canon Lee

Looking for best used camera for shooting video. It could be a still camera with video capabilities. To be used by a teen who is interested in video and editing.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Somewhere about 5 years ago HD at 1920x1080 (to match our HD TVs) started showing up in almost everything that takes pictures. The better ones could do that format at 60 progressive frames a minute. So your question is a little like asking "What is the best used camera?. It may be because they are in the TV business, but Panasonic and Sony have been better at it than Canon or Nikon.

Can you find a Panasonic TM-900? They were wonderful and newer models didn't change a lot until 4K began showing up.

For software there are less than a half dozen common editing programs under $100. My favorite, solely because of the abundant learning resources, Adobe Premier Elements, current version 15.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

For great video, you need great sound.
Don't forget about microphones.
I went with the camera I had, canon 7D.
I have a cordless lapel mic by canon
and a rode directional mic.
Indoors, you'll need a constant light.
I have spent some money......
And, I'm no expert and have yet to produce a video.
I have a lot of footage recorded, just haven't put it together yet.
Pat

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

You MUST get an external "shotgun" microphone. Any up to date DSLR or MILC will take quite decent video (Sure some better than others) but NO built in microphone will give good audio. Even a $30 Takstar is better. This applies equally to camcorders. The camera noise combined with ambient noise really makes a difference.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If he's serious about editing video, he should get a used Sony camcorder - or a new one. Their not very expensive. Cyberlink PowerDirector is an excellent editing program. My son has been using it for years - almost every day.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Budget?

Panasonic GH2, GH3, GH4 are worth a look. I use a GH4 and love it. Plenty of YouTube videos on it...

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I did a career in broadcast television doing mostly videography. Now it's a hobby that I really enjoy. I'm using a Canon t3i that gives me excellent results in full 1080 HD. I love the resolution and picture quality. It's easy to use but there some extras your teen should consider as in an external shotgun mic and a view finder extender. Editing? I'm using two editors, both are pretty good. One is Video Pad and the other is tracAXPC - a very good editor for under $50. Good luck. If you want some examples of what the camera looks like in a finished product let me know, I'll be happy to furnish a link.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I sometimes use a Rode mic, and it makes a big difference. I saw a local newspaper photographer using a large viewfinder extension that actually looked through the LCD. She loved it, but I wasn't crazy about it.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

I've got one of those. Other than making your camera look like a mutated Polaroid, it is larger than the average peephole and does the job OK. Detachable too. Also works well with glasses.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

60% of video is AUDIO. BE SURE the camera has a mic input, a headphone output, peak limiters, and automatic gain control that can be turned off.

Remember the inverse square law (1/D^2). It controls audio signal to noise ratio. At ten feet, you have 1% of the sound you have at one foot from the source. So regardless of the microphone you use, it has to be close to the desired source to sound good! The practical rule of thumb limit is three feet for speech... in a quiet environment.

whitewolfowner

If they are serious about doing video, they need a video camera, not a DSLR that shoots video. Canon has made the video cameras for the money for years and I assume they still do. You did not mention if they want HD or not, so it's hard to recommend one.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Why would you buy an SD or HD camera now when 4K is available?

whitewolfowner

All depends on what they want to do. Many HD cameras are no where the quality of even regular video. I have a Canon GL2 and unless an HD video camera was over $3000.00, it could not hold a candle to the GL2. Just like in still cmaeras, the number of pixels is not the whole story, the same holds true for video for the type of video it shoots.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I used a Canon GL2 extensively, back in 2008–2012, at work. It was truly great for what it was, then, but it could not hold a candle to my Lumix GH4 in any respect, whether audio, any video format it supports, low light performance, recording time, size, weight, portability, cinematic flexibility, balance, simplicity of operation... The GH4 is a favorite of many indy filmmakers, documentary specialists, advertising agencies, corporate training departments, and hybrid photographers (those who combine stills plus audio plus video plus graphics into video creations that play only on Internet/Intranet sites). In fact, many of us replaced the GL2 with Lumix cameras. The trend started with the GH2. It will be interesting to see the GH5 finally get released in 2017. On-board, 10-bit, 4:2:2 video will be sweet. You can get the same signal out of the GH4, but it requires an external recorder connected via HDMI.

The beauty of Panasonic's 4K (GH4, GX8, GX85, G85, etc.) is that you can record in 4K, and edit to 1080P in a manner that preserves more detail than original 1080P capture would have. And you can also apply software stabilization without worry about cropping, provided you record with a loose framing to begin with. You can also use 4K to simulate a two-camera job, by zooming into 4K scenes and converting to 1080P during editing. And, of course, you can record 30 still photos per second with the "4K Stills" feature, and capture moments precisely and silently. The GH5 will have 6K stills.

Sony also makes some mirrorless cameras that record great video. If you work in extremely low light, the A7sII is worth a hard look.