Camcorder for ~£500 and is 4k worth it on this budget?

Dr McNinja

My brother and sister in law have just had a baby and they want a camcorder for family videos, so they've asked me to find one for them. In the meantime, I've lent them my Panasonic HC-V720 which I bought based in part on recommendations I was given on these forums. I was hoping that someone would please help me out again.

I think they'd like something along the lines of the HC-V720, i.e. 1080p or more, compact and easy to use. But having used the HC-V720 for a few years now, I do wish the low light performance was better and as the new camera will likely be used extensively indoors until the sprog starts toddling, I think low light performance is a priority.

I'll be letting them backup the videos to my server and given that space is limited and that non of the family own anything 4k yet, I'm leaning toward sticking with 1080p but I would be interested in hearing any opinions as to whether 4k is worth it given the ~£500 budget. More to the point... are there any decent ~£500 camcorders around or are cheap 4k camcorders still somewhat low-quality and gimmicky?

On the subject of 4k... I was also wondering whether it's worth recording in 4k and then converting the files to a lower resolution before backing them up to my server. Would I get better results recording at native 1080p or recording at 4k and then converting the videos?

I see that Panasonic have recently released the HC-V800 which if I'm lucky, I might be able to find from a reputable retailer within the budget but what other options should I look at>

stearman65

What a coincidence, I'm just making out an add to sell my Panasonic HC-VXF990. I bought it earlier this year & with 3 other cameras, it isn't getting any use. It's been used less than an hour. It is complete with the original box, paperwork, supplied components, spare Panasonic battery, high speed SD card & a compact case. It cost me over £800 all told, I will let it go for £450 for a quick sale. It's in MINT condition.
                                                                       

JabbaNut

Have you tried. Pricespy price look up site Panasonic HC-VXF990 (Video Cameras)

12harry

4K or not-4K is an interesting Q.
((Yr budget is on the cusp of good-enough))
Since 1080 camcorders will have a longer zoom, almost any good make Pana/Sony/Canon will produce excellent results in careful hands. The offer appears to be an easy fix for yr budget.

However, I'm surprised you complain about low-light as most Pana-specs appear excellent, whereas I know my Sony CX410 ( 1080, 55x Zoom), often needs extra lighting. However, with modern LED lights running almost cold, there should be no problem lighting a large area which the infant is constrained.  Restrict filming to about one activity-hour and you'll have plenty of footage.
4K does take up "more space" - but as HDDs are relatively cheap ( eg  4Tb about £110 ), they can keep a copy of the first few months, with Birthdays, Etc. and that drive should cover several years. Another drive in a few years can "Copy" so mechanical failure is unlikely to destroy those memories. Of course, the drive needs to be protected against excess ambients and kept out of sight against thieves.  For safe-keeping it should be not connected to a PC - ie an external USB.
For domestic viewing 1080 is acceptable and perfectly sharp - the issue is as TV screens get larger you'll need "more pixels" - 4K is  future-proofing, although present Zooms are restricted the optical quality should be better than a 1080 zoom.
Make use of "Smile-Shutter" and Face-focus features as infants can move rather more quickly than a camera-operator make adjustments. Consumer camcorders are way ahead of "Pro-Gear" in this respect.
"Low-light" spec is always an issue, since folks don't like "video noise" - but equally don't like to spend more on the sensor/lens combo. It's just far easier to accept this and either practice outdoors... or fit some brighter lights for any footage to be archived.
Recently I bough 4x  "100W" switchable LED lights 6500K. - These are normal-sized bayonet-cap mains bulbs with a difference... switch it on it's 100w equivalent ( using ~15w ), switch it off-on and it's 50W, switch it off-on it's 25W - as yet not fitted to my porch..... so it's 100w for visitors, or 25w if I'm out.  They requires no new switch-wiring but are about £22 each pack of four....
Will you be editing this footage? - that will(should) cut out most of the excess . . . but it is a skill that takes time to learn...so keep all the clips until it's Edited and Approved - In 10-years' time you may regret not having 4K originals.... as you know it's possible to down-scale - but like up-scaling it's somehow never quite as good.

Cheers.

Terfyn

         The low light performance of the 750 is excellent so I presume the same for the 720. But you may need to use a video editor to pull out the detail. (As I have mentioned on many occasions.) I have used my 750 in dark or near dark conditions. It picks up the detail which may not be seen in the raw footage but will be clearly visible when helped in my video editor.
How's that for lighting?

stearman65

Now sold on Ebay for asking price plus postage
.

Terfyn

Good price. What have you replaced it with?

stearman65

I haven't, we already have 3 cameras that produce acceptable video, so the panny wasn't getting used & I needed the money for non photographic projects.