A Quick Guide to Video Cameras for the Web
First: Do not get a used camera because they are too risky—who knows what’s wrong with it and you won’t have a warranty. Also, beware the many, many websites out there offering huge discounts on cameras. These usually offer “grey market” cameras, which means they are likely bought in foreign markets (eg. Asia) and will require all kinds of adapters and most of these won’t come with a U.S. warranty. Buy at your own risk.
Second: Get a lens cleaning kit (amazing how much this can help video quality!) and a tripod. A case is optional. I throw my small camcorder in my knapsack or even my purse.
Consumer Camcorders
To produce video for the web, all you will need is a consumer camcorder or handycam. Most models are extremely portable, fitting in the palm of your hand, and can capture adequate video and adequate sound—the colors won’t be as vibrant as you’re used to seeing on TV, and most models won’t have a microphone jack, so in order to record sound bites, you’ll have to rely on the built-in mic, meaning your sound won’t be the best. Most models, if not all, now come with built-in digital still camera for point-and-shoot pictures you can then post on the web.
Panasonic, Sony, Canon and Samsung all make suitable consumer camcorders and are readily available at BestBuy, B&H or J&R. As for the recording format, I would recommend mini-DV, as opposed to a DVD or the HD (hard disk) variety. The prices should all be comparable, and definitely below $400, with some exceptions. Mini-DV, which is the format we use at NY1 (mostly) and at NYU, is cheap, small, readily available (you can buy mini DV tapes at a drug store), with less risk of erasing it (unlike HD) or damaging it (like DVD), and they are very high quality.
Here are some examples of value-for-money camcorders in this category (Note: prices fluctuate constantly—these are as of June 2007):
Panasonic PV-GS85 Ultra Compact Mini DV ($279.95 at B&H)
Indicated for use as webcam. Can take stills. Has USB, which means simple to connect to computer. Has cool digital effects.
Canon ZR-800 Mini DV Camcorder ($249 at B&H)
Part of Canon’s entry-level ZR series. Captures stills. Good images, great lens, great zoom, easy-to-use, very pretty. Bonus: has an external mic. Do not confuse with ZR-830 or ZR-850 which do not have an external mic, despite having a few other bells and whistles.
Sony DCR-HC28, DCR-HC38, DCR-HC48 Mini DV Camcorder ($249.95 to $339 at B&H)
Has advance HAD-CCD, which is one step up from CCD, providing great detail and clarity. But, still has no external mic or headphone jack.
Sony DCR-HC96 Mini DV Camcorder ($549.95 at B&H)
Has same advance HAD-CCD of earlier models, but this one also has a mic input.
Samsung SC-D6550 Mini DV Camcorder ($299.95 at B&H)
Has mic input jack. Not the prettiest of camcorders. Has two separate lenses for video and still, giving it high-quality video and still.
Prosumer Camcorders
For the super-ambitious, looking to submit stories for stations like Current TV or even those looking to do some freelancing for a news website with a video component, I would recommend taking the plunge, spending the extra cash and getting a prosumer (professional/consumer) camera.
Unlike consumer camcorders, or one-chip cameras, a prosumer camera or three-chip, can capture better image and color depth. These 3CCD cameras have three separate chips to capture visual data: one for red, one for green and one for blue (all the colors of the spectrum) as opposed to the consumer cameras that have to capture the data all on one chip.
Higher-quality models will also have a microphone jack in the form of a little 1/4 inch or mini plug. These still won’t give you broadcast quality sound, which requires a XLR cable (three-pronged – super expensive), but the external mic will at least help you capture better sound bites than just using the camera mic. Best case scenario, you’ll get a model with a headphone jack, too, so that you can monitor sound while recording and in playback, in addition to monitoring sound levels on the camera.
Once again, I would recommend the mini-DV recording format. There’s plenty of options in this category. Here are some examples, below:
Panasonic PV-G320 3 CCD Mini-DV Camcorder ($429.95 at B&H)
This is on the lower-end of the 3CCD scale. Doesn’t have external mic jack (boohoo), but does have stereo zoom mic with wind noise reduction.
Panasonic PV-GS500 3 CCD Mini-DV Camcorder ($799.95 at B&H)
A step up from the GS320 and worth the extra dough, because you get an external mic jack, (though no headphone jack) and this has good low-light performance and very good natural light video – plus it has a manual focus ring, which most consumer and prosumer cameras don’t have anymore. The viewfinder also pulls out and flips up, which is a huge plus.
Sony HDR-HC5 HDV Camcorder ($749.95 after rebate at B&H)
No mic or headphone jack, but this has the option of shooting in high-definition video (HDV), which is where broadcasters are headed. Not worth the extra cost for the most part, but if you are crazy about HDV, then by all means, this is a great camera.
Sony HDR-HC7 HDV Camcorder ($999.95 after rebate at B&H)
Step up from HDR-HC5 – has both mic and headphone jack. If you are going to spend all that money for HDV, then you might as well blow the bank on this one.
—Darragh Worland