Railworks America

Looking back at my train videos I've posted to youtube, I've always wanted to invest on a new camera to use. I currently have a JVC GZ-HM65, but the quality really isn't that good and the color is not right. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can use? I'm mainly looking for a Sony camera, but any suggestions like Panasonic or JVC are fine. I'm looking for one that has good color, HD (Of course), one that has good audio (for example if a train sounds its horn right next to me, it would produce static noise in the recording) and one that has no lenses flare problems.
Thanks.

That is a bit of a tricky question. In the professional broadcast industry, I'd say Sony and JVC are dominate... with Canon playing a major secondary role as well...especially for their lenses.

For the prosumer level cameras (basically very high-end consumer models) I'd say Sony and Canon dominate pretty evenly, with JVC in 3rd place.

For the regular consumer market, I'd say Sony is dominate followed by Canon.... and then everyone else.

Give me a budget range of min to max and I'll steer you towards some cameras. It will likely be between Sony and Canon. The biggest difference between the two are their image sensors. It usually comes down to how they capture color. Some prefer the color output of one or the other. There are fanboys of each and comparison videos to help you choose.

I'm a bit Sony biased, but I would not have a problem owning or recommending a Canon cuz they make awesome cameras too.

Often overlooked maker is panasonic, they make good prosumer camcorders. This is the one I'm looking at to upgrade from my JVC camcorder. The one thing I like about my JVC now is the awesome 40x optical zoom.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1065696-REG/panasonic_hc_v750eb_k_full_hd_camcorder.html

Yeah.. in the prosumer market, I'd put Panasonic in 4th place.

True but for there price they aren't bad at all. This one has a good 21x optical zoom, better than most others in this price range, and a big pixel gross and shoots in 50 fps, good for YouTube if that's what your after, these arent cinema level camcorders but good YouTube camcorders.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/847436-REG/panasonic_pal_hc_v700me_digital_16gb_flash.html

I agree with the Sony and Canon recommendations and would like to add Samsung to the short list.
I've used Samsung cameras and they are very good and very comparable to Canon and Nikon.

Shopping for cameras is tough right now. There are all kinds of websites with wrong info about various makes and models.

GSkid wrote:Give me a budget range of min to max and I'll steer you towards some cameras.

The price range for me would be anywhere from $150-500 Dollars.

merciless245 wrote:Often overlooked maker is panasonic

I was thinking of Panasonic, but I found for Sony Camera's that had fit my needs, but idk I may be missing something from Panasonic.

Has anyone tried any of the Sony CX series? For example the CX 240?

Cx240 isn't any better than what you have now.

Wells its not the only camera Im looking at, Im also researching to buy a Panasonic V201K.

Or a Sony HDR-CX330

Large optical zoom ranges make the use of a solid tripod and perhaps a sandbag to weigh it down necessary.
Especially if you have to stay well away from trackside or right of way boundaries, where a large zoom factor comes in. Buy a fluid damped head with leveling glass and a small quick release pad you screw into your camera for those smooth horizontal pans
A good external microphone with wind noise suppression comes in handy here as well.

For handheld operation at closer range, from platforms, grade crossings and other public access locations, you might want to look into a camera with effective optical image stabilisation.

For inconspicuous recording in unsafe neighbourhoods, where most of the railroad action takes place, look for a small camera you can easily hide in your jacket. You don't want to get mugged toting a posh big and expensive looking prosumer camera, esp. a shoulder type.

I am from the DV age, had a few Sony D8's and still have my Panasonic 3CCD with optical stabiliser that recorded on DV tape.
Nowadays all camera's record to memory cards.

But how do I know which camera's have bad audio? Do I look at their description and look at the mic it has? Or should I just know that every modern camera these days wont have that problem?

ColoradoRailfan wrote:Anyone else have Camcorder/Video Camera Suggestions? I wouldnt want to buy a camera and not like it, return it and find another one.

But how do I know which camera's have bad audio? Do I look at their description and look at the mic it has? Or should I just know that every modern camera these days wont have that problem?

Built in microphones are notoriously bad when it comes to wind noise suppression. External microphones are usually covered in foam or have that fluffy fur.

When you have found a few models in your price range, head over to specific camera testing sites.
Read the tests and user reviews carefully, outdoors users always comment on wind noise susceptability and such
I am too much out of the loop to recommend any sites off the top of my head, sorry.

Don't fall for "featuritis" and lots of buttons and switches. Good optics, image stabilisation and sound recording should be more important than fancy digital effects.
Final cutting and effects are done on your computer anyway.

If you are serious about video as a hobby, be prepared to invest in good equipment. A complete kit will set you back quite some $$, but will serve you well for many years.

Also, bear in mind many small digital SLR's can succesfully record video as well, if your aspirations are not so high.

Consumer video market is slinking because of mobile phones and compact digital cameras in almost everybody's posession nowadays. This means that affordable and good mid range
"prosumer" cameras are getting scarce.

I shop at b&h photo. They have the largest selection of consumer, prosumer and professional cameras that I know of. When I got my first HD video camera from them (a $1300 Sony) back in 2008, they sent me their professional catalog. Their selection was so big that the catalog consisted of a 2 volume set. Each volume was the size of your average medium to large size phone book!! I told them to stop sending them since it's just a waste of paper even though they were fun to page through. Their search on the website is enough for me.

As for sound? I'd get a camera with a mic input to use a better one. BUT... you can get fairly decent sound from most mid-to high end consumer models. They make stick-on furry windscreens for built-in mics. You put on the adhesive-backed velcro mounts on your camera and the velcro-backed furry windscreen can be put on or pulled off the camera at will. It cut down wind noise dramatically.

I got it from here...

http://www.thewindcutter.com/shop/

Although note... apparently they have stopped taking orders for the time being due to what I assume is a death in their family, based on the message on their website right now. They are a small operation.

Another note if you use a built-in mic. Some have 5.1 surround sound recording. I'd avoid this mode unless you really want to have it for something where it would truly work out. It works pretty decently, but usually cuts down the front left and right sound levels a lot in the sacrifice. Keeping it in the stereo setting is ideal in most cases and the record levels are much higher in this mode.

GSkid wrote:They are a small operation.

They are a HUGE operation. They have two sales floors and the store is a full city block long down 9th ave., it's huge! I love going in there, it's heaven. Any electronic equipment you can think of.

Two whole floors of furry windcutters?
Must look like the set of The Trouble With Tribbles.