Technical progress has made great strides since the Lumiere brothers invented the movie camera. Today, a regular mobile phone provides decent video quality, and many are even used to shoot full-length films. Fewer and fewer people use “classic” video cameras for amateur shooting.
However, even among amateurs, there are those who consider video cameras more convenient and high-quality than smartphones and cameras. Compact action cameras are also very popular, especially among athletes and extreme sports enthusiasts. If you are going to buy a video camera, but do not know which one to choose, read our article.
Which video camera to choose?
In our review, we will not talk about semi-professional and professional movie cameras for shooting clips and films, but will focus on simpler cameras available to everyone. If you are not sure which video camera to buy, you need to understand what you are going to use it for. Now we will analyze several scenarios for using video cameras, and also tell you about the most important functions.
Cameras for family and travel
A home camera should be reliable and convenient, first and foremost. When choosing a camera for home and vacation, you need to pay attention to the following functions:
Long battery life - useful on a long trip or when filming a children's play.
Powerful zoom - if you are filming a beautiful landmark in the distance or your son's football match.
Stabilization - the video will be smooth, even if you are filming on the run or from a bus window.
Compactness and light weight - so that your hands do not get tired from long shooting.
Action cameras
Action cameras are suitable for fans of active recreation and sports. You can attach such a camera anywhere and shoot high-quality video in extreme conditions. The following features may be useful to you:
Shockproof, waterproof - so you don't have to worry about dropping the camera and be able to shoot in the mud and underwater.
Large battery capacity - so you don't have to think about recharging on a mountain slope.
Availability of mounts - so that the camera can be attached to a bicycle or helmet.
Full HD 1080p or 720p resolution - so that the image is clear and detailed.
Availability of Wi-Fi - so that you can wirelessly transfer the footage to a tablet or laptop.
High-quality sound recording.
Cameras for video blogging
Despite the fact that most video bloggers prefer to record videos on digital cameras and smartphones, video cameras have several advantageous advantages, especially if you are shooting a vlog outdoors - first of all, compactness and high image quality. When buying a camera for shooting a blog, you should pay attention to the following points:
The ability to connect an external microphone - for recording high-quality voiceover.
Support for 4K resolution - for a rich and realistic picture.
Built-in stabilization function - to successfully shoot video "handheld", without a tripod.
Long battery life - useful when shooting outdoors.
Works not only from a battery, but also from the network.
We hope that our article was useful to you, and you learned more about how to choose a video camera. Do not forget that an expensive video camera does not mean the best. When choosing a camera, focus on the availability of the necessary functions and ease of use. Ultimately, only you can understand which video camera is best for you. Have a great time filming!