best camera/video recorder under $1000

[jdo2110]

Hello All,

So our due date for our first little baby is coming quickly. Wife has decided that she wants a nice

camera. I have NO idea where to begin on that! So I want something that can do both as mentioned

above. My concern (and I will continue to research) is my assumption that video time takes up a lot of memory... is that correct? So lets say I am on vacation with a new camera and I want video AND photo, how do I ensure enough space? If you would please share suggestions on good cameras and some use tips, I would appreciate it. I'm a bit behind the times when it comes to tech stuff.
Thank You,

JD

[Overproof]

Maybe look into an entry level canon or Nikon DSLR and large SD card.

I still take my Canon 550D on holidays, shoot vid and take pics with the kit lens that has an Image stabilization with it. Goes great in the day but not so good in low light. I have other lenses for that.

In saying that though, technology with the lenses in smart phones are becoming so much more advanced that buying a point and shoot seems obsolete..You either see people taking photos with a DSLR camera or with a phone....I find I can be a little bit more creative on the fly with a DSLR, especially with video anyway.

Hopefully you get some more responses on here. I'm sure there are many on this board with wealth of knowledge on this topic.

Enjoy the time with your new born!

[CBL]

I use a DSLR (Canon 600D/Rebel T3i) for my photography and filming, but recently added a Canon S110 for video which is absolutely perfect, especially considering the price. It's tiny and incredibly fast and shoots great handheld and in low light situations.

I shot some footage during the 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam and edited to share with my friends, the video covers a wide variety of situations (link)

I'd suggest getting the S110 (or S120, which is a little more expensive but also slightly better) and maybe a good DSLR on the side. My experience is that most people will watch home-movies once every couple of years on special occasions, but good pictures can be viewed at anytime.

If you get a DSLR, get a fast F/1.8 prime lens (50mm is ideal and dirt cheap for Canon, 85mm is great for portraits) when your kid starts running around, a fast lens will be able to capture all that in low light plus you can use those lenses to film on a tripod (no image stabilization, so filming handheld will look shaky).

I'm not a fan of camcorders as the format a lot of them save videos as is hard to edit. They need to be deinterlaced and converted before I can upload them into editing software. The image quality is great, but the extra work causes the files to sit on my computer, unedited and therefore unwatched.

[Firebender]

+1 for Canon 50mm F/1.8 prime lens. Awesome indoor pictures.

Canon DSLR gives you pictures with more vibrant colors, and is better for family pictures.

Portability with big DSLR camera is a big issue. New micro four thirds lens cameras are smaller, but takes nice pictures and videos like bigger DSLR cameras..

[tmac77]

I use the Sony mirror-less A6000 combines the features of a DSLR with the convenience of portability.