Best 4K camcordersĤK video has become the new standard for serious filmmaking. Optical image stabilization ensures smooth shooting. In addition to the 3.0-inch touchscreen, there’s a sharp, adjustable electronic viewfinder. The Canon HF G21 is literally a handful, but not so much that you wouldn’t want to take it on holiday. A high-sensitivity HD CMOS sensor promises above-average low-light video capture. You can record in AVCHD and economic MP4 formats to SD card (dual card slots offer double or serial recording), with images handled by Canon’s lauded DIGIC DV 4 processor. It boasts a 20x optical zoom, 8-blade aperture for focus blurring, and wide 28.8mm lens. The Vixia HF G21 (sold as the Canon Legria HF G26 outside North America) is one such creative tool. If 4K isn’t a prerequisite, there are serious bargains to be had with high-spec Full HD models. Bigger than the usual palm-corder -Two-hour battery life Given the spec you might be hard pressed to justify spending more, making this one of the best camcorders for filmmakers on a budget. We particularly like the tethered USB cable, which makes it a doddle to recharge the camcorder and copy footage to a PC. The camcorder even has 5.1 audio capture.
There’s a Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 30x optical zoom, with an impressive 26.8mm wide-angle setting. Optical SteadyShot, with effective Intelligent Active mode technology, goes some way to combating handshake. You can even apply various visual effects without having to faff around with separate editing programs.
Sony digital video camera recorder handycam movie#
The camcorder records records simultaneously in XAVC S or AVCHD format and file-sharing friendly MP4 format, and you can edit in-camera using the onboard Highlight Movie Maker. Sony’s HDR-CX405 sells for under £200, but comes with a host of sophisticated tricks to help you make extremely polished movies. You don’t have to spend big to make great movies. Expect some noise from the small sensor -SDXC card required for 1080p