One for Tom H

[ned c]

I agree with Tom and Michael that the traditional form camcorder with small to moderate sized chips is best for run and gun shooting and will meet many of the needs of a more formalised approach. However; I operate in two worlds; run and gun and "studio" and in the low end studio world the DSLR has ruled and directors expect a controlled DoF that is difficult to achieve with a regular camcorder. Thus the VG20 as my entry into this world; it delivers a DSLR style DoF and can record single system sound but is a pain to set up. We do have a Sony DSLR that shoots video but is plagued by motion artefacts when the camera or the subject moves quickly; the worst I have seen.

ned c

[col lamb]

I set up to record my Nephews wedding, the small Sony TG3 facing direct at the couple from a discrete position behind the Registrar on continuous record, the Panny 151 to the left with me at the controls and the Canon 7D at the back on the left looking over heads towards the couple.

The 7D was a pain, OK for the first shot where I had time to set it up, I then moved it to the center and as I was setting it up some idiot changed all the lights and totally screwed up the white balance so had to reset it and with the manual focus and new lighting gave a very short DoF so I have to spend time I could not afford adjusting settings, the Sony and Panasonic adapted automatically and no problem.

At the Reception I gave up on the 7D and just used the 151, run and gun with ease.

That said I have recently got a Panasonic G5 camera, the small form DSLR with interchangeable lens, it is primarily for use recording work progress in still images on a building project I am involved with, it was the end of my financial year it is a business expense

For video it is point and shoot, shame it does not have the ability of adding a decent mike.

Panasonic do a great looking bridge, in the FZ200 constant f2.8 and a 50x optical zoom, with connection for an external mike so as an everyday camera/camcorder this is worth considering.