Any point and shoots under $500 able to take decent video?

[chixdiggit]

I was about to purchase a video camera when my still camera conked out.
It's not in my budget to purchase 2 cameras and I was wondering if there are any point and shoots out there with decent video capabilities?


Thanks!

[swifferman]

any point and shoot around $500 can take pretty good video
I have the G9 and it does a decent job. I recently looked at the Panasonic TZ5 which is capable of shooting high definition video which looked extremely nice. Basically, anything in this price point will shoot pretty good video but keep in mind the capacity constraints of the flash cards. HD Video takes a lot of space.

[KorruptioN]

Panasonic's TZ5 will do 720p video capture. It will also eat up obscene amounts of storage media while doing so.

[chixdiggit]

thanks guys

that sounds like an interesting option

will check out some specs now...

[CameraBill]

The battery life is the limiting factor.

[kay188]

I'm picking up a FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD today.

[Ducky]

if you're gonna buy a panasonic tz5....and plan to take high definition videos...meaning 1024X720 @ 30fps

make sure you buy a SDHC card with write speed of AT LEAST 10mb/s or else you won't be able to do the above.

[chixdiggit]

if you're gonna buy a panasonic tz5....and plan to take high definition videos...meaning 1024X720 @ 30fps

make sure you buy a SDHC card with write speed of AT LEAST 10mb/s or else you won't be able to do the above.

thanks!
I appreciate that info

[kay188]

if you're gonna buy a panasonic tz5....and plan to take high definition videos...meaning 1024X720 @ 30fps

make sure you buy a SDHC card with write speed of AT LEAST 10mb/s or else you won't be able to do the above.

I'm using an A-Data Class 4 8GB Micro SDHC in a Micro SDHC adapter in my FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD.

It does 1280 x 720 @ 30 FPS, and it works perfectly fine.

Most brand name cards will write at 10mb/s.
Brand name not meaning some brand that sounds like a chinese rip off

[Ducky]

first, we're talking about two different cameras here....

second, we're talking about sdhc...you're talking about micro sdhc...

third, it is not true that "most brand name" cards write at 10mb/s....again, i'm talking about sdhc.

I'm using an A-Data Class 4 8GB Micro SDHC in a Micro SDHC adapter in my FujiFilm FinePix S2000HD.

It does 1280 x 720 @ 30 FPS, and it works perfectly fine.

Most brand name cards will write at 10mb/s.
Brand name not meaning some brand that sounds like a chinese rip off

[CSAgent]

Panasonic's TZ5 will do 720p video capture. It will also eat up obscene amounts of storage media while doing so.

FX35 as well, they were/are on sale for $199 at Henry's. 720p videos!

[kay188]

first, we're talking about two different cameras here....

second, we're talking about sdhc...you're talking about micro sdhc...

third, it is not true that "most brand name" cards write at 10mb/s....again, i'm talking about sdhc.

I know we are talking about different TYPES of cards.

SDHC cards are supposedly faster than micro cards as the technology isnt so squeezed onto such a small card, but i'm using my Micro SDHC as an example to show that they're just as fast as normal SDHC cards.

I know it's not true. But most do.
When i say brand name i dont mean it exactly brand name, but more of names that sound very mainstream, and it doesn't have to be brands that are UP THERE, as in very reconized such as SanDisk.

I've tested my Sandisk 8GB Micro SDHC Class 2 card and it wrote at 14mb/s~ transferring a 1GB file.
Also tested my A-Data 8GB Micro SDHC Class 4 card and it wrote at 16mb/s~ transferring the same 1GB file
As well as my Transcend 8GB SDHC Class 6 card, and it wrote at 16mb/s~ transferring the same 1GB file

That should tell you something. Even my sandisk micro sdhc card is rated at min 2mb/s, it wrote at 14mb/s~

Yes we are talking about 2 different cameras.
They all should be using the same compression technology compressed by H.264 to MP4 hence using the same amount of space as per a 1 min video on each camera.

[Ducky]

all those brands you mentioned below....specs for the regular sdhc won't write above 10mb/s

also, most cards have different speeds for READ and WRITE...

even for the sandisk, you'll need a extreme III card

I know we are talking about different TYPES of cards.

SDHC cards are supposedly faster than micro cards as the technology isnt so squeezed onto such a small card, but i'm using my Micro SDHC as an example to show that they're just as fast as normal SDHC cards.

I know it's not true. But most do.
When i say brand name i dont mean it exactly brand name, but more of names that sound very mainstream, and it doesn't have to be brands that are UP THERE, as in very reconized such as SanDisk.

I've tested my Sandisk 8GB Micro SDHC Class 2 card and it wrote at 14mb/s~ transferring a 1GB file.
Also tested my A-Data 8GB Micro SDHC Class 4 card and it wrote at 16mb/s~ transferring the same 1GB file
As well as my Transcend 8GB SDHC Class 6 card, and it wrote at 16mb/s~ transferring the same 1GB file

That should tell you something. Even my sandisk micro sdhc card is rated at min 2mb/s, it wrote at 14mb/s~

Yes we are talking about 2 different cameras.
They all should be using the same compression technology compressed by H.264 to MP4 hence using the same amount of space as per a 1 min video on each camera.

[jlo mein]

Do you consider optical zoom while filming an important feature for a video camera? If so, it limits your options. Many point and shoot cameras do not allow optical zooming while recording video because the motor is too loud. Models I know that offer it are certain Canon Powershot cameras, such as the S5 and SX10.

[marximum]

Panasonic TZ5 also allows optical zoom while shooting a video.

[funkylist]

You may also consider the following camera if your looking for a super zoom camera:
- Kodak z1015 IS - saves HD videos in Quicktime MPEG4 format which save a bit of space.
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 - does HD video and saves it in QuickTime Motion JPEG which takes up alot of space

[bcbgboy13]

Take a look at the Samsung cameras here (http://www.samsungcamera.com/product/pro_list.asp?cat_uid=75):

I personally use NV24HD - 24mm wide lens, OLED display, HD H.264 movie format.

[chixdiggit]

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

I was close to getting the tz5 but ended up going with CSAgent's suggestion of the Panasonic FX35 due to the great deal at Henry's.

Both cameras received great reviews and I love the 10x optical zoom of the TZ5 but it was hard to resist the price of the fx35.

So far I'm very happy with this camera.