Waiting for: Pro-quality compact camera with DSLR-like shutter lag? -- Discussion: Canon G11 vs T1i --?

Q. Are there enough camera-enthusiasts who would buy a truly-fast-shooting compact, even if it added considerably to the cost of the camera?

Case in Point: Canon G11 versus Canon Rebel T1i
--------------------
(I'm guessing the comparable models from Nikon, Sony, and Olympus won't look much different, but correct me if I'm wrong)

Canon G11
Arguably one of the best fixed-lens, standard-zooming, smaller-than-DSLR camera available
MSRP $500
Shutter Lag ~0.5 seconds

Canon Rebel T1i
Possibly the overall "best buy" of the DSLR world
MSRP $900
Shutter Lag ~0.2 seconds

The T1i is about 0.3 seconds faster than the G11 -- that may not seem like a lot ON PAPER, but ONCE YOU TRY IT shooting actual pictures of people/babies/animals, it's a world of difference and makes the G11 seem like a slug. And it's very hard to go back.

On the other hand, try putting the T1i in a coat pocket.

Yeah, I know you can prefocus the G11 but please spare me all that... What I want to know is:

1) How hard would it be -- technically -- for Canon to design and build a "G12" that would have autofocus performance fully-equivalent to the XS?

2) What would be some of the techical alternatives for doing so, and how much might each add to the price of the "G12"?

3) Do you think that the quick-autofocus, higher-price "G12" be more or less profitable for Canon than the current G11?

just wondering...

.

A. the image sensor used in point and shoot digital cameras is generally much smaller than the image sensor used in a DSLR (the difference is often as much as 25 times).While many point and shoots come with the ability to shoot in manual mode, a DSLR is designed in such a way that it is assumed that the photographer using it will want to control their own settings. While they do come with good auto modes the manual controls are generally built in in such a way that they are at the photographers finger tips as they are shooting.

Have a look at Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera
* 14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor;
* 3-inch monitor with One-Touch Live View shooting and movie capture
* Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video with full-time autofocus and sound
* Easy-To-Use Nikon Guide Mode with intuitive controls and on-board assistance

Original Question

Looking for a video camera with good audio... any suggestions?

Q. I have a piano recital coming up, and I need a suggestion for a fairly cheap camera with good audio recording capabilities, as the last camera we used recorded the sound absolutely horribly ( i assume it was because the camera was made to only capture the human voice's spectrum ).

I just want something that can capture the full span of sound that a piano can emit without hisses or cracking noises- or if there is no such camera, share some ideas for best recording the event (e.g. maybe a suggested external mic or whatever)... I have one month. Thanks :)

A. Camcorder microphones aren't usually professional level, but they aren't bad, either. What they are is poorly located to get audiophile level recording. Way too far away far away from the source of the sound, they'll pick up noise and chatter from close to the camera. If you're filming at the 3-6 foot range, most camcorder audio will work fine. Farther away requires more effort. Bottom line is that proper microphone placement is critical for good recordings.

Depending on the stage setup (if any) at the recital, see if one of the following options is feasible:

1) If the piano is miked into a PA/speaker system, recording the line output of that device onto a CD or other recorder gives some of the clearest possible sound. If you leave your camcorder running continuously during the performance, it's fairly easy to sync the CD audio to your digital video in any of the movie editors and get top notch audio and video. Leave your camcorder running so you only have to sync one spot, not at every scene. Once synced, you can then cut out boring sections of the video. (~$0 expense if they have a CD recording system already in place)

2) If the piano isn't miked, you can use a digital audio recorder. The good ones aren't cheap, but you'll get baby monitor quality sound if you go cheap. Place the recorder in a good location near the piano (test before the recital if at all possible). These small devices are unobtrusive, and can get quality recordings if placed properly. You could use this recording to supplement/replace your existing camera's audio as described above ~ $150 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/599284-REG/Tascam_DR_07_DR_07_Portable_Digital_Audio.html)

3) You can buy a camcorder with an external microphone jack and get a wireless mic system or a shotgun mic (think teleaudio to match your telephoto zoom). Unfortunately, you tend to get what you pay for on this. Decent ones start at $75 and you still have to figure out where to position the microphone. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=15708&N=4290441573+4293345063&Ns=p_PRICE_2%7C0
Shotgun microphones (the zoom version of a microphone) are very directional in it's pickup pattern, removing much of the side noise captured by built in microphones. $60+ http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3646-REG/Azden_ECZ_990_ECZ_990_Super_Cardioid_Shotgun.html
Unless your existing videocamera has an external mic jack, you'll have to factor in the additional cost of a new camera with a microphone input. External microphone jacks have been removed from the feature list of most consumer camcorders. HD cameras with the external microphone jack tend to be ~ $800-$1000

Original Question

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Title Post: Waiting for: Pro-quality compact camera with DSLR-like shutter lag? -- Discussion: Canon G11 vs T1i --?
Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,3 user reviews.
Author: Unknown

Thanks For Coming To My Blog