O/T: Low Light Video Performance: Camcorder vs. DSLR

OffTheMark

Member Joined: Jun 12, 2016 10:39 Messages: 114 Offline

Solved by

Jul 01, 2016 11:19

I know this is off topic to Powerdirector 14, but I could use your help.

Will a Camcorder or a DSLR with an APS-C sized sensor provide better low light image quality?

By low light, I mean around ISO 3,200 to about ISO 12,800 in terms of a DSLR ISO (I don't know what that corresponds to in terms of gain for a camcorder). Will be shooting indoors inside houses with the curtians open and with the ceiling lights and lamps on.

This is qhat I am trying to accomplish:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/135481663?byline=0&portrait=0

I will be uploading 1080p to Vimeo and youtube.

My budget is around $2,000 US.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to add lighting, so all lighting will simply be from ambient light.

A few people I have spoken with said that a camcorder would be better for low light, but when I asked the people at B and H (one of the largest camera and video retailers here in the USA), one of their product support people wrote back this:

"A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a full frame sensor will be better in low light. The larger the sensor the larger the pixels. This makes a huge difference when shooting at high ISOs."

Larry C
B&H Photo Video and Pro Audio

Again, I would unfortunately NOT be able to add suplimentary lighting. (There is no budget for it in terms of time nor income, since I would only be making potentially one or two hundred dollars for a one-minute video. )

The DSLR I am intending to use for low light is the Sony a6300 which has the XAVC-S codec at 50 or 100 Mbs and has Slog 2 and slog 3 profiles.

Thanks in advance.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Jul 01. 2016 12:57

Maliek

Senior Contributor Location: San Antonio, Texas USA Joined: Nov 10, 2012 12:01 Messages: 851 Offline

Jul 01, 2016 12:46

In most cases I would agree with Larry C.

A DSLR or mirrorless camera (like the a6300) will capture a better low light image than a camcorder. It truly depends on what camcorder you are referring to. If you are comparing a low light image from the Sony FS7 to the a6300 you may produce the same image quality (or close to it) in low light situations.

You can see many low light test/comparisons to the a6300 on YouTube. If you know what camcorder you are looking to compare to your a6300 look it up on YouTube and view the results.

If you already have the camcorder it really boils down to which tool is best for the job. To find out, do some test shots and see which results you like best. Make sure that your white balance, exposure, shutter speed, and ISO (gain on your camcorder) are at the same settings or as close as possible when you do your comparison.

Good luck.

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OffTheMark

Member Joined: Jun 12, 2016 10:39 Messages: 114 Offline

Jul 01, 2016 12:50

@ Maliek:

Thanks so much for the response.

No, I don't have a camcorder yet. just the sony a6300, and I have a few days left to return it to KEH, if I decide to keep it.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Jul 01. 2016 12:54

ynotfish

Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Online

Jul 01, 2016 16:33

Hi OffTheMark -

With the right lens, and a stabilising rig, I'd suggest the a6300, would do a fine job of shooting your internal walk throughs.

Here's an interesting video test, partly shot with an a6300 (~$1000 + lens) & partly with an FS7 (~$10000 + lens) - https://vimeo.com/159319826 - the video is private so you need to use this password - rje. It's tricky to work out what was shot with what!

I don't own one (a6300) but I've only read good things about it. I've seen repeatedly that rolling shutter/jello is far more pronounced shooting in "4K" than 1080. Worth considering & testing, especially for your purpose.

Cheers - Tony
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Longedge

Senior Contributor Joined: Apr 28, 2011 15:38 Messages: 1504 Offline

Jul 01, 2016 17:29

Quote: With the right lens

Absolutely!! Sony do some nice f1.8 prime lenses at reasonable prices if you don't need zoom.

SoNic67

Senior Contributor Joined: Sep 27, 2014 14:14 Messages: 1308 Offline

Jul 01, 2016 19:03

You divide the surface area or the sensor with the number of pixels and you get the pixel size. A FF camera might have smaller pixels than a 1" camcorder, depending of the pixel count. Larger pixels usually mean better low light performance - altough the BSI type ones have an advantage from construction.

Good sites of camera review are http://www.dpreview.com/ or http://www.dxomark.com/

In there you will find low light performance tests too.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Jul 01. 2016 19:06

OffTheMark

Member Joined: Jun 12, 2016 10:39 Messages: 114 Offline

Jul 01, 2016 20:06

@ ynotfish:

Thanks for the input and for the link to the video.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Jul 01. 2016 20:06

BarryTheCrab

Senior Contributor Location: USA Joined: Nov 06, 2008 22:18 Messages: 6240 Offline

Jul 02, 2016 12:23

The only thing I might add is simply an opinion. Video cameras are designed to shoot video, and therefore may well be easier to use than a DSLR or Mirrorless. But you already have your camera, and by all accounts, a good one so stick with it, but learn it well, be familiar with all those settings, and what works in Photos may not work for Moving Images.
In a somewhat related item, my Canon M40 and 41 have a 1/3" CMOS with very large pixels, exactly enough for Full HD, and it does quite well in dim lighting, as designed, but both Camcorders and Cameras depend on being used properly for maximum quality. HP Envy Phoenix/4thGen i7-4770(4@3.4GHz~turbo>3.9)
Nvidia GTX 960(4GB)/16GB DDR3/
Canon Vixia HV30/HF-M40/HF-M41/HF-G20/Olympus E-PL5.
Tape capture using 6 VCR, TBC-1000, Elite BVP4+, Sony D8 camcorder with TBC.
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Maliek

Senior Contributor Location: San Antonio, Texas USA Joined: Nov 10, 2012 12:01 Messages: 851 Offline

Jul 03, 2016 11:13

Great advice @ynotfish & @BarryTheCrab. Subscribe to PowerDirector University on YouTube.

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