(Pocket-lint) - Conventional digital camera makers are capturing to win in an increasing market sector: vlogging cameras. The place YouTube is king, extra makers are in search of higher methods to seize themselves and their environment in higher high quality.
We choose three of one of the best choices on the market - the Panasonic Lumix G100, Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1, and Canon Powershot G7 X III - that can assist you determine which makes greatest sense to purchase and why.
squirrel_widget_5694978
Measurement & Portability
- Panasonic Lumix G100: 115.6 x 82.5 x 54.2mm; 412g (with 12-42mm lens)
- Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1: 105.5 x 60 x 43.5mm; 294g
- Canon PowerShot G7 X M3: 105.5 x 60.9 x 41.4mm; 304g
Small is usually mightiest. Whereas all three of those cameras are small, it is the Sony that may really feel lightest and most moveable. There’s not an enormous quantity in it although.
Sensor Measurement & Lens
- Panasonic Lumix G100
- Sensor: 20MP Micro 4 Thirds
- Lens: Interchangeable lens mount
- 12-32mm equipment lens (24-64mm equal)
- Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1
- Sensor: 20MP 1.0-inch Exmor RS CMOS
- Lens: 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 equal
- Canon PowerShot G7 X M3
- Sensor: 20.1MP 1.0-inch stacked CMOS
- Lens: 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 equal
Nevertheless, there is a large motive for the variance in measurement: sensor measurement and every lens’ focal size.
Each Sony and Canon fashions have fixed-in-place zoom lenses, whereas Panasonic’s G100 is a system digital camera with interchangeable Micro 4 Thirds lenses - which makes it doubtlessly rather more versatile (and a bit bigger and heavier by comparability).
All three of those cameras home sensors which might be bigger than an entry-level compact, which bodes effectively for high quality. The Sony and Canon each use stacked 1-inch measurement CMOS sensors. The Panasonic has the bigger scale sensor, nonetheless, which should imply larger potential in the case of background blur (bokeh) and general high quality.
The equipment Panasonic G100 comes with a 12-32mm pancake zoom - which delivers a 24-64mm equal zoom. That is the identical on the wide-angle because the 24-70mm of the Sony ZV-1 and the 24-100mm of the Canon G7 X III. Word that the Canon can zoom the furthest - i.e. make farther away topics look closer-up within the body.
Audio, Mic Enter
- Panasonic Lumix G100: OZO Audio by Nokia (audio monitoring / positioning), 3.5mm mic enter, micro HDMI out
- Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1: 3.5mm mic enter, micro HDMI out, deadcat wind-shield included
- Canon PowerShot G7 X M3: 3.5mm mic enter, micro HDMI out
A giant motive to purchase a devoted digital camera for video is for its audio talents. All three of those cameras supply a 3.5mm microphone enter, so you possibly can join an adjunct microphone as you please - whether or not that is a directional shotgun mic, a wi-fi mounted mic, or another variety of potentialities.
Nevertheless, you will not essentially at all times wish to use a microphone. It is right here that Sony comes up trumps by together with what’s known as a deadcat within the field - a fluffy microphone cowl that sits up high and stops wind noise from creating these ‘tearing’ sounds.
Essentially the most superior of the lot, nonetheless, is Panasonic’s Lumix G100. For the primary time in a digital camera this contains OZO Audio by Nokia, which utilises the three onboard microphones to file in a directional format - you possibly can outline whether or not you need behind, in entrance, or subject-tracked to be sound supply remoted. That is the true large winner: the system’s autofocus contains face detection which may be audio synched, in order the topic strikes by way of the body the OZO tech will use the fitting proportion of microphones to channel that audio isolation. Very intelligent.
squirrel_widget_254445
Display screen & Viewfinder
- Panasonic Lumix G100: 3-inch 1,840k-dot vari-angle touchscreen LCD; built-in 3,680k-dot EVF
- Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1: 3-inch 921k-dot vari-angle touchscreen LCD; no EVF
- Canon PowerShot G7 X M3: 3-inch 1,040k-dot vertical tilt-angle touchscreen LCD; no EVF
Conventional cameras aren’t nice for vlogging on account of their mounted screens. All three of those cameras, nonetheless, supply mounted LCD screens that may be repositioned: the Canon’s flips ahead vertically; the Sony’s and Panasonic’s are side-mounted and due to this fact supply much more versatile positioning potential.
When it comes to display screen decision the Panasonic is way and away probably the most resolute - though at arm’s size we doubt you may discover an enormous distinction on this, and really extra dots on display screen is simply extra of a battery drain.
Of the three cameras solely the Panasonic has a built-in digital viewfinder (EVF). That is extra for capturing nonetheless pictures or shielding from daylight to higher choose publicity and composiiton - so definitely has its use circumstances.
Video Credentials
- All fashions: As much as 4K at 30fps
- Panasonic: As much as 9mins 59secs
- Sony: As much as 5mins to keep away from overheating
- Canon: As much as 9mins 59secs
- Panasonic Lumix G100: 1080p at 60fps (29m 59s most)
- Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1: 1080p at 120fps (29m 59s most)
- Canon PowerShot G7 X M3: 1080p at 120fps (29m 59s most)
Being vlogging focused, all three cameras cater for 4K decision at 30fps most (and with 100Mbps in all circumstances, making certain there’s sufficient knowledge for optimum high quality). Nevertheless, the Sony can solely file for half the time in comparison with the opposite two to keep away from overheating - and even then the Canon and Panasonic max out at 10 minutes at this decision.
When you’re in search of Full HD recording to up your recording time, save on bandwidth, space for storing, and enhancing processing pressures then all three cameras can cater for 1080p too.
Gradual-motion is greatest dealt with by the Sony, with Full HD at 240fps/480fps/960fps accessible. The Canon provides 120fps slow-motion. The Panasonic’s spec sheet says 120fps sensor output is feasible too - however that in-camera seize is 60fps.
Stabilisation
- Panasonic Lumix G100: 5-axis hybrid stabilisation (4-axis for 4K video)
- Sony Vlog Digicam ZV-1: Steadyshot for Film hybrid stabilisation
- Canon PowerShot G7 X M3: 5-axis Superior Dynamic IS & Auto Stage
Stabilisation is necessary in the case of video. Though you could want to purchase a handheld gimbal for further stabilisation for these ultra-smooth video outcomes.
All three cameras supply hybrid stabilisation methods - that is to say there’s optical lens-shift working in tandem with digital stabilisation (utilizing a portion of the sensor as a buffer to counter movement). We have not examined these three facet by facet so cannot say which is better of the bunch.
squirrel_widget_160674
Conclusion
The large query: which one to decide on? Nicely, if value comes into the equation then the Sony is the priciest of the lot. That is likely to be a little bit of a shock when the Panasonic provides a extra superior audio isolation system, has a bigger sensor measurement, and interchangeable lenses.
If measurement is your largest concern then the Sony is the lightest of the bunch, which helps by way of portability. It is also obtained probably the most muscle in the case of slow-motion choices - though its 4K seize is extra time-limited than the opposite two.
The choice, as they are saying, is yours.
Writing by Mike Lowe.
Source link