Best Camcorder for Recording Sports

So you want to start recording sports videos?

Maybe your kid has just joined a team or you just want to capture some great moments from your favorite teams, but when you want to catch some great sports moments with your video camera, you need to not only have the right tools, but the right advice on how to put those videos together to get the best results. In this article, we will look at the most important ones.

A top-rated camera makes a massive difference to the quality of baseball, basketball or football videos. If you can’t afford a professional Camcorder, we look at the models available at an affordable budget.

These products are all reliable and most importantly create a top quality video. After going through our research, we’ve created a list of the ‘Best Sports Filming Camcorders’ of 2017. Buyers rated these products better than the competition.

Our selection criteria are stringent, and we update the Top 5 list if a better camcorder for shooting sports hits the market.

Best HD Video Cameras for Sports Games

#1. Panasonic HC-V770 HD Camcorder

4K Resolution and a superb array of accessories to record any sport

Summary

One of the most popular Panasonic camcorders on the market. The mid-level V770 includes 4K Ultra HD for crystal clear sports action., handy HD features, but you’ll need to shoot in manual (rather than full auto (IA)) if you’re expecting true color in low light conditions. Manual recording puts a stain on the standard batteries, so I’d recommend buying the extended batteries if you want to get technical and use all the Panasonic features.

For indoor sports like basketball or volleyball, you’ll need to shoot in manual (rather than full auto (IA)) if you’re expecting true color in low light conditions. Built-in camera also includes flash and flood light functions.

Battery charges very fast, even with a standard phone USB charger which makes carrying a spare unit easy so you don’t miss any action.

Tripod mounting threads add a professional touch and let you enjoy the action without your arm getting sore 🙂

Hot Shoe Adapter is especially convenient for baseball games so you can add an external mic to pick up all the sounds in the outfield.

If you enjoy sharing the action as it happens on social media, Panasonic has designed the Smartphone twin capture feature, with WiFi to ensure a Tweet, Instagram or Facebook post only takes seconds and doesn’t disrupt end-to-end match recording.

#2. Sony HDRCX675/B Full HD 32GB Camcorder

Impressive 60x Zoom with stabilization and dual recording ability

No camera top list would be complete without a Sony product. Sony’s CX675 is a small unit like the Panasonic V380, with 1080p recording, 32GB SD memory, 3” LCD viewfinder and WiFi convenience.

Buyers looking for a compact, lightweight camera should note the 3” viewfinder, which the V380 lacks.

Vloggers or videographers who require shutter-less playback will find the image stabilization feature one of the leaders in its class. Sony has done a fantastic job achieving such stable playback on a camera in this class.

Video

Including an Exmor R CMOS image sensor that can record at 1080p up to 60fps and take 9.2MP still images.

Sony’s image stabilization illuminates shaking, making handheld videos steady as those taken from a tripod. 5-axis Intelligent Active mode compensates for vibration from up to 5 separate directions. Even running and bike movies seem smooth and high-quality. Even shooting at full 60x achieves excellent stabilization.

Inbuilt audio performs well, with background noise filtering. Mic and headphone input available.

The touchscreen performs well although the button functionality labeling could be improved. My only criticism is the close button sometimes takes a few taps to work.

Overall

If you want a camcorder with top performance optical zoom and stability look no further. CX675 outperforms anything in the same class.

Tips for achieving great results when Filming sports with a camcorder

What do you need to bring with you?

It may seem like a pain, but you need to have a bit of equipment with you when you go to a location to get great shots. If you don’t have everything at least available, you will miss out on some great opportunities. Make a checklist to ensure you don’t leave anything behind. The obvious first item on the list is your camera, but along with the camera, you will want to make sure you have at least two fully charged batteries available and ready to go. If your camera records on tapes, then you will want to make sure you have a couple of extra tapes to record on. If your camera stores videos digitally, make sure you have plenty of storage space available.

Have a cloth handy for cleaning the lens because you never know what might get on your camera lens that will harm your shots. Bring along some lighting options in case you need help getting enough light for a clear image. Finally, bring along a tripod so that you can have stability when you need it. It isn’t always needed, but do you really want to not have it when you need it most?

What else do I need to keep in mind?

When you are recording a sports video, you will need to find out first if you are going to be filming indoors or outdoors. This makes a huge difference in how you will frame shots as well as the lighting needs. You want to be aware of the amount of light exposure since if there is too much light for your settings, your video will look washed out. If you are working with a high-speed segment, you will want to make your frame rate and shutter speeds higher so you don’t miss the quick movements that can happen at any moment on the court or field.

Am I ready to give it a try yet?

With these tips and a bit of practice, you can find plenty of amazing shots to add to your portfolio as well as great little treasures to show off to your friends and family. Make sure you have your supplies and check that list a couple of times before you head out and be aware of the lighting and your frame rates and you will be capturing those epic moments in no time. Best of luck and get started recording those incredible sports moment with your camcorder today.