Ok, here is an honest breakdown from a Utah Private Investigator of which video cameras that I like and don’t like. First of all, I am a big Mini DV fan and so I won’t be discussing 8 mm or DVD. There are two brands that just don’t pass my test. Let’s start with Panasonic. I have to say that I love the features that Panasonic gives along with the small size of the camera. I think that Panasonic is doing some really good things, for example, huge optical zooms which is a huge need for a private investigator. I have noticed that other brands are trying to catch up with Panasonic’s large optical zooms so I really give Panasonic credit for this. I bought one of these cameras about one year ago. The picture quality was pretty good. I love the idea of a large optical zoom but when I used it I really wasn’t all that impressed. The camera was very shaky when it was zoomed out and it didn’t seem to be a very clear picture. My main beef with the Panasonic is with the video out jack. One day I was burning video to a DVD for a client and bumped the cord to the video out jack and the picture went fuzzy. At first I didn’t know what caused the picture to go out and then found that the video out jack is poorly made. If you even touch the video cord while you’re trying to record a DVD the picture will go fuzzy. That is not acceptable for good quality video for a client. This is my main reason that I will no longer even look at a Panasonic. I just don’t think the camera will hold up for more than three or four months. Also my clients deserve clear video without the fuzz from bumping the cord. Next brand is JVC. I believe it was the GR-D 270 with a 25 X optical zoom that I purchased. I give credit to JVC for putting in a large optical zoom. JVC has seemed to have kept up with Panasonic in offering large zooms. Similar to the Panasonic though, once the camera is zoomed out the picture clarity seems to falter. The picture quality overall wasn’t bad but processor did not bring in very bright colors. I think that the JVC may be built a little better than the Panasonic. I would rate the two brands equal overall. Are you ready for my favorite camera? The Canon Elura series. The Elura series has a great picture with good color. The camera is small in size for concealing when needed. Decent optical zoom up to 20X. For a time I only looked at the optical zoom and disregarded the digital zoom because of picture quality. I was shocked to find that you can actually go into the digital zoom with the Elura series without the video pixilating. I believe this has to do with a better video processor. Many of the Canon Optura cameras only have a 10 X optical zoom but I am curious to see if you can go even further into the digital zoom because of an even better video processor than the Elura series. Top loading tape is a big benefit. My only drawback about Canon in general is the durability of their processors (for most people this could be a huge drawback). I can only get about a year out of a Canon before the processor starts going out. I do use the camera nearly every day but you would think that it would last longer than a year. If I can get one year out of the camera though, I am happy. I really want to try a Sony next time. I have heard nothing but good things about the Sony. If you have any suggestions for a good camera leave a comment. Also, check out izzyvideo.com for some amazing things that you can do with a DV camera!
UPDATE:
Time goes way to fast and so does technology! Since I wrote this post a lot of things have changed. Companies are really pushing hard drive video cameras now. I keep up with technology to be competitive but I am having a hard time making a switch to Hard Drive. There are too many possible problems making the switch. IE some courts may have a hard time accepting evidence without an original copy. I still continue to use Mini DV. I am using an Elura 100 and will consider the ZR950.