Are Camcorders Outdated in 2021

I recently came across a videographer's statement online that claimed the use of TV camcorders leads to poor and corporate-looking videos, which cannot produce beautiful cinematic shots like DSLRs. However, as someone with extensive experience in using both TV cameras and DSLRs, I'm not sure where this claim comes from. We can ignore the fact that the videographer referred to the Panasonic Lumix G9 as a "cinema camera," which is a bit of a stretch.

The reason we're discussing this is that DSLRs have become increasingly popular due to their exceptional video quality, shallow depth of field, and razor-sharp 4K resolution. As a result, camcorders have gained a reputation for being far inferior to DSLRs.

It's true that the home camcorders of 20 years ago did not deliver professional results, and even professional camcorders often gave an unusually corporate feel to the image, but that was a long time ago. Today's TV and broadcast quality cameras, built over the last decade, have undergone significant changes.

Personally, I'm a Canon user, having switched from Nikon a year ago because Canon had some features that Nikon lacked. My first expensive camera was the Nikon D100, which I adored, and from that point on, I became a Nikon user. That was until I tried the 1DX, which was a powerhouse and produced excellent results. Now, I use the new 1DX Mk3, which is an amazing piece of technology that can do everything.

In addition to the Canon 1DX Mk3, we also use Canon camcorders that produce excellent results. Our camcorder is a 4K UHD device with the new XF-HEVC file format, internal 4:2:2 10-bit UHD (HLG/PQ), and the ability to output a UHD signal over a single 12G-SDI interface or ethernet connection. It can film 120P in full HD, features Canon CLog3, a 15x Wide L-Series lens, and a 1.0-Type CMOS sensor and DIGIC processor that produces professional 4K UHD 50P images in 4:2:2 10-bit. The results we achieve with this camera are breathtakingly beautiful.

As with any high-end filming equipment, stunning 4K cinematic results are possible if you know how to use it. However, this all comes at a considerable cost. Not only is the purchase of the camera, microphone, and cards likely to set you back at least 9,000, but the power required to run this equipment and edit the files on a PC can also be expensive. The machine on my desk cost 6,000+.

It's true that camcorders are not as popular as they once were, particularly at the consumer level. I would agree that DSLRs produce excellent results, and I'm a big fan of the 4K footage from the 1DX Mk3. However, at the professional end of the scale, the Canon camcorders we use are truly exceptional.

In conclusion, as far as we're concerned, Canon camcorders are built like tanks and produce results that go beyond those of budget cameras like the Lumix G9. We hope that referring to the G9 as a "cinema camera" is just sales talk.