And, since you work at a radio station, you may be more sensitive to sound (like me) and want stuff you may be able to use on air. This is of course an extremely difficult decision and as I have no idea what you would be willing to pay I can only say good look researching external shotgun microphones :)

As for the camera, there are fewer options and so it is possible to recommend a few.

~$1,000 = Canon HV30

~$1,500 = Sony HDR-HD1000U

~$2,000 = Sony HVR-A1U

~$2,500 = DVX100B (not HD, but deserves this list nonetheless as it is friggin sweet)

~$3,500 = Sony HVR-V1U or Canon XH-A1

~$6,000 = JVC HD100

I guess I'll mention some very low-cost mics anyway to get you started:

~$150 = Rode Videomic

~$200 Senheisser MKE-400

These are very cheap for what they do. However, if you are getting a camera better than ~$2,000, then you need something better to match your great video.

If you get a cam with XLR inputs you may be able to use mics you already have in your station (lavs or something). Either way, keep in mind the differences between XLR mics and unbalanced-line mics as you pick your camera and accessories (if you get a cam with only an unbalanced mic in put and a mic with only XLR output, then you need a converter box like the Beachtech).

Good luck!