Best camcorder for still image capturing (within budget)

NuTtYuk

Hi,

I recently bought a gopro hero 7 black thinking that I could record my fitness and yoga classes and use still captures to add to my website. But since trying it out with the camera being stationary, we found it over heated and wasn’t the most Intuitive interface.
Could someone recommend a suitable camcorder enabling me to record classes, with the ability to take high quality still images from the footage by being able to use my mobile as secondary viewer and editor? - just like the go pro and for a similar price.

chrishull3

You dont mention what you want to pay,but for being able to take good video and stills a camera is the best options.bridge cameras are very versatile at both,the Nikon P1000 is very good for wildlife but a smaller Panasonic would be best for you ,if cost is no object the Panasonic GH5 not a bridge camera is best

NuTtYuk

I did mention a price similar to the gopro (<£400). I appreciate that for the budget that some functionality will have to be sacrificed, but there must be something that offers this withought having to pay the 4k price bands. I had previously looked at the Panasonic HC-V770EB-K but thought I'd stop in here to see people's thoughts.

Terfyn

If you can find this within your budget you will have a decent camera. I still have my HC-V750 which is the Dad of that camera. (I now have the 800) I bought it in 2014 and it is running still.(I combine it with the 800 for multi-camera shots) It works well in low light and, one advantage, it will run off a USB supply. This could be mains or, as in my case, a USB Power Pack connected with the supplied DC cable. It has remote using a SmartPhone and the Panasonic App (NFC), the App will also operate the VW-CTR1 pan/tilt head and the camera zoom.
I normally get stills from my Video Editor, this has the advantage of viewing every frame to choose a suitable one for a still. The App will switch the camera into stills mode for photos and they are as good as the lens and chip used for all recording. I have printed up to A3 from the 750 camera stills.

NuTtYuk

Thanks for the reply Terfyn.

I've found the HC-770 for less than the gopro cost, but now have the dilemma of this or the HC-VX980 which is 4k and I can get for the same price. I'm pretty swung on the 770 after your brief review but would you (or anyone else) happen to know how these 2 cameras compare?

chrishull3

Even if you dont need 4K for now the VX980 will record HD as well and by getting it you are future proofing,i went 4K in 2014 and its the best decision i have  made.

12harry

If you don't need 4K then any standard HD camcorder from the present end of production should be fine - Also, you won't need to upgrade the Computer.

Unless you need to project a large image, then steady HD is perfectly acceptable.... "Content is King"

In a few years, when 4K is regular - maybe then could be the time to Buy ....and prices should have fallen ( and Zooms got bigger).
Good Luck.

chrishull3

4K has been regular for years on all forums except this one.HD from 4k recordings also look far better,Most  tv is recorded in UHD that is why todays tv pq is so much better than in past years although it is only broadcast in HD.