Your Opinion on the Best Consumer Camcorder Right Now?

[Priapism]

This one looks pretty cool. Is sensor size really the biggest indicator of picture quality in the end?

http://store.sony.com/4k-camcorder-with-1-sensor-zid27-FDRAX100/B/cat-27-catid-handyca...nal-capability

Do you agree this is the best one for the consumer market right now?

Thanks.

[newpball]

Just my opinion but consumer level 4k is pie in the sky.

I would advice you to get a good 1080p/60 camera.

Unfortunately the QHD route has not been picked up by camera manufacturers (except for GoPro (more or less) ).
Personally I think going from 1080 to 4k is too big of a step and QHD would fill a great gap.

[Priapism]

Just my opinion but consumer level 4k is pie in the sky.

I would advice you to get a good 1080p/60 camera.

Unfortunately the QHD route has not been picked up by camera manufacturers (except for GoPro (more or less) ).
Personally I think going from 1080 to 4k is too big of a step and QHD would fill a great gap.

Thanks. Could you explain what you mean by pie in the sky, and too big of a step? If we're talking a superior picture, then I'm fine with a 4k. Are you saying there's no hardware that can process the files, therefore its a waste of money, unless (for example) you have a 4k television, etc ?

[newpball]

Just my opinion but consumer level 4k is pie in the sky.

I would advice you to get a good 1080p/60 camera.

Unfortunately the QHD route has not been picked up by camera manufacturers (except for GoPro (more or less) ).
Personally I think going from 1080 to 4k is too big of a step and QHD would fill a great gap.

Thanks. Could you explain what you mean by pie in the sky, and too big of a step? If we're talking a superior picture, then I'm fine with a 4k. Are you saying there's no hardware that can process the files, therefore its a waste of money, unless (for example) you have a 4k television, etc ?

Why do I have a feeling you have already made up your mind on getting 4k and you really like to hear: "yes, great go buy it"!

I'd say bare bones entry level into 4k is something like this:



http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1044789-REG/blackmagic_design_cinstudmft_uhd_stu...camera_4k.html

Of course that is just the raw camera you have to buy a lot of extras.

[_Al_]

Nice camcorder , go through reviews here on b&H Photo Video to be more in the picture, it is upgrade to that Canon you used to have. 4k is a challenge to work with though. Canon was always slightly behind stabilization capabilities as oppose to Sony, so hand held picture should be definitively better here. You can do 4k. Then there is details like focus button in front is not there if you were used to it. Perhaps you cannot hook up anything you used before , if you used that shoe on the top .
Right away you notice that it is much wider if you did not used wide angle in front, that Canon HFS10 was 43.5 - 435mm, that Sony is 29 to 348mm. So you do not need wide angle in front. It does not zoom that far though, but what kind of picture one would get zooming to 400mm, you know that ,...etc, just read those reviews ...

[Priapism]

newpball - you didn't answer my question. I don't care about getting 4k either way. I just wanted a better picture than my Vixia HF S10. 4k seemed like it was the best possible picture, but I am not sure?

[newpball]

newpball - you didn't answer my question. I don't care about getting 4k either way. I just wanted a better picture than my Vixia HF S10. 4k seemed like it was the best possible picture, but I am not sure?

No, a higher pixel count does not guarantee a better picture quality.

Often it is worse because if the sensor stays the same size the amount of light each demosaiced "pixel" receives will be less.

Also for 4k the quality of the lens becomes a far bigger factor.

[_Al_]

Sony has 20MegaPixels and 1", Canon had 1/2.6" and 8 MegaPixels, now I do not know what number of megapixels Sony uses recording HD or what way it deliveres HD. Can you tell op? That's what he wants to know, compare it to that former camcorder, not to hear books, I'd say. Those pixels are definitely spaced out at least in the same way as on that Canon. So in theory it clicks well.
Also, that Sony manual control perhaps could be crippled more in manual mode, that is what Sony usually does, not sure. We do not know how op records, manual mode, or just point and shoot etc.
I'd go into http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/, find a thread about that camcorder (I'm sure there is one) and read it, they have usually a lot to say and they actually own or tried those camcorders on their own.