Ask Electronics

4047 readers

60 users here now

For questions about component-level electronic circuits, tools and equipment.

Rules

1: Be nice.

2: Be on-topic (eg: Electronic, not electrical).

3: No commercial stuff, buying, selling or valuations.

4: Be safe.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

DavideAndrea@discuss.tchncs.de

linker3000@discuss.tchncs.de

Suggestions for budget small multi-purpose camera (piefed.zip)

submitted 3 weeks ago by scytale@piefed.zip to c/askelectronics@discuss.tchncs.de

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hey all. I'm looking into getting a small action cam type of camera. Primary purpose would be for travel and recording music playthrough videos at home. My wife would like something small and discreet that she can use to take short videos while traveling, but not make her look like an obnoxious vlogger. At the same time I'd like to use it in my home studio to make videos. Doesn't have to be 4k, 1080p would be fine if it doesn't meet the budget limit. I'm looking into something less than $200.

Anyone have suggestions?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

What’s wrong with a smartphone?

I don’t mean to come off as abrasive, but phone cameras are very good. You aren’t going to beat them optically for $200. The biggest shortcoming is stabilization vs mini cameras on a gimbal, but you can get around that with Gyoflow for free:

https://docs.gyroflow.xyz/app/getting-started/supported-cameras/mobile-phones

Check out the Blackmagic video app, too.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

We have older phones, and the video quality isn't that great, especially in darker environments. I'll try Blackmagic, thanks for the suggestion.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

especially in darker environments.

That's because the sensor is small. Newer phones and mini cameras will all be weak in dim light, outside the absolute extremes like Huawei and Sharp phones.

Check out a Canon EOS M, ~$250 on eBay, or any older SLR that supports MagicLantern firmware. That's the absolute best way into better indoor video, as its image sensor is like 6-10X the area of a phone's. Not sure what lens is best for M-mount, but I can look around if that's of interest.

It's not as small as a phone, but about as small as a point-and-shoot.