I need a suggestion on a SIMPLE video camera

[bbutler356]

Hi, I'm new.

Just to let you know, if it makes any difference- I've played guitar a long time, so some folks would say that my playing is worth recording, -smile- but I would like a video camera that is ridiculously simple, but at the same time has good, decent video quality. I don't want to have to read a bunch of instructions to get it set up. I don't need to have a lot of functions to take different aspects or kinds of video; I will always be in the same lighting (in my studio) and my lighting is decent, so once set, the camera shouldn't ever have to be changed----BUT, like I said, I don't want to have to read deeply into the instruction booklet to get it a good setting.

On even expensive cameras, there is usually an "Auto" setting, so if there is such a thing as that on my video cam, it would probably be good enough for me.

It would be great if it has a mic input for an external mic, but even if it didn't, I could work around that with my audio software (which I didn't want to learn about either back when I bought it.

So okay, I'm lazy as heck. All I know to know about is guitar. But I would like to do videos any time day or night, so I have to do them myself. Money is not a huge consideration, though I hate to spend a ton on something that I'm not certain about.

If you can help, please give me some ideas. Again: Idiotically simple to use, decent vid quality, under $1000 but the closer to $1.50 the better .

Thank you from the heart,
Brian

[dfisher052]

Canon Vixia HF800.

[dcybergeek]

Honestly an iPhone with an app to film in 24fps, and a few of those lens attachments will be better than anything you can get for $200-$250

[KarMa]

Honestly an iPhone with an app to film in 24fps, and a few of those lens attachments will be better than anything you can get for $200-$250

For that price you can get a Canon 650D used, for 1080p 30fps/24fps along with a microphone jack and a pop out rotatable screen.

[elis]

Hi, I'm also new here and this thread is just in time. Thank you!

[johnmeyer]

I forgot to mention two things.

1. You can try Scenalyzer by clicking on the link in this sentence. It is now freeware.

2. The other thing that often cause problems with my DV tapes was when I recorded over a previous segment, or when I started recording after the tape had been in the camera for several weeks. Nothing you can do about that except to throw out the tiny files. I just sort my capture folder by size and anything that is measured in kBytes gets tossed.