Digital camera for videos

[Mjolnir]

I'm looking for a new digicam and I'm going to use it mostly for videos. At least 1080p at 30 fps and high-speed at 240 fps. I've posted links to the specs and demonstration videos of all cameras (remember to switch to the highest resolution on Youtube).

These are the cameras I've found that seem interesting (in order of pricing):

Casio ZR100 - 1080p at 30 fps, 1000 (!) fps in high-speed (but at a very low resolution)
http://snapsort.com/cameras/Casio-EX-ZR100-specs

Canon Powershot SX230 HS (2650) - 240 fps high-speed, 1080p at 24 fps.
http://snapsort.com/cameras/Canon-SX230-HS-specs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmkP6pV3FN8

Panasonic DMC-TZ20 - 1080p at 30fps, 220 fps high-speed.
http://snapsort.com/cameras/Panasonic/TZ20/specs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shyFwQkd2Jo

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9V - Much higher resolution (1440x1080 30 fps, and 1080p 60 fps) but no high-speed.
http://snapsort.com/cameras/Sony-HX9v-specs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fyCEZnnLLE&feature=related

The Sony Cybershot is about as expensive as I'm willing to go. I don't care much for the prices however, as long as I get as much quality as possible below the price range of the Cybershot. But I'd really like high-speed because I'm planning on doing music videos and stuff so slow-motion is a very useful feature for me. The Nikon S9100 is also an option, but I've heard it's supposed to be bad.

So, the reason why I'm asking this here is because I know the specs aren't everything. The amount of megapixels doesn't always mean that much in practice. So, which one of these really has the best quality lens etc? Which is the best brand in general? Any other cameras I should take into consideration?

Thanks a lot in advance!

[jazzcat]

Hi,

Before i had my Canon 60D i had Lumix Cameras, my last one being the FZ-18 which i used for photos and video. It truley was a brill little camera. My mother has the TZ-20 which is extremely good for Videos. I haven't looked at any of the other cameras. but the TZ-20 is a really good choice

[canismajor]

Have you looked at the Panasonic DMC-FX550.It attracted a 91% vote in the May WDC mag. "Great image quality at lower ISO's and a cracking wide angle lens" is what they said, so it sounds good to me.
Also the Panasonic DMC-TZ18 sounds ok with a zoom of 24-384mm, and full HD movie recording and ISO up to 6400. All the best in your quest, Mike.

[Mjolnir]

It seems Panasonic has a lot of very good ones.
But even though the FZ100 is way more expensive, there isn't much difference:
Canon SX230 HS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vydKHh5AuU
Panasonic Lumix FZ100: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcwDIRC0E6I (skip to about half)

Despite the darkness, both provide a pretty clear image without much grain at all. But what use is that huge lens of the FZ100? Is it just for wide-angle photography, or does it improve the videos as well? I checked out the FX550 but it doesn't support high-speed.

Unfortunately, the TZ20 isn't very good in low-lit areas, it provides an ugly white grain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldymbks4k6o

[Mjolnir]

I've managed to narrow it down to these two: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and Fujifilm Finepix HS10:

http://snapsort.com/...jifilm_FinePix_HS10-vs-Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-FZ100/specs

A few videos from both cameras, day and night, close-up and distant (don't forget to change to 1080p on Youtube):

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100:
Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5CJTZRaJek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3yZTCc0SL8
Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vydKHh5AuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mStBAiL25lg

Fujifilm Finepix HS10:
Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5tzfbhn6B0 (close-up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DahsKfK6_Eo
Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DNwUB2RLRg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fBVik7LIhQ

So which one is the best for videos?

Thanks in advance!

[Mike Lowe]

I've managed to narrow it down to these two: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 and Fujifilm Finepix HS10:

http://snapsort.com/...jifilm_FinePix_HS10-vs-Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-FZ100/specs

A few videos from both cameras, day and night, close-up and distant (don't forget to change to 1080p on Youtube):

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100:
Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5CJTZRaJek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3yZTCc0SL8
Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vydKHh5AuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mStBAiL25lg

Fujifilm Finepix HS10:
Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5tzfbhn6B0 (close-up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DahsKfK6_Eo
Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DNwUB2RLRg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fBVik7LIhQ

So which one is the best for videos?

Thanks in advance!

Depends if you intend to use the zoom. The Fuji has a manual zoom ring which may appear a little 'jumpy' when using it during capture. The Panasonic has a powered zoom so you can use the zoom rocker in a more stable hand-held position for smoother zooms during capture...

Another option would be the Sony HX100V.

[Mike Lowe]

Depends if you intend to use the zoom. The Fuji has a manual zoom ring which may appear a little 'jumpy' when using it during capture. The Panasonic has a powered zoom so you can use the zoom rocker in a more stable hand-held position for smoother zooms during capture...

Another option would be the Sony HX100V.

However neither of your latter choices option 240fps slow motion capture. That's a rarer thing and, at a consumer level, is never possible at HD resolutions.

[Mjolnir]

However neither of your latter choices option 240fps slow motion capture. That's a rarer thing and, at a consumer level, is never possible at HD resolutions.
You're right, I think I'm skipping the whole high speed deal, because it's never in a very good resolution when doing so. This Sony HX100V is incredible, so I think I'm going for that one now. I've asked a bunch of owners at YouTube to make some dark room tests. The HX100V also shoots at 1080p 60fps (compared to 30 fps), so you can make some decent slow motion with it I suppose.