Aardvark Daily

Please visit the sponsor!

Digital cameras explode

No, not literally.

For some reason, the digital video camera marketplace has exploded with new offerings in the past week or two and I have no idea why.

Many of the big-name camera companies have launched new offerings and despite a wide range of different features, capabilities and target markets they all have one thing in common.

They're wickedly expensive.

As someone who makes video content as a living, I try to keep a close eye on new product releases in the video camera market and for the past few weeks I've had trouble keeping up with what's new.

My preferred configuration of video camera is the humble (or not so humble) camcorder.

Whilst others may like the "snob factor" associated with lugging round expensive camera bodies, along with an array uber-expensive lenses, filters batteries and such, I love the simplicity and practicality of a camcorder. It has everything I need in one simple device that in many cases will run for hours on a single battery without overheating or complaining.

To be fair, the camcorder I've been using for the past three or four years did cost over $3K but that's peanuts compared to what you can spend for even a modest setup based on a mirrorless camera and separate lenses.

So, with this in mind, I was excited to see that Sony has launched a couple of new higher-end camcorders in the form of the PXW-Z200 and HXR-NX800.

These are the first new prosumer camcorders to be relased by Sony in quite a long time and are very well spec'd so I was keen to see how much they'd cost here in Godzone.

Jaw-drop time!

At $8099 and $6995 respectively I'll pass on both these cameras for the time being, even though I'd love to have either one.

My existing $3K camcorder is 80 percent as good for less than half the price -- so I think I'll stick with it for at least a little while longer.

However, it's not just camcorders that are expensive... so are the latest generation of action cameras such as the new GoPro 13.

Now although this camera sounds cheap enough with a pre-order price of US$399, once you kit it out with a spare battery or two, some mounts, ND filters and some of the different lens options it is easy to blow US$1,500 which, at today's conversion rate, is NZ$2,400. That's for an action camera that fits in the palm of your hand?

Wow... expensive much!

I'll stick with a US$99 Runcam action camera and my DJI Pocket 3 thanks.

However, there are some bargains to be had in the "cinema camera" market-space.

Black Magic Design have announced their Pyxis full frame cinema camera which will allegedly ship for around US$3K (NZ$4,800) which, ironically, makes it cheaper than those Sony camcorders.

Also, the famous RED Komodo X cinema camera that all wannabe film-makers aspire to own, has been dramatically dropped in price by 30 percent this week to a very "affordable" US$6,995.

Every time I see one of these shiny new cameras and feel the lust building, threatening to destroy the remaining credit on my card, I sit quietly in a corner of the room and chant "90 percent talent, 10 percent equipment.... 90 percent talent, 10 percent equipment" in an attempt to convince myself not to be stupid.

So far so good -- but tomorrow is another day.

Carpe Diem folks!

Please visit the sponsor!

PERMALINK to this column

Rank This Aardvark Page

Change Font