You'll have to spend upwards of $300 to get a camera that's any better than your phone. That's how it is these days.
True, but I can rent one that would cost 700 for 20 quid. I'd just have to be careful with it.
If you're looking into full camera systems, the Micro Four Thirds stuff from Olympus and Panasonic will definitely fit the bill. Won't be cheap, but if you want compact quality you'll get it. Panasonic is especially good for video. Let me know if you want more specific recommendations.
I got my hands on a Panasonic GH5 the other day. Lovely bit of kit. G7 was significantly worse but still doable.
What were you going to instinctively recommend? My price range is unhelpful really because it depends if I'd use it for my own filmmaking purposes too - or I could just rent a camera for a fraction of the cost.
I use a pair of Panasonics, the GX85 and the G85. I went with the M43 system because I like compact cameras for street photography. I like to travel light. I don't like hauling around a giant camera bag stuffed with gear. Both are slightly older models but are still good. They're basically the same camera in different bodies. Both have sensor stabilization and 4K30P video. The GX85 is more compact, especially with the 12-32mm pancake zoom lens it normally comes with. I can slip that into a big jacket pocket. It's not a rangefinder but it has a rangefinder-inspired body design.
The G85 has weatherproofing when paired with a weatherproof lens - it's usually sold with a 12-60mm weatherproof zoom. I've used that combo for a lot of street photography in rainstorms. It also has a better viewfinder than the GX85. The G85 is about the same size as the G7. It's a massive step up from the G7 all-around, especially for video, but the GH5 will still outperform the G85 easily.
If I were there with only the gear I already own to cover that event, I'd probably take the GX85 and the 35-100mm lens. It has about the same field of view as a 70-200mm lens on a 35mm camera, and it's stabilized. Here's some photos of the size compared to a regular 355mL beverage can. I've smuggled this thing into many "no professional cameras allowed" festivals and events because it looks like a little tourist toy. It is anything but.
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I'd say very good for non-professional needs. Neither are anywhere near as good as a full-frame camera made in the last few years of course, those sensors can basically see in the dark. But even older M43 bodies are still way better than any modern mobile phone or point-and-shoot. And of course they're much lighter and smaller, and more affordable, than a modern full-frame setup.
Pair either with some good primes and you'll get good results in low light. If I'm doing low-light street work, or casual environmental portraits, I'll usually take just the 25mm f/1.7 (50mm equivalent in full-frame) and 42.5mm f/1.7 (85mm equivalent). Because the sensors are stabilized on the G85 and GX85, even non-stabilized lenses like the 25mm get a stabilization benefit. Panasonic lenses with stabilizers do some clever communication tricks with Panasonic bodies so that the stabilizers work together instead of fighting each other for an additional benefit. I can regularly handhold the 25mm down to maybe 1/5th of a second. The 42.5mm down to about 1/10th. Monopods are dead to me.
I like to play with motion blur and sharpness in the same photo without postprocessing tricks.
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No clue. Perhaps try contacting https://unicornriot.ninja and getting advice?
They've got some expensive cameras on their Amazon wishlist dunno if they can be rented for cheap? Might be too big for you tho.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1OP6GDJN5BBUU/
Good luck!
I'll second getting a camcorder for the best value. They're good for this because they focus on having a big optical zoom and OIS over the sensor quality, and they're pretty compact and durable.
You can find them in stores with 20x optical zoom and OIS in the $600+ range, or less if you have time to wait for shipping.
A DSLR is a better value if you want to use it for other stuff in the future, though.
you say a dinky little recorder, i expect you don't wanna spend much and don't need much. is your phone not an option? they're pretty good cameras.
Yeah, but renting is also an option. For buying one I'd have to consider whether I'd be able to use it for my own film making purposes afterwards. If the zoom is good I can rent a great bit of kit and stay out of harms way.
daytime protest? Night will be a lot harder video-wise.
Assuming you don't want to spend many hundreds of dollars I'd say look for camcorder-style ones (the long skinny ones with fold out screens), as they tend to have large optical zoom capabilities and be available locally in-store (you could probably return it after unless it gets heavily damaged). You will get better quality out of a dslr or similar, but in terms of value and zoom the camcorder still fits the bill IMO.
If your budget is >$500 maybe look at the other comments people have already left
Protest warms up, then kicks off at 8pm. It'll be sunset at about 9pm, but the streets should be lit ok. True though, would need a good sensor.
For me it depends - if I rent a great piece of kit then I'll stay away from the action, letting the zoom do the work, whereas if I buy my own sub £100 camcorder I'd get right in there.
honestly don't know what will strike the best balance. I think getting good video that late in the evening might be tough but photography with a camera you just bought wouldn't be any easier.
For me the risk of damage would probably be too great to consider renting a dslr with a good zoom lens, even at some distance. camcorder is much more unassuming anyhow, but yeah specifically want to look for one with good low-light if possible.
Hm. Okay, thanks. Yeah, it's been tough to find low light camcorders overall - was trying to get one for theatre recording a while back and the options are tough unless you're spending thousands.
What cost range are you looking at, and do you expect it to survive? I like Nikon dslrs because they don't weigh much and have fairly good quality. They don't make d3500 and d3400s anymore so you'd need to get them used, but those are light and work well.
I would expect it to survive, though I have options. If I rent a nice one with a good zoom then I'd stay out of the fray and get the footage from afar. If it's a sub £100 camcorder I'll get right in there.
Okay, I won't really be able to help you, other than suggesting an 80-300mm lens
