Adding item to the basket... 14 June 2023
Guides
Alex Parker
13th June 2023
As more high-end mirrorless cameras hit the market, the humble traditional camcorder is often overlooked in favour of hybrid cameras with interchangeable lenses. However, if you're planning a video shoot, there are a whole host of reasons why picking a camcorder might be the best option.
Performance - an experience tailored to your video-shooting needs
As adept as hybrid mirrorless cameras have become at shooting video, there's something to be said for picking a tool specifically designed for your purpose. Camcorders have fixed lenses painstakingly dialed in to work with their sensors, guaranteeing you're getting the absolute best the camera has to offer. Camcorder lenses tend to offer a vast, optical zoom too, giving you great scope without having to carry half a dozen lenses around.
The heat is on
Small, almost pocket-sized cameras with limited options for cooling are all well and good when snapping sporadic stills, but things become a little trickier when it comes to video. Shooting 4K 10 bit RAW in-camera puts a predictable stress on internal components, leading to cameras overheating and shutting off entirely. Whilst this issue was more prevelant when mirrorless cameras were first introduced, there are still plenty of cameras that struggle. No such problems exist with larger, purpose built camcorders - you can shoot away to your heart's content.
And on that camera were some ports, i/o, i/o, i/o
Video shooters understand the importance of decent inputs and outputs, especially ones that are full size. Having to deal with a 3.5mm jack rather than XLR inputs, the possibility of no headphone input, or mini HDMI ports rather than full size, does not a happy videographer make. None of these problems exist with a camcorder, where the manufacturer has more than enough room to tick every i/o box.
Bells and or whistles
These days, camcorders are a little more technically advanced than the one your dad shot your birthday or school play with when you were little. From built-in ND filters for speedy stopping down, wireless streaming connectivity without the need for a computer, and bleeding edge autofocus performance and in-body image stabilisaton, today's camcorders are versatile beasts that can be a pleasure to shoot with.
Make a saving
It might not be part of the conversation about performance and usability, but budget has to feature somewhere. Camcorders tend to have larger, longer-lasting batteries, meaning you need less of them. You also make a saving on the requirement for multiple lenses to capture all required focal lengths. Elsewhere, accessories like handles and grips are often included, and at Hireacamera all of our camcorders come with a high quality shotgun mic as standard.
If we've left you with plenty to ponder, below is just a small selection of our huge range of camcorders from Canon and Sony, from compact, lightweight offerings all the way up to professional recording solutions:
It might seem like it's been around a while, but the Z190 is still popular for a reason - it does what it does so effortlessly. Capable of crisp 4K 60p shooting, the Z190 has true 25x optical zoom and 3 independent lens rings for precise focusing and operation. Elsewhere, expect advanced face detection, electronic ND filtering, dual card slots and built in streaming capabilities. With this list of perks it's no surprise people keep coming back to the Sony PXW-Z190.
A more recent offering from Canon, the XA75 has plenty to offer dedicated video shooters looking for a simpler solution. Capable of 4K UHD recording, the XA75 features Dual Pixel AF, 15x optical zoom and 5-axis image stabilisation.
Canon cites this camera's fast, precise autofocus as one of its selling points, whilst multiple recording format options and bitrates means an extremely flexible recording experience. Add dual card slots and an extremely impressive infra-red mode, and you have a complete package.
Canon's professional handheld video camera is packed with features. An impressive 1-inch sensor provides extreme detail, with 4K 60P 4:2:2 10 bit recording. 5-axis image stabilisation keeps footage steady and professional, and advanced autofocus means your subject is always sharp in your frame. The Canon XF605's dual card slots allow for advanced features like pre-recording and relay recording, and you also get HD 120p and IP streaming too. All in all, this camera should tick all your video production needs.
If you're looking for the newest camcorders in our range, taking advantage of the latest autofocus and stabilisation technology, check these out!
As more high-end mirrorless cameras hit the market, the humble traditional camcorder is often overlooked in favour of hybrid cameras with interchangeable lenses. However, if you're planning a video shoot, there are a whole host of reasons why picking a camcorder might be the best option.
Performance - an experience tailored to your video-shooting needs
As adept as hybrid mirrorless cameras have become at shooting video, there's something to be said for picking a tool specifically designed for your purpose. Camcorders have fixed lenses painstakingly dialed in to work with their sensors, guaranteeing you're getting the absolute best the camera has to offer. Camcorder lenses tend to offer a vast, optical zoom too, giving you great scope without having to carry half a dozen lenses around.
The heat is on
Small, almost pocket-sized cameras with limited options for cooling are all well and good when snapping sporadic stills, but things become a little trickier when it comes to video. Shooting 4K 10 bit RAW in-camera puts a predictable stress on internal components, leading to cameras overheating and shutting off entirely. Whilst this issue was more prevelant when mirrorless cameras were first introduced, there are still plenty of cameras that struggle. No such problems exist with larger, purpose built camcorders - you can shoot away to your heart's content.
And on that camera were some ports, i/o, i/o, i/o
Video shooters understand the importance of decent inputs and outputs, especially ones that are full size. Having to deal with a 3.5mm jack rather than XLR inputs, the possibility of no headphone input, or mini HDMI ports rather than full size, does not a happy videographer make. None of these problems exist with a camcorder, where the manufacturer has more than enough room to tick every i/o box.
Bells and or whistles
These days, camcorders are a little more technically advanced than the one your dad shot your birthday or school play with when you were little. From built-in ND filters for speedy stopping down, wireless streaming connectivity without the need for a computer, and bleeding edge autofocus performance and in-body image stabilisaton, today's camcorders are versatile beasts that can be a pleasure to shoot with.
Make a saving
It might not be part of the conversation about performance and usability, but budget has to feature somewhere. Camcorders tend to have larger, longer-lasting batteries, meaning you need less of them. You also make a saving on the requirement for multiple lenses to capture all required focal lengths. Elsewhere, accessories like handles and grips are often included, and at Hireacamera all of our camcorders come with a high quality shotgun mic as standard.
If we've left you with plenty to ponder, below is just a small selection of our huge range of camcorders from Canon and Sony, from compact, lightweight offerings all the way up to professional recording solutions:
It might seem like it's been around a while, but the Z190 is still popular for a reason - it does what it does so effortlessly. Capable of crisp 4K 60p shooting, the Z190 has true 25x optical zoom and 3 independent lens rings for precise focusing and operation. Elsewhere, expect advanced face detection, electronic ND filtering, dual card slots and built in streaming capabilities. With this list of perks it's no surprise people keep coming back to the Sony PXW-Z190.
A more recent offering from Canon, the XA75 has plenty to offer dedicated video shooters looking for a simpler solution. Capable of 4K UHD recording, the XA75 features Dual Pixel AF, 15x optical zoom and 5-axis image stabilisation.
Canon cites this camera's fast, precise autofocus as one of its selling points, whilst multiple recording format options and bitrates means an extremely flexible recording experience. Add dual card slots and an extremely impressive infra-red mode, and you have a complete package.
Canon's professional handheld video camera is packed with features. An impressive 1-inch sensor provides extreme detail, with 4K 60P 4:2:2 10 bit recording. 5-axis image stabilisation keeps footage steady and professional, and advanced autofocus means your subject is always sharp in your frame. The Canon XF605's dual card slots allow for advanced features like pre-recording and relay recording, and you also get HD 120p and IP streaming too. All in all, this camera should tick all your video production needs.
If you're looking for the newest camcorders in our range, taking advantage of the latest stabilisation and autofocus technology, look no further than the Canon camcorders below:
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