I have next to zero filming experience besides a GoPro that I use sporadically on my bow and shotgun. I am curious to as if y'all think the Canon VIXIA HF R400 HD 53x Advanced Zoom Camcorder would be a good camera to start filming bow hunts with? I have always wanted to do this and now I have decided it's finally time. What do y'all think and where can I find a tree mounted camera arm? This is the camera's posting on Amazon: Amazon.com : Canon VIXIA HF R400 HD 53x Advanced Zoom Camcorder : Camera & Photo
I picked one up for baby filming and planning on for hunts this year. Lots of great features and seems pretty solid. I think it was the r40 or a close model that has the wifi remote. The r400 doesn't. If I did it again I'd like that. No major complaints though, from playing around so far I think it'll work for now Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I picked one up to start out also...this will be my first year filming with it. I customized it and added all the accessories I felt I needed to get some great footage. If all goes well this upcoming season with solo filming I def will upgrade, but IMO I feel its a good way to start out and see if it is something you want to continue with. As for a tree arm there are many great options out there, I went with a Lone Wolf tree arm with an extra arm extension and a Manfrotto 128RC Fluid head.
It looks like you're ready to shoot the news with that camera haha. You definitely have it hooked up but what you would you say the essentials are to start filming TheHardWoods913?
After talking to some guys on the forums that have some pretty sick set ups, thats what I came up with lol I think it all really depends on what your looking to accomplish and what your budget is. Camera, a good camera arm, a good fluid head, shotgun mic, extra battery, extra SD cards in my eyes are essential. From there you can always add more to your rig as you go. I started with just the camera and camera arm. The more I spoke to people and did research I realized I wanted to accompany my footage with good audio. Thats when I bought the Shotgun Mic. Then I wanted even more audio options and picked up the wireless lavalier mic. A LED light to video blood tracking and animal recoveries at night. Then realized how important it was to have a good Fluid Head so you have those smooth pans and tilts and got a tripod with it as well for ground blind hunting. I just kept going with it really lol All this stuff is nice to have and of course makes the quality of your footage a lot better, but at the end of the day they are not necessities. You can go out and start filming with just the camera itself and a tree arm. Do some research and look at other set ups and see what you would want when filming. I used campbell cameras as a guide as to what I should get to get started. Check them out, Campbell Outdoors - Home I ended up looking at all their packages and then going and finding the best price on them and piecing together my own "package" Good luck!!!
Well come to find out, I was talking to dad tonight about getting a camera, filming hunts, becoming famous etc... haha I was showing him the HF 400 online as we sat on the couch, he said I'll be right back, which kind of confused me that he would leave and go to his office while we were having a conversation. He came back with a Canon VIXIA HF R30. He claims only to have used it 2-3 times to film my younger sisters soccer games but the battery life was so bad, he gave up on it. His testimony proved true as I read reviews from various sites...the battery lasts 30 minutes at most and it's $90 for another one. I'm not really sure what to do. Suggestions?
I have the 400 and have been very happy with it. I got mine for quite a bit less than what your amazon link is showing though. If I remember right I caught a sale at Campbells. Anyway IMO I think I would get another battery for the 30 you have and give it a shot. Find out if filming your hunts ends up being something you truly enjoy, then perhaps get something different.
Would you say the R30 is a good one to start out with Tacklebox? I'm not sure if it's a step up or down from the 400
Well I don't have any experience using the R30 but I'd say considering you already have it and would only need an additional battery that hell ya it is good to start with. Get a batt and then spend the other money on the things you will need along with it. Tree arm, tri-pod, shotgun mic, maybe a fluid head. If you have fun this fall with it then it will be easier to drop more cash on an upgrade in the future as well as after some time afield you will likely learn alot about what you personally want in a cam set up.
^^^THIS, I agree with tacklebox 100% and this is actually what I am doing to an extent. If things go well this upcoming season i will be looking to upgrade to a XA20
This is a great camera to start with, it's the year older model then the 400 but still a great starter camera. Batteries can be had for cheap on eBay or amazon as well that will last hours. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
nice! I was gunna order a couple off of ebay one for my 400, but was worried that they were cheap ones that wouldn't hold a charge
