Compact Camera for Shooting Videos.

[rabka]

Hello,

My very first post, I wish to purchase a compact camera which I wish to use to shoot videos as well as take pictures.

I did have my eyes on the Panasonic TZ3, but have since found out that there is no optical zoom when shooting videos! Is this correct.

Can anyone make any recommendations please?

Thanks in advance.

rabka

[David Metsky]

Very few cameras allow you to use optical zoom when shooting video. Pretty much only the ultra-zooms allow that, like the Canon S3 and Sony H5.

-dave-

[surfstar]

check out the previous TZ1.

only $199 at Circuit City (might be able to use a $40 coupon too)
$179 at Costco

[Gintaras]

if video is most important to you then go and get yourself a good video camera with photo capability. nowadays video cams able of doing stills are many.
if standstill pix are more important then i have heard Sony cameras are usually good videos... i saw a clip recorded on newer sony photo cam with good quality and sound... this camera was also taking good pix, but then pix were too digital looking to my eye. as often trade offs have some price. :rolleyes:

[sjseto]

Samsung NV3 and NV10
Some Kodak EasyShare models, like the C875, V570, V603, V610, and V705; possibly others
HP Photosmart R727
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T30 and T100.


Some of the cameras mentioned are reviewed on this site.

Out of those cameras I like the Sonys best, based on image quality. I think there are better compact cameras out there for image quality (the Canon SD series and Fuji F series, for example), but many of them won't allow optical zoom while shooting movies.

Stephanie

[sjseto]

Also take a look at the just-announced Canon PowerShot TX1. I can't find any info in the specs that says that you can use optical zoom while filming, but I think it's likely, since it really seems designed to be a hybrid still/movie camera.

Stephanie

[rabka]

Hello everyone,


Thank you for all the replies, Excuse my ignorance but I have a Canon IXUS 750 camera which does allow me to use the zoom when shooting a video.

Is this the optical zoom or is this the digital zoom in play here?


Thanks in advance.

rabka

[sjseto]

The IXUS 750 (a.k.a. PowerShot SD550) allows digital, not optical, zoom while filming.

FYI, if you're interested in knowing more about movie modes in a particular camera, just check out Jeff's reviews on this site. He hasn't reviewed every single camera out there (of course), but for those that he has reviewed, he always discusses the movie mode and whether or not you can zoom, optically or digitally.

BTW, the reason why most cameras don't permit optical zoom while shooting movies is because the noise from the lens motor would be picked up by the microphone, and it would sound very loud in the movie clip. So for the cameras that do allow optical zoom, you might want to try their movie modes in a store first, to see if the noise is tolerable to you.

Stephanie