[SOLVED] Are cheap Chinese camcorders worth considering?

[yetanotherlogin]

Hello,

I'm looking into consumer camcorders that 1) are good enough to shoot an amateur documentary, and 2) can take an external microphone input in case I need to record interviews without surrounding noise.

Are Chinese camcorders as seen on AliExpress any good, or should I just go for higher-priced Japanese hardware?

Thank you.

[Cornucopia]

I wouldn't touch ANY of those with a 10 foot pole!

Scott

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks.

So at this point, it looks like Chinese camcorders just aren't good enough (yet?), and I should spend more and get Japanese brands like Sony or Panasonic.

[TreeTops]

The Yi 4k camera seems to be OK. It gets good reviews on the DV forum. And it looks like it will accept a external microphone.

[yetanotherlogin]

Yes, but it's an action cam, so it won't let me record a 2-3h conference.

[lordsmurf]

I'd only get something like that to give to a kid, and not care what happens to it.

- You dropped it? Did it bounce?
- Somebody stole it? They'll be disappointed at the pawn shop.
- The dog ate it? Hope he enjoyed the treat.

[yetanotherlogin]

Understood.

I'll shell out a few hundred €/$ and get a Japanese camcorder.