Camcorder for still photos (1 Viewer)

T

TEX66

Member

• Nov 30, 2009

• #1

Hi All,

I am after a camcorder with at least 35x optical zoom that also takes a high quality still image. I have a Nikon 300 but cant afford the high zoom lenses.

I have been looking at getting a camcorder for videos of the family and holidays but would love to get one that I can use in the local bird hides.

The primary use would be to zoom 35x + and to get a good quality still image.

I am not sure at this stage if I need to look into hi-definition? Any suggestions or comments would be welcome?

Price range I am looking around £500 new or second hand.

Thanks

Tex

 

Marmot

Well-known member

• Nov 30, 2009

• #2

WE have a Panasonic SDR-H40 which has a 42x optical zoom. It is easy to use and takes good photos. It costs about £220.

My own problem with it is trying to find out where the object I am taking is, I have yet to figure out how to compensate where the lens is.....but with Ian being used to using a camera has no problems whatsoever.

 

A

albatross02

Well-known member

• Feb 26, 2010

• #3

Camcorder

Hello,

I take movies and pictures with camcorder ( Panasonic SD 300 ).
Even there is 10 Megapixel pictures, the quality is aweful.
The focus is extrem slow and many pictures are out of focus finaly.
Take picture from birds which are farer away and enlarge the birds on PC do not works in practice.


Best regards
Dieter

 

M

mark b

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2010

• #4

I honestly think camcorders can take good pics, and still camera's can take good movies, but to really achieve the best results in either field, I think get the machine designed to do the job in hand, camcorders for films, still slr's for photo's, just my view, and I realise that most folk are happy with the setup they have as an all rounder.

mark

 

iveljay

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2010

• #5

The problem is that the high pixel counts go with the better HD video cameras which have shorter zoom ranges and cost more (new) than your budget.

Having tried both I tend to go along with mark b, but I was pleasantly surprised by the video quality of a still camera used in an emergency - but again it didnt have the zoom range and was fairly expensive.

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Mar 9, 2010

• #6

Marmot said:

WE have a Panasonic SDR-H40 which has a 42x optical zoom. It is easy to use and takes good photos. It costs about £220.

My own problem with it is trying to find out where the object I am taking is, I have yet to figure out how to compensate where the lens is.....but with Ian being used to using a camera has no problems whatsoever.

Click to expand...

Hey M

Does the H40 have manual focus that can be operated by hand? (ie not using a touchscreen method)
Cheers
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