Cheap high speed cameras

[Gun Freak]

I am looking for a high speed camera for under 200 dollars that can do high fps, not nessecarily 1000 fps but maybe the next step down. It will be used for spudding and also other random things. I am thinking something like this but that one doesnt have good reviews, it is just to give you an idea of what I am looking for. I would prefer not to have one of those big bulky ones, so can any of you guys help me find one on amazon.com that meets my expectations, or give me some advice on which ones to look at. Thanks...

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I have this one and I'm quite happy with it, you've seen my videos so you can decide if it's the sort of performance you're after.

You definitely need good lighting for HS shots but other than that, can't really complain about it, especially at that price.

[Gun Freak]

Well, a lot of my high speed shots were going to be outside in broad daylight so I think they would be good. That is a good price. How is the focus during video? Does is focus automatically and can you zoom in and out during video?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I've never tried to change focus while filming, but many of my videos are zoomed in in order to keep the camera a safe(-ish) distance from the target.

[Gun Freak]

Ok, If I am filming high speed I dont think I will be moving the camera anyway, or filming at any speed for that matter. Most of the shots will be steady shots of impact or firing a gun or other random things like backflips

[jor2daje]

You can't zoom while filming video, the mechanism makes to much noise when recording HD and takes to long to focus in highspeed.

[Gun Freak]

Thanks jor2daje.

[D_Hall]

Photron SA-5. Accept no substitute.

(OK, I'm being an ass. )

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

(OK, I'm being an ass. )

If it looks like an ass, walks like an ass, and brays like an ass, then it probably is a ass

[Insomniac]

Also take a look at Casio's newer EX-FH100... it's got the backlit CMOS sensor of the EX-FC150 and EX-FH25, with a nice big zoom lens which does good wide-angle as well. It's pretty lacking in the macro department though.

Don't go with the older EX-FC100 or EX-FH20, as they use the old sensor which is considerably noisier than the one they're putting in the new cameras. If it says 'back lit CMOS', then it's got the newer one which copes much better in low light.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Interesting... I won't be buying a new HS camera soon, but it's good to know that they're getting better within a similar price range

[Insomniac]

Still, the max shooting rate and resolution is pretty much unchanged...

[Gun Freak]

Sorry Dave, I don't have a million dollars to spend on a camera 8)

@Insomniac, the EX-FH100 is really nice but I think its out of my budget. They are all beginning to look like that though,

[Insomniac]

Yeah, they generally seem to price at around $250... I still maintain that it's worth it, particularly the ones with backlit sensors as they make pretty damn good everyday cameras as well... Remember, it's a consumer camera before it's a high-speed camera.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

That's the thing really, unless you're an overly dedicated spudder it's not really worth buying the camera just for the sake of it, but if you needed a digital camera anyway then it's a good investment.