This information below aims to promote discussion amongst those with a wealth of up to date knowledge of video camera models on the market. The main aim is for weather videography.
What do I need to look for in buying a video camera for storm chasing?
It is an often asked question? So what are the most important features required in pourchasing a good video camera that can handle the range of colours and scenes for storm chasing?
One of the first items I tend to look for is the fixed infinity focusing feature. Not necessarily do all cameras have this feature. What this means is you can fix your focus on a distant object - perhaps 100metres away and this means that when trying to focus on not so sharp cloud features, you don't get in and out bluriness.
The clarity or resolution of the camera is the next most important feature and often is correlated with the price differences. Obviously digital video cameras with 3CCD chips are the current standard of top of the range consumer or prosumer video cameras. However, the size oand quality of the sensor means that a single chip can achieve sometimes even better quality than some 3CCD chips. Current prosumer models are conentrating on high definition HD video cameras
Battery power for some is an issue but is usually not the most asked feature. When you are out chasing however, it is important to have up to a few hours of battery power. The last thing you want is to be shut down when the real action begins and be without bettery power.
So what models are there out there? The Canon XM2 which I purchased has excellent quality but has been superceded by the Sony HD digital video camera and also it's more professional counterpart the Canon XL2. Currently still to be released are the prosumers from Canon and Panasonic.
Regards,
Jimmy Deguara
