camera for narrow application

[1luckycat]

I've finally arived at the point of needing a new video camera for my business. The iPhone lacks the lens & versatility, and my SANYO Xacti, which shoots well enuf, lacks a Mic input.

 

Here are the parameters:

 

Shoot Training & Rehearsal, most often in an office environment.

Must have decent Zoom capability to go from Head-2-Toe to Full Face close-up.

Need an xternal Mic input, but doesn't have to be an XLR.

Headphone jac might be nice but not a deal-breaker.

 

Video will go into a 13" Mac Air for storage & to show the Client the results.

I might edit the Video in my office on an intel iMac using iMovie '11.

 

As "most often" is not always, I'd like to take it out to locations where I can shoot short training videos that I edit and post on my website, YouTube, iTunes, etc.

 

Now here's the 'kick in the pants" part. I live in Camera Heaven, better known as Tokyo. Problem is I don't speak Japanese very well so getting questions answered is not a problem if I spoke it, but I don't. 2nd Problem is there are no deals here on camera equipment. 

 

I don't want to overbuy and I'm thinking in the low hundreds if that's feasable. 

 

Any ideas or suggestions re: any part or all of the above are appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[brunerww]

Hi luckycat – I would find a friend who spoke Japanese and take him with me down to the Akihabara district 🙂

 

Failing that, look for a Panasonic FZ200 ($490 in the states at Amazon).

 

It has a mic input, a 24x zoom for wides and close-ups, and good performance indoors and outdoors. Sadly, it has no headphone out.

 

Here is what it can do:

 

http://vimeo.com/57346685

 

Plus slow motion and special effects (please watch at 720p):

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp_pmgCsmco

 

The mic input is 2.5mm, so you'll need a $5 Hosa GPM-467 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter to use it with standard microphones.

 

Hope this is helpful and good luck!

 

Bill

Hybrid Camera Revolution

 

 

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