Best Compact Camera for HD video???

[phardy]

Looking for a new camera that is also reasonably good for HD video. Want to be able to zoom in whilst recording and be able to record at least 10 mins at a time preferably more.

Was going to get a Sony t500 but a bad review on here has made me look into it again.

My shortlist so far is:-

Lumix DMC-FX37 (£170)
Lumix DMC-TZ5 (£170)
Samsung NV100HD (£170)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 (£230)

Are there any reviews out there which say which are the best for video or anyone got experience of the above camera's who can help? Anyone add any other models to the list?

[sussexmariner]

Originally Posted by phardy

Looking for a new camera that is also reasonably good for HD video. Want to be able to zoom in whilst recording and be able to record at least 10 mins at a time preferably more.

Was going to get a Sony t500 but a bad review on here has made me look into it again.

My shortlist so far is:-

Lumix DMC-FX37 (£170)
Lumix DMC-TZ5 (£170)
Samsung NV100HD (£170)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 (£230)

Are there any reviews out there which say which are the best for video or anyone got experience of the above camera's who can help? Anyone add any other models to the list?

I have the TZ5 and I'm very happy with the HD video it produces. You need the official component connection leads to connect to your HD TV to get the best out of it, I got some for £15 off eBay!

But the one reason to get the TZ5 IMO is that it is the best digital camera!!

[mark1000]

Originally Posted by phardy

Looking for a new camera that is also reasonably good for HD video. Want to be able to zoom in whilst recording and be able to record at least 10 mins at a time preferably more.

Was going to get a Sony t500 but a bad review on here has made me look into it again.

My shortlist so far is:-

Lumix DMC-FX37 (£170)
Lumix DMC-TZ5 (£170)
Samsung NV100HD (£170)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T500 (£230)

Are there any reviews out there which say which are the best for video or anyone got experience of the above camera's who can help? Anyone add any other models to the list?

Tz5 has a good HD video mode, i like the results that i got but the sound quality is quite poor though.


Mark.

[phardy]

Thanks for the replies guys.

The TZ5 was my orginal choice then I saw the t500 which looked a bit more compact and there was a review on amazon buy a guy who had the tz5 and then got the t500 and said it was alot better. Then there was a post on here I think about someone who had the samsung hd then went to a t500 and said the samsung was better. Its all very confusing

I may go back to my original choice as there are alot of reviews for the tz5 which on the whole are good where as the t500 only has a few reviews which are a mixture.

It also seems the t500 battery only lasts about 15 mins max when recording hd video although the stereo sound quality is meant to be good as well as the video although it can be grainy in low light but I suspect the tz5 will be similar in low light.

Decisions, decisions and time running out

[lupo]

Hi,
I have the Sony T500 and I am very happy with it. I bought it for the video capability. The video quality is good, I am happy with it
It is nice and small also.
I agree the battery life is not that good. Just buy a second battery.
As for digital images, yet again I am happy. Low light photography with the scene mode 'twilight' produces super images. If you want to see the quality of the video I have uploaded 2 videos on Vimeo
HD video of our dog Roxy playing in the snow. Sony T500 on Vimeo
Sony T500 HD video of our dog Roxy playing at the beach. on Vimeo

Any questions just ask.

Kevin

[witters]

Just ordered a Canon Powershot SX1 IS from Amazon. May be one to add to your list?

[mike21mike21]

Old Thread - hot topic!

I too was (am still) searching for the best solution for HD (720p at least) that is more compact than my Panasonic SD1. The Panasonic TZ5 is an awesome digicam with great foto qualities (like that 10x optical and the best stabilization around) but with TERRIBLE 720p performance (grainy, low SNR, bad low-light quality). Ouch! Then bought the Sony T500 - wow - nite and day - great 720p - excellent low-light. However, the stills don't match the TZ5. The T500 has one fatal flaw - the battery will die in under 30minutes of stabilized video (!!!!). Also, hate the touch screen - many buttons do not respond at once - requires several touches. Silly.

Then found the amazing VadoHD camcorder - wonderful 720p video as good if not better than the T500 video and miles better than the TZ5. Over 2 hr battery and video storage. However, no stills and no zoom.

So, where are we? I take the TZ5 everywhere and carry the tiny VadoHD for fun.

Anyone else with a solution?

[tdashmike]

I recently bought the Webbie HD, I know it's not a compact camera but it is very small and has zoom. I am not completely satisfied with it, especially in low light situations.

I have a question about the T500, can it output 720p live using the component or hdmi connections? I'm not talking about playing back videos, but viewing the camera live.