Company Vlog - Buying advice

Terfyn

Good luck and please keep us updated.

Geekanoids

So long as the camera you choose has a 3.5mm mic input you are good to go. Definitely check out the Rode VideoMic Pro and also the SmartLAV . The latter is a lapel mic, which is great for sit down interview bits. To use the SmartLAV  on the DSLR you will also need a little adapter cable from Rode too.

12harry

I thought OP said he's buying a camcorder
. . . that VX1 should be fine and audio will depend on the set-up. Ideally you need a "quiet room" without external noises and soft furnishings. If your Co. is serious then quite a small investment can do wonders - esp. as you said you plan to buy extra lighting. Installing soft armchairs can make the acoustics much better.
Just beware of "trip-hazards" provided by cables and tripod-legs.
So-called "shot-gun" mics really prefer to be outdoors, where the phasing can work properly . . .  indoors the "general Rule" is to be as close to the source as possible - hence tie-clip mics should be considered.

Don't expect just switching-on the new gear will make a good outcome..... ( Bosses may; -be warned!). As it can take some while and investment in Editing Software ( plus the time to Master it ), before the "output" is really polished.

Provided your films are relatively short, you can show them at a local Film-Making club ( always wanting new Members), as this is probably the best feedback you'll get.  Beware of Bosses that always want something added/taken away . . . give them the original files -so they can "Show you" how it should be - that usually stops them dead in their tracks.
For a really professional result, they should pay a professional price . . . or be prepared to let you learn little-by-little. RTFM is the first hurdle as Pana has a habit of making each Guide for multiple-models, adding much confusion to anyone at the first half-dozen readings.

Good Luck.

Terfyn

The HC-VX1 is a 4K camcorder.

Relax Harry. The Panasonic Manual is clear and separates the camera models easily. I have this manual and I have no problems finding what I want. In practice, apart from the 4K addition, the VX1 and 800 are the same camera. Plus OP can always ask for clarification from the Panasonic users here.
Perhaps your confusion is born from using Sony manuals for so long.

The BOYA BY-M1 is a electret condenser tie clip mic with its own battery pack and a long lead to the camera.

12harry

A previous Poster mentioned DSLR
- I'm not disagreeing; VX1 is a 4K camcorder and that is what OP said he'd ordered.
We're not discussing Sony Manuals.
The Panasonic manual only separates the models because they insist in having several models present together. Functionally they are almost identical, so you have to plough through more than twice as much guff to find what you want. If you wanted to print this, you'd be using a lot of paper and waste a lot of ink.  That is my complaint re Pana User Guides. With some Editing, the .pdf's could be maybe a third the size. Making searches much easier..... because it is a .pdf  there is little Users can do to avoid printing stuff that's near-duplicated, or not relevant.
You keep saying it's the same sensor, but I cannot believe this - why would Pana buy 4K sensors and then omit that feature on the 800's?  Makes no sense to me.... Pana will have changed the sensor, so VXF models can deliver more data. Whilst the outward design and layout may be similar it doesn't mean the cameras have the same parts, even though they share the same .pdf User Guides. Indeed from HD-quality complaints (on another Thread), I hope they aren't the same sensor - otherwise anyone wanting an HD-only camcorder would have to go to an even earlier model.  I think Pana introduced the 800 so it could share the 24x Zoom lens - making the (VXF1 next model), not having to show the zoom-range had been downgraded.
This zoom-restriction is quite common with 4K camcorders - I'm not sure if it reflects  "higher standards" applied to the glass - or  an opportunity to stop the race to having longer zooms, with the inevitable effects on image quality. Pana VXF1 would be my choice (even with 24x zoom, as that's probably enough anyway),  but the lack of ND filter seems a tad lacking - I hope their next model (Spring 2019?), includes this..... even if it is "clear" -or- "x4"  that would make for some degree of shallow DoF and which the higher-quality glass should be able to show. It just helps bring the Subject to the viewers' attention. Ideally this would be switchable during filming, so if the subject moves out of the frame-centre the deeper DoF would apply.
Cheers.

Terfyn

Panasonic have a comparison on their web site. The VX1 and the 800 both have the "1/2.5-type BSI MOS Sensor / 8.57 Total Megapixels" If you are not convinced then, as you say, DYOR. Your opinion does not reflect the facts.

You keep saying VXF1, OP is buying the VX1. Again these cameras have the Leica lens with 24x optical but the 800 has Intelligent Zoom to 48x similar to my 750. So again no real restriction.

The complaints you mention do not bear out in fact. The 800 gives excellent results even in low light. Maybe the user who complained had a rogue camera. Your comments do not reflect my findings.

Again your criticism of the .pdf user manual reflects your lack of experience with that particular manual. I use the manual on a regular basis and I can find what I want with ease. Practice makes perfect.

If you want to continue criticising Panasonic, I suggest you invest and then criticise from knowledge and experience. My dislike of Sony is based on my experience of owning one of their cameras.

Incidentally how many consumer cams have ND filters built in? I don't know of any. I have bought an add on ND filter to experiment and see the effect for myself.

Terfyn

This has probably been mentioned before.
LED floods come in two types, one with a mix of white and "orange" bulbs and the other with all white bulbs. On the first type you can vary the colour temperature but on the second type possibly only brightness can be adjusted.
While using this second type I noticed that the video came out with a cold blue tinge which was not appealing and it needed "Warming up" in post production.
So my suggestion is to ensure a set of the coloured gels come with the lights and use a warm orange or pink gel when lighting the subject.

12harry

LEDs - who mentioned this?​LEDs first,  the Pro-style lights do use different colour-temp. LEDs but these are the more-expensive COB ( I think) which it is claimed have deeper colour rendering. As you say, by varying the power % of these two LEDs different colour temp may be achieved.
Consumer LEDs tend not to be these expensive types, as most folks won't pay "double" - so they will use somewhat lesser White LEDs of whatever colour temp suits the Market. The addition of "filters" providing some measure to match other light sources.... So, it comes down to the type ( technology employed) of white LEDs on offer. I don't think Terfyn means "Orange", ( i.e. =602 - 610 nm ), rather White-LEDs which are "Warm-White"= almost matching tungsten lighting (WW=2800-3000K)... whereas a higher figure like 3200K would be preferable - but then "we" consumers would find it difficult making any meaningful measurements ( other than "by eye" - which is notoriously subjective ).

I have bought 3W Chanzon LEDs which appear to have detailed specs - but trying to agree a comparison will not be easy - BUT then, maybe the Camcorder Projector will slew any complaints. Add-in some variations in the filming conditions, clothing-materials and any small variation in colour-temperature might appear deliberate.
Few would suggest the daylight from a window is bluish, esp. compared with a candle - it's just that camcorders record what they see - whereas our eyes are adjusted by our brains. Hence we can accept mixed-lighting, whereas camcorders may suffer "casts".
Of course if you film "flat" (as with Black-Magic and others), then you can create a whole new colour experience - which hold little to the real world.

It probably comes down to Cost and Usage - for budget use then the single-colour LEDs (with filer pack) is probably a good choice. Being able to dim them can help, but some have been blamed for "noise" - probably the chopping frequency or lack of screening rfi.
Cheers.

12harry

Anyone can download Pana pdf they will see exactly my complaint that by combining models in a .pdf it makes printing wasteful of both paper and ink. Buying the camcorder is unlikely to change this, although you don't say if you were provided with a printed Guide which applies to the one model you bought.
Before we get too complicated ( easy as Pana uses similar model-Nos).... I have this .pdf available: It combines both HD and 4K models...the HD-only models...HC V 800 and HC V 808 - then 4K models: HC WXF1, HC WXF1M,        HC VXF1, HC VXF11, HC VX1, HCVX11
Wow! that's eight model-variations in one .pdf

When you state "800" are we to believe you mean the HC V800, or is this a different model? ( It is HD-only )- as listed in the above .pdf
As to saying they are the same sensor - eh? Just because they are the same size and deliver the same stills Mpx  ( so how does VXF1 claim 25Mpx?) . . . doesn't mean the sensors are the same ( I mean Identical, =interchangeable) - far more likely they start the same as patterns on the silicon wafers - and have different overlays to achieve different pixel-count. I would expect the 4K version will have more-work and would expect some major variation in the electronics.  Advertisers might want to use the term "Same" to suggest they are merely providing more choice.... which they are.  But suggesting the sensors are identical raises the spectre that 800-buyers are paying for additional silicon-steps they can't use.
Making semiconductors is a mammoth technical feat and there are many steps from start to finish. In the past, it was common to "grade" the outcome so as much silicon could be used(=sold) as possible. This is common with processors - the ones that pass the fast-tests will sell at a premium; whereas others are downgraded and sold more cheaply to satisfy bulk-buyers. That doesn't means the processors are worse, rather they don't reach the  top spec, possibly due to some variation in the processing. To prevent the cheaper chip squeezing out the expensive versions, it would be commercially sensible to introduce some feature that is downgraded - perhaps cache-size  - but these are not the same-processors - very nearly the same but testing and processing will make them different. To be sure this doesn't become a buying/fraud nightmare the test-spec is usually included in the chip - so when this is addressed the high/lo spec is made clear. For users there is a slight improvement in performance with the more-expensive chip - otherwise folks would get "wise" to this and buy only the cheaper ones - this is where fraudsters can operate, despite Mfr attempts to thwart this growing undertaking. Made profitable due to the similarity in packaging, which few consumers could test.
We are aware of USB/ Memory frauds, where the memory can report as correct, but only writing large files will show the reality.

If the 800 sensor is the same-size as the VX1, that's where IMHO the similarity ends . . . and I suspect Pana won't provide any detailed manufacture info - Mfrs thrive on secrecy. All is usually covered by confidentiality - who do you think makes their sensors. eh?
ND-filters - these are in the AX700 Sony has this, perhaps at twice the VXF price that's no-longer "Consumer" - but Pro gear tends to start from £4K - and that's sometimes without the lens!
Pana sells the FZ2000 mirrorless DSLR (with ND built-in)....It does movies as well!  But it's very odd when a stills photographer can increase their shutter-speed when a shallow DoF is essential... whereas movies are usually fixed at slow speeds to avoid "jitter" on playback. However, finding the FZ2000 details of ND is difficult - you'd think it was a design "fault"  . . rather odd, as it is about the same price as the VX series, DMC-FZ 2000~£879 (Az) - -   HCV 800 ~ £481 (Az)- -  VXF1 ~£699 (Az).
One technical aspect of ND-filters being built-in:- the lenses tend to be 8-iris blades, or more; otherwise bright background defocus can draw attention.

VX1 - I didn't misread the camcorder OP said he was buying - I stated that VXF1 was the one I'd be interested in... - yet I'm waiting for them to add ND filters.
Those complaints re VX in HD-mode . . . I don't recall anyone resolving this - can you post an AVF  link? - referring to your HCV800purchase as proof, is not likely to sway me, other than I believe your HCV800 is an excellent HD-camcorder. The extra zoom is worthwhile, too.
​Cheers

Terfyn

Not really. There are three models, the two 4K VXF1 and VX1 and the HD V800. The M refers to internal recording memory but I don't know about the W. Maybe another country or continent. (Interested to learn)
Your view does not reflect the comparison which shows that the chips are all the same in size and pixel count for all three models.