Professional video cameras have come a long way over the years. Originally developed for use on television sets or by outlying commercial trucks, today’s professional video cameras are used for direct-to-camera movies, music videos, educational and corporate videos, weddings, among many other applications. Because of this, it can be difficult to choose the best video camera. Here are four tips that can help you make your decision.
Sony is perhaps one of the world’s largest producers of professional video cameras. Their line up of HDTV cameras includes interchangeable lens cameras and camcorders, although their most popular line of HDV camcorders are their Alpha models. If price is your main concern when shopping for an HDTV camera, Sony offers a few options in the $400 to thousands of dollars price range. These cameras include the Alpha NEX E-mount camcorder, which has a built-in, high-definition LCD screen, and the powerful but more expensive Alpha NEX Hdtv model.
Camcorders from other top manufacturers are often considered to be the bestsellers in the consumer market. Camcorders from Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Penta, Samsung and Sony all sell in the thousands of dollars price range. To determine which of these top-selling brands makes the best seller, you should first determine which of the consumer market’s top sellers sell in your price range. The other thing you need to determine is what qualities you’re looking for in a consumer-grade professional video camera. You might not necessarily want to buy a HDTV camera with highest resolution and the fastest processor, although these two features can certainly improve picture quality. What you really want to look for in a good professional video camcorder is one that has the best quality video sensors, a fast shutter speed, a large screen and, especially for those who work with video, an easy to use manual focusing screen.
There are several different types of consumer-grade professional video cameras on the market. One of the most popular ones is the HDTV camera. These HDTV (high definition television) cameras have one small advantage over traditional camcorders: they can record HD (high resolution) video directly to an HDTV monitor. Some of the top-rated hdtv cameras include the Sony FS5iHS, the Samsung Galaxy S camcorder and the Canon Coolpix camcorder. These three models capture high quality video and stills and they have the necessary components to handle HD video: the camcorder has a large, high resolution screen, the screen is touch sensitive and it has an optical zoom lens.
Another camcorder worth considering is the Aventura Pro MH4iHS – a dual HD camcorder that also captures video in standard definition. Like many Aventura Pro models, this model includes a one xlr audio input so you can connect the camcorder to your sound system as well. It also has built-in dual band antenna and includes Avchd compatibility so you can use Avchd on the recorder as well.
The best HDTV cameras are those that incorporate a lens element that concentrates wide angle lenses like the Sony FS5iHS. The lens is more expensive, but you don’t need to worry about lens complexity since it is coupled to a camera electronics that eliminates the need for separate internal lens elements. Some models only contain one, possibly two, tiny lens elements, whereas others have lens elements composed of tiny lens elements that, when collectively, cover a larger viewing area than single elements of any other type. In fact, the number of elements per inch varies between different types of lens.