K-x video quality vs cheap ($200) camcorders?

mojoe_24 · 11-12-2010, 12:35 PM

I've been thinking about buying a DSLR and I'm down to a K-x as my most likely choice. However, I think id use the video recording feature quite a bit and now I'm trying to decide whether it would be worth it to push the purchase of it back several months and just pick up a $150-200 camcorder (saw a few at Best Buy). Sound isn't necesarily most important but I'd be recording a lot at night. Is the k-xs video capabilities adequate? And how is the sound on videos recorded?

Thanks for any help and hopefully at some point I'll be a member of the pentax owning community.

**kiwi_jono** · 11-12-2010, 02:20 PM - **1 Like**

Depends what you want to do with it.

In my experience the K-x can produce some nice video (although not as good as some) but you do have to work at it a bit (no exposure control or autofocus during recording). Also the ISO is apparently capped.

Have a look at (best to click on HD button and watch in HD):

for an example of what can be done (not mine but I like it).

paperbag846 · 11-12-2010, 02:31 PM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/122359-k-x-video-q...amcorders.html
Infinite loop

mojoe_24 · 11-12-2010, 07:08 PM

Thank you and sorry for double posting. I thougth there was an error and it didn't post so I posted again.

Will the there be a significant difference in quality compared to a cheap camcorder? I've never used either, lol. Also, thanks for the link to the video. Seems like it should handle night shots fairly well.

Last edited by mojoe_24; 11-12-2010 at 08:28 PM.

vievetrick · 11-12-2010, 08:48 PM

Great videos Jonathan

**Rondec** · 11-13-2010, 05:14 AM

I would say the video isn't bad, but the sound isn't the best and it doesn't have any option for external microphone.

mojoe_24 · 11-13-2010, 09:39 AM

Does anyone have a link to a video with stock sound? Is it much worse than using a cellphone (iphone) or a point and shoot as video? Since I have niether a DSLR or a camcorder whenver we need video we've been using either my iphone or Sony H55.

epqwerty · 11-14-2010, 03:05 PM

umm. Kx as a video camcorder? I could be wrong but I believe the audio is mono only. No stereo sound I believe. However, more research is needed to be sure. Video quality however could definately be on par if not better I think. However, on vacation I found my camcorder to be pretty useless. I'd take pictures over moving video any day.

mojoe_24 · 11-14-2010, 03:08 PM

Yeah, hte sound is mono. Is that any different than a phone or point and shoot would be though?

Raylon · 11-14-2010, 03:25 PM

There will be more noises, just handling the camera produces some wierd clunking noises sometimes. The audio just isn't that great. If you are really serious about video there are other options that are better.

Cannikin · 11-14-2010, 03:47 PM

Here's a short clip I shot of the finale of the July 4th fireworks in Seattle with my K-x, straight out of camera, completely unedited.

The sound of the fireworks drowns out most of the other sounds, but you can get an idea of the sound quality from the cheering at the end. Don't pay too much attention to the music, as it didn't sound that great in person either.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2za1e2ab3s2gbt6/IMGP7965.AVI (211 MB)

The sound isn't great, but it isn't horrible either.

mojoe_24 · 11-14-2010, 05:07 PM

Thanks for posting that. The mic seems adequate for what I want it for. There is a used camera place near me that lets you rent out cameras. Hopefully they'll have a K-x that I can check out.

tuco · 11-14-2010, 05:30 PM

I haven't looked at $150-$200 camcorders for a while but if they are not much better than a few years ago, you'll be recording a lot noise in low light and more so at night. the K-X should do much better in that department.

buttons · 11-14-2010, 08:25 PM

I was quite happy with the picture quality by my K-X, but i found it to hard to keep my 3 year old son in focus so pretty much gave up. My wife is looking at getting a sony a33 since it takes decent pictures and has auto focus during video.

Internetpilot · 11-17-2010, 06:41 PM

Like others have posted, it can take some work keeping things in focus -- it's not exactly point-n-shoot. That being said, I've gotten some really nice videos with it. The biggest problem I have? Remembering to switch the focus back to auto from manual when I'm switching between video and still shots at an event! That's ruined more than a few still shots!

11-12-2010, 12:35 PM	#1
mojoe_24 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 241	K-x video quality vs cheap ($200) camcorders? I've been thinking about buying a DSLR and I'm down to a K-x as my most likely choice. However, I think id use the video recording feature quite a bit and now I'm trying to decide whether it would be worth it to push the purchase of it back several months and just pick up a $150-200 camcorder (saw a few at Best Buy). Sound isn't necesarily most important but I'd be recording a lot at night. Is the k-xs video capabilities adequate? And how is the sound on videos recorded? Thanks for any help and hopefully at some point I'll be a member of the pentax owning community.

11-12-2010, 02:20 PM - 1 Like	#2
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Depends what you want to do with it. In my experience the K-x can produce some nice video (although not as good as some) but you do have to work at it a bit (no exposure control or autofocus during recording). Also the ISO is apparently capped. Have a look at (best to click on HD button and watch in HD): Vimeo for an example of what can be done (not mine but I like it). Last edited by kiwi_jono; 11-12-2010 at 02:28 PM.

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11-12-2010, 02:31 PM	#3
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/122359-k-x-video-q...amcorders.html Infinite loop

11-12-2010, 07:08 PM	#4
mojoe_24 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 241 Original Poster	Thank you and sorry for double posting. I thougth there was an error and it didn't post so I posted again. Will the there be a significant difference in quality compared to a cheap camcorder? I've never used either, lol. Also, thanks for the link to the video. Seems like it should handle night shots fairly well. Last edited by mojoe_24; 11-12-2010 at 08:28 PM.

11-12-2010, 08:48 PM	#5
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	Great videos Jonathan

11-13-2010, 05:14 AM	#6
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,663	I would say the video isn't bad, but the sound isn't the best and it doesn't have any option for external microphone.

11-13-2010, 09:39 AM	#7
mojoe_24 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 241 Original Poster	Does anyone have a link to a video with stock sound? Is it much worse than using a cellphone (iphone) or a point and shoot as video? Since I have niether a DSLR or a camcorder whenver we need video we've been using either my iphone or Sony H55.

11-14-2010, 03:05 PM	#8
epqwerty Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 550	umm. Kx as a video camcorder? I could be wrong but I believe the audio is mono only. No stereo sound I believe. However, more research is needed to be sure. Video quality however could definately be on par if not better I think. However, on vacation I found my camcorder to be pretty useless. I'd take pictures over moving video any day.

11-14-2010, 03:08 PM	#9
mojoe_24 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 241 Original Poster	Yeah, hte sound is mono. Is that any different than a phone or point and shoot would be though?

11-14-2010, 03:25 PM	#10
Raylon Guest	There will be more noises, just handling the camera produces some wierd clunking noises sometimes. The audio just isn't that great. If you are really serious about video there are other options that are better.

11-14-2010, 03:47 PM	#11
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	Here's a short clip I shot of the finale of the July 4th fireworks in Seattle with my K-x, straight out of camera, completely unedited. The sound of the fireworks drowns out most of the other sounds, but you can get an idea of the sound quality from the cheering at the end. Don't pay too much attention to the music, as it didn't sound that great in person either. http://www.mediafire.com/file/2za1e2ab3s2gbt6/IMGP7965.AVI (211 MB) The sound isn't great, but it isn't horrible either.

11-14-2010, 05:07 PM	#12
mojoe_24 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 241 Original Poster	Thanks for posting that. The mic seems adequate for what I want it for. There is a used camera place near me that lets you rent out cameras. Hopefully they'll have a K-x that I can check out.

11-14-2010, 05:30 PM	#13
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,030	I haven't looked at $150-$200 camcorders for a while but if they are not much better than a few years ago, you'll be recording a lot noise in low light and more so at night. the K-X should do much better in that department.

11-14-2010, 08:25 PM	#14
buttons Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Grand Rapids Photos: Albums Posts: 193	I was quite happy with the picture quality by my K-X, but i found it to hard to keep my 3 year old son in focus so pretty much gave up. My wife is looking at getting a sony a33 since it takes decent pictures and has auto focus during video.

11-17-2010, 06:41 PM	#15
Internetpilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NE Florida Posts: 130	Like others have posted, it can take some work keeping things in focus -- it's not exactly point-n-shoot. That being said, I've gotten some really nice videos with it. The biggest problem I have? Remembering to switch the focus back to auto from manual when I'm switching between video and still shots at an event! That's ruined more than a few still shots!