February 26

The Different Categories of Video Cameras: Practical Considerations for Selecting a Video Camera

One of the most frequent questions I get is, “What kind of video camera should I buy?”

canon video camera
Canon consumer grade video camcorder

Of course, I can’t tell any one person precisely which camera to buy, but I can tell them this.

Video cameras can be broken down into four basic categories.  Which one is right for you depends on:

  • Do you want simple or do you want to get artsy?
  • What are the technical demands?
  • What’s your budget?

Those should be easy questions to answer.  Let me define the four categories, and you’ll be able to see clear differences on which you can base your selection.

  1. Webcams/Flip cams come first.  They’re both drop-dead easy to use.
  2. Consumer grade cameras, which are still fairly easy to use but give you a lot more features than a web or flip.
  3. Prosumer grade, which are more difficult to use but give you lots more artistic control.
  4. Professional grade cameras, which are sturdier, higher quality versions of the prosumer cameras.  Professional grade cameras are fantastic, but you do not even need to THINK about using one unless you are really doing a high level project.
video camera high quality
Panasonic AG DVX prosumer grade camera.

What are the Differences?

  • Cost
  • Number of features
  • Quality of individual parts
  • Size
  • Weight
  • Ease of use

Believe it or not, the differences you find in these four levels of camera are not drastic differences in the final image quality.  Yes, the image quality improves as you go up, but really, some of the tiny little cameras get a great picture.

The biggest difference with higher grade cameras is that the higher you go, the more independent, manual control the camera operator has.  Higher grade cameras have more features that affect the picture quality, and they are all under the videographer’s control.  Video photographers working at a high-end level tend to prefer manual control.  Beginners tend to prefer automatic.

That, plus high level cameras have better individual parts that are higher quality and sturdier, especially the lens.  The lenses on some of the professional cameras I used to work with had amazing capability in terms of length of zoom, degree of wide angle, and macro focus.  For a video photographer wanting to exert a lot of creative control over their work, having a high-quality lens is essential.

video camera
A professional grade camcorder.

Now, having manual control over all the controls is only a benefit for someone if they WANT to get artistic and have that kind of creative control. Certainly lots of people do.  I sure love having that sort of control.  But if you are not interested in that sort of thing, it can become a hassle and just something else to learn.   Don’t feel bad about that, many styles of video making simply do not require that level of control.

Video camera ikegami
The professional Ikegami HDN-X10 video camera for high-end documentary style video production.

 

For simplicity, people should stick with fewer bells & whistles plus automatic control of aperture, shutter, focus, and other functions.  That will work just fine most of the time.

So if you are looking for easy point and shoot, you do not want a professional grade or prosumer grade.  A consumer grade is going to be easier to use and still get a quality picture, maybe even as good as a higher level camera.

Canon vixia hf g20 video camera
Canon Vixia HF G20 consumer grade

Most consumer cameras will be totally automatic, have a decent sized but simple 10-1 zoom lens and probably a few additional features such as a built-in light, image stabilization, and multiple modes for different conditions.  Consumer cameras pack a lot into a little body.  Their biggest drawback IMHO is they do not usually have any place to plug in a separate microphone, so you are limited to using the onboard microphone.

Depending on what you are filming, the lack of supplemental audio might be a real hindrance.  Audio quality is critically important if someone is speaking on camera.  If you are doing talking heads, you would want to use a microphone that can be placed close to the moth speaking.

Now, the very simplest and cheapest grade of camera to use includes cell phones, flip cameras, and webcams.  These have become so popular and for very good reason.  They are drop-dead simple to use.  A webcam of course has to be used with a computer, but a flip cam can be put in your pocket and taken anywhere.   They often get remarkably good image quality for their size.  But their ease of use is their best feature because that is a HUGE benefit in so many ways.  I love them.

flip video camera
The humble flip cam.

The drawback to these cameras of course is that they have fewer features. Some do not have zoom lenses at all, and if they do, they might just be a small 2:1 zoom.  You certainly do not have features like built in lights or image stabilization.  Some are fairly high resolution, even HD, but some have pretty crummy resolution.  My webcam does, although it is a top of the line.  But that’s ok. I just look at it as a good thing because the low resolution knocks at least ten years off my face!

So, with that information, you can use the four grades of camera guidelines to figure out what grade of camera you want, and then select one that meets your needs within the grade.

Thanks for reading VPT

Lorraine Grula

B&H Photo has always been one of my favorite places to buy video equipment.  They carry EVERYTHING and their prices are great.




Tags

buying video cameras, consumer grade camera, flip camera, home movie camer, how to make video, prosumer camera, tips for buying video cameras, video camera comparrison, video making


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