Rejoice all ye camcorder lovers, for Panasonic are releasing two new models! But in the age of the phone, do they really have a place in the modern world? Well, not really, if PetaPixel is to be believed. But as someone with years of camcorder experience under her belt, let’s have a look at some of the current applications for the old all-in one.
First of all, lets get something simple straight. I doubt that many people will be buying a camcorder as a budget Arri Alexa. Not everyone who buys a camera wants to be the next Rodger Deakins, so the idea that “zoom is dead in cinema” is not only factually inaccurate, (not every cinema lens is a prime), it is completely beside the point. There are, believe it or not, plenty of professional applications where a versatile zoom range comes in handy, and this gives us a good clue on why similar specs maybe appealing to amateurs.
Professional broadcast cameras will often have big box lenses, capable of delivering high magnifications and close-ups from distant tripods. Similarly, events without much cash to spend may also want to record or livestream the action. This includes conferences, churches (and other religious organizations), local sports clubs, school productions, you name it. The ability to easily plonk a camcorder on a cheap tripod at the back of a busy room and zoom to taste makes these devices a no-brainer.
Another note on camcorder zooms, they offer fairly consistent quality over the optical range. Phones usually have a few smaller cameras, each with a fixed prime lens. When zooming between these cameras, you are essentially just cropping in, which can lead to a significant loss in quality. If you want to shoot with a 100mm equivalent on the latest iPhone, then you are all out of luck.
Another thing to note is just how impressive camcorders are at reducing shake. Personally, I own a Sony AX53*, and I have done for nearly 7 years now. I’m still amazed at its optical image stabilization out of the box. The lens moves like an eye, gliding over the small jitters from my hands. Of course, it is no DJI gimble, but it is still an unexpected feature I feel a lot of people are unaware that modern camcorders have.
I am a wildlife filmmaker, and for me, camcorders rule the under £1000 bracket for my kind of work. During lockdown 2020, I completed my first big project, the vast majority being shot on the Sony Handy. I am still incredibly proud of Warnham: A Wildlife Documentary, I think some of the images punch well above their weight. To cut a long story short, I would happily recommend a camcorder over the latest iPhone to any budding wildlife filmmakers out there.
So yes, consumer camcorders may have seceded ground to smartphones and the mirrorless revolution, but they aren’t dead yet. They don’t shoot Slog-3, or have the branding of Apple behind them, but as a tool they are still very useful, and as a toy they are still a lot of fun.
*Note, this is an Amazon affiliate link. I make commission on any purchases when you use this link
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