Hello all,
I'm trying to figure out what compact would work best for underwater video only.
I've been looking at specs, reading reviews and feedback here (thanks again EvilOtter) and also wherever else I could find them, including for older RX100 models - watching side by side videos and uw clips I could find, but unfortunately the mass of contradictory information found online is still a little more confusing.
To summarise what I'm looking for: I'm only interested in a compact for shooting underwater video clips only, not stills.
I'd shoot in 1080 and/or up to 4k, 24/30 to 60 fps - mainly with shallow ambient light in the tropics - and mainly wide angle general reef scences, with a red filter (primary)
and less commonly with lights for macro/closeups (secondary) -
I don't really care much for slow-motion.
As a side-note I'm well aware of the limitations but have decided to focus on on compact-sized cameras for now for practical reasons,
- mainly to have something with manual controls and of reasonable size to work with for a couple of years before eventually upgrading to something bigger and more efficient like a dedicated camcorder or mirrorless.
Main points of interest to me:
• white balance for video
in camera white balance (I'm partial to Lumix cameras on this), possibility to do a manual white balance, possibility to shoot in a flat profile to white balance in post (I don't think there is a compact capable of shooting raw video, but a flat/ flatter profile option would be very useful)
• low-light capacities for video
how efficient is the video in lower light conditions - ie how will the camera handle darker days, going a little deeper, say with a red filter, what are the manual options
• efficient video autofocus
how good is the autofocus when shooting video - some cameras (LX series) have touch screen focus controls to set focus, but this is not really a practical option in a housing. How good is the camera at tracking in the sort of environment we shoot in underwater etc...
• video image quality
how defined is the video image, dynamic range etc - these compact cameras come with 2 sensor size options, four thirds for the LX100 ii and 1" for the others, but it's not clear what really works best due to cropping, processing etc Not a major difference in apertures for these cameras, but there might be something to lookout for in lens quality
• video stabilisation
these compact cameras offer 2 types, lens and in camera - the RX100 seems to have a slight edge on this
• battery life
how does the battery hold when shooting video - I've heard that the RX series drains batteries very quickly when shooting 4k videos this is less of an issue on land, but underwater and in housing, for one hour dives shooting short clips, more so
• overheating when shooting video?
I've heard this is/was a major issues when shooting video on the Sony RX series.
I shoot to edit 10 to 30 seconds clips, might go up to 1 minute for very specific reasons but not beyond, so a 5 minute cap like the RX100's 4k mode doesn't bother me for instance
however the camera will indeed be used for underwater video only, in a housing, so really
not very practical if it overheats easily
---------
As mentioned in the title, I've narrowed down the search to 3 classic compacts:
• Sony RX100 V or VI / VII
• Lumix LX100 ii
• Lumix LX 10
But I'm open to other recommendations for good video cameras of of similar size.
I am quite partial to the Lumix series, have seen some good really good and helpful feedback here (thanks again), but have been reading contradicting information on video performance, especially when compared to the RX series.
It doesn't really help that most of the video info found elsewhere online is focused on vloggers shooting in very different conditions from what we would find underwater, and that most commercial showreels focus on closeup scenes with a great light rig, which is not what i'll be using the camera for most of the time, and that they hardly go into white balancing
Some info i've picked up along the way on these cameras:
The older Panasonic LX10 seems to have focusing issues, and stabilisation is not great.
The Sony RX line (V, VI, VII....) is also very interesting, but I have heard of the overheating issues, which seems to be a common problem for other users shooting video.
Since I'll be using this camera for video only, this does seem like a major problem.
Not clear if this is major issue really fixed with the RX100 VII - found tests saying that it is, others that it isn't... Apparently in a studio, 40 minutes of continuous shooting is possible, but not sure how this would translate inside a housing.
RX100 battery life is also supposed to be quite dismal when shooting video, again not great underwater, and not sure what to make of its white balance options.
The Panasonic LX100 ii seems like a good alternative without the overheating issues and with better battery management, but what of autofocus, low light and image quality? it's also not clear how its bigger sensor really performs
-------
Beyond dry camera specs, it would be fantastic if people with real-life underwater video experience with these cameras could give opinions to help me make a more informed decision on which compact to get for shooting uw video clips
Thanks in advance for your help and pointers
cheers
ben
I'm trying to figure out what compact would work best for underwater video only.
I've been looking at specs, reading reviews and feedback here (thanks again EvilOtter) and also wherever else I could find them, including for older RX100 models - watching side by side videos and uw clips I could find, but unfortunately the mass of contradictory information found online is still a little more confusing.
To summarise what I'm looking for: I'm only interested in a compact for shooting underwater video clips only, not stills.
I'd shoot in 1080 and/or up to 4k, 24/30 to 60 fps - mainly with shallow ambient light in the tropics - and mainly wide angle general reef scences, with a red filter (primary)
and less commonly with lights for macro/closeups (secondary) -
I don't really care much for slow-motion.
As a side-note I'm well aware of the limitations but have decided to focus on on compact-sized cameras for now for practical reasons,
- mainly to have something with manual controls and of reasonable size to work with for a couple of years before eventually upgrading to something bigger and more efficient like a dedicated camcorder or mirrorless.
Main points of interest to me:
• white balance for video
in camera white balance (I'm partial to Lumix cameras on this), possibility to do a manual white balance, possibility to shoot in a flat profile to white balance in post (I don't think there is a compact capable of shooting raw video, but a flat/ flatter profile option would be very useful)
• low-light capacities for video
how efficient is the video in lower light conditions - ie how will the camera handle darker days, going a little deeper, say with a red filter, what are the manual options
• efficient video autofocus
how good is the autofocus when shooting video - some cameras (LX series) have touch screen focus controls to set focus, but this is not really a practical option in a housing. How good is the camera at tracking in the sort of environment we shoot in underwater etc...
• video image quality
how defined is the video image, dynamic range etc - these compact cameras come with 2 sensor size options, four thirds for the LX100 ii and 1" for the others, but it's not clear what really works best due to cropping, processing etc Not a major difference in apertures for these cameras, but there might be something to lookout for in lens quality
• video stabilisation
these compact cameras offer 2 types, lens and in camera - the RX100 seems to have a slight edge on this
• battery life
how does the battery hold when shooting video - I've heard that the RX series drains batteries very quickly when shooting 4k videos this is less of an issue on land, but underwater and in housing, for one hour dives shooting short clips, more so
• overheating when shooting video?
I've heard this is/was a major issues when shooting video on the Sony RX series.
I shoot to edit 10 to 30 seconds clips, might go up to 1 minute for very specific reasons but not beyond, so a 5 minute cap like the RX100's 4k mode doesn't bother me for instance
however the camera will indeed be used for underwater video only, in a housing, so really
not very practical if it overheats easily
---------
As mentioned in the title, I've narrowed down the search to 3 classic compacts:
• Sony RX100 V or VI / VII
• Lumix LX100 ii
• Lumix LX 10
But I'm open to other recommendations for good video cameras of of similar size.
I am quite partial to the Lumix series, have seen some good really good and helpful feedback here (thanks again), but have been reading contradicting information on video performance, especially when compared to the RX series.
It doesn't really help that most of the video info found elsewhere online is focused on vloggers shooting in very different conditions from what we would find underwater, and that most commercial showreels focus on closeup scenes with a great light rig, which is not what i'll be using the camera for most of the time, and that they hardly go into white balancing
Some info i've picked up along the way on these cameras:
The older Panasonic LX10 seems to have focusing issues, and stabilisation is not great.
The Sony RX line (V, VI, VII....) is also very interesting, but I have heard of the overheating issues, which seems to be a common problem for other users shooting video.
Since I'll be using this camera for video only, this does seem like a major problem.
Not clear if this is major issue really fixed with the RX100 VII - found tests saying that it is, others that it isn't... Apparently in a studio, 40 minutes of continuous shooting is possible, but not sure how this would translate inside a housing.
RX100 battery life is also supposed to be quite dismal when shooting video, again not great underwater, and not sure what to make of its white balance options.
The Panasonic LX100 ii seems like a good alternative without the overheating issues and with better battery management, but what of autofocus, low light and image quality? it's also not clear how its bigger sensor really performs
-------
Beyond dry camera specs, it would be fantastic if people with real-life underwater video experience with these cameras could give opinions to help me make a more informed decision on which compact to get for shooting uw video clips
Thanks in advance for your help and pointers
cheers
ben
