Looking for video camera for air show

[imported_Irse]

Went to an air show yesterday to see the Blue Angels. Took some decent still shots but took some horrible video. Stills were with a D7100 + 70-300 VR. Video was with a RX100 and Panasonic TM70. The lack of a viewfinder made it hard to follow the planes (plus it was very cloudy). Looking for a dedicated video camera or a bridge camera to take videos (need a viewfinder). I was thinking of the Panasonic FZ200 because you can use the viewfinder to take videos. The D7100 allow only live view (LCD) for videos. Anyone have any experience in this area? Thanks

 

[Kaido]

If I were buy a setup for airshows, I'd go with:

1. A camcorder with a great zoom button
2. A fluid-head tripod
3. FPV glasses

If you don't mind looking like a dork in public, you can see what your camera sees with FPV glasses so that you know you're getting the shot even if it's sunny outside & hard to see the screen. Alternatively, you can also get a Hoodman hood, which is what I use now:

http://hoodmanusa.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=0004

Panasonic has a really nice camera for $920 that has a 25x optical zoom & a 3MOS sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HC-X...dp/B00AW54Z7C/

Sony also has a great 4K camera out for $2,000 that has a 12x optical zoom with a 1" CMOS sensor:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-FDR-AX100...dp/B00HNJWVIA/

The nice thing with 4K is that you can crop your image down to 1080p, which means that you don't have to have perfect aim in every shot because you can just cut out a section & still get HD resolution. Panasonic also 50x optical camcorder for $315:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HC-V.../dp/B00HPZKQ7U

There's also the upcoming Canon SX60 camera for $550, which sports a 65x lens:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...dp/B00NEWZ8EY/

Alternatively, doesn't the D7100 have HDMI out? You could get one of those little 7" LCD screens off eBay & monitor that way instead - that way you could sit comfortably with the camera & tripod head arm & position the LCD out of the sun & within easy viewing range.

 

[Kaido]

Oh yeah, and on that $315 Panasonic's crazy zoom:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvnAErW89dc

 

[imported_Irse]

I decided to with a FZ200. I don't want to take too much gear with me during these air shows. I've got a year to practice. The Blue Angels are coming back next October.