Geekazine

Geekazine


Video Gear Roundup for CES 2020 and More

December 22, 2019

I still remember the awesome gear I brought to my first CES. It was an off-brand flip camera with adjustable screen. It could do 108p 30fps, and I modded it to accept a external microphone.

It wasn’t the prettiest mod I’ve ever done, but it worked.

From there, I was a big fan of the Kodak handhelds, but all of our main content was on big cameras. For some reason, you weren’t taken too seriously if you were recording from a smaller device. Yet, 3 of my handheld camera interviews got more views than from the big 3 CCD camera – and it was heavy to haul around that show floor.

Earlier this year, I found gear that was not only smaller, it was also better than those cameras of the past. And with the right software, I can do more with these smaller cameras than with the handheld, or even iPhone.

Don’t get me wrong – The Sony Handicam will be with me in some capacity. But it will be out sparingly as I am opting for the smaller cameras. But let’s start with that one…

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Sony FDR-AX700 4K HDR Camcorder

This is a great camera to have. It does 4K 30fps, and can adjust to any situation. The biggest advantage over any other camera in my arsenal is it’s optical zoom, and fully manual focus (iris, shutterspeed).

Last year, I was out on the auto track, and it did a great job getting some of the car details that my other cameras just wouldn’t be able to get.

It does have a bigger price tag, but it’s a durable device. It even got knocked over, and the steel cage protected it from smashing into pieces.

For $1,699, it’s a bit expensive, but I’ve made my money on this camera time and time again. Get the Sony FDR-AX700 (Amazon) – AX700 at Best Buy – Sony AX700 at B&H.

DJI Osmo Pocket

I saw this camera last year at CES, and had to have it. It was problematic at first, so I only used it for select B-Roll, and timelapse video.

With firmware updates, it became a lot better. The most recent one helps with face tracking and focus, making this a lot more useable for interviews.

I can attach the 3.5 mm adapter onto the bottom, and connect my wireless microphones, or a boom mic to get more focused sound.

But the coup de grace is the Osmo Pocket Extension Rod holder. This allows me to walk around while recording. It holds the microphone, or a light to make the shot even better. It also has the controls at my thumb so I can move the camera around easily.

Only downfall is that it doesn’t have a replaceable battery. I have to make sure this device is charging when I’m not recording.

The Osmo Pocket is $272 on Amazon – or