End of the consumer camcorder

[Michael Slowe]

Yes chaps, that's all very well for the average punter just wanting a brief 'clip' for posting on line, but, can you make serious films with them? Audio heads the list of my queries. Any XLR audio into an iphone? What codec are they acquiring to? I know we've all seen the short film shot on an iphone, the one with the model railway, but, seeing the 'making of' you notice that these people seriously knew what they were doing and were bent on making a statement that 'it can be done'.

Tom, you're surely not suggesting that iphones and other such devices are going to take the place of purpose made programmable video cameras?

[col lamb]

On a different tack Michael, its precisely those that use mobiles to record, edit and publish their "movies" on vimeo and youtube that the IAC should be targeting as future members.

Yes the consumer camcorder will die, as everyone will have with them a device that can record full motion HD video, or even 4k video in their mobile phone or tablet

Just had a look at Sony.com where Sony have only 10 consumer camcorder models, Panasonic has only 4 UK consumer models, All you have to do is to look at the JVC UK site where they have quite a lot, but they are all the same basic model with various specifications so their market is targeted by price.

[tom hardwick]

Michael, in answer to your last question: no, certainly not.

[Dave Watterson]

On Radio Four (UK) this afternoon the Media Show spoke to the guys behind Jack's Gap - a phenomenally successful YouTube channel. They casually spoke of using seven cameras for a globe-trotting shoot. It turned out most of those were the tiny Go Cameras ... but still the fact that they can organise such resources says a lot for the modest price of the hardware. And their success indicates that for their sort of market the quality is ideal.

Much of their success is also down to sharp editing and a shrewd eye for what their audience likes.

This is one of hundreds of their blog-videos:


youtu.be/

[Michael Slowe]

That's really nice Dave, they seem like very personable lads and clearly competent, notwithstanding the multiple jump cuts which some critics would condemn but, since they are so obvious, don't matter at all.