What's the Best Cheap Video Camera? (Under $250)

Testing out the best cheap cameras for filmmaking on a budget smaller than a DSLR.

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Host and Creator - Simon Cade
Assistant Editor - Jamie McKernan

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[Hivybivy]

Seeing many famous YouTubers recommend thousand-dollar filmmaking kits to beginners who just want to start filmmaking is disheartening because it IS ultimately about the story, and not the specs of your tech. Thanks for a real, low-budget camera showdown that was insightful and fun to watch. Looking forward to your short film!

[rithofaharian]

Stories is more important than quality of the camera. Thanks, mate.

[nicpachunka]

What's a headphone jack? I've never heard of that before... Haha!

-An iPhone 7 Plus Owner

[samhh]

Really phenomenal. This video really shows how you're using this channel not just as a "guide" (as the name implies), but also as a documentation of your creative processes and experimentation with film. Very inspiring to see someone who is devoted and motivated to engaging with film as a creative outlet, especially as an fellow film student. Can't wait to see what comes next.

[frostfreerunning]

is your house the house from harry potter 3 ?

[ColinBloodworth]

I always appreciate the way you're able to, like you say, tell a story, even in videos like this. It's meant a ton to me in my own journey of creating. While neither of our channels is much a like, I started watching you long a go and realized how the story is king. Another great video, Simon.

[followtheboat]

Just a general comment from another Brit on how great your channel is. Love your matter-of-fact, no-nonsense, honest style. Keep up the great content, it's clearly helping a lot of people. And Merry Christmas to you!

[TheGroovyGuitarDude]

Dude I was just looking for a cheap camera option, thanks for posting this!

[DSLRguide]

if you want to use the music in this episode, here are the tracks (10% discount link)
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[pgwrks]

M8, you're one of the (if not THE) most informative film makers on youtube. We appreciate you.

[CinematographyDatabase]

you are a bloody mad man and I love it, looking forward to the short <3

[timespace.productions]

I love the downscaling-concept. Film Riot, Fenschel & Janisch, & Phillip Bloom have all outpriced me in recent years. I'm not a commercial-artist, so I appreciate the "no-budget" folk-cinema approach to quality-content.

[audieliem]

Great Idea to Film with that old old camera!
Here's my conclusion of the topic based off your video: Just use your smartphone until you learned more techniques and how to storytell while saving money bit by bit, and when you start to outgrown the smartphone camera - get at least a midrange camera so you wouldn't waste money on cameras that are only marginally better than the one that you already have

[RafaelFlexor]

ok man, that plot twist was amazing!! it is really easy for us creative people to get caught up in technical stuff and take the focus out of the core and soul of our craft. and you are always telling us that in your videos, but the way you showed it in this one was just amazing. the way you made me (and probably everyone) get into that scientific mindset just to later tell us "HEY!! none of this really matters" was really powerful and helped me to take the focus back to what's truly important. Thank you so much, your videos are gems!!

[mandy]

I recently had a similar conversation with someone about a small project they wanted to do, but had no budget, and I advised them to use their smart phone and an external mic if they needed it.

Lovely to meet you briefly at YouTube the other day!

[janis_dropin]

i seriously love the distinctive authentic cheap shitty look from cheap cameras that you can never truly replicate with expensive cameras. i'm looking forward to your next short film simon, and cheers to storytelling🍻

[sammtetwa]

This helped me out a lot to create my recent short film! Thanks Simon!

[oldhbruna]

Loved the twist at the end. Good video and subjetct!

[AshtonZee]

I wish you would test out mid ranged cameras like the 70D sony A6000 and nikon (what ever they have). Thanks Simon for the video.

[nichelleniks]

The whole time I was watching the comparisons, I actually preferred the quality of the camcorder. It had a nostalgic and home made quality to it that I think could be beautiful for certain films. I have a JVC in the back of my closet and I think I may dig it up and play around with it