Unlock the Power of Captivating Visuals: Why a Video Camcorder Remains the Top Choice for Photographers in 2024

In this special feature Vol. 01, Hidetoshi Oka published “Why do professionals choose camcorders?” aimed at young photographers. The content made me realize once again how important it is to have the lens controls of focus, zoom, and iris all under my control using the triple ring. Therefore, in Vol.03, we will go back to the basics and explain the importance of a camcorder with the theme of “Why do we need a video camcorder?”

Divided into “depiction that blurs the background” and “depiction of the entire screen clearly”

First of all, it is a well-known fact that today’s video equipment can be roughly divided into those that are good at blurring the background and making the subject stand out, such as digital cinema cameras and mirrorless photo cameras, and those that are good at blurring the background and highlighting the subject, and The following sensors can be divided into those that depict the entire screen relatively clearly.

This time I will be thinking about “why video camcorders are in demand now”, but to begin with, I feel uncomfortable with this expression. This is because the situation where the next generation of video camcorders are highly anticipated is not new. When it was announced that production of Sony’s HXR-NX5 series, which had been by storm for a while, was announced to be discontinued, the industry was shaken. At the same time, there are probably many photographers who remember searching for this series on the used market.

So why are so many photographers looking forward to video camcorders while mirrorless cameras and cinema cameras are sweeping the industry?

This time, let’s focus on two points: “differences in images” and “differences in shape” and organize them.

Differences in images

As mentioned at the beginning, many cinema cameras and mirrorless photo cameras are equipped with sensors with an area of ​​more than 1 inch, such as Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, and 35mm full-frame.

This is natural, since the casing is designed to be used with cinema lenses and photo lenses. On the other hand, taking the HXR-NX5 series as an example, the size of the installed sensor is approximately 1/3 inch.

An example of a 35mm full size machine. The photo shows Sony FX3

Sony Z200 with 1 inch sensor

This difference in sensor size has a large effect on the “width of expression”. A typical example is the degree of blur in the background.

Unless a special lens is used, the larger the sensor size, the narrower the area in focus on the screen, resulting in what is known as a “shallow depth of field.”

This shallow depth of field is effective when you want to capture impressive images by deforming the subject, such as in movies or commercials.

On the other hand, when many performers appear on the screen at the same time, such as in “Hinadan” seen on variety shows, or when you do not want to depict incidents or accidents in a dramatic manner, you may want to shoot with a deep depth of field. .

Example image of 1/3 inch sensor

Example image of 35mm full-frame sensor

Of course, it is possible to deepen the depth of field to some extent by increasing the F value with a cinema camera that is resistant to low light, but it may require the use of extra gear such as a high-density ND filter, or a small aperture. It takes a lot of effort, such as having to be careful about “blurring”.

In such situations, it is more effective to use a video camcorder with a small sensor size and shoot with pan focus.

Also, when you want to use a high-power zoom for sports photography, etc., a camera with a small sensor size is advantageous.

It is not uncommon for video camcorders to have a zoom range of 10x or 20x from the wide end to the telephoto end, but the larger the sensor, the more difficult it is to achieve this zoom range.

For example, there is a lens called “70-200mm” among the three major zoom photo lenses, but when combined with a camera equipped with a 35mm full-frame sensor, even a lens of that size can only provide a zoom of less than 3x. I can’t.

Naturally, handheld shooting becomes difficult, so you have to prepare a suitable tripod and camera head, and you also lose your mobility.

If you were to record a video of your child’s sports day, imagine how many telephoto lenses you would need if you wanted to get close enough to see the child’s facial expressions.

I brought a lens like an astronomical telescope and had to constantly control the focus in a shallow depth of field.

Difference in shape

Also, when considering handheld shooting, there is a crucial difference in the shape of mirrorless photo cameras and video camcorders.

In both types of general cameras, the grip for holding the camera is on the right hand side.

With mirrorless photo cameras, you hold the grip from the side and press the REC button with your index finger, whereas with many video camcorders you grip it from the bottom and press the REC button with your thumb.

This greatly affects the stability of the camera during shooting.

In the case of a video camcorder that is supported by inserting a hand from below, even if the thumb is lifted above the camera for REC operations, there is relatively little strain on the other fingers.

However, in the case of photo devices where the camera is held from the side, removing the index finger from the camera to perform REC operations significantly increases the strain on the middle, ring, and pinky fingers.

Still, it may not be a problem if you are shooting a moment of stillness like taking a photo or a short cut in a video shoot, but if you shoot for a long time, the fatigue will definitely accumulate in your arms and fingers. .

As a result, there are many cases where the camera shakes during recording and people feel tired after shooting.

In this way, even in the form of a video camcorder, we strive to maximize effectiveness with minimal effort.

Up to this point, we have considered why video camcorders are so eagerly awaited, but I would like to reiterate that the aforementioned differences do not determine the superiority or inferiority of a camera.

Of course, the worldview depicted by a cinema camera or mirrorless photo device is often not possible with a video camcorder, and there are many scenes that require a cinema-like or film-like texture.

In short, it is important to know the functions and characteristics of each type of equipment in order to select the correct equipment according to the images you want to shoot and the functions you require.