To create high-quality video content whether it be for business, a personal project, or a hobby, it’s essential to have the right equipment and for many, their go-to option is a mirrorless or to a lesser extent, a DSLR camera rather than a dedicated camcorder or video camera.
Mirrorless and DSLR cameras both solid options, especially with impressive video capabilities that the latest mirrorless cameras feature, but generally speaking, these are hybrid cameras, made to be attractive to the widest possible audiences which includes both video creators and photographers.
That’s why we feel that if you’re looking for the best equipment for your video content creation needs, a dedicated video camera or camcorder might be the better choice.
Types of Camcorders/Video Cameras
There is a huge variety of dedicated video cameras ranging from consumer and pro level camcorders right on up to high-end professional cinema cameras.
They all come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for many different types of video content creation.
At the most basic end, a camcorder combines a camera, microphone, and video recorder into one device, is easy to use for one person (aka run and gun) shooting assignments and is usually the most widely available and affordable option.
Some of the more common features found on camcorders include manual exposure settings, autofocus, optical and digital zoom, internal lighting, external microphone and headphone ports, flip-out LCD screens, and more.
At the top end, Cinema or “Cine” cameras are suitable for professional video content creation or broadcast applications and usually feature an interchangeable lens design and other advanced features designed specifically for filmmaking.
Cinema cameras include many of the same features as basic camcorders, but also include higher level features including built-in ND filters, the ability to use better optics (lenses), larger sensors and shallower depths of field, greater control over camera settings and more.
In general, camcorders tend to be less complicated and easier to use than hybrid cameras with fewer buttons and settings to adjust, making them simpler to operate.
Additionally, they usually feature pre-programmed settings, including exposure settings, white balance settings, and more, allowing you to capture the perfect shot without having to fiddle with settings.
Most camcorders also feature what is known as a tally light on the front, which illuminates when the camera is recording making it easy to see if its on with a quick glance and the camera.
They also tend to be lighter and easier to carry around, making them a good choice for travel or outdoor shoots.
Longer Recording Time with No Overheating Issues
When it comes to video content creation, camcorders have several advantages over DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras with one one of the biggest being recording time.
While newer mirrorless cameras can record the same high-quality (4K, 6K and even 8K with some cameras) footage as a dedicated video camera, there is one big issue that is common with a lot of them, recording time.
Yes, some mirrorless cameras claim to have “solved” this issue, but it lead to another more serious issue, cameras overheating and automatically shutting down so as not to catch fire.
Because mirrorless cameras are small and tightly built, they have very little, if any, internal airflow and tend to get really hot inside when shooting video.
Overheating in mirrorless cameras happens mainly due to the large amount of visual data that has to be processed by the camera and this is especially true when recording video in resolutions of 4K and above.
Rarely, if ever, has this been an issue with video cameras and camcorders, as once you hit record, the camera will simply capture footage until the storage has been filled up without fear of overheating.
Lenses
Because camcorders are more easily adaptable, they can be placed in various locations to cover the required subject matter, and thanks to their excellent overall zoom range, would not require you to swap out lenses.
Also, be sure to check on the wide angle capabilities of the camera you are considering, as some camcorders have a wider lens than others.
Pro Tip: Depending on the application, such as live shooting situations, having a wider angle lens can be beneficial as it may mean fewer cameras may be needed to capture a wider area, giving the impression of more coverage.
In some cases, the lens may also have a power zoom feature, allowing you to quickly and easily reframe shots and even slow zoom in on subjects.
Pro Tip: Having a camcorder with a parfocal lenses is essential for this as it allows you to zoom in and out without affecting focus so be sure to check if the camera has this feature.
Many camcorders also offer a remote, either wired or wireless, with zoom control and/or record stop/start both of which can be advantageous if you have fewer operators trying to cover an event.
If you want to use Neutral Density (ND) filters on a hybrid mirrorless or DSLR camera, you have to purchase them separately and then attached to the front of the lens.
And because each filter is purpose built with a set ND value, it can quickly add up in cost, especially if you need multiple ND values.
Most camcorders however, have built-in ND filters that offer a range of ND values, eliminating the need to purchase them separately.
Autofocus and Depth of Field
Autofocus features, such as advanced face/eye detection and subject tracking and more are commonly found on hybrid style cameras, but not as commonly with camcorders.
That’s not to say that there aren’t camcorder models out there that have them, you just have to check which models do if that is a feature that you are looking for.
So depending on the need, hybrid style cameras might have a slight advantage over camcorders especially if you are shooting situations where you need to focus in on a subject and stay focused on them.
If you are shooting something like a sporting event that requires a broader view of fast moving action rather than focusing on a single subject, camcorders are much better suited as they can capture a wider area of view in much sharper focus.
In some situations, like shooting a wedding or similar type of event, you might even want to use a combination of the two types of cameras, a hybrid camera to capture close-ups that focus on the subject while blurring the background and a camcorder (or even multiple camcorders) that can focus on the overall scene.
Another thing to consider is that hybrid cameras have larger sensors allowing for more light to be collected and because of this, tend to perform better in low light situations.
Camcorders have sensors that have been optimized specifically for video and while they don’t perform as well in low light, they excel in situations with lots of light, be it natural or artificial.
Most hybrid mirrorless or DSLR cameras have larger sensors with a narrower or tighter depth of field creating footage that is more “cinematic” in nature.
Better Audio
Another advantage they have over so called “hybrid style” cameras is their ability to capture better audio natively, without having to resort to external microphones that have to be attached and connected.
Sure, adding an external mic to any camera will greatly improve the audio quality, but most video cameras have internal microphones offering superior audio quality over hybrid cameras to begin with.
You also have a wider range of built-in audio input/output options with a dedicated video camera, including high-quality balanced XLR inputs that can also provide phantom power, as well as unbalanced min type inputs.
These connections allow you to use professional level condenser microphones as well as providing the ability to receive input signals from an audio board when the situation arises.
Wider Variety of Input/Output Connections
Camcorders also offer additional video output options to those found on hybrid cameras, with locking SDI “BNC” connections (allowing for longer cable runs that don’t easily pull out) as well as full-sized HDMI connectors being commonly included allowing them to utilize different streaming and monitoring options.
Often with camcorders, these connections are located on the rear of the camera rather than on the side of the camera as with hybrid cameras.
These types of connectors are also more robust than small mini or micro multipin connectors generally found on hybrid cameras, which because of where they are located, can project out at odd angles and are more easily damaged and cost big money to repair.
Many of todays camcorders also offer USB (UVC) type connections, meaning they can connect to computers directly as a webcam with no capture card required.
Some models also provide for wireless or even wired network connections so you can live stream directly from the camera (with some models even allowing for the insertion of graphics like lower thirds, sports scores or logo’s over the live stream) using a program like OBS or a video switching device.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a camcorder, it’s important to consider your needs and budget. If you’re a beginner, you might want to start with an “entry-level” consumer camcorder.
However, if you’re an experienced videographer or have a bigger budget, you might a professional-grade camcorder might be better suited for your needs.
Remember, no matter which type of camcorder you choose, you’ll be able to capture high-quality video content with ease. So, if you’re looking for the best equipment for your video content creation needs, a camcorder might be the right choice for you.
