http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/small-cheap-and-semi-decent-video-camera An entire Lightstalkers thread via RSS/XML. en-us Hey There, Can anyone recommend a small, simple and economical video camera set up. I am working on a story in pakistan in a few weeks, and want to bring a video camera to supplement the stills I am taking. I shoot film, so I dont want to lug around a canon 5d. I also find these cameras hard to use 'run and gun style' If the story really takes off, I would be hoping to sell the material to a current affairs tv network in Australia abc or sbs. Aproximatly 30mins doco. I have been looking into the panasonic gh2 or sony nex cameras with the seinheiser attached microphone. Somebody recomended the sony HXR-NX70U, but its a big and probably too expensive. Is there anything smaller than this that would be high enough quality? The quality doesn't have to be incredible as i hope the content will be strong. sound is probably more important. (cant afford to take a separate sound recorder due to space etc) Thanks Matt Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:54:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/small-cheap-and-semi-decent-video-camera just found the Sony HXR-MC50U? does anybody have any experience with this camera? Thanks Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:29:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/small-cheap-and-semi-decent-video-camera#174322 either Sony HXR-MC50E or if too expensive a second hand Z1 or Z5;both dependable cameras. Good luck. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:55:33 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/small-cheap-and-semi-decent-video-camera#174411 If you want REALLY small and light - and cheap, The Canon Vixia range comes with mic and headphone jacks, some manual control, and picture quality that's better than expected. Put a bracket on there with an LED light and a RODE Microphone, plus a wireless lapel mic in your pocket for interviews - and of course a tripod, and you could be doing useful work. http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/camcorders/flash_memory_camcorders/vixia_hf10 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:14:52 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/small-cheap-and-semi-decent-video-camera#174418 I think the question is whether you intend to shoot moving subjects. DSLRs, in their most basic setup, are not well suited to this. Tricked out they're not particularly portable or fast to work with. The GH2 is very good but takes pretty crappy stills. The EVF is good and comes with the camera. The stabilization of the kit lens works well and the internal microphone is surprisingly effective. You will really need a tripod or at least a monopod with feet. A Zoom H1 is actually smaller than a Rode Videomic Pro. If you do want to shoot moving subjects or work rapidly I would be looking at a smaller sensor camcorder like the Canon above. www.camcorderinfo.com might be useful. Then there is the Sony Nex 7 which might solve your problem. As a side note, are you sure the TVs you mention would be happy to work with the footage shot with these cameras? Definitions of what is "broadcast quality" vary... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:54:09 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/small-cheap-and-semi-decent-video-camera#174419