Purchase Advice Needed: Canon VIXIA HF G30 for stockvideo?

I am thinking of purchasing the http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/963130-REG/canon_8454b001_vixia_hfg30_hd_camcorder.html for general on the go, run and gun, stock video. A camera to put in your luggage, portable enough and cheap enough to have, but if you don't use it, well OK. I see some shooters getting excellent results with it here on Pond5. It's professional big brother, the http://www.amazon.com/Canon-8453B002-XA20-Professional-Camcorder/dp/B00C3R16O2/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414775498&sr=1-1&keywords=canon+xa20, has more audio inputs - but that is the only major difference I can see. From Amazon or B & H it runs at $1300 US. Pros or cons? Steer clear or sail on to daylight? Your advice appreciated!

It looks to be a good unit, I have the http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/910265-REG/panasonic_hc_x920k_hc_x920_3mos_ultrafine_full.html which I like a lot, the AVCHD bit rate is a little higher and it has a wide aperture lens, I use it exactly how you are proposing and have had good success with it. Best of luck with your choice, I find a camcorder great for grab shots while traveling.

Thanks Norm for your reply. My luck in wives and AVCHD has been not so good - to say the least. I was looking at this camera because I can use the MP4 on my FCP X timeline without the problems I've had with AVCHD.

If you have the cash why not go with the Sony AX-100 and great 4K and HD. I've made over a thousand clips and completely happy with the results so far. Small, inconspicuous, great zoom capability. Looks like a consumer camera but shoot much better. It'll cost about $1800-1900.

Now there's some good 4 K entry level advice. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-FDR-AX100-Video-Camera-3-5-Inch/dp/B00HNJWVIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414904871&sr=8-1&keywords=sony+fdr-ax100. What kinda processing power do I need on the editing end to cope with the 4 K clips? Newbie me. Thanks Rekindle!

I'm running a Dell XPS-9100, I-7 at 3.4, 24 GB mem, R9 270 video card, dual monitors a Samsung 28 inch 4K and a Samsung 28 inch HD. ( I think that is all right).

Use Adobe Premiere Pro CS6.

The only time I have a little problem is the mouse sometimes is jerky when I'm ftp'ing, processing, and rendering all at the same time. Otherwise my system does a good job and I'm happy with it.

From everything I've read is if you shoot in 4K and downsize to HD it is in all appearance a 4:2:2 output. The biggest problem I've found is if panning, slow it down to a real slow pan. It does good pans but the slower the better. The lens zoom is real nice.

For the last four years or more I moved away from a dedicated video camera to use strictly a dslr. Now I've moved back, the quality of the video far surpasses the Canon 5D MK II and III in my opinion. Now that I've been using the 4K monitor I'd never go back to a HD monitor. The HD monitor makes videos look soft and mushy. When on the 4K monitor the sharpness and clarity is outstanding.

So I'm not sure if a slower machine would give you problems or not. Maybe some of the other artists doing 4K now with slower machines can give you an idea.
Good Luck .... Don

If you are using FCPX you can choose to have a ProRes version made automatically at add media to edit on the timeline which I do with AVCHD and 4K from the Panasonic GH4 reduces the need for horse power and plays smoothly. I'm still not fully sold on 4K : )

Interesting direction this thread is taking. Norm, what are your reservations about moving towards 4 K? I don't have any way of predicting the market. Seem like the start (at best) of the stock footage market again - as even the most mundane subjects will have, initially, less competition. Get there first and you could make some relatively easy money in a currently very competitive standard HD market. I need to do the research.

I think the Sony AX100 is a good suggestion and builds in some future proofing. 4K I feel has not yet established an industry standard like the workflow we followed from DV tape with motionjpeg for interlaced footage to Photojpeg for progressive. At the moment there are three thoughts on 4K, upload camera native format or do some slight adjustments in post and upload h.264 for a small file size. Lastly do your adjustments in post and upload Photojpeg or ProRes or ProRes HQ. You could in theory upload hundreds of clips only to find you have backed the wrong horse. I wrote a blog post with some thoughts about it recently.

http://normanpogson.blogspot.ca/2014/10/10-reasons-to-shoot-4k-stock-footage-or_31.html

Norman

Thanks for posting your Blog.

I think it is too early to say and I understand your frustration with your slow computer and lack of proper 4K codes for processing.
I was lucky to buy Ae6 for a reasonable price. (If you need I will link it to you). I have flat rate and quick cheap internet connection, so band-wide is not a problem for me (in Germany).
Did you upload original mp4 clip from camera? Me yes. And I wrote this is original clip from camera in the description as well.

I have not any sale of 4K yet, I have also very little clips of 4K. I am still optimist of my 4K investment and Panasonic FZ1000 (Photo and Video) is a very good camera.

For tbmpvideo may be Sony AX100 is better.