Good video camera for filiming hunts??

[idahohuntr]

Any members have a good recommendation for a video camera for filming hunts?  I have a regular old sony handycam that I have been using but the picture quality is just...blah.  I think it even says it is "HD"...but that is not even funny!

I have seen some of the packages on like campbell outdoors...but was curious what recommendations folks might have.  Im not trying to make a hunting show or anything commercial...but I want something a heck of a lot better than the video camera I have now.  It would be used on elk hunts, deer hunts, fair bit of spot and stalk type hunts and an occasional hunt out of a blind.  High picture quality/HD, a decent zoom so a deer at 200 yards is more than a speck, and something that isn't a huge burden to pack are some qualities I would like...anyways, I would appreciate any feedback from folks that film hunts.

[Bean Counter]

You can't eat your cake and have it too. Asking for full frame quality with a long focal length in a small package is asking a lot, even if you're made of money. Which of those attributes is most important to you?

[idahohuntr]

You can't eat your cake and have it too. Asking for full frame quality with a long focal length in a small package is asking a lot, even if you're made of money. Which of those attributes is most important to you?

Picture quality...by far. 


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[Bean Counter]

Panasonic GH4 is one option. Let's you shoot Cinema 4K quality video if you want.

Be careful with many Canikon DSLRs that boast "1080p video recording." Many don't offer continuous auto focus. For tracking wildlife that means manual focus only.   

[idahohuntr]

Any thoughts on like the canon xa10 or xa20...or something in the 1-2k price range?

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[deerslyr]

Get a DSLR. Awesome quality. You get a camera that takes awesome photos as well. Auto focus is useless in them but you get used to manual focus quick.

[Bean Counter]

The Canon 70D has continuous autofocus, even during video shooting. It'll cost you almost as much as a full frame DSLR though 

Any thoughts on like the canon xa10 or xa20...or something in the 1-2k price range?

I don't know anything about these. I hope a video guy will chime in here. I am not that guy. the thought of spending that much money and not having an interchangeable lens system is very unappealing to me. But maybe that's how it is with good camcorders--just a gut feeling I have. If you really want high end video its probably better to get a dedicated camcorder than a jack of both trades--ie a DSLR that shoots video.

[wapiti hunter2]

http://gopro.com/

These guys do almost all their filming with gopro. See more on their Facebook page.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=114535.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh2NNwvKVyE

[huntnnw]

If your solo filming a DSLR is not the way to go! way to much going on to capture a hunt by yourself with one.
Gopro is a great cam for "B" roll as for capturing the "shot" its bad a 25 yard shot looks like 150 yards on TV.  The cannon you mentioned work and I know a few that use them. I am using a Sony HXR-MC50U and the vid quality is great and has a shotgun mic with the ability to upgrade it. It also has a manual focus when needed.

[idahohuntr]

If your solo filming a DSLR is not the way to go! way to much going on to capture a hunt by yourself with one.
Gopro is a great cam for "B" roll as for capturing the "shot" its bad a 25 yard shot looks like 150 yards on TV.  The cannon you mentioned work and I know a few that use them. I am using a Sony HXR-MC50U and the vid quality is great and has a shotgun mic with the ability to upgrade it. It also has a manual focus when needed.

If you were buying again would you get another Sony HXR?  Do you consider the Canons I mentioned equal/worse/better than the HXR?

Your camera looks more like what I am after...I want pretty high quality video capability.  I went on several quality elk and deer hunts last year and I was really annoyed with the video quality from the little handycam.

[yajsab]

If you are videoing yourself, I would recommend going with a camcorder instead of a dslr.  Much easier to operate while preparing for the shot.

If you need xlr, the canon you mentioned are good.  If you can live with 3.5mm mic, I would recommend the hfg30.  This is what I used.  The hfg30 will give you 60p @ 1080.  The video quality is really good.  I also have a GH4.  The 4K is really nice, but for self videoing, this will be a little more difficult to operate.

[lastmk8]

Tag,... just following along on this topic...

[lamrith]

There is always Solvid with a camcorder/cellphone, etc.....
http://solvidsystems.com

Pretty sure they are based here.  They also have some camera recommendations here:
http://solvidsystems.com/camera-recommendations/

[JPhelps]

The canon G30 and XA20 are both great video cameras. They're the exact same camera besides the XLR inputs on the handle of the XA20. Which would only be important if you wanted a shotgun mic and wireless mic to be used at the same time. The G30 can still use a shotgun mic just using a 2.5mm jack.

I will be using a Canon 70d and G30 this year. The DSLR route is awesome for B-Roll but you risk the chance of loosing focus when it is go time.

You mentioned a $2000 budget. I would recommend a Canon T3i and a Canon G30. Best of both worlds and now you have a DSLR for taking photos.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I have been in the process of re-acquiring a bunch of gear this year.

[rosscrazyelk]

I was talking with Remy Warren a month ago and asked what he used on this Solo hunter show. He uses a go pro and a cannon 70d. If you have seen the show I think the video quality is pretty good.
Just my 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Any thoughts on like the canon xa10 or xa20...or something in the 1-2k price range?

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I have an XA-10... Love it... If I was buying today I would go with the XA20 (wasn't out when I bought mine)

[JPhelps]

Also the reason DSLRs have become so popular is the size of the sensor. It takes about a $100,000 video camera to get the size of a sensor in the $500 and up DSLRs.

[MtnMuley]

I was in the market to upgrade my vcam last year, and after a lot of research and reading reviews, I chose a Panasonic HD vcam.  I wanted compact and the most clear (optical) zoom I could find in a compact HD cam. Price wasn't an issue.  After I decided on the model, I shopped around on the internet and all said and done got it for $350 to my door.  I used it this last fall, and the quality is better than expected and I'd recpommed this vcam to any other hunter wanting to take great quality HD videos.  I think people would be surprised how much footage they watch on TV these days is shot with these smaller HD cams, that fit into most people's budget.

[lamrith]

I was in the market to upgrade my vcam last year, and after a lot of research and reading reviews, I chose a Panasonic HD vcam.  I wanted compact and the most clear (optical) zoom I could find in a compact HD cam. Price wasn't an issue.  After I decided on the model, I shopped around on the internet and all said and done got it for $350 to my door.  I used it this last fall, and the quality is better than expected and I'd recpommed this vcam to any other hunter wanting to take great quality HD videos.  I think people would be surprised how much footage they watch on TV these days is shot with these smaller HD cams, that fit into most people's budget.

which model did you go with exactly?

[MtnMuley]

HC-V520

[huntnnw]

Problem with alot of DSLR's is the abilty to shoot in low light...most lens are not F1.4 like you can find in vid cams. then the massive lens you would have to buy to even come close to the zoom of a small camera and the price  great B roll, but this guy is wanting to film for himself and not make a tv show

[idahohuntr]

Thanks for all of the help and advice...I'm definitely more clued in to what I think I need from the input here...definitely not looking to break into the hunting video production business, although some of what I see being done (e.g., full draw film tour) is pretty frickin awesome and motivates me to think about all the creative things I could do!      My wife thinks my hunting is obsessive...not sure how she would take my idea to buy lots of new equipment and spend hundreds of hours editing and creating and filming scenes 

[Romulus1297]

WOW You are polite on this question. Look at Cannons HF G20, HF G30 or on up @Crutchfield.com. You get what you pay for.  Why aren't you so polite on other posts? Why are some other topics the end of the world for you? We are not bergdahl. Why do you post so harshly against other people?