PAX 2009 Prep: Best Camera?

MJPM

Ok, so I've been to PAX 2007 and 2008. The first time, I had like a 2 MP cellphone camera with video. Didn't really get too much in terms of good shots. This year, I had a Kodak Easy Share 8.2 MP (sucked) and a Flip Mino (did the job, but no real zoom). Got decent video, but neither had the zoom and resolution I needed for decent PAX videos...

So, what is the best slightly more expensive than bargain priced camera with great video and picture taking ability? I want to be ready this time!

TimeCruiserMike

this is what i had with me this year
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-PV-GS500-Camcorder-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B000DZFUIO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220816207&sr=8-1

got it for about $700 at some small online retailer.

i highly recomend it

Nijhazer

Do you want a camera that also does video, or a camcorder that also takes pictures?

MJPM

Either. I mostly want to take video that doesn't suck and can be easily uploaded to my computer (so preferably digital).

Schrodinger

Honestly, if you're goal is to be prepared for the next PAX, then you might as well wait, at least until the Christmas season is over.

Technology gets better/cheaper over time.

Hicks

You could bring the same camera as my roamer next year and be camera buddies!

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XL-H1-Definition-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B000B6D2SU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220827246&sr=8-2

Although that doesen't have the wide angle lens, mic boom, etc. But you get the jist.

BrennaCeDria

Okay, subtopic: Best value camera, cause while mine works fine technically, during this trip I noticed that it's become way too sensitive to the slightest hand-jiggle, and my normal-people pictures came out worse than usual. Video is nice but not needed; if it does have video, though, I need one with a mic cause my current camera has no sound at all.

mentok1982

Get the Mark II as seen in Metal Gear Solid 4. It cloaks itself and follows you around in complete silence.

Also, if an enforcer tells you that the panel you want to view is full you can use the Mark II to shock them
and bring them down.

Poseidon88

If your priority is video, you should be looking at camcorders. In my experience, video from a camera that is designed primarily for still photography is pretty much shit. It's acceptable if you just want to grab a quick clip of your kids playing in the yard. But as soon as conditions become less than ideal, you're going to need something that can compensate accordingly, and you won't find that in a still camera. Still and video have very different requirements in terms of lens and sensor resolution/speed. And if you want decent audio with your video, you need to look at something that allows use of an external microphone.

The same goes the other way, video cameras do a crappy job of taking still shots. The best still camera for a venue like PAX is a DSLR, which can give decent quality images in a low-light setting. Compact cameras have a hard time focusing and metering in those conditions, and their sensors create noisy images when you boost the sensitivity (ISO setting).