What is the best video camera for less than $300?

What is the best digital video camera in the $300-$500 price range to shoot 1-1.5 hour interviews?

• I have been using DSLR, but it has issues with overheating and limit on the duration of non-stop video recording. What camcoder would be best fitted for the purpose? I am looking at GoPro Hero3 Black, Panasonic HC-V520, Canon VIXIA HF R40 and others.

• Answer:

  I can't give you a definitive recommendation, but here's some factors to keep in mind: Any camera you get in the $500-and-under category will likely have some significant compromises in both image quality and features. In order to make the best decision, you have to decide which compromises you can live with, and what features you absolutely need. The GoPro and other "action cameras" have a fixed, wide-angle lens, and most don't have an ability to see what you're getting while shooting without buying a seperate screen attachment. Since you've been shooting with a DSLR, I assume you already have a separate sound recorder and mic? If not, look for a camera with a consumer mic input, and try using a cheap lavalier mic like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-3350-Omnidirectional-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B002HJ9PTO/ref=sr_1_1/192-7272360-5899309?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1389905435&sr=1-1&keywords=lavalier+microphone that you can get off Amazon for around $30. Clip the mic in place close to the interviewee's mouth, try to hide the cord if possible, then monitor/manually adjust the levels to make sure they're both loud enough and not clipping, and realize that you might have to do some audio noise-reduction in post. If the camera you get doesn't support an external mic (or it's mic input doesn't work for some reason), you can also bring along a laptop and record at the same time via the above-mentioned lav mic plugged into the laptop's mic input (and a copy of Audacity or similar decent audio recording/editing program). Remember to record at the same settings as the audio on your camera (generally 16-bit, 48khz, but double-check). Try to start recording on both the laptop and your camera at close to the same time, and do a basic audio "slate" with a clap (or similar quick, distinctive noise) so you can use the waveform to sync both audio tracks visually in post (or get a copy of Pluraleyes). Get plenty of light on your subject, as most cameras in the price range you suggest have really tiny sensors that are not great in low-light conditions. However, also make sure that the lighting is not too high-contrast or overexposed, because the sensors in consumer camcorders also will likely have less dynamic range than your DSLR's sensor. If you've been using auto-focus, don't. If you've been using auto-iris/shutter in a fixed lighting environment, don't. If you've been using auto-level adjustment for audio, don't (unless you have a subject who varies their speaking volume drastically). If the camera will let you set a custom white balance, try to do so, otherwise pick the closest white balance preset to your lighting conditions - unless the closest preset is so far off that it's distracting. Other than that, check reviews on Amazon, Newegg, and B&H, look on YouTube or Vimeo for sample footage, and good luck.