Thoughts on 4K

[Dan Robinson]

Adam, I agree on the HM170 - it's the camera I'm using. The VX2100 really spoiled me, I've been unmotivated to do much with night footage since leaving that camera and going HD in 2005. Using the gain controls on the HM170, it can get usable low-light video comparable to my last HD camera (Panasonic HMC150) but that's not saying much, as the HMC150 was pretty deficient itself in that arena. I have to choose between a dark low-grain image or a high-gain grainy one.

Again though, as much as the stock video market has cratered in recent years, I'm becoming less and less concerned about the nuances of camera performance and just interested in something that will get me by. I used to obsess over camera specs in the past (I wanted good low light, a CCD for lightning, manual focus, etc). Now that anything affordable is CMOS and dodgy in low light, it comes down to cost and ergonomics for me. The HM170 does great with daytime video, and lately I just try to compensate for the low light deficiencies by planning shoots during the day as much as possible.

FWIW I just finished organizing all of the winter footage I shot on the HM170 this season, both daytime and nighttime. Al of this can be viewed in full 4K in the Youtube player if you have a monitor that can show it:

http://stormhighway.com/footage/4k-icy-roads.php

 

[Patrick Kerrin]

This seems an interesting lightweight option. 4K for under $399 USD, quite wide for 4K, very wide for 1080, small sensor (but the same size as many of the mainline 4K / FHD camcorders), what sounds like good stabilization, built in timelapse/interlovometer and a lot of manual control. May not have the IQ as some of the bigger sensor 4K cameras, but if it is tripoded, AND you shoot manual at low ISO, I suspect one can get really good results...so probably pretty good bang for the buck.

I should add it has some limitation on clip length, but there may be ways to deal with that.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1304874-REG/panasonic_dc_fz80k_lumix_dmc_fz80_digital_camera.html/pcur/CAD?gclid=CMz43czohNMCFQEEaQodcF0JXg&c3api=6329,109213537993

This has the specific focal lengths for the various resolutions:

https://www.panasonic.com/middleeas...igital-cameras-point-shoot/dc-fz80.specs.html

Its also small enough to put on a window clamp while stationary.