Sub $400 (or $500) HD cam recommendations for martial arts

Resolved question

by chriscorreia - 5/25/12 10:44 AM

Hi, folks. I'd like some HD camcorder recommendations in cameras under $400 (preferably; I can go a bit higher in price). I will use the camera most heavily to shoot video in my martial arts classes,and some at tournaments and demonstrations off site.

My needs:

1. It will be mostly hand held (no tripod use). So, maybe good image stabilization.

2. Obviously, some action will be fast, whatever those needs mean.

3. Videographers (me/instructors) will sometimes be shooting while moving/walking around. Again, not sure what that means for needs.

4. I'll be zooming to get in and out on action and faces.

5. Lighting is not great, but OK; overhead florescent tubes.

6. Battery life! (or affordable second batteries). The Canon Vixia models seemed good, but get horrible battery life reviews.

7. I prefer flash memory, and just external SD cards are fine with me; I don't see the need for internal memory, but that would be OK. Memory format might be the lowest priority compared to other factors, though.

8. I like the notion of standard video formats (e.g. MP4), but as long as I can transfer it to get it into my windows laptop for uploading to the web or otherwise editing, I guess anything can be fine.

Thanks for your help!