Help me pick a dedicated video camera!

Hi everyone, so every forum I go to and every review I read has something similar or different to say about the three cameras I am looking at. I am really at a loss of what to pick up.

What I am shooting: Sports mainly (some day time, the occasional high school lit field at night), interviews, and event stuff

What I am editing with: Finalcut 7

What I have that also shoots video: 1Dmk4

What I am looking at:
Canon XF300 (I don't plan on doing multicam ever)
Sony Pmw-EX1
Panasonic Ac160


I know they are all similar in terms of low light performance being 1/3" chips. But is there any separation?

Autofocus is better from what I have ready on the Canon, so I am leaning that way, although manual focus for video shot from a high broadcast style level would more than likely be quite easy given the depth of field and how wide I'd be shooting.

But I am literally being tugged in a different direction every time I read something new.

So what do you all recommend based on your experiences?

Also another question, is there anyway to record straight to dvd? Or would I have to import the footage, export it, and then burn a dvd?

The Sony's slightly larger sensor will give you better low light than the XF300 (Sony is actually a 1/2" sensor). The Panasonic has AF issues from what I've heard. The XF300 is broadcast ready and shooting at 720p you actually gain about 2 stops of light over the 1080p equivalent in the same settings. Seeing you're from San Diego, Video Gear (www.video-gear.com) in Miramar area has the Sony and Panny for rent so you can test those out there and George's has the XF300 in stock. I'd suggest using each one to see which you like.

If you keep your 1D4, you can use CF cards with Canon and not buy more memory cards (unless you need to use both cameras at once). Personally I'd love an XF300 if I had the funds

Have you considered the Sony FS100?

Based on his 3 choices it looks like he was looking at fixed lenses. If you add in interchangeable lenses then he has a whole new selection of cameras to consider

I just purchased the panasonic hmg150p Great camera many manual functions, would definitely recommend it. I was looking to do the same thing sports and high action videos. You can view a few of my videos at this link: http://www.youtube.com​/user/TheRidersChannel

I don't need interchangeable lenses. Most of the stuff will be run and gun or high school sports.

photopr0 wrote in post #14441319
I just purchased the panasonic hmg150p Great camera many manual functions, would definitely recommend it. I was looking to do the same thing sports and high action videos. You can view a few of my videos at this link: http://www.youtube.com​/user/TheRidersChannel

Nearly every camera can shoot well in the daylight, I am shooting mostly at night. Thanks for the suggestion though.

ajaffe wrote in post #14441919
I don't need interchangeable lenses. Most of the stuff will be run and gun or high school sports.

Yes but you might find a less expensive camera body that performs just as well AND gives you the advantage of using your photography lenses. THAT can make all the difference in the world.

List some examples please! Something with good low light performance, good autofocus, and easy workflows.

Look into the Panasonic AF100 and the Sony FS100. They are both very popular these days and produce some great results from what I have seen.

I have shot with the EX-1 and loved it, great camera. I shot this back in college on an EX-1, but it was before I knew what I was doing and most of the settings were somewhat auto:

http://youtu.be/b4Qfy5​ixL0w

I have not yet researched that new Canon, but im sure it is equally great. If you want to go with 2k and make a film, dont forget to take a look at this thing! for the money its quite neat.....kind of like an EPIC sized GoPro...

http://gizmodo.com …resolution-for-under-3000

P.s. I've got a few night shot's I shot with the EX-1 I can upload if you want. They were show on low S.S. and high ISO's different environments.

Please! That would be great.


Also, to help everyone understand why I have not looked at interchangeable lens models very much is simply down to cost and the availability of a zoom rocker. I shot with an AF100 in a studio environment and it was very, very clunky to zoom smoothly.

I went back into my old footage from college and dug out a few low-light shots from the EX-1. Back when I shot these I did not know what nearly what I know now about camera settings, so other than the Shutter speed, and WB the camera did most of this on auto. none of these scene's were lit by any other light source other than what existed in the environment. Everything I shot in better light always looked great and was normally focused and exposed well. The camera has a good processor.

http://youtu.be/NZZD_v​96uWA

I would check out that new Canon as well. I am sure there are some comparison vid's out there somewhere.

It is a close comparison from what I have read. Hence my decision to ask here. I am leaning a bit more towards the Ex1 though since I found out about SXS card adapters where SDHC cards can be used and because of the larger sensor size.

The low light videos look really good even with youtube compression. Thanks!

No problemo, Yes that was one of my problems with Sony where they MADE you buy their SXS cards. I'm glad adapters are now available though. I was not aware.