Why Aren’t Camcorders More Popular?

I also went from using a Camcorder to a T2i. I loved the t2i but man using manual focus and everthing else in manual was a bit of a learning curve. Camcorders are sooo easy to use.

The FX6 is a camcorder and that's pretty popular.

It sucks that camcorders that are still being actively sold and made online, is chinese knockoff cameras that are GARBAGE. It really sucks that high quality brands really just abandoned “palmcorder/camcorders” all together just about. I still have a palmcorder that runs on cassete tapes. It’s a panoramic infact. I used to have a 1990’s model over the shoulder cinema camera that never worked growing up. No idea what happened to it.

I own and use multiple digital cinema cameras, as well as quite a few mirrorless. My live streaming company just bought a Canon XF-605 and I am pretty impressed with it. 12G SDI out, dual XLR ins, an equivalent 25mm to 382mm but if you are shooting or live streaming at 1080 and not UHD, you can gain another 15X zoom without degradation for a total of a 30X zoom range. Three rings on the lens, which is excellent, Canon CLog 3, etc. It's quite a package and is very useful for live shoots. I love my cinema and mirrorless cameras but a camcorder is just a better tool for certain shoots.

Broadcast folks still use camcorders. Each tool has its place. Its just for consumers, the mobile cell device has replaced most cameras in the compact industry.

Camcorders are great when you need them for camcorder work. I have no need to buy but I rent a Canon XF605 whenever I shoot conferences. Fantastic camera btw.

Right now I am starting to skate and I have a sony mavica that does raw video out. I'm gunna make era correct skate videos and stream with the mavica as a gimmick, but what I have legit needed is something like this camcorder. 2800 is steep though, steep enough to make me use my phone till I have cash to get one, however, I now know what I actually need. And part of it is that lens.

I got a Panasonic ag-cx10 for almost all of my filming needs. I think the hybrid camera thing is all about flexing and for actual cinema. I'm not doing cinema and the agcx10 has virtually everything built in including nd filters, an xlr interface, crazy zoom, external mic, livestreaming for around $2000. Its incredible.

Buy a Panasonic FX 2500 and you have a great Camcorder although it is a camera for stills.

You ask a really interesting question about why camcorder form factor cameras are not more popular. I wondered that as well as I saw more and more complaints about video performance when the first and recent wave of mirrorless cameras emerged at the start of the decade and either had overheating or record limits. The complaints were loud and long. But nobody seemed to look at other options. Even if camcorders are not the answer to those complaints, cinema cameras appeared to be, but they were also not a popular alternative. Why? Price. People wanted cinema performance at entry level mirrorless prices. Lastly, I think there is an aesthetic reason for camcorder "neglect" - they look too much like what our parents shot those annoying home movies with. Strangely, though, young people are now returning to the equipment of the past and actively seeking out old film cameras, so maybe camcorders will see a revival as well.

Perhaps AI will enable us to have shallow DOF with any camera eliminating the need to buy lenses at all. I predict it w happen

I've been using Sony PXW-X70 cameras since about 2015 for television production in multi-cam configurations and for live sporting events. The X70 is older than the one featured in this video, but it's basically the same camera but with 4K already unlocked. The X70 has the same 1" sensor, but required a separate license fee to update firmware and use the 4K resolution. For the price, especially if you find a used one these days, it's a huge value for the quality you get. Obviously, it isn't going to stack up to modern equivalents, but the fact is you can still create very high quality content including television quality work with these. It also has compatibility with handle-mounted controls for studio style tripod use, and super easy to add to rigs with a follow-focus, external lights, preview monitors, etc... Such a versatile piece of equipment, with a huge bang for the buck.

camcorders and point and shoots are actually trending right now. they refer to them as y2k cams. lotta the younger gen like the Y2k aesthetic. lol.

Sony's first prosumer Hi-8 Digital Camera, the Sony HDR-FX1 has features which are still amazing: rocker, zoom, amazing stability, internal NDs and just fun to operate. Like u said, NO overheating with these camcorders. So today one would think that with all of the professional TV broadcast tech and being one of the first on the mirrorless cams, that Sony would be able to get it right with ALL of their camera releases. Oh, no, "Let the suckers out there be beta testers" must be the current motto. In the last few years, the Sony a7Siii, the FX3 and the FX30 (which I would label in prosumer level) have been the ONLY mirrorless cams from Sony that I can think of which don't overheat. I have the Sony a6000 (first on the block & it is an overheating Monster). Guess what: the Sony a7iv, the Sony EV-1, the Sony a6700 and the last two cams ALL OVERHEAT. Great if you want toasty hands on a cold winter, if the cam doesn't have a temper tantrum and shut down. What gives, Tom, do u really believe that Sony sensor size has to be the real problem? What about some serious Tech Engineering Genius guys or gals? Do they exist or has the world fallen apart? 😎😎

camcorders over mirrorless dslrs forever. I'll shoot 360p on one before I have to deal with lens switching and building out a cage, etc.

camcorders are just fun

This is an awesome video! I am getting a camcorder haven't had one since I was a kid! What do you think of Panasonic HC-VX981K

I have investigated this from A to Z and yes, I can get a far better camera by spending four times as much, but I repeatedly land at one camera at a price point I can just about afford with the essential set of features I need — the seven year old Sony FDR-AX53. Not only does it win feature for feature over cost but it is the one [semi] pro-level camera you can grab and start filming in ten seconds yet it is compact enough to carry everywhere in a generous-sized jacket pocket.

I own a Sony Z90 and love it. 1 inch sensor is fine for video most of the time. Image quality is amazing. Not many bells and whistles and not so good low light. But as a grab and go camera, it's awesome! PS, it has ND filters.

You also really caught a good reason in a minor comment you made in the video. That if you want more budget recording where image quality can be sacrificed, phones do that. I even saw a theater production livestream that was DIY using the actors' iphones. Considering smartphones are a modern necessity then you could argue the price for video equipment in that livestream was *$0*. And if you want to run around there's action cameras that are way more versatile for outdoors.

It's a shame since there's still a nice quality with camcorders but it's not a big use case anymore. It's also interesting how the DSLR/mirrorless growth has changed online culture. The flat look of a camcorder was a character of home and internet video. It brought a little bit of unprofessionalism which was cool because it fit the more "by the people, for the people" culture of early online video. Now we can all achieve a more professional look for less cost, which is also cool, since it's allowed its own new field of creativity.

Smartphones with better lenses are also replacing camcorders to some extent in consumer market. But keep in mind that camcorders have a decent powerful OPTICAL zoom which could reach extremely far, not crappy s****y digital lossy magnification that totally blurs up into mosaics at telescopic end (Personally I don't believe that should be technically called a digital ZOOM).

I have a Sony AX53 & a much cheaper & lighter Panasonic V180 for selfie stick vlogging. I love them both. I'd never bother with a regular style camera for video.

I was just doing air to air photography and videography the DSLR and mirrorless were not cutting it in the back of the fighter jet, and I couldn't see screens for peaking etc. So, your first point about using a camcorder for aviation was exactly what I was thinking might be a major pro. I lost focus on a critical shot when I had to zoom in and didn't have time to recheck my focus before the chase plane broke away.

While I agree that DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have nice big sensors and getting nice bokeh is so much easier, but you can totally get nice bokeh from the cheap camcorders. I’ve been shooting since the late 90’s and shooting on Mini-DV was my only media option while I originally started in film (16mm & Super 8). The trick of getting bokeh from camcorders is working with the manual focus and the zoom! Plus you should shoot with stuff in the foreground that you can blur out and have your subject further enough away from the background to blur it out. It’s obviously a lot more work than pointing your DLSR or mirrorless, but it’s achievable.

Hi Tom noticed the new canon Camcorders have usb C Webcam capabilities. From what I’ve read they don’t carry audio out. In the UK the model I was looking at is Legria HF G70. Video 😊

Well, for now small sensor camcorders and smartphones are managing to achieve amazing results in improving digital noise in low light, they also achieve bokeh through AI. They're not a replacement for a full frame camera with a $1500 lens but they're increasingly better optimized with the vlogger in mind.

Are camcorders going to fade away? I'be been wanting to buy one for a some time now but it seems that all manufacturers have quite an old lineup

Camcorders are good for narrative filmmaking. People just don’t know how to use it lol. Lets be real, your audience doesnt care about the camera you use lol. Idk why this is so hard to understand lol

Maaannn. The T2i is still my main photo camera 😂 Still looks great with my nice Sigmas.

The "shallow depth of field" that seems so popular these days is a bit annoying. The camcorder's greater depth of field is an advantage when videoing wildlife or outdoor scenes in my opinion. When I am filming a hunt, for example, I want as much in focus as possible. The environment surrounding the animal is just as important as the animal itself. I like the look of the camcorder better in your video where the background is more in focus. Everything looks crisper. With the shallow depth of field, even your hands or the camera you are holding up is blurry depending on how far your hands are in front of you. Only your face is in focus as long as you don't move too far. Where the camcorder is more forgiving as everything seems to be in focus. And the 20x optical zoom is very difficult / expensive to get with a mirrorless. But ultimately, its video quality that matters the most for wildlife, and low light performance is extremely important as well. Will mirrorless give a better end result?

I was born in 1985 as well!!!

Modernized - Modern eyes

Night shot classifies it as military tactical equipment , the export of which is somewhat restricted

I have used a camcorder for most of my films (except one where I used a Panasonic and a canon) and I love the point and shoot and how little space it takes, I usually just have it in my backpack wit the microphone and my laptop

Camcorder looks good.

I shoot on a camcorder, Canon XA11. The depth of field I had to really work on. You shoot in a 3.4 -3.7, and you will create a depth of field. Also, you can use filters that will give you that depth of field that you are looking for.

I mean, isn't the FX6 actually considerable a Camcorder? :D

If you really looking for this camera and don’t need the top handle with XLR inputs or the SDI output you can directly go with the FDR-A700 Sony camcorder - same sensor and same performance and image specs for ~1450€. I do a lot of multi-cam video streaming and I have two of them. Amazingly good and very affordable!

Do they have to be popular?

Camcorders are just more designed for video, very tired of stills camera form cameras aimed at maonly video, the ergonomics are appalling and the amount of accessories you need to make it nicer to use is crazy. These style cameras are much better for ENG, Factual, live performance etc.

Sony should revive their NEX VG line. The VG30 and VG900 were great APS-C and full-frame consumer -priced camcorders respectively.

I visited the best flight show in the world, Axalp 23 and had a nearly 10k gear. Sony 7s3, 100-400mm f4 and the full frame camera didn’t catches focus of that quick and small planes, the time was to short for catching the jet in the sky.I wasn’t able to zoom smooth in and out, these lenses are bulky and heavy to zoom in and out and like you said they are not parafocal. My only usable shots were done with an iPhone 11. now I found the best footages of that show, Elwyn R. and I thought, omg what a setup is he using. A camcorder, Sony FX53, price like my lensehood. And sure the small sensor catches everything in focus because the depth of field is way bigger and he can gollow the plane and zoom in and out smooth. Not even thinkable for me with this 100-400 mm. Beautiful shots are not the best thing this camcorder can do but at this usecase my Setup was worthless. Meanwhile I am more and more unsatisfied and will sell my camera. On my way I grob my relatively new iPhone 12 Pro, if I do action I use my GoPro 9, most landscape pictures are done with my DJI Air 2 s and the only thing I will miss is the natural bokeh. What I will not miss, even after decades of usage these cameras are slow and bulky, changing lenses with two hands and holding two lenses and one camera incl hoods for thousands of euros in my hand, sitting on the street, it isn’t worth it.

Camcoders are the best for video. I don't why corporate companies don't make a big sensor camcoder, all the capability of the Sony FX30 in a small camoder like the AX700 wich is the same as th Z90 that you use but only in 4K, and a removable lens. It would be the perfect camera for many many people! I know what you will say that I should get the FX6, and I would love but I do not have the money like 99% of your followers

I worked for over 10 years at a local TV station with expensive TV related gear. I always wondered why modern DSLR footage subjectively looked so much better over TV footage. I researched and found out (mainly) sensor size and fast lenses. As I was used to the formfactor of TV Cameras I wondered isn't there a fullframe camcorder with interchangeable lenses?... and surpirse... I found it! It was the sony vg900e . I found a used one, bought it, and bought a samyang cine lens kit. THIS combination was UNBELIEVABLE 🤩. Blurry bokeh, beautiful colors in standard profile and lots of pro-features. It is really a pity, that sony did not develope this model any further. And my guess is, that the majority of consumers transfered from photography to videography these days and are used to the Photo-Camera-Formfactor. But it always needs extra gear and accessories and stuff to mount it (witch brings money of corse), like the formfactor of a camcorder already offers out of the box. So my wish would be a vg900 2023-version with xlr, SDI and 4K stabilisation and internal ND. Wich might be the fx6 then... I guess 😄

Great video, super thorough and can see that a lot of work went into it! Thank you!