Low light

[0druidic0]

What are some good, less expensive video cameras that operate well in low light?

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[The_Traveler]

what is 'less expensive'?

 

[0druidic0]

Maybe around 500 US

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[photo1x1.com]

Puh, that's a difficult one. What are you trying to capture? And do you have experience with a camera you would say is not good enough for what you want to achieve?

 

[0druidic0]

Well I'm an audio guy and I want to record asmr videos in low light with high quality mics and preamps and hear nothing in my audio signal. So the auto focus has to be very quiet as well.

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[photo1x1.com]

Ah, I remember the other thread. I'm the opposite - a videoguy trying to capture decent audio . There are two rules of thumb:

1. the bigger the sensor, the better the low light capabilities
2. the newer the camera, the better the low light capabilities

Unfortunately that's not always true and there is also a third - the higher the price of your camera, the better . Probably the same as your audio equipment.
But I'd go with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Since you absolutely don't want noise, you are not going to use any slider, or walk around with your camera. That said: you don't need no zoom or focus. Put the camera on a tripod, adjust focus and zoom, record the take and change your position for the next. I hope you don't need to record a session in one take?
Well, and use a fast lens - that will keep the ISO down and your video clean.

 

[0druidic0]

Ahh ok thanks for the input. Ideally I want to shoot low light tight shots with a shallow depth of field. Just one more question, does depth of field depend on the lens or on the camera or both? Thanks in advance

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[photo1x1.com]

The depth of field depends on:

1. The maxiumum opening of your lens (f-stop - the lower the number, the smaller the depth)
2. The focal length in mm (the longer the lens, the smaller the depth)
3. The distance to your object (the closer, the smaller the depth)
4. The sensor size (the larger the sensor, the smaller the depth - usually you´d get max. APS-C sized sensors in the mentioned price range - but I guess they are totally OK for the effects you are looking at)
5. and if you are looking for a blurred background or foreground - the further it is away from your object in focus, the more blurred it will be creating the illusion of an even smaller depth

Does that make sense?
one more thing: as a shutter speed for movies you´d usually set 1/50th for the PAL-countries (which runs at 25frames per second) and 1/60th for NTSC-countries (which run 30fps). If you are producing for the internet, I´d go with 1/50th that does give you a little more available light - not much, but a bit.

 

[0druidic0]

Wow thank you very much for your concise answer I know alot more now than I did after watching dozens of youtube videos

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[photo1x1.com]

my pleasure - in case you are looking for more information, consider watching our new youtube photography course. It is short and hopefully well explained. Still a work in progress though.
I came here to this forum to get more info on what information people are searching - beside the obvious. Small depth is one thing I already had on my list and some videos already deal with it.
So you are helping me while I help you - thanks .

 

[0druidic0]

Awesome I subscribed

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[photo1x1.com]

Awesome I subscribed

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Thanks

 

[photo1x1.com]

One thing that just came to my mind: since you are an audio guy: are you recording the audio on a separate device? Because many cameras in the lower price range don´t have a mic input.

 

[0druidic0]

Ahh yes I record externally

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[table1349]

This should fit you bill nicely.
https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HC...nkId=BOXQAU5T5SUSLPPY&creativeASIN=B00RBG5J02