Video Cameras
The first thing you should know about video cameras is that the “best” camera you buy today will have been trumped by an even better camera in 6 to 12 months. Technology moves very fast with video cameras.
And the second thing you need to know is that when it comes to video cameras, you get what you pay for. That means a $1,000 camera will perform dramatically better than a $200 camera.
If you’re just starting out with video, I always recommend you go with a cheaper camera as having the “best” won’t give you any advantage…it’s like buying the world’s best golf clubs although you’ve never played golf. They won’t help you play any better, you have to gain experience first.
And when it comes to entry-level cameras, most people go with the popular Flip style cameras. The Flip and Kodak brands are the most popular in this arena. The advantages of these cameras are that they are cheap and easy to use.
However, there are many drawbacks when it comes to image quality. These cameras don’t give you any manual control over the image. In a nutshell, that means if you’re shooting outdoors, the image is usually pretty good. If shooting indoors, the quality can take a hit. If shooting at night, the quality is poor. And if shooting with any type of professional lighting, the quality is awful.
Click here to see a head-to-head comparison of footage from a Flip camera vs. a high-quality video camera.
Depending upon what you want to do with video, a better choice for an entry-level camera is the Canon ZR960. While still an entry-level camera, it does provide much more control over image 
quality…which means you will get overall better video from it (please note this is a standard definition only camera).
Moving up the food chain to the higher-end (better quality) cameras, I recommend anything from the Canon Vixia line.
If you prefer to work with tape-based cameras, I specifically recommend the Canon Vixia HV40. It’s an outstanding camera that shoots both standard and high-definition and is consistantly rated to best camera in it’s category.
If you prefer solid-state cameras, I specifically recommend the Canon Vixia HF S10 or Canon Vixia HF S11. These are Flash based cameras that shoot only high-definition. And they do so beautifully. In fact, the HF S10 has even been used to shoot scenes in a $30 million dollar Hollywood movie.
Personally I use the Canon Vixia HF S10. You can see my video review of the HF S10 by clicking here.
You’ll also notice that I almost always recommend Canon cameras. As a result, I get a lot of questions like “why don’t you recommend Panasonic, JVC, etc.”?
Well here’s why.
Actually I recommend either Canon or Sony cameras. These are the largest camera manufacturers and as a result, they are the most widely supported by video editing software. That means you have the fewest headaches working with the footage from them.
These also happen to be the cameras that the pro’s use. If you ever see a news or television show being made, 9 times out of 10 they’ll be using either a Canon or Sony camera.
I prefer Canon in particular because their focus is on video and photography only. The products they make are only focused in those areas (much like Nikon is only focused on still photography). As a result, the tend to produce the most innovative products.
The same can’t be said with other companies that make video cameras…where they may also be making vacuums, telephones, electric shavers and more.
That doesn’t mean you must buy a Canon or Sony camera…you are free to choose whatever manufacturer you like…don’t let me stop you. I can only tell you that in general, you’ll never go wrong with Canon or Sony…and that the same can’t be said with other manufacturers.
Disclosure - I’m a compensated affiliate. I gave you my honest review and opinion on these products. But I am also an affiliate of these products. That means if you order a product using the link I supply,I will be paid a commission on the sale.
Great article! For a long time I was a faithful follower of Sony and a of my purchases were Sony brand electronics, which includes video cameras. What I found with Sony products that has really turned me off is how proprietary Sony has made their products… Memory Stick Pro Duo as an example. I’ve had a few different Sony cameras and will not go that way on a new purchase. It will be Canon from now on.
Dave,
Another reason to use the low end to mid line Canon cameras
is that they give you an audio input jack which the other brands do not. Good audio is essential for good video and the Canon gives you this feature which makes it the clear choice for me.
Dave,
Where does the Canon XHA1S or XHG1S fit into this (or compare)…. What would your thoughts be on the value of jumping the Vixia for an XHA1s? The usage being both for web video, travel video/documentary?
@Dan – Canon’s pro cameras give you a better lens, image processing, complete manual control and record at higher data rates…all which leads to better quality video. But quality is subjective…what a pro might see in terms of quality can be completely invisible to the average person.
Dave, Great stuff and based on your valuable info, I am leaning toward the HV40 over HF S10 due to $$$$, but my question is from a “publishing to the web stand point, does the tape add additional challenges in comparison to the solid state (HF s10)?? I’m technically challenged
@Ken – Tape just takes longer to transfer to a computer. If you record 20 minutes on a tape, it will take 20 minutes to transfer to your computer. With Flash-based cameras, you can just copy the files onto your computer at the same speed as you would any files.
Thanks Dave,
Now that you’ve “sold me” on the flashed based camera, I guess I need to save my money elsewhere, after all time is money and I don’t want to be sitting around for the tape to copy! Is there a WEB quality difference in a traditional digital video recorders vs. the high definition camcorders?
Hey Ken,
I’m a VERY happy member of Dave’s Coaching program and play with both standard and HD. I use my flash based camera all the time for speed of transfer and find no loss of quality over a tape based camera, at least that I can see for the web.
I also still stick with standard definition almost all of the time, again because of speed. The HD conversion process is significantly longer when you’re editing. Because most of the stuff I do is designed to be more ‘conversational’ or ‘reality’ than ‘production’ or ‘commercial’ I stick to standard definition. It also gives a smaller file size and never gives me buffering issues, so that’s another plus.
Anyway, Dave will likely have more words of wisdom but that’s my 2 cents.
Phil Hughes
http://www.philhughes.tv/podcast
@ Ken – HD videos utilizes a lot more pixels…1920×1080 vs. 720×480…and has many more lines of horizontal resolution (1080 vs. 480). So the result, web or anywhere else, is you’ll get a sharper and more detailed image with HD.
Dave, what do you recommend for a non solid-state camera?
I really want to get the quality of the HF S10, but you mentioned in your video that it would best be served on a tripod.
I’m more interested in physically going into businesses to film their story and take action shots as they prepare food, setup shop, etc.
I definitely want to be able to film without a tripod when necessary and rather put up the money now for what I need.
Recommendations? Post your affiliate link
Scott
Also wanted to know…
1. Does the importing of the HF S10 go just as smoothly with Sony Vegas Pro 8? I noticed you use 9 in the video.
2. Your videos all have an SD or HD option. When taking HD footage into Vegas and then rendering as an AVI… what are the steps afterward to producing the HD vs. SD? I use Flash Video MX Pro to create .sfw and .flv … will this produce only SD quality? What format is good for the web to “maintain” the HD quality?
Love your web university course!
Scott
@ Scott – You’ll pretty much find tape-based cameras only on professional models (Canon GL2 standard definition, Sony HDR-FX1000 and Canon XH-A1, both high definition). The Canon ZR960 is about your only low-priced choice.
@Scott – Any steadycam type device would work. The camera also comes with an image stabilization feature.
@Scott – A computer recognizes any Flash based camera as just another USB storage device, meaning you can open Windows Explorer and copy the clips from your camera to your computer hard drive.
The SD/HD option on some of the my video players refers to the encoding quality of the video. I cover the encoding recipes and tools I use in my paid training at Club WVU (http://www.clubwvu.com).
I was browsing on Amazon and noticed a Sony camera model Sony HVR-HD1000U – price is in the ballpark and it has that big look you might want just for show Scott. I’m not sure what Dave’s take on that model is but I just ran across it and it looks like it could work for tripod and walking.
Hi, I am new here and I am from Portugal. I have a new canon s11, and i use a IMac with imovie9.
Model Identifier: iMac9,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
I am importing with Imovie 9 and my movies are all with trails and jagged lines.
Is it from my camera or from imovie9 ? In fact when I see the movie directly in a tv I don´t see jagged lines.
Does hf s11 have problems with imovie9 or vice versa?
best regards
Miguel Mata
Hey Dave,
Which of these has the ability to have an external mic (lavaliere)??
Thanks
Todd,
the s11 have that abillity.
@Todd – All do except the Flips. The only Flip-style camera (currently) that has an auxiliary mic jack is the Kodak Zi-8.
Dave,
You are one of the few marketers speaking to the novice market about video who is truly giving valuable and useful advice. Thank you for advancing the user community.
A correction regarding TV news crews. You will almost never see a broadcast TV camera crew using a Cannon camera. The preferred lense for an ENG rig is cannon but the cams are typically pro sony or panasonic DVC pro.
A great sony cam for web users is the old Sony DSR TRV 900. It is 3 chip, great lense, manual and auto controls and external mic input/headphone output to moinitor sound all in a small footprint. It has identical image quality to the newer sony prosumer cams but smaller and available at great prices on eBay (built like a tank).
Hope this info helps the community…
Hello Dave,
AWESOME site! Was just sent your link by a buddy of mine, and I can not wait to dig in!
Just watched your Cannon HF S10 review, and I think that is the camera I want to go with.
Question: What mic wireless mic / system do you recommend for this camera. I plan on using the camera for on location reporting style video podcasts. If it was just me, a lapel mic may work, but I am also looking for a mic I can use during interviews, and it is possible these interviews could be in a noisy situation. So some sort of a directional mic, maybe handheld stick style.
Any recommendations?
Again, awesome site!
Doc
@iGoByDoc – I cover the microphone I use here…it’s available with both wireless lapel and wireless hand held mics:
http://webvideouniversity.com/podcast/video/2009/01/09/wvu-20-the-equipment-i-use/
Thanks for the link. Looks like from my research that Sennheiser seems to be pretty high end.
Any recommendations on more entry level wireless mic systems?
Thanks again Dave
Doc
Hi Dave
This is Greg again from LifeInThePhils.com
I bought the Canon 960 from your recommendation because it has an audio input.
I also bought the Azden remote microphone kit that works great as well.
Right now Im learning how to use it all. Next week we are lining up our lady spokes models for our clothing line.
It should be fun selecting them and shooting the video (poolside)
Take care
Greg