Consumer camcorder purchase: HD or 4K?

im1dermike

I purchased a Canon VIXIA HF R52 camcorder 4 years ago to take video of my daughter.  I concluded some time ago that either Canon does not make a good camcorder, that model is not good, or my particular one was defective because the picture quality is poor, especially in low light which is a common scenario for me.  I'm now looking to replace it with a traditional camcorder that will allow me to take better quality home videos of my children indoors (eg. hanging out in the living room) and outdoors (eg. playing sports).

As I've started my search, it appears like you need to make a decision on whether to get an HD or a 4K model.  It seems like going in the 4K direction, you're looking toward the future to a decent extent and not so much the present.  Is that true and, if so, is that the direction the industry is going such that purchasing a 4K camcorder now would be advisable?  Or will HD be perfectly suitable for the next 5  years for my needs?

Thanks in advance.

JabbaNut

Your  Canon VIXIA HF R52 already does 1080p

Have you tried putting the video through software
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chrishull3

All 4K camcorders and cameras record HD as well as 4k,even mobiles record 4k,if you purchase a HD cam you are stuck with it,i just dont see the point in this day and age,content is most important but films look better the better the picture is as well,i am certainly glad i went 4k over 4 years ago.Also remember even if you record 4k and render out at 1920 HD your content will look better than being HD from the start.

Kevo

I echo chris's comments.  I have a Pan Lumix FZ2000 and often (but not always) record in 4K.
I wouldn't say that 4K rendered to HD is always the best option.  I can only record in a max of 30fps @4K and much prefer 50fps @ HD so usually I would record natively in HD and save 4K for particular events.

12harry

You are complaining about a previous Canon purchase-but this is unfair although I don't have any Canon gear they do make excellent camcorders ( and well-known for DSLRs ). If I may be so bold: where you are going wrong ( faulty kit excepted ), you expect highest quality from a budget price. In addition you mention "Low-Light" but don't define this . . . However, to get good pictures the "party" (or whatever) needs to be in sunlight ( ideally reflected off a white wall which softens shadows )- this allows the colour to be better, the grain lower and improves the focus depth of field since the aperture can shut down.

Whilst this scenario won't suit "FILM-MAKERS" ( who love odd colour-casts and shallow DoF ), it gives you safety in hand so your family films will be pretty good.

If price ( what's the Budget?), is important,  then an older HD-model (new),  will be plenty good enough for the foreseeable future.
4K is a bit of a fad at present, which limits the lens-Zoom range and  restrictions for frame-rates too.  Add-in the additional memory needed and a fast computer (with a lot of RAM) and you are looking at a considerable investment.
Cheers

JabbaNut

There is a old trick on photography with digital cameras where you push the take photo button down to first click then hold it there, you then give the camera sensor more time to work out the scene conditions for a second or two. Then you finish the click of the take photo button.   Does not work on every camera model but when does, very worth it.
I have not looked for a similar method on video camcorders yet.   Mind I use older DSLRs and camcorders for videoing, my own choice.

chrishull3

Yes only numpties call 4K a fad i have a 4K camera with 3000mm optical reach and others that do 50P 4k.

JabbaNut

4k is so last year, have you not heard 8k is the coming vogue now.

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Terfyn

Pointless comment. We all settle on our own level. I am satisfied with the quality of my video at HD and the editing works well with the equipment I have.
Video is not all about expensive kit. It is about good stories and presentations.

chrishull3

So is all the pointless picks at 4K on this forum,and lots of false information like expensive kit,one of my 4k cameras is under £300 and can make good stories and presentations which is often shown.