I want to swith camcorders. What would be an even trade or an upgrade?

[ingeborgdot]

I have a Sony HDR-FX7. I really like the camera and it takes great video but I am running into the issue that a 60 minute game on film takes 60 minutes to load. This ends up making me stay up almost an hour longer than I would need to then if I would have a hard drive or sd card video camera. I have almost the fastest computer a person can have so nothing is really an issue. I have had the camera for a little over 2 years but it is in new condition with no scratches at all. I hate to get rid of it and may not if I can't find anything at a good price point or can't sell mine for a decent price. Anyone have any suggestion what would be comparable or a little better? I do need something that would also give me good night video also as it is taping football games which goes into darkness. The fields all have lights but they are never very good. Thanks for your input.

[aedipuss]

maybe a dual slot sdhc card cam? jvc gy-hm150u jvc has an even better low light cam but it's $5000.

[ingeborgdot]

Thanks, but it has to be in the same price range as what I can get the FX7.

[brunerww]

ingeborgdot - you can probably get about $1500 for the FX7 (lowest price for a used model on Amazon).

If you don't mind 1080i and you want to stick with Sony, the $1615 HDR-MC2000U may be what you're looking for. Good low light sensitivity, shoulder mount, records to 16GB of internal memory or sd/sdhc/sdxc cards.

If you want to save a little money, the $1140 Panasonic AG-AC7 has pretty much the same specs as the Sony (except the built in memory) for about $500 less.

If you don't mind a palmcorder instead of a shoulder mount, I recommend the $1190 Canon Vixia HF G10. Great in low light - this is the same camera as Canon's $1800 professional XA10, without XLR mic inputs - for $600 less. It also shoots progressive, instead of interlaced, which will give you smoother action on the football field.

Hope this is helpful - please let us know what you decide!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[ingeborgdot]

I do have to have mic inputs. That is one of the requirements of this camera. I will have to see how much I can get for my camera before I do anything. Thanks.

[brunerww]

They all have 3.5mm stereo mic inputs, just like your Sony HDR-FX7. What I was trying to say was that none of them have professional XLR mic inputs like the Canon XA10. Sorry for not being clearer.

Cheers and hope you get a good price for the Sony,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[ingeborgdot]

Nope, you said it. Sorry for being stupid.

[ingeborgdot]

ingeborgdot - you can probably get about $1500 for the FX7 (lowest price for a used model on Amazon).

If you don't mind 1080i and you want to stick with Sony, the $1615 HDR-MC2000U may be what you're looking for. Good low light sensitivity, shoulder mount, records to 16GB of internal memory or sd/sdhc/sdxc cards.

If you want to save a little money, the $1140 Panasonic AG-AC7 has pretty much the same specs as the Sony (except the built in memory) for about $500 less.

If you don't mind a palmcorder instead of a shoulder mount, I recommend the $1190 Canon Vixia HF G10. Great in low light - this is the same camera as Canon's $1800 professional XA10, without XLR mic inputs - for $600 less. It also shoots progressive, instead of interlaced, which will give you smoother action on the football field.

Hope this is helpful - please let us know what you decide!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

It doesn't have to be a sony. I just want something that is good in low light situations, will make film transfer fast and easy, and is around the 1500-1600 price range if possible.

[ingeborgdot]

Anyone else have any ideas about cameras? Just checking again as I will probably make the switch in November. Thanks again for the help.

How does the HDR-MC2000U compare to my FX7? low light? How does the 2000 compare to the HF G10 from Canon? This is just a question for anyone that happens to have owned them or knows anything about them.

[brunerww]

ingeborgdot - here is some low light football with the MC2000U:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX877XbmJ1U

And here is some low light indoor rodeo with the HF G10:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch2ws9TGLmM

Again, hope this is helpful.

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[ingeborgdot]

They both look good to me.

[brunerww]

Yes, they do. The MC2000U is more expensive, but, it seems to be more suited to your purpose. If you plan to hold the camera instead of putting it on a tripod, the shoulder mount will help you keep the camera steady. It also comes with a directional mic. That said, if the camera is going to be on a tripod anyway, and budget is an issue, the HF G10 will do a fine job.

Best,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[ingeborgdot]

No real budget because I am going to sell an FX7 I got last year. It has around 100 hours on it and it looks brand new so it should sell pretty fast, I hope.

[glenpinn]

what about the panasonic HDC-SDT750 hand held camcorder, pretty decent low light, shoots in avchd (m2ts) onto a 64gb card in 1080/50p @ 28Mbps (around 5.5 hrs of footage on 64gb card) and i think in USA it can be had for around $1100 or there abouts.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-HDC-SDT750-Camcorder-Review.htm

i recently bought one, and absolutely love its quality, and the image stabilization is excellent, and the zoom and pan functions are great, plus this can be used in manual focus mode, or AF mode.

my review thread is here.
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/349994-Panasonic-HDC-SDC750-Cam-%28My-Review%29

i already bought 2x 64gb class 10 sdxc cards, and 3x 3 hour batteries, next will be the video light, a Rode shotgun directional mic, a wide angle lens, and some filters.

these cams in australia cost approx $1400 and i got mine for $850, and if i see another retailer having a stock clearance for that price again, i will be buying another one.

[ingeborgdot]

Interesting looking camera that's for sure.

[MJA]

Interesting looking camera that's for sure.

750 (2010 model) is discontinued.I it was selling for $750 here in the US.now $1300 third party stores on amazon

[ingeborgdot]

Not interested for sure then.

[glenpinn]

Interesting looking camera that's for sure.

750 (2010 model) is discontinued.I it was selling for $750 here in the US.now $1300 third party stores on amazon

Not interested for sure then.

the Sony HDR-FX7 was launched in mid 2006, so it is now 6 years old, and it filmed in Mpeg2 HD format @ 1440x1080 (interlaced) but im not too sure of the video bitrate used, however it was nothing like the 28Mb/s used on current generation cams that shoot AVCHD @ 1920x1080/50 frames (progressive)

the SDT750 model was launched in october 2010 and released to the public in march 2011 as a 3D replacement for the very popular TM700 (camcorder of the year in 2010) and it was released with a rediculous 3D recording feature (a pointless option in my opinion) and they removed the internal memory and went for a single 64gb card slot.

regardless of its release date, it is still a current generation spec'd 1080/50p pro-sumer camcorder and still has the same features (some of them better) as all the new 2012 generation camcorders, and i say that because the AVCHD recording format has been around since the TM700 and nothing has changed.

Now, the current model panasonic 3D camcorder is the HC-X900M that replaced the SDT750 and was launched in march 2012, and in usa this new model has a rrp of $1199

http://www.panasonic.com.au/Products/Camcorders/3MOS+Full-HD+Camcorders/HC-X900M/Overview

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-HC-X900-Camcorder-Review.htm

it is essentially identical to the SDT750 in every single way (scored 9.9 compared to 10.0) except for the change back to the older 32gb internal memory and 32gb sd card slot format found in the TM700 and TM900.

given this new model is no different to the SDT750, if you can pick up an SDT750 for $750 in USA, then all i can say is go grab one, because there is no advantage in paying more for the new model camcorder if it isnt any different, or better.

anyway, if your bothered about buying a cheap SDT750 because it is a previous model, then at least consider the new HC-X900M model, given you did say that the SDT750 "looked interesting"

EDIT: btw im not sure what your current cam is worth, but given one guy said you can buy a new SDT750 for $750, there is no way i would pay more for your sony cam, but strange things happen with camcorders, and maybe some people still prefer using HDV cams over AVCHD cams.

cheers

[ingeborgdot]

The problem with the HC-X900M is the low light test. It was far worse than the Canon G10 and a the Panasonic hdc-tm900. I am looking for a camcorder that has superior low light capabilities and in that test link it shows it is behind these other two.
As for my camcorder. I don't care how long it has been around, as it takes superior video with its high quality lens and all the options it has. The only reason I am selling it is because of time constraints and capturing with tape. If that were not an issue the camera would stay, as it is really a better camcorder than the G10 and the 900M overall.

[glenpinn]

If that were not an issue the camera would stay, as it is really a better camcorder than the G10 and the 900M overall.

each to thier own, but i certainly dont agree with your comment above.

i know my HDC-SDT750 is very good in low light, and it is the best low light cam i have ever owned, but i guess the issue here is that you have not actually tested any on these new cams for yourself to find out from experience what they are like.

good luck with your search.

[ingeborgdot]

vv

[ingeborgdot]

Okay, old thread but I never did sell the HDR-FX7. I am going to this week though. I need some advice from all of you wonderful people that know about camcorders. What would be an upgrade to the FX7? It will be used for strictly sports. Football and basketball. It must use SD cards also. Here are some of the camcorders that have been suggested.

Panasonic AG-AC7
Panasonic AG-HMC40
Panasonic AG-AC90
Canon XA-10
Sony HXR-MC2000U
Canon G20 or G30

I really need something that will do well in low light. I need it to be in the price range of these camcorders and no more. I just purchased 2 XA10's but they were for an entirely different thing. I need to get this camcorder soon. Thanks for any advice you can give.

[julitomg]

Have you made low light tests with your Canon XA-10 s?, how ´d you rate them in general, and in relation to your needs?
Some articles about a couple of the models you mention:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/products/canon-vixia-hf-g20
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/news/canon-s-new-flagship-hf-g30-has-a-ton-of-upgrades
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/panasonic-ag-hmc40-camcorder-review-37336/page-5
I didn´t find a review there for the AC90. I also included the low light performance discussion for the HMC40, I must agree that it´s forte is not working with low light levels. I wouldn´t really consider the AG-AC7 except for its low price but probably any of the other ones you listed is much better (except the Sony with it´s single little CMOS, it´s probably simmilar as the AC7)

[brunerww]

Hi Ingebort - another camera you may want to consider is the new $1599 JVC GY-HM70U. Shoulder mounted, with an f1.2 lens, it delivers great images in low light and records 28mbps 1080/60p (something no other shoulder mount below $2000 can do).

Here is an extensive test of the HM70:

Pretty impressive for a $1599 camera.

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[ingeborgdot]

I like your test. I really looks good. I will really look into that camcorder.

[ingeborgdot]

I really like the Panasonic AG-AC90 and the JVC GY-HM70U after doing some looking. I don't know if I would go for the G20 or G30 if I went that route though. It's not like these things are cheap so I better make sure I find the right one. It is so hard to go by reviews. I would rather listen to people on here and to what experiences they have had.

[ingeborgdot]

Man, this is a hard decision. Does anyone else have anymore advice? Any cameras that I missed?????? I wish I could use them in person but I have nothing around me that sells any of these. I go by what others say. Maybe that is just the way most people do it.

[glenpinn]

hi again, ok what is your budget, and is a 35mm full frame camera with interchangeable lenses ok for you.

also, do you want or need Auto Focus and image stabilization, either on the camera body, or via lenses.

Sony NEX-VG900

this would be my next camera IF it had Image Stabilization and Auto Focus built into the body, unfortunately they are lens dependent, so one must buy the right lenses if you need IS and AF modes like i do

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/09/12/Sony-NEX-VG900-full-frame-camcorder-and-VG-30-...ower-zoom-lens

https://www.google.com.au/#gs_rn=21&gs_ri=psy-ab&tok=NH-YJtwgapER8NkVPmKLUQ&cp=9&gs_id...w=1920&bih=964

Panasonic HDC-Z10000

http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/HDC-Z10000.asp

[brunerww]

glenpinn - I can't speak for ingeborgdot, but he said clearly that he wanted to "stay in the price range" of the Panasonic AC7, AC90, HMC40; Canon XA10, G20, G30; or Sony MC2000U - "and no more". These cameras are all below US$2000. Sadly, the Sony NEX-VG900 and the Panasonic HDC-Z10000 are both over $2000 here in the States.

ingebordot - you can't go wrong with either the AC90 or the HM70. I am a Panasonic guy, but I would get the JVC. You can fix the JVC's lack of an XLR input with an $18 line matching cable - but the AC90 is a "palmcorder" - and the HM70's shoulder mount will be a lot better for football games.

And, if you order the HM70 from Adorama, you get a free copy of Vegas Pro 12, a $499 value.

Again, hope this is helpful!

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

[glenpinn]

ok no problem, i skipped over the posts and must have missed that info, however its a shame his budget doesnt allow for a better spec camera than those already mentioned.

what bitrate does the HM70 shoot 1080/60p avchd video at.