DSLR vs Camcorder

As I mentioned: I'm a DSLR shooter and wonder if I could do with a camcorder as well.

e.g. I've just been on a short trip to a couple of cities - took a really cheap coach with my wife and a couple of friends - technically it's not a shoot but my friends know that everything I do is a shoot ;-)

So I'm jumping on and off this coach at the port - ferries going in and out - lorries loading - plenty happening etc. Then I'm rushing round a city for a couple of hours, hoards of tourists everywhere jostling for space. Sometimes I use a monopod, sometimes a small tripod, but it's a nuisance to stow on this supposedly non-stock shoot. When I've got the tripod always wish I'd brought the monopod and vice versa.

I wonder if this type of shoot is best suited to a camcorder? You guys who have a number of cameras - what would you have taken in this kind of situation?

The sun was going in and out - so I was putting the ND filter on and off like a mad man. Sometimes wasn't fast enough and ended up shooting at F22 when there was action ;-)

I really, really could do with built-in ND filters. +1 for the camcorder. Was it impossible for the GH4 to have them?

What I want is to be ignored and look like a tourist. I wonder if people accept a DSLR which "must" be shooting "stills" but are more suspicious of a camcorder which is obviously shooting video? Plenty of tourists shoot with big DSLRs and look as though they know what they are doing; but none shoot with big camcorders - instead they have piddly little things which are waved about in one hand with an ice-cream in the other.

Are camcorders better for hand-holding?
Any difference when using a monopod?

I'm left-eyed and feel camcorders are "set-up" for right-eyed shooting? Would be interested in any left-eyed shooter's experience.

As a side issue - I normally delete any audio, mostly because it's awful, irrelevant and sounds as though I'm on top of Everest in a hurricane; however I have ordered a zoom recorder for the times it's appropriate and am concerned that if I mount it on the camera's shoe, with a dead cat grinning from it, it will be obvious to anyone I'm shooting video. Has anyone found they get more "reaction", (negative or positive), when you have microphones hanging off the camera.

I'm wanting reasons to buy a camcorder and then again reasons to not buy one!

I think every shooter should have at least 1 DSLR and 1 traditional camcorder. There isn't one camera out there that would be good in every situation.

I'm headed to a few locations in the upcoming months, Toronto, Niagara Falls, New York, and (because it's so close to me), Cleveland. On all of them I'm taking both my DSLR (GH4) and my Sony FDRAX1, with the exception of New York since I'm flying there. While in NYC, I'll only be using my GH4 and a Joby and monopod. That was my setup in the past and have gotten http://www.orlowskidesigns.com/search.php?p=0&q=manhattan.

In Niagara Falls I plan on mostly using my FDRAX1, since I do want to be able to zoom and don't want to be fussing with changing lenses.

I recently was in downtown Pittsburgh with my FDRAX1 and was asked what I was doing. I suppose that camera is just a bit too big to be inconspicuous. So, in places I want to blend in and want to travel light, its the GH4. In other situations where I have the room and want to zoom or need to shoot something long form or need XLR inputs, I'll use the Sony.

Good luck.

I'm left eyed also and with a camcorder have no difficulty at all but I only use the eye piece for following a fast moving object all other times I use the flip out LCD. I have travelled a lot where my camera support was http://www.amazon.ca/Electric-Avenue-75-d4121-Swivel-Camera/dp/B001CWF8ES/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&qid=1398865348&sr=8-47&keywords=camera+clamp only pay $10 for one on the bay. It is a tripod and a clamp, so any road sign with a post or railing is your support, or whip out the legs to stand on a garbage can or newspaper box. I have filmed all my New York shots with this as I was too cheap to buy a tripod permit. My Panasonic X920 will fit in a winter jacket pocket or for you a Barbour jacket easily and you do look like the tourist and the steady shot on most higher end camcorders work really well although I always seem to lock my shots down. Get a camcorder tell your Wife Normstock told you to do it! All that's left is 4K or not, I do like the Panasonic X920 because of the 60p HD and the three chip witchcraft thing they do.

I still take photos and footage. The photos from any camcorder is not as good and less control than you can get from a good dslr. Years ago when the Canon 5D started to do video I dumped the video cam to use the all-in-one. I now realize that the auto focus and swivel lcd screen sure is handy. If you want a run & gun the camcorder is great. The Sony Z-100 I had was big and looked very professional and like OD said everyone is watching you, especially if you have a big lens dslr around your neck. The AX-100 is small enough that it will not attract attention ... but the 5D MK III with a 70-200 IS lens will still draw attention as I shoot with the camcorder.

The XLR inputs are needless for me shooting stock. The built in ND filters are definitely needed in many situations. The zoom without changing lenses is great. For me the $1900 AX-100 was the perfect size. for others who want a studio video camera the X-100 is not the answer. Plus and minus. and not sure how the balance will finish up.

Don't forget a sandbag. Your best company for travel...

Personally I find my wife is the best company for travel

:-)

TE

As I'm focused on shooting in Asia, my sandbag is usually a ricebag, but very useful indeed :)

I've never shot video on a DSLR style camera, so can't really compare it to video cameras. Before changing to video, I used to only take photos with (D)SLRs. It took quite a bit of convincing to make the step to a video camera. As there weren't really any cameras that did both back in 2008, I decided to bring a Canon HV20 to China alongside my main DSLR. Fell in love with video and decided to stick with it. Since then, I've used two more video cameras, both Sony.

The main reasons for using smaller sized cameras for me were portability, ease of use, and that you don't look like a pro (relatively, still ended up in a couple of very tricky situations). Most of my earlier shots were made for the purpose of creating films about the places I visited, and filming part of my uni thesis (energy/environment in China). Only accidently did I get into stock footage, finding Pond5 and other sites. I'm glad that I did, and I'm grateful for the help and support I received from established contributors, like yourselves :)

Tripods are useful, but not always usable. I'm always trying to find alternative ways to stabilize, which sometimes requires compromising on the angle. Handheld shooting is still usually a last resort, although camera stabilization has evolved enormously from the HV20 that I started out with, and it could be OK sometimes.

Right now I'm looking to invest in new equipment, with the GH4 and AX100 being the most probable candidates for replacing my older cameras. The AX100 builds on the cameras that I've been using in the past few years, but the GH4 gives additional options that take me back to my SLR/photo days. With a bit of extra saving, I might end up buying both.

Then a sandbag is your girl-friend, cost almost nothing and really reliable !!! :D

That was always a tip when traveling buy a small bag of rice at your destination instead of a taking a bean bag! they are nearly always available and work great at stabilization! I still like my cheap clamp though.

Ziplock full of small grain rice - Oh yes ..... never fails on windy days. For hurricanes replace rice wth bbs. Once I changed to the GH3 ...... I think I will never go back to a camcorder for every day carry along. It's like a Swiss Army Knife. And know with the GH4, camcorders for me belong to a museum. Of course there is that "power zoom" issue but Panasonic is working on that. I am sure Canon is working on "power zoom" lens also in there labs.