Sep 2010
Video taping my hunting trips
I’ll pitch in, what is a good camcorder that is durable and easy to use to bring along on my hunting and fish trips? I have my eye on a Sony HC38, but I am unsure of how it’s performance in low- light conditions that are common when in the field hunting. I would prefer the camcorder to take clear video past sundown, but not all the way until it is pitch black outside. My budget is $250-$350. Possible?
Suggestions,
Arky-
Rule of thumb is you get what you pay for! if you could spend a bit more, buy Canon XL2 with extra lenses. Then only you can take extreme close-up, using macro function, or zoom as close as possible. At this moment, just use whatever available.
A better option might be a camera with 3 CCDs which would offer better color and resolution. You can get a nice one like the Panasonic PV-GS320 in your price range.
Bigger, “prosumer” style cameras like the Canon XL-2 are very sexy and perfect for documentary film makers but they aren’t cheap. Expect to pay upwards of $3000 for one that’s optioned out the right way. And they are BIG.
Some tips for low light shooting include turning off your digital image stabilization or use a camera with optical image stabilization. The digital (software) stabilization can cause some unwanted artifacts to show up on your video. Also, Turn off the Digital Zoom. It can also put some junk on your tape like “pixelization” which look even worse in low light conditions.
Hope this helps!