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May, 2025

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Pocket sized camcorders

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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
I'm looking to grab something cheap, pocket size, optical zoom, stabilization, to toss around this season for the homies to film eachother. We always talk about filming, but I never want to bring out my whole kit and be the one to carry a backpack with body + lenses etc.

I've bee considering the Sony HDR-CX405. It seems to hit the mark on everything, and shoots OK 1080 content. Fine to sacrifice image quality from what I'm used to filming on haha, this is just for some fun edits and maybe a year end piece. I am concerned how it will fare on heavy, wet snow days at whistler. Can anyone recommend anything else similar?
4 years ago
9 0
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junior1derful
Posts: 260 - Karma: 3,097

This has been my setup for the past 4 years. Canon hfr700. Pretty sturdy camera. I've used it in wet snow and light rain and its still running fine. The camera itself would definitely fit in your pocket like you're looking for, I would just recommend to get some extra batteries and keep them in a pocket against your body to keep them warm. The battery in the cold will last about and hour while in use. For an extra $100 you can get the opteka fisheye too, which would easily fit in a chest pocket.

I love this setup. Super cheap, portable and versatile. If you look up test video of this camera you'll see it looks pretty good shooting in 1080p

**This post was edited on Oct 21st 2021 at 1:09:48pm
4 years ago
11 0
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Chipy2000
Posts: 27 - Karma: 115
If you are looking for camcorders you’ll find your best bets on canon and sony, a used ax700 should set you back maybe 300 bucks but you’ll get the 4k and image stabilization of a high end camera, if not i would browse craiglist for a 2019 canon vixia r800 that is more or less what you were about to get with the sony
4 years ago
0 2
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BlueVillain
Posts: 411 - Karma: 2,451
I use the exact camera that you put up and I honestly love it. If you want to see what it looks like in action you can check my 2 last videos, they are only filmed on the CX-405. Hope this helps
4 years ago
3 0
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Jems
Posts: 7725 - Karma: 101,111
Sony CCD-VX3 would be a great option

**This post was edited on Oct 22nd 2021 at 12:51:59pm
4 years ago
3 0
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
BlueVillainI use the exact camera that you put up and I honestly love it. If you want to see what it looks like in action you can check my 2 last videos, they are only filmed on the CX-405. Hope this helps


dude this was super helpful! thanks for posting. Whitewater looks sick I need to make it over this season. I'm guessing you just rep that cam handheld? It can handle a bit of snow on the camera?
4 years ago
1 0
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BlueVillain
Posts: 411 - Karma: 2,451
I do rep it handheld. The zoom is very sensitive so it takes a bit of practice but usually the shots look doper than you would think while filming. As for the snow I would still be very careful with anything that could do water damage but I didn't get any trouble yet.
4 years ago
2 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
Vixia hfw10 and 11 are waterproof and u can get a 37mm opteka fish eye for it
4 years ago
1 0
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weastcoat
Posts: 6504 - Karma: 75,402
junior1derful

This has been my setup for the past 4 years. Canon hfr700. Pretty sturdy camera. I've used it in wet snow and light rain and its still running fine. The camera itself would definitely fit in your pocket like you're looking for, I would just recommend to get some extra batteries and keep them in a pocket against your body to keep them warm. The battery in the cold will last about and hour while in use. For an extra $100 you can get the opteka fisheye too, which would easily fit in a chest pocket.

I love this setup. Super cheap, portable and versatile. If you look up test video of this camera you'll see it looks pretty good shooting in 1080p

**This post was edited on Oct 21st 2021 at 1:09:48pm


this is a sick setup. What's the film look like w the fisheye? any specific examples on ur profile?
4 years ago
2 0
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
WoFlowzVixia hfw10 and 11 are waterproof and u can get a 37mm opteka fish eye for it


awesome man, I just ordered a used hfw10 off ebay, stoked to see how it is!
4 years ago
1 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
VT_scratchawesome man, I just ordered a used hfw10 off ebay, stoked to see how it is!


Np I know a guy with a vixia who loves it and another who owns a fancier vixia and for being waterproof/sealed and being able to fit a fish eye it’s one of the best more budget friendly option
4 years ago
3 0
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
received it today. anyone found a wide angle with a 37mm thread that fits?
stoked to test it out tmrw on a lil ski tour.
4 years ago
2 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
VT_scratchreceived it today. anyone found a wide angle with a 37mm thread that fits?
stoked to test it out tmrw on a lil ski tour.


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673936-REG/Opteka_OPTSC37FE_37mm_0_3X_HD_Ultra.html
 price used to be 70 raises 30 today idky
4 years ago
1 0
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Jems
Posts: 7725 - Karma: 101,111
WoFlowzhttps://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673936-REG/Opteka_OPTSC37FE_37mm_0_3X_HD_Ultra.html
 price used to be 70 raises 30 today idky


all the big fisheyes went up to $200
4 years ago
0 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
Jemsall the big fisheyes went up to $200


Wait for real? Even the 52?
4 years ago
0 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
Jemsall the big fisheyes went up to $200

never mind that’s 159 went up 10$
4 years ago
0 0
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KaedenDelong
Posts: 71 - Karma: 639
WoFlowzVixia hfw10 and 11 are waterproof and u can get a 37mm opteka fish eye for it

Just got one of these two for like $70. Definitely excited to try it out
4 years ago
1 0
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
Thanks guys^

Got the cam out for a quick test on the first short tour of the season. Nice and light and fun to use. nothing special quality wise, but perfect for my needs.https://vimeo.com/644579720/43f3c218ef

**This post was edited on Nov 10th 2021 at 7:11:48pm
4 years ago
1 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
VT_scratchThanks guys^

Got the cam out for a quick test on the first short tour of the season. Nice and light and fun to use. nothing special quality wise, but perfect for my needs.https://vimeo.com/644579720/43f3c218ef

**This post was edited on Nov 10th 2021 at 7:11:48pm


Stupid mobile won’t let me copy the link
4 years ago
0 0
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VT_scratch
Posts: 8849 - Karma: 6,712
WoFlowzStupid mobile won’t let me copy the link


Here just tossed it on NS, this might work when it finishes encoding.


1017525
4 years ago
4 0
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8094 - Karma: 64,478
VT_scratchHere just tossed it on NS, this might work when it finishes encoding.


1017525


Noice clips. Quality looks rly damn good considering the sunny/flat light u had
4 years ago
0 0
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junior1derful
Posts: 260 - Karma: 3,097
weatcoastthis is a sick setup. What's the film look like w the fisheye? any specific examples on ur profile?



https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1052864/trim-554A3C67-6AFB-499F-9F24-7CEAEDF3EE96-MOV


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1052865/trim-64B4CD82-1431-4F8E-ACF2-DDD97B42CB18-MOV
3 years ago
0 0
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