So, my hope was to buy a Canon EOS-M, but the funds required just aren't there right now to make that happen.

So, I have been looking elsewhere and started thinking about some compact cameras. They are fairly cheap now (since no one is even buying them).

My plan is to use it almost exclusively for video. Here are things that I absolutely need:

At least 720p at 60fps
Something around 300mm (35mm equiv) on the long end or more
Must use SD cards

I found the Canon Powershot SX280 and it seems to have a lot of the things I want, but I thought I would reach out on here and see if anyone had any other ideas of where I could go in the "under $200" category.

It looks like this might fit the bill, and it's well under your budget on sale!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1015858-REG/jvc_gz_hm45bus_camcorder_with_optical.html

But the Canon definitely looks nicer... bigger sensor, better processor, etc. I'd probably stick with the Powershot, or save a bit longer for the EOS M.

Yeah, that does certainly work for what I would need it for.

I would love to save up longer and get an EOS-M, but unfortunately I need a second camera by March 29th when my baseball work starts up, so unless someone hits the lottery and hands me some money in the next 2-3 days, it is unfortunately out of my budget. Buying that camera plus the adapter to use my 55-250 on it is just too expensive. Maybe for next year.

Essentially my plan is to have two cameras this year at all of the baseball games I am covering. I am going to have my 7D with my 70-200 2.8 for stills mostly and then a second camera that will be used almost exclusively for video. I really do like the idea of a compact because it is much smaller and would be easy to mount on my 7D hot shoe so I would have video of whatever it was I was planning on shooting images of.

With that said, that JVC is 60 bucks cheaper and it does seem small enough that I could probably also mount it on the hot shoe as well if I wanted to do that.

My local Best Buy has the Powershot in stock, so I am probably going to head up there later and check it out. I am still leaning towards it (and a pack of extra batteries from Amazon for $15) simply because I could probably use it more often overall. The cheaper price of that JVC though is awfully tempting as that extra $60 could be used for several trips in April for my travel budget.

If anyone else has any other small camcorders in mind like 1074 shared, I am also open to looking at those.

Doug,

I unfortunately don't have a compact camera in mind for you (although I also would like to snatch up an EOS M for some video purposes, as well).  However, one thing to keep in mind...make sure you can actually use or convert the file format it uses.  We have a JVC consumer-style camera at work that cost around $1,000 and it's a proprietary file.  It ended up being a waste as we don't have the time to convert formats.  I know sometimes the cameras come with their own software so that my be an option...but, I could only get Toast to convert the JVC files to MOV for our FCP purposes.  IIRC you're on a PC-based system but I'd do some searching on the file formats on any camera you look at.  Just my two cents...because I'm broke too

I hadn't really thought about that too much. That one that 1074 linked to says its mp4, so that shouldn't be an issue with that one at least. I am about to head down to the Colerain Avenue Best Buy and do some browsing. They supposedly have the Powershot in stock, so I am going to give that a look and see what else that they have to offer.

Doug, have you considered a video cam instead?

So the Canon EOS-M may still be in play. I may just put it on a CC and pay it off over the next couple of months.

Don't use a credit card, use Paypal and Bill Me Later! If you pay it off in 6 months, there's no interest. 

Quote from: dougdirt on March 17, 2014, 04:15:50 PM

So the Canon EOS-M may still be in play. I may just put it on a CC and pay it off over the next couple of months.

Don't use a credit card, use Paypal and Bill Me Later! If you pay it off in 6 months, there's no interest. 

Probably a good idea since I do a decent chunk of my business through paypal.....

Speaking of price jumps...the EOS M body only and 22mm kit went up by about $50+ in the last week or so (probably because I'm looking at it). Best way to buy now that I can see is the 18-55 kit from Amazon ($339 prime) and, if you would want it, the 22mm from B&H...white box for $99. Body only at Amazon is now $299...worth the extra $40 for a lens, I think.  If anyone has something better, please shout it out...I may splurge, as well.

I'll put my video from the EOS M up against 7D video any day.

This sold me. I had been searching around all day trying to find an ISO test for video in lower light situations. I think that I shot last year at 5.6-7.1 around 800 ISO as my worst low light settings and it was usable. For game video, I will be using the same settings on the EOS-M. I am going to toss my old 55-250mm on it so I can get close enough. I have been thinking though, should I grab the 22mm or go with the 18-55mm. The 18-55mm covers me on the wide side of things, but the 22mm would be nice to use for night sky photography, which I love but unfortunately haven't been able to do for the last 18 months since my current widest lens is the 50mm 1.8. I could still do it with the 18-55, but getting that extra light with the 22mm would be nice. Decisions decisions.